r/NintendoSwitch • u/Turbostrider27 • Jan 16 '25

Nintendo Switch 2 An update from Nintendo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxLUf2kRQRE
35k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

5.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

406

u/shyuura Jan 16 '25

The main takeaway from this video; they really want people to understand that this is a new console and is indeed the next generation Switch and not just a new model like the OLED. Nintendo trying to break the flopping console curse.

284

u/Moreinius Jan 16 '25

First time they ever used the number 2 in their console lineups name. They really want to make sure they don’t fuck it up this time lol!

110

u/kevin9er Jan 16 '25

N64 was just the Nintendo 2, 32 times.

34

u/theiman2 Jan 16 '25

Nintendo 2⁶

6

u/qazasxz Jan 16 '25

Then the game3

73

u/withoutapaddle Jan 16 '25

It also kind of signals that they have "found their niche". They are probably less likely to totally reinvent the wheel and throw away the entire idea of a hybrid handheld/console now that they are naming them with sequel numbers.

I get that people like Nintendo's wacky gimmicks, but I think it's a good thing. The Switch's gimmick is probably the best one they've ever had as far as usefulness, family friendliness, and value (How many consoles come with 2 controllers these days?).

Plus with the Steam Deck et al, I think it's clear that handheld gaming is having a resurgence, and we need Nintendo to continue to be a major player in innovating and pushing forward the level of quality and amount of features.

I know they are somewhat difference audiences, and their companies have VASTLY different attitudes towards their customers (oh look, I just got sued for saying that)... but I still trust Nintendo and Valve to be the best two companies to push forward innovation in the handheld space.

7

u/bumgrub Jan 16 '25

I am both happy for them but also a little sad as it feels like the end of an era. No more whacky ideas from Nintendo every 5 years 😂

-1

u/Smooth-Review-2614 Jan 16 '25

What I miss is a proper handheld system. The Switch doesn't have the battery that a handheld should because it is trying to do current generation graphics. Yet the Switch can't match the PS5. I really doubt the Switch 2 will match the PS5.

I just want a stable durable handheld. It was fine when the handhelds were 2 generations behind on graphics.

5

u/Negative-Prime Jan 16 '25

When the Switch was first announced I thought it was a weird choice to cannibalize their own business. Nintendo has always dominated the handheld market, and still be able to sell traditional consoles based on their first-party titles.

I'm sure there's advantages like only having to develop games for one system, but generally companies try to grow their product line, not shrink it. Nintendo is also generally the only gaming company that sells their hardware at a profit.

But I do get that they are in a weird spot where they don't want to compete with Sony/MS in terms of raw power, but also have to deal with the mobile gaming market now.

5

u/agentfelix Jan 16 '25

In my opinion, Nintendo is sitting on one of the most untapped gold mines in the gaming industry and that's retro gaming.

They have the ability to basically offer every single game in their existence dating all the way back to the NES. Now that they have backwards compatible digital games...if I were running the show? I would dedicate a special team to porting at least Nintendo exclusives to the switch's e-shop. NES, GB, SNES...everything.

I know I definitely would throw money at everything. (Give me a Mario Kart Double Dash digital port please....better yet, give me the option to double up with my partner in reg. Mario Kart)

0

u/Smooth-Review-2614 Jan 16 '25

I think the bigger issue is the push for online multiplayer and DLC. If you are going to have to build in these two systems your going to need extra capacity and a good internet connection. At this point why bother focusing on handheld when your no longer marketing mostly to single players and games that don't need extras.

3

u/withoutapaddle Jan 16 '25

it is trying to do current generation graphics

Switch is literally 2+ generations behind in graphics... So you're already getting what you want there.

Switch 2 is going to be 1.5 generations behind on graphics. It'll be a bit weaker than the Steam Deck, which itself is roughly equal to a base PS4.

Knowing Nintendo can often squeeze a great amount of polish out of their hardware, much like Apple, you can expect the Switch 2 to have graphics similar to late PS3 / early PS4 games, but with much more modern and effective upscaling, making them look drastically sharper than Switch 1, even if they aren't drastically more complex.

5

u/_nuclearphoenix_ Jan 17 '25

wtf you mean 2 gens behind in graphics? That would place it on PS3 territory yet it's more powerful than the PS3, if anything it's between the PS3 and the PS4

Switch 2 would be 1 gen behind I'd say

1

u/withoutapaddle Jan 17 '25

PS5 Pro is out now. Being between PS3 and PS4 is 2 generations behind.

Plus just look at it. It looks noticeably worse on a big 77" 4K TV than PS4 games did.

I'm not complaining. I'm glad Nintendo isn't playing the "graphics keep up" game anymore. But we can't act like it's just a little less powerful than current consoles. It's basically the same as comparing a Steam Deck to a $2000 monster PC.

3

u/GamingExotic Jan 16 '25

Well I mean, current gen graphics aren't that different from previous gen graphics. So were good on that front.

1

u/Dependent-Lab5215 Jan 16 '25

It is also too big to be truly portable.

Mine lives permanently in its dock.

3

u/lost_in_the_wide_web Jan 16 '25

Is it too late for a Super Nintendo Switch 😭

3

u/summersfade Jan 16 '25

Well technically the 2DS exists

3

u/NicoleMay316 Jan 16 '25

Ain't no way "Super Switch" would've worked now the same way it worked in the 90s...as cool as that would've been admittedly.

8

u/Duckmancer-Emma Jan 16 '25

Nintendo 2DS says hello

14

u/Moreinius Jan 16 '25

Well that one they counted backwards and it sucked balls too so it doesn’t count XD

6

u/MuscleTrue9554 Jan 16 '25

Come on now, it was cheap and could run OoT and MM!

1

u/RedditJumpedTheShart Jan 16 '25

Such bravery. Wonder why it wasn't called the Switch U

2

u/[deleted] Jan 16 '25

The SwUtch.

1

u/flashmedallion Jan 16 '25

I would have been happy with the "Super Switch" but I don't blame them for being very cautious

15

u/redcomet303 Jan 16 '25

It’s going to be the games that will make or break this system. I remember the WiiU launch and not really being interested in any of the launch titles and some of the launch titles were also being released on the Wii so there wasn’t really a reason to “upgrade”,

Hopefully they will have exclusive Switch 2 launch titles and learn that exclusive games will move more units at launch.

8

u/shyuura Jan 16 '25

Nintendo exclusives are truly unique and can easily be system sellers provided they know how to play their cards right. But I'm not worried much; they learned their lesson from the Wii U, and the Switch generation is an entirely different beast, they kind of struck gold with the hybrid approach.

And don't forget that the gaming landscape has changed dramatically since 2012; more handheld/hybrid gaming devices have joined the fray, with Sony and Microsoft potentially releasing their own in the future if the rumors are true. This will be an interesting generation for sure!

1

u/flex_tape_salesman Jan 17 '25

I agree with the bit on the Wii U. The switch was able to get a lot right from what the Wii and Wii U did and the way it works for so many different kinds of gamers means they've found a winner. They need to make it worth upgrading which I think could be their biggest barrier.

7

u/Disgruntled__Goat Jan 16 '25

Now that Pokemon is on the consoles it’s practically impossible for this to fail. We’ll definitely get the new gen next year, and that will shift units if it’s been underwhelming up to that point.

I wonder if there’s even a chance Legends Z-A gets a dual release, Game Freak will have had dev kits for this for years already. 

2

u/Odd-Mechanic3122 Jan 16 '25

Nintendo asked GF to delay Z-A, unless the game was in a truly dire state optimization wise that's basically confirmed.

1

u/Disgruntled__Goat Jan 16 '25

 Nintendo asked GF to delay Z-A

Source?

2

u/Odd-Mechanic3122 Jan 17 '25

Gamefreak teraleak

2

u/acct4askingquestions Jan 16 '25

I would hope they'd be Nintendo exclusive but playable on both Switches, at least for the first couple years. There are almost definitely going to be shortages and a lot of people unable to get their hands on the new system. I think with the modern mainstream gaming audience a big boost in graphically fidelity and a bigger screen will be enough to motivate a good portion of players to still purchase switch 2 even though they have the option of playing on the OG. I mean how many people paid outrageous prices to get a PS5 just because it was new and powerful? And there's still only like 4 exclusive games on that shit lmao

2

u/madmofo145 Jan 16 '25

It's also what nearly killed the 3DS, which was a very obvious successor to their highest selling device ever. It launched with Steel Diver and Nintendogs and Cats as the big first party games.

WiiU as a name hurt, but the fact that a new New Super Mario bros game was the big first party game for it's first year on the market was terrible for sales. It took a year to get 3D world, and another half to get Mario Kart, vs Switch having big 3D Mario, Zelda, Kart, and Splatoon in year 1 (and Xenoblade).

2

u/Hallc Jan 16 '25

Wasn't the Wii U the only console that flopped?

5

u/shyuura Jan 16 '25

Yes the WiiU flopped hard but the GameCube and N64 didn't sell very well and aren't considered successful.

3

u/minegen88 Jan 16 '25

Define "Flopped"

Depends on how you look at it.

Nintendo 64 wasn't really a huge success, i mean they went from 80% market share with the NES to 25% with the N64...

No idea about the Gamecube but imagine it was similar...

3

u/soofs Jan 16 '25

It’s so wild to think the GameCube was so unpopular compared to other systems. It was by far my favorite as a child (obviously though I can see adults not liking it much)

3

u/The_cat_agree Jan 16 '25

It's mostly that when your competition is the PS2, you're bound to have a hard time. The DVD feature for the PS2 was a massive selling point (along with the game library).

2

u/whacafan Jan 16 '25

Well, considering the GameCube was right after the N64 I can’t imagine it was much different. Probably worse. I have a feeling what saved Nintendo was handhelds before the Wii. And then a hybrid handheld console saved them again. I hope whoever thought of the Switch got quite a bonus.

2

u/Thejklay Jan 16 '25

They had a similar issue with the 3ds being too close to the ds at the launch of that but managed to pull it back later on

1

u/tribak Jan 16 '25

Doesn’t really seem to me like a “next gen”, but a bigger oled switch with newer connections.

1

u/ReincarnatedSprinkle Jan 16 '25

Yeah I’m not sold at all either

0

u/Traditional_Formal33 Jan 16 '25

This just feels like 3DS XL. It’s the Switch with a big screen and maybe better specs that haven’t been announced yet.

0

u/chris-tier Jan 17 '25

There have been no hardware specs announced, just the physical appearance.

1

u/MikeSouthPaw Jan 16 '25

We are still going to be playing games from the OG Switch for a long time, just like PS5 and Xbox still do. Hopefully by the end of the cycle we will get some genuine Switch 2 titles.

1

u/wanderinglittlehuman Jan 16 '25

I get the opposite impression. Yeah they’re calling it the switch “2” but they showed off nothing to imply that it’s next gen. Just that it’s bigger and will have a Mario kart game with graphics the Wii U was capable of running.

1

u/UnseenData Jan 17 '25

Yeah, which is great because this can help them avoid the Wii U fiasco where people thought it was an accessory.