It seems Nintendo is still interested in the Eternal Darkness name, based on recent trademark filings found on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. While this doesn’t confirm a new game is coming, it does raise plenty of questions about what Nintendo could be doing with the license.
According to the USPTO filing, the Eternal Darkness application was submitted on Dec. 20. The “Goods and Services” listed along with the filing include “Downloadable electronic game programs; downloadable electronic game software; electronic game programs; electronic game software; video game programs; video game software.”
So what’s going on here? There are a few options. The first, and best, is Nintendo will be developing a new Eternal Darkness game for the Nintendo Switch. That would be a great business idea, cementing early on that there are mature gaming experiences available on Nintendo’s latest console. One of the biggest problems with the Wii and Wii U was the perception of these consoles being for kids or those who weren’t “hardcore” gamers.
Another yet less exciting option is the original Eternal Darkness will make a return on Virtual Console. We already have some pretty concrete rumors claiming GameCube games will be included on the Nintendo Switch Virtual Console, so Eternal Darkness would make for a great addition. The emphasis of “downloadable” in the trademark filings would also suggest a Virtual Console release.
The last option is, by far, the worst. This filing could simply be Nintendo staking their claim on a name so that nobody else can use it. It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen a company claim ownership to a name solely so other companies can’t have it. Hopefully that isn’t the case here.
As for what this filing will actually mean, we’ll just have to wait and see what Nintendo says. There’s a big Switch event coming up in January where major information on the console will be revealed, so that will be the best bet to get more information.
Do you think Nintendo has any plans to make a new Eternal Darkness game? What are your thoughts on a possible exclusive release to the Virtual Console? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
