The Nintendo Switch 2 was finally shown off yesterday during Nintendo's dedicated direct. As we await the arrival of the successor this June, our send-off begins for our beloved original Switch consoles.
In an hour-long presentation, Nintendo showcased the Switch 2, its new features, games, and pre-order information. There is quite a lot to dig through, and we needed to gather our thoughts on what we got to see,
Now that the dust has settled, and we await more information in the upcoming Nintendo Treehouse presentations, we want to share our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2.
When the original Switch arrived back in 2017, it was revolutionary. The hybrid form factor alone was a talking point that would impact the industry, sparking a new wave of handheld PCs that birthed the popular Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and more.
At launch, Nintendo wowed us with titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and continued to bring out modern-day classics with each new release. The original Switch also revitalised many Wii U titles that did not get their time in the sun, thanks to the Wii U's failure to make a mark in the industry.
At the twilight of the original Switch, Nintendo has decided to upgrade its most successful console since the Wii instead of breaking the mold and innovating. Looking at the consensus online, fans are mostly happy with the decision to keep things similar for the console itself, but the steep price point of software and the use of cartridges as physical keys have not gone down well.
Alister's Switch 2 Thoughts
For me, the Switch 2 would be a day-one purchase, even if Nintendo made it triangle-shaped with baseball bat-sized controllers. The original Switch is my most played console of all time, and even more than seven years after its launch, I still play on it regularly.
Finally getting to see the next version of the Switch was just as exciting as seeing the original. I am glad they kept things similar, like when the DS moved to the 3DS. Why fix something that isn't broken? The game lineup is superb, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Mario Kart World come launch day.
The strange omission for me is again having no mainline Mario platformer at launch. Yes, the Switch also launched without a day-one Mario game (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe came out a month after), and we had to wait over half a year for Super Mario Odyssey. I had predicted that we would see Odyssey 2 at launch, as it has been seven and a half years since the first game was released.
Instead, we got a brand new 3D Donkey Kong game set for launch a month after the console arrived. Donkey Kong Bananza is set to release on July 17, and it looks incredible. Appearing to be an open-world platformer featuring everyone's favorite gorilla, Bananza will do fine instead of a 3D Mario game for the Switch 2.
Outside of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, we saw many new upcoming titles for the Switch 2. From the return of WWE2K to an exclusive multiplayer-focused FromSoftware title, The Duskbloods, there is an eclectic mix for everyone to find something they will enjoy.
Finally, Nintendo seems to have listened to fans regarding the social aspect of online gaming. New features like Game Chat allow you to speak with your friends and see them on screen if they buy the camera add-on. Watching your friend's gameplay on screen, even on different games from the one you are playing, is very appealing - it will be like having your own private interactive Twitch stream!
So, if I snag an 'invite' to pre-order, the Switch 2 will undoubtedly be a day-one purchase for me. Obviously, the Mario Kart World bundle is the way to go.
But that's just my humble opinion, and you could say I am a tad biased about the Switch 2 after my wonderful seven-plus years with the original. I will hand you over to the phenomenal Feliciano for his round-up of the event.
Feliciano's Switch 2 Thoughts
While Alister’s enthusiasm for the Nintendo Switch 2 is commendable, I’ve grown more hesitant about it the more information I have about it. There’s a clear issue creeping into Nintendo’s business model with this new console. The inconsistent pricing of cartridges and upgrade packs could alienate gamers on a tight budget. Sure, the $449 price point for the successor console is understandable, but this newly established trend of $80 games is a slippery slope for the industry.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the Nintendo Switch 2 and am excited to get my hands on it. But it’s getting harder to defend Nintendo as their games become increasingly expensive. Take the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, for example. It’s a tech demo meant to showcase the console’s capabilities, yet it’s locked behind a paywall. If Sony’s Astro Bot was available for free to highlight the PlayStation 5’s features, Nintendo could easily do the same.
I won’t be purchasing the Nintendo Switch 2 on day one. Getting one in my country will be difficult without dealing with scalpers and high taxes. However, I’m eager to see the lineup of third-party titles and exclusives. The Duskbloods, FromSoftware’s latest IP, looks promising—though it’s essentially another take on Elden Ring: Nightreign. Many believe it’s the next Bloodborne, but it’s not. I also worry about having to suffer playing a game at 30 fps that I could easily play at 60 on a Steam Deck.
That said, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic successor to Nintendo’s best-selling console. However, these evolving business practices might hurt longtime consumers in the long run. Nintendo hasn’t been consumer-friendly since time immemorial, but at least they still have the passion to deliver some of the best video games with the most outlandish gimmicks. I’m particularly excited about that open-world Donkey Kong game.
For now, I’ll be holding onto my original Switch—there are still plenty of JRPGs in my backlog to get through. If Nintendo wants to pull me back for the Switch 2, another open-world Zelda might do the trick.
Final Thoughts
That about concludes our thoughts on the Switch 2. As you can see, consumers' different viewpoints have resulted in varying levels of excitement. For the most part, owners of the original Switch have appeared to be interested in purchasing the new device, albeit with some apprehensions regarding costs and game delivery methods.
We will have more for you on all things Switch 2 later once we get to see a deeper dive of the games during the upcoming Nintendo Treehouse presentations.
If you want to grab a Switch 2 for yourself, click here to check out availability on popular retailers' websites.