When Nintendo released the Switch, the world of gaming forever shifted. Although the new console lacked powerful hardware, the original Switch’s intended audience and purpose propelled its sales to 15 million in its first year of production. Today, the Switch is a fantastic at-home and portable console that can immediately please crowds with exclusive titles such as “Mario Kart” and the infamous “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” which I have sunk over 800 hours into. It is hard to debate that the Switch wasn’t a revolutionary product for home consoles, but does it still hold its ground an astounding 8 years later?
As graphical and performance limits result from modern graphics cards, processors, and developing technology such as AI, many think the Switch is becoming outdated. Nintendo seems to recognize this (perhaps 2 or 3 years later than they should have), as they have recently released a trailer for their upcoming console, the fabled “Switch 2”.
When I saw the thumbnail for the Switch 2 reveal on my YouTube feed, to say that I was ecstatic would be an understatement. I recall leaping to my feet with my phone and making primal gorilla noises in awe before sprinting to the cafeteria to tell my friends. As a Switch 1 owner, I have spent close to two thousand hours on the console, and it has earned a special place in my heart over the years. Whether it be playing Animal Crossing or Smash Bros. during school, online classes during Covid, or waking up early on weekends to play before school, the Switch brought a unique sense of comfort and entertainment that other consoles or devices couldn’t produce, and this is because the Switch was a revolutionary addition to the handheld console market. This factor of the Switch’s success may be considered an inhibitor to the Switch 2.
The original Switch was directed towards families and children, acting as a great gift for siblings to share and larger groups to enjoy; Nintendo practically created the perfect console for this audience with the Switch. So why would the company make a console that is virtually the same? Besides hardware modifications, the Switch 2 looks the same as the original, is made of similar materials, and comes in similar colors.
It’s easy to think, “Why reinvent the wheel?” or “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and that perspective makes sense when looking at the new console. However, I believe that even though it deviates from the pattern of Nintendo’s last three consoles—each being either an improvement on the previous model or something entirely new—the Switch 2 will be crucial for Nintendo’s future.
For starters, while the original Switch was an impressive portable device, its performance was significantly limited. In recent years, the graphical demands of modern games have skyrocketed. For example, titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom constantly render a massive open world at only 30-40 frames per second. These newer games require far more power than those released eight years ago when the Switch first launched. This highlights how the aging hardware of the original Switch is holding back Nintendo’s ability to push graphical boundaries. Given that the current hardware is slipping into obsolescence, it’s only logical for Nintendo to develop something new.
Although it is not a complete innovation in the gaming world, the Switch 2 will possess new graphical requirements that will allow the company to make new games with new graphical elements that would otherwise not be able to be achieved with the original Switch. This means new, expansive worlds with immersive landscapes, visual features, and exclusive titles made specifically for the Switch 2.
Another benefit of having an updated version of the original Switch is that it will not be an entirely exclusive console, as games on the original Switch will be “backward compatible” with the Switch 2. This is huge, as those who would like access to exclusive Switch 2 titles can buy one but still be able to play games from their old console. This saves consumers money, as they will not have to re-purchase, let’s say, a “deluxe” version of a game made specifically for the new Console, as Nintendo has done with games ported to the Switch from the Wii U as they have with Mario Bros. 3D World. Additionally, this will mean that 3rd party and indie game developers should easily be able to port their games to the new Switch, allowing them to take advantage of the new console’s platform and graphical capabilities while also offering their games to those who do not wish to upgrade.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is undoubtedly a “switch-up” for Nintendo. While not a drastic innovation, the console allows consumers to play games with improved hardware, allowing for better performance and increased graphical capabilities. The console will also allow Nintendo to produce higher quality games with larger worlds that can exploit the new system even more than they have with the original Switch. As shown through the countless games created to this day for an almost 8-year-old console, I am excited to see what games are available on the new Switch 2.
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