Geek-Related Predictions for 2022 Results

Oh no, it’s one of the most dreaded times of the year for me again: The point at which I look back on my predictions from last year to see how good or bad I had the year figured out in terms of nerd-related news and events. Considering how well this went last year, I can’t be forgiven for mainly thinking this would be a look at how off my predictions ended up being, and damn was it tough to keep any kind of faith this year after what happened then. Let’s just get this underway.

1. Nintendo has only shown the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on two occasions since announcing it. There’s concern for its development status, especially during a perpetual pandemic, but it will be fine. The game will be fully revealed and will release in 2022.

The new title, officially given the name “Tears of the Kingdom,” was largely revealed this year. But I certainly wouldn’t call the footage they showed a full reveal. They’ll have to do so soon, considering the game is due for release on May 12th. I won’t give myself any points for this one.

2. Remember that supposed port or remaster of Live-A-Live that was trademarked all over the world in 2020? I do, along with two other people. It will release in some form this year.

Oh, it sure did, in the form of a remake released for Nintendo Switch. And it was good. I nailed this one.

3. Nintendo will not announce any new Switch hardware. Not another upgrade. Not a “Pro” edition. Not a successor. Nothing.

Yup. This one was easy to predict, to be fair.

4. It has been clear since the end of this year that no one within Activision Blizzard’s executive team feels ashamed about letting a culture of sexual harassment and worse pervade over several years. Not a single one of them will resign by the end of this year.

Some of them did resign actually, albeit partly due to the scandal following the state of California’s investigation. It was perhaps more significantly due to Microsoft announcing their intent to purchase Activision Blizzard at the start of the year, something I sure didn’t see coming. This one’s a miss.

5. There will be at least one game that comes with NFT or blockchain implementation from a large gaming company. Everyone will hate it, and the uproar will be huge.

Nope, mainly because the crypto market melted the hell down. There are companies still trying it in games, but they’re hardly from “large” gaming companies. Thank goodness for that.

6. Sony will kill the PlayStation 3’s PlayStation Store for good, and even backlash won’t stop them this time.

It didn’t happen, thankfully. Another one where I’m glad that no jinxing came to pass.

7. Sonic Frontiers will be the most divisive game among critics and general fans this year after it releases. Meanwhile, the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 movie will receive a comparatively positive reception.

Sonic 2 did receive a more positive reception compared to Sonic Frontiers, and the latter was divisive. But Frontiers didn’t divide both camps quite as severely as I expected. I’m only giving myself half a point here. (2.5-4.5)

8. Marvel Entertainment’s movies will all perform well in the box office this year, but none of them will be on par with Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Indeed. Marvel’s movies this year, in fact, didn’t do as well as I expected they would. This was an easy prediction too, but a win is a win.

9. COVID-19 pandemic will not be over by this year’s end. I am very sorry.

Of course it wasn’t. Sorry again.

10. Studio Khara will announce a new anime. It will not be directly related to Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Hideaki Anno will, at best, only be assisting with its production.

Well… nope. The best we got was that Khara will be providing the kaiju and overall monster designs for the Kaiju No. 8 anime adaptation, though Production I.G. will handle the principal animation work. Ah well. Maybe next year, after Shin Kamen Rider has released.

11. The Winds of Winter will… not release, and George R. R. Martin will provide only a miniscule update for it. This is another case where I am very sorry.

Of course this happened. Again: I’m sorry for jinxing this.

12. Here’s a big one: I will stream video games this year.

Ahahahahahahahaha. Really, though, it’s been quite a year, but I should have been able to stream something by the end of it. The final bit of equipment necessary for me to stream is on the way, but this is indeed a promise broken.

 

Overall: 5.5-6.5. That’s slightly more misses than wins, but as consolation for myself: That’s a hell of a lot better than I did last year. I’m feeling renewed confidence that I could do better for predictions next year too, which most assuredly cannot backfire on me. Not a chance.