Today has been full of surprises if you’re a Nintendo Switch fan. Having released an unexpected Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase earlier this morning, few (if anyone) anticipated seeing the surprise launch of Remedy Entertainment’s critically acclaimed Control via the cloud.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen cloud gaming on Nintendo Switch. Resident Evil 7 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey saw cloud versions drop back in 2018, but those versions remained exclusive to Japan.
Released last year on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Control sees you playing as Jesse Faden, the new head of the Federal Bureau of Control, as she investigates the Oldest House, defending it from a bizarre threat known as the Hiss.
As this Cloud Version is the Ultimate Edition of Control, this release also includes the DLC expansions, The Foundation and AWE.
Available as a free download on the eShop, this Cloud Version works similarly to streaming games on Stadia or xCloud, meaning you’ll need a high-speed internet connection to play Control without suffering latency issues.
Though players can demo the game for 10 minutes to ensure their connection works, those wishing to purchase it will need to buy an Access Pass for $39.99.
Hitman 3 Cloud Version is coming as well
Control wasn’t alone in this announcement either, and though we don’t have pricing details just yet, Hitman 3 will also be receiving a Cloud Version, as confirmed in today’s showcase.
Marking the end to the World of Assassination trilogy, players will traverse the globe to brand new locations, carrying out contracted assassinations of criminal targets in a sandbox environment.
Though Hitman 3 is due to launch next January on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Stadia, it’s unclear whether this Cloud Version will release alongside them.
This news certainly makes for an interesting proposition, and as next-generation consoles draw ever closer, the Switch will be vastly underpowered by comparison. Whether more games follow suit remains to be seen, but at the very least, these Cloud Versions offer an interesting outlook for future releases. Stay tuned for more as we learn it.
