Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell ruminates on the perfect end to a glorious Nintendo generation...
When looking back at a console’s lifespan, there’s always a game that heralded The End before the successor arrived. A swan song game; one final impactful release before unplugging the AV/HDMI cables, wrapping up the controllers, and packing up the console itself to make room for the next.
Since the GameCube, Zelda games have fulfilled this role for Nintendo generations. The colourful cubical console had a clear finale when Twilight Princess released for both it and the Wii around the same time. For the Wii itself, Skyward Sword was its farewell title, even though it came out a year before the Wii U — no game in that timespan surpassed Link's Wiimote wagging adventure. The Wii U barely had a pulse in a commercial sense, but it concluded on one of the highest notes imaginable: a 'lesser' but completely playable version of Breath of the Wild.
Now, as we’ve passed the Nintendo Switch’s sixth birthday, if The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom isn’t exactly the handheld hybrid’s swan song, it really should be – and for more reasons than to keep this Triforce-themed cycle going.
When I look back on the Switch years from now, I want all those fond memories bookended by two of the best Zelda games ever made, not a string of increasingly technically flawed titles and a trickle of mediocre releases as we wait for the next generation. Of course, I realise that the Switch isn’t dead. It is, after all, Nintendo’s best-selling console after the mighty DS and one I consider to be the best ever made, despite how far it lags behind its contemporaries in terms of raw power. With such a massive install base, I have a hunch that other developers will continue to squeeze Lon Lon Milk out of it for a few more years. I mean, Ubisoft released a Just Dance game as recently as 2020 for the Wii. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got Just Dance 2027 on Switch.
I hope Nintendo, however, calls it a day for publishing and development sooner rather than later, ending once again on a Zelda-themed high note. Switch sales are in decline. Despite the massive hype around Tears of the Kingdom, which will surely do wonders for the company's FY2024 financials, Nintendo has had to revise its sales forecasts again after a disappointing 2022 holiday season, leading to a hardware sales decrease of 22.1% over the previous fiscal year. Gone are the days of the Switch’s dominance; as production capacity begins to meet demand for its home console competitors, the gap between Switch and the competition inevitably shrinks.
Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long, yet it’s not difficult to see why it’s happening now. I upgraded to a 4K monitor last year, and other than first-party games with superb art direction like Super Mario Odyssey, it’s increasingly difficult to jump from other platforms back to the Switch. Experiencing Horizon: Forbidden West’s dense, vivid take on a post-apocalyptic American West at the same time as Pokémon Legends: Arceus made the latter’s muddy aesthetic much more difficult to accept.
It isn’t just the big titles. Games made independently or from smaller studios suffer from increasing performance issues. I’ve reviewed some of them for Nintendo Life: the Switch’s hardware let down both Bramble The Mountain King and Afterimage, leading me to recommend playing otherwise great games elsewhere if possible.
Even Breath of the Wild – a launch title – dropped frames in Great Hyrule Forest like Mario dropping a baby penguin off a cliff. The Switch has, from the very beginning, been pushed to its limit by Nintendo, and Link’s new Ultrahand ability in Tears of the Kingdom seems to be another test for the system. Tears of the Kingdom is one of the Switch’s best-looking games as well as a technological marvel given the circumstances of its platform. It’s a bar that I don’t think any other upcoming title — certainly third-party games — can reach, and I can’t help but dream about how much better new, innovative ideas like the Ultrahand would run on more powerful hardware. I mean, certain areas of Breath of the Wild were left out because of the Wii U’s inability to cope. Have we missed out on incredible Nintendo treats this time thanks to the hardware?
That said, the sparser amount of must-own titles in recent months and perhaps for the rest of the year probably played a larger role in the Switch sales slump than the lagging technical performance. Many interested in Tears of the Kingdom likely already bought a Switch to play its predecessor, and I can’t see the upcoming first-party lineup moving the needle for prospective new Switch owners — not without some serious discounts.
July’s Pikmin 4, despite how excited I am for it, won't push hardware sales, nor does it have the same gravitas that would define the end of a console’s life. Metroid Prime 4 is prime (sorry) swan song material, yet all we have to show since its initial reveal is a logo, an apology, and years of ominous silence. And Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero? With how disappointing the base game's performance was, the DLC threatens to leave behind a taste as bitter as a Sinistea.
Even if the next Nintendo Direct rolls around – likely not until September, though there’s a chance to see some reveals at Summer Games Fest – and Nintendo shows a full-blown Bowser’s Fury successor or actually gives us a firm look at Metroid Prime 4 to extend the Switch’s impressive run, that would be great, but it would also feel a little like Ubisoft wringing every last drop of Lon Lon Milk. I can only imagine that the scope of those games would benefit from the extra grunt of a heavily rumoured successor.
There’s a good chance – more than likely, I’d wager – that a few games will straddle both the Switch and the Super Switch HD Pro, much like past Zelda games have done, and that’s fine. Perhaps Samus can take on the cross-gen mantle from Link. The thought of playing the next lineup of Nintendo games on hardware that could output higher-res visuals and run at a standardised 60 FPS would make upgrading to play these hypothetical Nintendo games well worth it.
Regardless, it feels like it's time to move on from the Switch on the highest note possible. Tears of the Kingdom is a perfect swan song. I’m confident saying no later game will look better, be more imaginative, or run as well. As Alana said in her Tears of the Kingdom review:
Much like its predecessor, this is your playground for the next however many years to come, with a little sprinkling of that older Zelda fairy dust mixed into Breath of the Wild’s formula. It’s a glorious, triumphant sequel to one of the best video games of all time; absolute unfiltered bliss to lose yourself in for hundreds of hours. We can’t wait to see what the world will do with the game.
When we look back on Nintendo Switch one, two, ten years from now, I hope our memories of its last year will be of that awe of exploring above and below Hyrule. An honourable end for an incredible console, not a slow, drawn-out decline.
Comments (176)
Pretty safe bet that it is, at least from a technical perspective.
We'll get some less taxing games like Pikmin 4, and probably one or two unannounced titles for this fall/winter, but I doubt any 1st party game will push the hardware like TOTK.
Ham sandwich.
The Switch 2 will need to be at least as Powerful as a Base PS4, which would be fine with me, Games on PS4 Still look good, even today, and perform well.
Honestly, in my opinion, this just reads like another sour grapes “Switch is underpowered” article. I’m excited about a new model too, but does that mean we have to bag on the old one ad nauseum?
It would have been cool for the last first-party release on the console to be TotK, mirroring BotW's status as a launch title, but it wouldn't be worth delaying the game lol.
"I’m confident saying no later game will look better, be more imaginative, or run as well"
Any game that runs at a steady 60fps automatically runs better than TotK. I would also argue at least a few games are better looking, although TotK does have nice art direction.
Metroid Prime 4 will be the Switch's swan song, which is not bad either!
@jmvalone I bet Metroid Prime 4 will be as powerful as this Zelda.
A "swan song" for Switch or backward compatibility for its successor. Something tells me it only makes sense to want one of these at a time.😅 But TotK is quite likely to be the grandest Switch first party project we'll see release on the console queen herself in its heyday. I don't hold any breath for Xenoblade 4 in the visible future, and even a port of X may become a crossgen release at earliest.
@Sir_Axeman by now, unless remnant logistic challenges of the CoViD era beg to differ, I dare consider even something on par with PS4 Pro or even XBSS. But I reckon it still boils down to the same few factors from striking a good deal on components (Nintendo isn't keen on selling consoles at a loss but at the same time high pricetags may still give them 3DS launch flashbacks) to solving the cooling and battery life in handheld/tabletop modes.
Still playing my Switch and Lite daily just to tackle backlog but for me I'm good with 1st party games after getting Splatoon 3 back in December except for maybe the XC3 DLC. Definitely my fave console of all time but I really think its time for a successor. I've been less excited every year and I think I already have all the games I want on this system (Persona ports were icing on the cake). Even though I still lurk and buy on the occasional eshop sale, I also find myself booting up my PS4 more often as of late to play games like Yakuza, Destiny and Cyberpunk 2077.
@Sir_Axeman It should be in PlayStation 4 Pro-territory, docked.
That's without the use of DLSS.
I'm betting a massive open world Mario game coming before the switch 2, that will be the swan song.
@Sir_Axeman Would be content on having a portable device as powerful as a PS4. Haven't tried any of the PC handhelds but based on what I've seen on Youtube with devices such as Steam Deck and AYANEO, games on it look and run similarly to a base PS4. Nintendo would have to use similar chips to make the next console reasonably priced so I think this is a good prediction.
I wouldn't of minded seeing this be the last major 1st party release (although as a Switch owner that's in no rush to see a successor appear, I won't argue if that doesn't end up the case).
Not only because it's an excellent Zelda game and a classy way to exit the scene, but also because of the Wii U fan in me.
Somehow it would please me greatly to see the Switch fade after receiving a direct sequel to the Wii U's crowning achievement, further testament that there was quite a lot to love on Nintendo's short lived and underappreciated Wii U.
@jmvalone I agree, unless they have some extraordinary title for the holidays but we saw last year they’re willing to release niche titles during that timeframe.
Why? Why not another 6 years worth of solid games instead of locking everything behind a new 400$ machine that does the same thing as the current Switch but with marginally better graphics? They do not make very much profit off consoles (compared to software), and software sales were strong even before Zelda came out.
2026 or later.
Nintendo has definitely been quiet about what Switch software is in store for the future aside from Pikmin 4 and Pokémon as well as Mario Kart DLC. I still think Metroid Prime 4 will be a cross-gen release. Nintendo honors the original platform a game was announced for as we've seen with Twilight Princess and Breath of the Wild.
It's very clear the Switch is winding down, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see some more asset reusing sequels or remakes before it truly sunsets. Metroid Prime 2 and 3 could still be remastered. We also haven't seen a Fire Emblem remake yet on Switch.
i didn't really know that an appropriate 'console closer' title was a thing. I find the concept kinda weird. Launch titles are obviously a major thing, but a console closer. idk
@spiderman0616 If it means that it might get Nintendo to listen to what it's customers want, then yes.
@Euler If you read the article, it specifically stated that the "why" has to do with a 22% decrease in Switch sales, among other reasons!
@Euler Zero chance of a successor coming out in 2026 or later. You are basing your thoughts on emotion. Nintendo is a business. They are in the emotion business...but a business none-the-less.
I think they are going to release a new console only box to compete with Sony/MS - but with the first VR killer app. I think they will continue to support the Switch with 1st party Switch/Handheld exclusives. Nothing on par with TotK - but fun.
I'm really just projecting what strategy I would use.
Absolutely loving the game. But it is let down by the hardware that is 10 years or so behind. Seeing a dragon in the distance is great. But it’s a grey something with no texture. Textures pop in constantly up close. Detail in distance is poor. It takes my eyes a bit to adjust after playing newer hardware.
Ummmm, Pikmin 4 says hello!
@smithyo you wouldnt because it's a non-concept, I have no idea what this article is trying to say
I'm tired of the Pikmin series being treated as lesser just because it's not as serious and epic as some other Nintendo franchises. It's always been just as high quality as other 1st party titles that have released around the same time and is overseen by Miyamoto himself. If Nintendo wants to round off the Switch with Pikmin 4, we have nothing to complain about.
Anyway, what really matters is the entire library of games we will look back on and judge the console for, not the final game most people played on it. If Nintendo wants to release some solid smaller titles to round off the console before and after the next gen system releases, that can only be a good thing.
Metroid Prime 4
Wait, was this an article about TOTK or just a way to talk about a next gen system?
TOO BAD, PIKMIN 4 BAYBEE!
@spiderman0616 I agree. People will remember this console fondly years later when it’s time is up regardless, why take digs at the switch now? It makes little sense
@UltimateOtaku91 I think an open world Mario is coming as well, but I think it'll be marketed as a Switch 2 game. Bowser's Fury was taxing for the Switch, and Nintendo will probably want something big to launch a new console with.
This article reminds me of the years of people begging for the 3DS software lineup to "die with honor" long before it did. The truth is, I do like to see a console still getting good and even exclusive support for a long time after the successor is out. A masterpiece like God Of War 2 on PS2 was released months after the PS3 was already out. The whole mania of ending all support for the predecessor the moment the success is ready was just a necessity with unsuccessful consoles or when their last years were particularly bad (i.e. N64 and Wii). In short, I hope the Switch enjoys a good long drawn fadeout like so many greats in the past like the NES and PS2.
I think by summer begin the Game will win many acclaims and out play BOTW going forward. With DLC coming that will drive the sales more.
Metroid Prime 4 will be the final major first party release for Nintendo Switch and will end the Switch era.
It's the last "AAA" Nintendo title in this generation, for sure. I think Prime 4 will be available for the Next Nintendo console. But i believe the Switch will receive exclusive titles until early 2025. Remember, Kirby Extra Epic Yarn arrived at the 3ds in 2019, shocking a lot of people.
@Yomerodes yeah, I don’t ever get why people want a console to “die with honor” or stuff like that. The switch should continue even when a new console comes out in a few years time. Why are people so quick to say a console should end on the spot, especially if it’s the best console of this generation?
@Ade117 i talked with Nate Drake at Famiboard and he ansewered to me Metroid Prime 4 will be a Switch only release, acording to him, more Switch games will come after Metroid Prime 4 release.
Im pretty sure prime 4 will be switch final big game especially since nintendo confirmed it development with retro is going really well plus hope they release remaster editions of prime 2 and 3 before 4 release.
I have no idea what Nintendo's doing with the next Switch iteration or new console. Logically selling it alongside Zelda TOTK would have made a lot of sense, as Zelda and new iterations/console releases go hand in hand, but that didn't happen and Nintendo broke that trend (especially when Metroid Dread launched with the OLED). It's probably a little further out than we think, based on 2023 support for games like Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8 DLC, and Pokemon Gen 9. A mid-2024 launch alongside a cross-gen release of Metriod Prime 4 seems like the leading possibility now of what may come next. If it is a true sequel console, I'm also sure a bunch of Nintendo's upcoming titles will likely be cross-gen
I think a new 3d Mario game or Metroid prime 4 will be the last major first party game for the switch.
@Euler I am not a huge specs freak, but it’s obvious that developers are having issues with the Switch when you look at how games are performing compared to other systems. Not talking AAA, but just simple platformers and other games that shouldn’t be too demanding on a system. Since the release schedule is bone dry for the rest of the year, Pikmin 4 notwithstanding, I bet we see a new system in the second half of 2024.
I don't see a Switch successor any time soon, but don't think there will be a better game to "end an era" like TotK. I think if Nintendo decide to release a new Mario Kart or Animal Crossing, then we will see a new Switch. But we'll probably still see a few average looking Pokémon games before then 😬🤦♂️
@Axecon the next switch successor will probably be a hybrid system like the switch reason why they shouldnt change it besides making switch 2 more powerful then the current switch.
@antisumo Nintendo alrdy stated any info on switch successor will be in 2024.
When did RGT85 start writing for NL ?
nintendo successor will be in 2024 surprised many switch fans think 2025 will be the year that is not going to happen..
This article is insulting to Pikmin 4. C’mon now! That’s a big game too and it comes after!
… even though it would’ve been a poetic end.
Sort of feel like Prime 4 may be the real swan song.
I love my Switch and happy the way it is, and I don't think the grass would be greener. A more powerful Switch would bring with it a lower battery life, louder fan etc like the Steam Deck, but then I treat my Switch like a handheld and not a console
I think splatoon 3 was an indication of how long the switch has left in its life cycle, they have said splatoon 3 will be supported for 2 years meaning it would finish in September 2024, with splatoon 4 most likely releasing on the switch 2 in 2025. That's plenty enough time for Nintendo to release some more heavy hitters on the switch such as a big mario game, metroid prime 4 and another pokemon game.
TOTK would be the perfect swansong but we know a new system is at least a year away.
However, there is still no reason why the Switch can't go out with a bang.
One last holiday season coming up, as long as they can announce 1 AA game and perhaps a price drop the Switch should still be able to sell strong enough before a successor launches in 2024.
@antisumo why would you think that nintendo made the switch really well so im pretty sure they ll make switch 2 good system with a long battery life,better specs, and improvements to the cooling system along with more storage.
@Ralizah Well I was kinda predicting a big mario game this year with the movie as a way to drum up more potential buyers, so hopefully the next direct will clear that up. But yeah if no Mario game is coming this year then I can't see one releasing until the switch 2 but maybe it will be like Zelda BoTW and release on both new and old systems on release.
I think they should start winding down support for Switch and holding back whatever they are still making for it for the next machine. Not because I think the Switch is in dire need of a successor- I’m still wowed by what it can do and at no point playing TotK or Prime Remastered or recent ports like Persona 5 or Nier Automata have I thought “damn, this needs to be on better hardware”. I just think it’s going to happen at some point anyway, third parties are likely going to start thinning out support as developing for Switch alongside PS5/Series/newer PCs gets harder (even though big third party ports are far and few between there are still big IPs like Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter that I’m sure those publishers would want on Nintendo alongside other platforms). A big part of the Switch getting such a strong start and maintaining that was the barrage of quality first party games in that first year, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Switch slowly die out in aid of the next machine getting a steady stream of great exclusives. If TotK is it’s swan song it’s one hell of a way to go out
The Switch is going nowhere.
Switch means life.
I've been feeling the Switch needs a tech upgrade for a while. My PC can run games at 144hz in 1440p and they look so much better than what the Switch can do...
But then I play a few hours of Tears of the Kingdom and for some reason that doesn't matter at all anymore.
@RiasGremory portable handhelds are always going to struggle if you make it as powerful as say a PS4. They would have to juggle battery life with still keeping it handheld. Nintendo still need to keep it vaguely aimed at kids so a behemoth like Steam Deck won't cut it. Just my opinion, and I hope I'm wrong!
@antisumo dude nintendo pretty much dominates the handheld market i dont see them having any trouble in the department especially switch sales speak for itself and besides they wont get rid of home console side of it especially since most people like me prefer to play on tv but give others to play on the go.
While a very good game. I have to give it to Metroid Prime. That game is just amazing from start to finish.
I predict that there are going to be a lot of jaws on the floor in the next two years. Everyone and his dog has convinced themselves that the next system is just going to be "the Switch, but more powerful". It could just as easily happen that Nintendo's R&D team could look at machines like the Ayaneo and the Steam Deck, decide "The 'Switch 2' idea isn't innovative enough", and try something else entirely different.
Maybe I get hyped by games differently. An amazing game like TotK says “keep going!” to me, rather than “retirement time”! We still have metroid and pikmin on the way. And Nintendo has essentially put out something every month. They are NOT doing that on Sony and MS’s systems. Games make a system great not specs. Otherwise people (granted some people do) would drop the old entirely when the new shiny comes out. Yet people are vocal for BC (it isn’t the game changer some think it is ) and old catalog access. Just enjoy the games.
@Euler What's the line in your opinion, where it becomes necessary to launch new hardware? I'd imagine Nintendo would want a new system to release when there is still good momentum to help ensure a smooth transition. If they wait for Switch hardware and software sales to slow to a crawl, they'd have to work harder to start with a bang again.
This is how the last year has gone for software sales has gone for Switch:
November 21 software total – 681.00 million
February 22 software total – 766.41 million (85 million approx increase)
May 22 software total – 822.18 million (56 million approx increase)
August 22 software total – 863.59 million (41 million approx increase)
November 22 software total – 917.59 million (54 million increase)
February 23 software total – 994.30 million (77 million approx increase)
May 23 software total – 1,036.15 million (42 million approx increase)
So far each quarter in 2023 has has slower growth compared to the same period in 2022. Still strong, but a decline is setting in on the both the software and hardware fronts. TotK will clean up the sales charts, but we have little clue as to what else is coming after that game, and the back catalogue can only do so much. The 4th entries of Pikmin and Metroid Prime will do well, but undoubtedly smaller numbers than a Zelda or Mario, so what else is coming this year? If we don't get answers soon, that decline will only continue.
@RiasGremory dude like I said, I hope I'm wrong! Nintendo are the masters of handhelds, but even they can't make a battery last that long, but to be honest I don't think the "Switch 2" has to be much more powerful, but then who knows what Nintendo will do, they might keep a similar spec and go down a completely different route that no one has thought about, they're not afraid to innovate when something is pretty much perfect for the market
It would certainly be the most fitting and elegant exit for Switch. Almost too perfect.
As long as the Switch Pro or whatever it's called can achieve native 1080p/60fps for all games, I'll be satisfied. I don't think Nintendo will start a new console generation with how strong software sales still are. So I'm hoping for the sacred Pro to come out this holiday season or next Spring.
"July’s Pikmin 4, despite how excited I am for it, won't push hardware sales, nor does it have the same gravitas that would define the end of a console’s life."'
Why do I hear a blue puppet angrily screeching in the distance?
Why? The console is great and there is no problem with it being on the market for the next decade. The hardware is satisfactory already, it's time to give up this wild goose chase for better graphics
Nintendo doesnt need any big thing right now. Mario Movie is one of the biggest animations out there, and Zelda will do great.
@UltimateOtaku91 Exactly, I’m glad I’m not the only one who takes Splatoon 3’s DLC roadmap into account. Splatoon 3 being finished by the end of 2024 is why I’m not expecting Super Switch until late 2024 or early 2025.
Things are admittedly very dry and silent right now but that could change if Nintendo announces big games like a 2D Mario in their typical September Direct with still no new hardware anytime soon. Nintendo had to hurry with hardware last time because of the failed Wii U. With Switch these days, there should simply be no rush.
This year won't be the year, but they could reveal it just before Gamescom for,2024. I reckon this year we will have a dlc Christmas with pikmin 4 and Zelda dlc for next year?!. And then they will release a new switch with me complete versions of both of them. Or upgrade them on the new system.
@NewAdvent "fact is that companies with handheld PCs are catching up in their appeal"
Steam Deck - 3 million units sold
Switch - 125 million units
"Catching up", lol yeah, OK. Not denying that the Steam Deck has carved out a little niche for itself, but that's all it is, and all it ever will be - a niche. It doesn't have the same crossover appeal the Switch does.
@ArcadianLegend99 Steam Deck has been on the market a little over a year and was supply restrained until around october. I'd say that 3 million sold is quite impressive all given.
@antisumo technology has advanced. Why not keep the iPhone 1? It’s cool to enjoy what you have but Zelda is hurt because of old tech. Pop up, poor view distance etc take you out of this incredible world. Switch isn’t even PS4 level.
Is Pikmin 4 not coming out soon?
We also should have metroid prime 4 by the end of the year. Granted it could be next gen only but I doubt it.
We also have dlc for the latest Pokémon game.
I really doubt nintendo are done with the switch. I want the next gen but its not a necessity if apparently the best game to date for the console has only just released .
Don’t understand why anyone would want TotK to be Switch’s last great game. We should be hoping for several more great games. The Switch lifecycle has been tremendous for Nintendo fans. There is no guarantee the next system will enjoy the same success. Three years from now Nintendo could be in a much different place and the opinion pieces on Nintendo Life will be yearning for the days of the Switch. My view is to ride this success wave as long as possible. Nobody knows what the next system may bring.
We've been waiting for Pikmin 4 since the Switch was still the NX, I think that'll be just as good a swansong!
@Altaria_97 switch pro isnt happening that time has come and gone its going to be switch 2.
but what about the upcoming Untitled Swan Game
I mean.. there's no need to drop it so quickly. Other than the Wii U no other 8th gen system was dropped immediately after its successor's release. Not the 3DS, Xbox One, or the PS4.
@shgamer Again, not saying that it's not impressive - the dude I was replying to implied that the Deck's limited success meant that Ninty needed to stop dragging its heels and release the Switch's successor now now now now now NOW in order to even have a remote chance of competing. I'm just sick and tired of hearing the Deck constantly being trotted out as a "Switch-killer", is all. If anything the Deck actually has more chances of killing off the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
@WOLF13 the pop up and draw distance really doesn't bother me, neither does the FPS, I really don't need 60fps. If the game is good, which it is, then I'm just dandy. Technology is advancing, I'm not denying that, and like I said, I hope I'm wrong. But the Switch for me is pretty much perfect, developers are pushing it to its limits (except GameFreak 😬) and when they do the games are fantastic, even the supposed lack of power
"I hope Nintendo, however, calls it a day for publishing and development sooner rather than later, ending once again on a Zelda-themed high note. Switch sales are in decline."
Sorry, this is sich a garbage. Switch isn't in "decline" yet. Their most recent ports are even breaking milestones. If anything it is at a plataeu. Reached a possible pinnacle. But that does not mean we need to abandon the development for the new system now because we have been so conditioned that every 4 years is "enough." We have had this conversation every year since.
But Switch has a massive momentum, and no real contender because their titan rivals struggle to even GET their systems out to the consumer. Why would Nintendo toss their hat in THAT?
@old-dad He has to make extra money now ever since Nintendo black balled him lol. This is his pseudonym pen name.
I still have plenty of games to catch up on my Switch. I have an Xbox Series S and while there are some great titles like Elden Ring and Psychonauts 2 that I know will never come to the Switch, I'm still playing my Switch a lot more. At the end of the day, it comes down to playing fun games in the most convenient way, and in that regard, Nintendo hands down still dominates. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm pumped for the next Nintendo console, but I'm savoring this time with what has become my favorite console of all time, the Switch.
@Paraka "But Switch has a massive momentum, and no real contender because their titan rivals struggle to even GET their systems out to the consumer. Why would Nintendo toss their hat in THAT?"
^THIS. ALL OF IT. Related anecdote: I've never even seen a PS5 in person, and the only systems I've seen stocked over the past three years in stores are the Switch and the Series S, and only the Switch with anything approaching regularity.
So it begins. Now we all start talking about the successor. It will be really hard to let go of my Switch, that is for sure. Of course I am happy to get a worthy successor.
Really let us not forget about Pikmin 4. It will be another kind of game, but great nonetheless. And maybe there will be some secret games. Who knows?
I will never understand people being obsessed with power & performance but owning a switch and constantly complaining about it. The switch was old tech when it released in 2017 maybe it just isn’t for you cause there are tons of more powerful options in the gaming space. I knew what I was getting when I bought my switch and I love the thing.
If I cared about power & performance I wouldn’t have bought one. I have way more powerful consoles that I barely play cause while they are pretty & powerful that isn’t why I play games those more powerful systems are kinda soulless and to me those games aren’t that fun.
I’ve played a ton of TOTK the last couple days and I haven’t thought about 4k/60fps once and I’ve been hooked. I’ve never enjoyed any PS5 game to this level.
@Narrator1 I seriously hope that they don’t do something radically different from the Switch. They’d be stupid to, honestly.
And I don’t think things like Steam Deck/Aya Neo pose a huge threat. For a certain group of people maybe they’ll be lost to those devices- I know that if they come out of the gate with third party games that already run great on Steam Deck I won’t be crazy excited since I can play them there and likely for far cheaper than whatever they’d cost on Nintendo’s device. But after owning a Steam Deck for half a year I can say I wouldn’t recommend it to everybody. It’s fantastic and about as user friendly as a gaming PC can get but it’s still a PC and still requires some work on the user’s end in many cases. For anyone who just wants a no fuss device for playing games on, Steam Deck/Aya Neo etc. are not it. As long as Nintendo makes hardware that’s affordable, well supported and propped up with their own biggest IPs they’ll continue to corner that market, just as they have through every generation of handhelds
Video game quality>>>frame rates graphics
To me TotK showcases that the switch is still releasing phenomenal, legendary games and still has fuel to the fire. I hope the switch continues making great games for years to come...
... People always think they gotta get the next upgrades in frame rates and graphics. It's like the gotta have the current latest gen iPhone disease so many (addicted) people have. I can clearly tell locations and characters designs just fine. I'd rather have a machine that continually releases amazing games like the switch does than some new piece of hardware that looks pretty, but sacrifices quality. Long live the switch.
A rather pointless article when Nintendough already said Switch has some more life in it. Another year + maybe.
@BodkinDQ Amen. Almost every AAA title doesn't interest me as it's all just a graphical circle jerk now. Give me 30fps with pop in any day as long as the game has soul. Which is why Indie games are the only hope for video games to not be an endless sequel/remake cashgrab scheiße show.
@old-dad this comment deserves a million likes!
@NewAdvent The Steam Deck and that other thing that just came out (the Asus device) are competing with gaming laptops more than they are competing with Nintendo or PlayStation/Xbox. It's a more niche audience. The Steam Deck is more of giving PC gamers the power of laptop gaming on a portable handheld device. I tried it out. It's cool, but the battery life is bad and while portable, it's not the most fun device to play as a handheld as it's a little large and gets hot fast. Also, with certain games, you have to "tinker" with the device to even get them running. Most casual gamers don't want to do all of that. The Steam Deck is great for the PC gamer who doesn't want to haul around a Dell laptop for his/her gaming needs.
@SteamEngenius Validation!
This is why I love Nintendo fans: we realize it's less about latest tech and more about the quality of games as opposed to other video game machines.
I think we will see new hardware in early fy 24-25. I think this year we will see Xenoblade X and Wind Waker.
@the_beaver Personally I don't expect Prime 4 to be a Switch game at all anymore, but I agree if it does make it this generation it will be comparable.
@jmvalone Disagree on that. With Dread and Prime Remaster, they are greasing the wheels for this game. It will either be a Switch only game or a Switch and the new console game, but it's going to be on the Switch in one form or another.
@old-dad RGT85 is painful to watch. Most of that Spawnwave crew is, outside of John himself.
Nah, I cannot wait for Pikmin4, and I really hope and expect to see Prime4 too
Whoa a lot of people actually saying that Nintendo doesn’t need to have tech on par with the ps5 and series x. This actually puts a bit of a smile on my face.
I would like to see a home console that is close to PS5 (incredibly unlikely I know) in performance and that would preferably play switch games too. Then the switch can carry on as essentially the handheld option with a portable version of the new console coming in 5+ years. This would be the perfect console cycle loop imo.
Whatever happens, I think it's time all our game collections carry over indefinitely now, especially if we're heading for an all digital age. I will always buy physical if there's an option, but if that's gone, I want to know that my games will be always available to me on my account.
Not necessarily. A more modern chipset would offer more power with better energy usage.
Chances are battery life would be comparable between the two. Maybe a bit in the Switch V2 or OLED’s favor but not by much.
I suspect the Switch still has plenty of life left in it even from a first party perspective.
I think TOTK and Pikmin 4 will be the last big AAA 1st party titles for it. But I’m certain it will get one more big Pokémon game (mainline Pokémon games tend to be the last big AAA release on Nintendo’s handheld systems) along with a bunch of smaller first party titles in the A or AA category. I suspect this will go on until 2026.
I’m thinking Switch 2 will have full BC with the Switch. So that’s a good strategy there since it means that the last big Pokémon title for Switch will be able to be played by the early adopters of Switch 2 along with all the smaller 1st party games Nintendo will certainly supply the Switch with in its twilight years.
Indie developers and third party “party game” franchises will stick around on the platform for possibly five more years.
The Switch can’t end until we get a new Donkey Kong game, sorry.
There are so many games I'd already like to play on the Switch that I'll probably never get around to, I'd be happy in that sense if there was never another Nintendo console!
Of course I'd be sad about that too, but it took me over 2 years to finish BotW (a leisurely 170 hours), and I'm yet to play any of the Xenoblade Chronicles games for a start. Then there's Skyrim, Witcher 3, CrossCode, Sea of Stars, Assassin's Creed, Okami HD, Triangle Strategy, Ys VIII, Two Point Hospital, Subnautica, Dredge, not forgetting TotK, and so many more...
@BodkinDQ Exactly. Nintendo is still putting out fun games on the “inferior” Switch. I don’t think Nintendo needs to rush toward more powerful hardware just for the sake of it. If they need it to make better games, then sure, but until then, let’s just enjoy the ride. There’s still plenty of life left in the Switch!
@Greatluigi
I already have a PS5. I don’t think Nintendo needs to focus on that power race.
Primarily because the Switch is a handheld first and foremost (although I mostly play it docked, I still like taking it with me and playing in my bed on occasion) and thus it needs to have acceptable battery life.
I do expect more power than the current Switch. I think the OG Xbox One to PS4 Base (or somewhere in between) is doable with new modern chipsets while still keeping battery life and temperature at manageable levels for portable play. Use DLSS to make up the difference for docked play.
I'm moving soon to a more expensive state in the US for many reasons, so I'd rather not have to think about a new Nintendo console for quite some time while I regain financial stability. =/
Of course, the Switch also released at a not-so-great time for me back when I had returned to college and wasn't working. Nintendo loves to line things up poorly for me. lol
@Yomerodes you’re right. And the final years of the 3DS still had some decent games. I mean Nintendo produced ports/remakes of Luigi’s Mansion and Kirby’s Epic Yarn that were really good. We also got some third party stuff like Persona Q2. So even though the Switch was in full swing, there were still some decent things coming out in the final years. There’s no reason to end development on a “perfect” game when there’s still life in the console.
@BodkinDQ
I think it’s about the right expectations for the hardware.
I’m a PlayStation fan first and foremost. But I also love Nintendo’s first party game lineup.
I like the power of my PS5 and the games it has. There’s some fantastic games on PS5. And more power never hurts anything. But I like seeing developers take advantage of whatever hardware is available.
And that’s why I love Nintendo’s 1st party games. They always leverage the hardware they are on. TOTK is a beautiful game that rivals any game on my PS5 in terms of the fun factor.
I think having graphical grunt is necessary. But it’s less about just how powerful the hardware is and more about how the developer leverages the hardware. Nintendo’s internal studios punch above their weight class on the Switch. And the game needs to be good in the first place.
And thankfully, between my PS5 and my Switch I have more than enough great games to even have time to play. So I use them in different ways. Right now I’m cracked out on Zelda. In June I’ll be picking up Diablo IV and Final Fantasy XVI both of which I’m equally excited for as I was for Zelda.
@OrtadragoonX - I still believe the power race is being sorely under-capitalized. As time moves on, I have been seeing a lot of companies leverage ppwer to essentially sweep their problems under the rug. Optimization seems to be a thing of inconvenience for many of these developers.
I have gotten to the point I am willing to bet money that even the PS4 was sorely under-utilized with the power provided.
Meanwhile, NintendoLife has become ZeldaLife… I can’t seem to find any articles that aren’t about Zelda now 🧐
@Paraka
Definitely.
There’s only a real handful of games that take advantage of the hardware fully. Some games push consoles to limits but they are few and far between.
I think Horizon Forbidden West pushed the PS4 as far as it could reasonably go while still being a stable experience. That was that team’s third full game for that hardware. They had learned it better than anyone else.
Neat thought. But for me the games are about getting lost in the environment, not literally being able to find a needle in a haystack because of the high powered graphics.
I'd hope someone else has said it already, but in the limited time I've played ToTK so far, I have been completely swept away in it. And I couldn't tell you any other game since BoTW to do that — no matter how many pixels it has. Making something look damn near real doesn't make it better.
There was recently an article with highest rated games ever and top 3 being Nintendo Switch titles tells ya I'm not alone in thinking so.
It's possible someone commented this already, but I haven't seen anyone hypothesize this before: with 9th console generation game budgets requiring crunch and/or risking breaking so many studios, I hope Nintendo isn't in a hurry to join. Sony releases first-party games perhaps quarterly, leaning on third-party supplementation to fill in the release calendar. Microsoft is struggling, releasing maybe 1-2 per year. By merging home console and portable divisions, Nintendo has been able to release a first-party game monthly on average on the Switch. Expect this to slow to a halt on the next console.
Third-party studios are responding to increased development costs by making samey guaranteed hits, ceding creative territory to indies. This isn't something Nintendo will be in a hurry to participate in. It's possible (I hope not, obviously) that while now is a better time to be a gamer than any 5-year span in the past, that it's also better than any 5-year span in the future.
If we are living in a golden age, we will regret it later if we accidentally asked for it to end.
@CammyUnofficial Every console has had it's final game that was ever released during it's life cycle. This article is talking about that concept. Not too hard to figure out!
@Paraka I think people are throwing around the word "optimization" to sweep away any sound arguments to be had regarding a game's performance.
Swan's Song my *ss, they promised us Prime 4.
Switch can not keep going as Nintendos only platform for much longer and any game releasing on Switch now is a game being taken away releasing on next gen
@MrLinkTathapast It wasn't a very good article, so I mostly skimmed it. But hardware sales don't matter because the profit margin per Switch is marginal. The other two console manufacturers actually sell their consoles at a loss. Software is where the profit is, and Nintendo continues to do very well there. The number of people that want a Switch but don't have one will shrink the longer the console has been on the market. But this will increase the potential userbase for new releases, which will have a higher ceiling on the Switch than on a new console that very well could be a total flop.
@Cashews Business-wise, only four of their seven home consoles were actually successful. When you capture lightning in a bottle like the Switch, it only makes sense to continue supporting the platform for a long time.
@rockodoodle 3rd party games make up 20 percent of software sales. Nothing to sneeze at, but they never were and never will be the main course. As long as there is profit to be made with the Switch's massive userbase, developers will figure out a way to make it work. As it stands, both of the top two GotY contenders will be on Switch in 2023.
@Orpheus79V When does it become necessary to launch new hardware? Only if the new machine offers a truly remarkable new experience that the current Switch cannot (VR would be one possibility). Iwata said in the mid-2000s that better specs aren't the be-all and end-all and that graphics are only ever going to get so good. Software sales will go up with Zelda, and there's no good reason to doubt that they'll have a June direct with new games coming later this year (only internet rumours).
@Euler If you only skimmed, how will you be able to glean any information from it to be able to come to that conclusion? If you got fed up reading it that's on you, not the writer.
"It isn’t just the big titles."
I totally read that wrong....
@TheBigBlue @Itakiteacher @kingbk. Yeah this article reeks of a Rgt85 video play by play.
The only one that I subscribe to of that bunch is Nate. I just cant spawn anything anymore lol
@OrtadragoonX - Yeah, and I still believe there still room to go beyond that as well. Heard lot of performance praise for Horizon. Just a testament tp their knowledge, similar to Nintendo and their works.
I don’t think we’ll ever “leave” the Switch platform, but I would imagine it will change when Nintendo is ready to unleash the next hardware change.
@antisumo Well, if the rumors are true the next Switch might use the Orin SoC. It looks like that is comparable to the base PS4 in terms of TFLOPS depending on what version is used, but it'll have DLSS.
I would like to see a successor to the Switch as much as anyone, and if Nintendo has one planned a full development cycle might be better targeted for the next platform to encourage adoption.
That said, I worked in software for years, specializing cross-platform applications and infrastructure. I've found that while having raw horsepower is good, 90% of issues I found other teams ran into were just failure to acknowledge even basic complexity theory and optimisation on the software side, or failure to utilize the resources correctly for specific target hardware. Without being in the developers room, I would suspect this is how we end up with some "miracle ports" while other mid grade games struggle.
I really think the bigger question is whether it's worth it for the publisher, even Nintendo, to pay for the good development time to make it work (which with some ports means a significant refactor).
While I'm loving TOTK so far, I really don't want this to be the Switch's swan song. I feel there is still so much life left in the console, and potential for more fantastic games. Nintendo's consoles don't have to be bookended by a Zelda. That pattern sounds depressing. Like as soon as you see a mainline Zelda late into a Nintendo console lifespan, then oh, the console's life is dead. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised by some new announcements this summer, and when the Switch is good and ready to be done with, I'm sure Nintendo will have something great.
Plus, I just upgraded to an OLED. There's NO WAY I'm wishing for this to be its swan song.
I was hoping TotK would be the swansong to the OG/Lite/OLED family and intro the Pro/Switch 2, but it didn't come to pass. I'm guessing Super Mario Odyssey 2/Super Mario (next subtitle) will be the swansong, but I still feel (at this rate) that Metroid Prime 4 will have a chance.
@MrLinkTathapast right I get that, I mean the whole 'I wish Nintendo would call it a day' and alluding to a switch 2 - what does this even mean? Like if this is the swan song cool, that's poetic or whatever and it makes sense to admire that if/when that happens. But to actually wish for it for some cheesy "bookend" thought? I don't get it
@Euler the lack of third party support was a huge reason why the WiiU failed. System sales will dry up soon as pretty much everyone who wants a Switch has one. Even the last Pokémon struggles on it. It will be almost eight years old in late 2024 when I think the new system would release, running on hardware from 2015 or earlier. It’s time for new hardware…
Let's just see what Prime 4 has to offer.
2 console generations later and a rocky development, I'm sure Prime 4 will be a good final big Switch release before the successor.
@Sir_Axeman
Yeah i would be more than happy with that.
As it is now a lot of games are "cross gen" between ps4/xone and ps5/xsx so a lot of games would still be valid.
@OrtadragoonX
The mention of modern chipsets is iirc what a lot of people seem to be expecting from a "next gen switch" rather than some super high end system.
Though mobile tech has come a long way since the switch launched and something closer in power to ps4 would still be a big jump from the switch.
I suspect its not that far off. I reckon the launch titles will be Mario and Metroid Prime 4. I think Nintendo will launch these as exclusives. Maybe Metroid will span both but at this point it might not.
The Switch swansong is likely going to be Call of Duty.
@rockodoodle
Oddly in some places it feels like any criticism of a games performance would get you labelled a "specs freak"
you often see things like framerate lumped under the "graphics" umbrella and sometimes see 60fps treated as a new concept when its been around since at least the psone/n64/saturn era and quite a few 1st party switch games have it.
it does feel like the whole idea that a game doesn't need to be some graphical showcase to be good has turned into a straight up aversion to anything related to specs in some discussions.
For me i do hope that the next system is a more powerful switch with some improvements like analogue triggers and with full backwards compatibility with current switch (that way the base switch could still be supported and the games would still be playable on "switch 2")
Im not expecting theoretical "switch 2" to be on par with ps5/xsx, in fact i expect it would be less powerful than the steam deck but would have a smaller form factor like the current switch but be closer to something like the ps4 in terms of power (only portable) and to me that would be perfectly fine.
Nothing says Nintendo Switch more than blurry visuals and frequent frame drops.
usually I wouldn't really say I need an upgrade... but after Pokémon SV were so incredibly terrible I started saying otherwise... TOTK runs really well but when it gets framedrops I notice it a lot. hope the Switch successor is backwards compatible and Nintendo releases patches for older games to run better.
The swan song should be the first new 2D Mario since 2012 (2013 if you count NSLU).
And it shouldn't be a "New" series Mario. It should finally be a TRULY fresh 2D Mario art style, preferably with hand drawn sprites like Rayman Origins.
@antisumo i agree with you on not needing 60 fps but if a game is to run at 30 fps i want it to stay at 30 fps. The switch and its games are running and looking worse than games that were made 10 years ago and older (ex. Skyrim 360) im loving tears of the kingdom and its clear the people who made it worked hard to have it work on an underpowered honestly pretty messy console and i very much appreciate that. But at the end of the day they can only go so far with the hardware theyre given.
Another hastily-assembled SEO-boosting article prematurely calling for a new console, take another shot. Writers of Nintendo articles in the west need to accept the fact the Switch is not going to receive a successor for a fair while (ie: not 2023, not 2024, etc., regardless of the misguided opinions writers continue to fervently push. Surely x will be the year... y will be the year, for sure... Surely this game will be the console's "swan song"...), and those who follow the industry in general more broadly need to acclimate to the cadence Nintendo is setting by adopting a longer than is traditional system lifecycle, which is almost certainly noticed by competitors. It is if anything a positive for consumers, as a longer lifecycle will allow for greater understanding of the hardware from a development perspective, and the Switch's expanded lifetime will allow for more titles to release and add to the value of the console's library (all of which greatly improved the value of the Nintendo 3DS before it). The Switch will continue that positive trend, and competitors worth their salt will iterate on that.
Perhaps the "new console" articles will resume a few months after its successor does eventually release? "The Switch 2 is not as powerful as the PS5, which is really holding it back... there is one less blade of grass per-frame... Switch 2 Pro, please..."
@CammyUnofficial You don't understand why someone would want a newer console? Honestly, read the article. It will answer any "I don't get it's" you may have
A switch 2/switch pro would be good as long as it is still compatible with all current switch games (my library would carry over etc) and it would allow the games to run at a higher resolution/frame rate. No need to reinvent the wheel methinks - just the same as we have with improved internals.
I've loved my time with the Switch, and continue to do so. TotK is a fantastic game, and my time spent with it so far has been incredible. However, the framerate-drops are quite frequent....which is to be expected my this game pushing the hardware to its limits (and then some!)
My personal opinion - I really hope Nintendo stick to the 'Switch' formula and don't go with anything outside this for their next console. I'd love a 'Switch 2'... something that could handle 60fps with 4K, and really open the door for great PS4-game ports alongside the tremendous 1st party offerings from Nintendo.
Imagine a 4K/60fps Switch that had the capabilities to play Elden Ring alongside the new Zelda/Mario etc? That's the dream
@Hunter0563 I agree that it's underpowered but you can't really fault it, you only need to compare TotK and Xenoblade 3 with something like Pokémon SV to see where the issue lies. Haven't played Bright Memory but it looks way too good to be on Switch, so the Switch is definitely capable. I don't think we need a new Switch right now, just developers that can utilize it's limited power properly
Breath of the Wild was the WiiU’s swan song.
@sketchturner that would be great I would love that!
@MrLinkTathapast haha duh I got that far. I have more an issue with the "swan song" angle/context that the writer based the whole Switch 2 argument on. My "I don't get it" is directed specifically towards that and is not from lack of comprehending the article. Thanks though
Why is it stated that the Wii U version of BOTW id a ‘lesser’ version, when it’s the same game and has all the available DLC? It’s the version I play, and maybe it would have been the ‘ultimate’ version if Nintendo had implemented the map on the game pad as we thought they were going to.
I have a Switch with TOTK, but is there any point (except for my game library being up to date) in getting the Switch release of BOTW too?
What's with people and trying to prematurely bury the Switch?It was only months ago that Scarlet/Violet launched and they've sold over 20million.
Horizon Forbidden West didn't manage that, so are you going to go over to Push Square and say the PS5s best days are behind it? Guess they better pack it up and launch a PS6, lol.
I'll be ecstatic when the Switch's successor is announced and even more so when it comes out (personally I expect it to be announced and especially released not earlier than next year, most likely the second half also considering the Splatoon 3 roadmap @UltimateOtaku91 and @Dev9417 already mentioned), but it will be announced and come out when it is announced and it comes out, there's no need to constantly complain about the Switch (couldn't agree more @spiderman0616 about how this article reads) even though we just got an incredible game for it in Tears of the Kingdom, we're soon getting Pikmin 4 (which while not as big as a new Zelda is still quite big being a sequel that people have been waiting for much, much longer than that as @Dogorilla also said) and theoretically Metroid Prime 4 (would make sense for THAT to be the Switch's swan song and potentially a cross-gen game à la Breath of the Wild), not to mention all the already announced third party games!
By the way, why are we already dismissing a summer general Direct when the remaining first-party lineup is so scarce? Last time it happened, i.e. in January, we got one of those in February and no, just because we didn't get it last year doesn't necessarily mean we won't get one this year.
@BodkinDQ Well said, I'll take videogame quality over framerates, graphics etc. any day (which isn't to say it wouldn't be nice to have an increase in the latter, but I'm in no rush for it, it will happen when it will happen)!
@CammyUnofficial Then maybe look up what swan song means, and the article will make a lot more sense for you.
@Dr_Lugae At this point, I don’t think it would be premature. The system has been out for 6 years, and it unfortunately keeps showing it’s age. Stuff like MP4 will be on the next console; it’s gonna need more juice than what the Switch can handle in order to wow people.
@Dr_Lugae Because people don't know how to calm down and just be. As soon as the next Nintendo hardware comes out, people will be pining for the next one because of all the things the new one did wrong that they're mad about. Everyone has their own personal checklist of things that the hardware is supposed to have. Never mind all the amazing games and consoles that are currently available. Better, faster, more all the time.
they should keep making games
I find it kind of silly that the release of what many call one of the best games ever made is a sign that Nintendo needs a new console. One of the best games of all time is on Switch. Let that sink in for a second.
And if we're being realistic, it is very unlikely that Nintendo's next console will be more powerful than a PS5. So, in that case even an upgraded Switch would still be old tech. How long will everyone demanding a new console be happy with something like that? Pretty soon even something as powerful as a base PS4 is going to be woefully inadequate in the eyes of those who live on the cutting edge
The very fact Hogwarts was delayed and now more delayed. So you have to wonder why? A new more Powerful Switch to 11/14/2023. Now why do that? As mentioned in this YT post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-cHyyRkyf0&t=1s
The Switch hasn't got the legs anymore. The sales are dwindling worldwide and anyone who wants one pretty much has one at this point.
Nintendo have done an unbelievable job with the Switch hardware and it should be a lesson to just about every other dev out there because for all the processing power you can buy now for a few hundred quid Nintendo may have released the two best games of all time on an old tablet!
That said, it is almost delusional to think that in 2023 the situation couldn't be better for Tears of the Kingdom. The art style does a lot of hard work but particularly on the big screen the rough edges are so apparent and the performance - especially when moving objects while zoomed out is poor.
I'd argue this superb games deserves more. So I'm all in for new hardware and I'd love to see a home console variant with 100% backwards compatibility pushing all games to at least 1080p 60fps.
@Yodalovesu If you are on the cutting edge the PS4 was out of date the day it launched. The CPU is junk.
@rockodoodle That's backwards. Third parties rejected the Wii U because it was unsuccessful, not the other way around. If it costs a million dollars to port a game to Wii U and it only sells about six copies, porting is not economically justifiable and it won't happen (especially once you factor in opportunity costs). If it's likely to sell at least a million units on the Switch, developers will seriously consider finding a way to make it work (or perhaps make Switch exclusives like the Rabbids games) even if it might not be as easy as the other two ninth generation consoles. The Wii U's failure had more to do with failed marketing (most people thought it was just a new Wii controller at first, then they had those cringeworthy ads in 2013) and at the end of the day the fact that it was essentially just a Wii with better specs. The lack of compelling launch lineup also did a lot. The Mario game it actually launched with looked almost identical to the Wii and 3DS instalments, but it probably would've been a very different story had Mario Maker or Breath of the Wild launched with the console.
I'm kinda hoping Nintendo gets out of the console business. Let others like Valve do the legwork and convert to doing what they do best, make a few spectacular AAA high profile owned IP's every few years. Much as I love the Switch, Big N really sold their soul for profits with it.
@Krysus I like having my Nintendo products in one place, please and thank you. Sold their soul? Their games still got the same Nintendo charm, bud.
Also"Gone are the days of the Switch’s dominance" get a load of this article lmao
@Krysus please god no!
The release of Nintendo hardware, both good and bad is one of the most joyous events in gaming where we all get to celebrate/commiserate and head scratch our way through whatever the hell Nintendo were thinking when they decided to make it.
Not having them around in the hardware space would make gaming a whole lot less interesting.
@Euler my point is that Nintendo can’t saddle 3rd party developers with an obsolete system for several more years. At minimum, they need to look at what they require and need or they will abandon Nintendo once again.
No. As much as I am enjoying the game so far I don't think it should be the final game on Switch. It is time for a new Donkey Kong game first. Us Donkey Kong fans have been patiently waiting for close to a decade now for a new Donkey Kong game while every other franchise and its dogs have gotten new games and the last one was Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze that came out way back in 2014 on Wii U. Donkey Kong is one of the longest running and most popular franchises Nintendo has and it deserves to have a new game out on Switch.
Another 2D Mario game (New Super Mario Bros Switch) should happen too since we got New Super Mario Bros on Wii and New Super Mario Bros U on the Wii U and there have been reports a new 2D Mario game is in the works.
@antisumo Yeah there are some very well optimised games on switch but the issue there is at this point in the switches life games (like pokemon) would need DRASTICALLY increase production time and while definitely for the best by that point a new console would almost definitely be out. Many games being made have big ambition but optimizeing for switch would take a great amount of time and isnt worth it given the likely low purchase rate compared to other platforms and the amount of time and money being spent on possibly optimizing it. At this point many companies have stopped caring about optimizing and just want to put the game on to get however much money they can. If nintendo didny allow this and made sure games were optimiszed before release that would not be an issue like it is now. But apparently now they are contrubuting to this problem (scarlet+violet slideshow as opposed to functioning game) theyve gotten to the point where some of their own devs wont even care to optimize it so if something doesnt change soon theyre in for a mess.
@Arkay How much smut is now on the E-shop? Or share-ware level games? Big N isn't as pure as it once was. They've taken a pretty big step down from the 'being family friendly in all things' approach. I want them to be. But they changed dramatically over the life of the Switch.
@Krysus I wish there were a way to filter out smut games. Key words like hentai and such.
I don't see much on the switchs horizon, so it just may be Swansong. Beautiful game through and through.
I’m not sure this article makes any sense from a business perspective. So for some reason (drama?) you wish for a “sudden death on a high note” of sorts. But sales for the Switch will taper off slowly, like they have with every system before. And as long as the system represents a profitable ecosystem Nintendo will continue supporting it - likely with smaller titles, the ones you don’t wanna see.
It all really depends on their schedule for the successor. Earliest scenario: Launch in about a year. Any later and Nintendo have to release another wave of Switch games before that, including some big ones.
@Krysus I agree with your point of the eshop being filled with shovelware but what I meant was that their own games still haven't lost their magic.
These articles are so frustrating because they have been ongoing for years! Nintendo landed on an amazing idea that not only reversed their fortunes, but it also gave them something they haven’t seen much of since the 16-bit era: meaningful third party support! When is the last time a 3rd party game sold 8 million copies on Nintendo hardware?
I sincerely hope that Nintendo sticks with the hybrid concept, but I have this feeling that they won’t.
When they released Breath of the Wild which seems to have the very same technical issues I didn't see anyone asking for the next hardware to release.
TOTK is fantastic (picked up on launch day), but if Metroid Prime 4 happens to release on Switch, I’d say it will be the best Switch game visually and performance-wise (if Prime Remastered is any indication of what’s in store). I think there’s still a bit of life in the Switch, although we’re most likely nearing the end.
I think it's time for a successor. Totk is really beautiful, but I catch myself thinking how better it would be if it could run at 60fps, 1080p, with no loading times, antialiasing and less haze effect. Switch had its run. Time to move on.
PS. I really hope switch 2 supports BC.
@BanjoPickles Yep this is just another switch pro article in another form. NL has been banging this drum for six years now. I've never seen something so beloved be so reviled at the same time. I love the switch! But I need new hardware! and the Pro moniker is just conditioning. Personally I don't want to see console makers in the habit of changing specs mid cycle. Support starts to get uneven and then what is the point of buying at launch when you know the pro is 2-4 years down the line?
@Arkay I've never thought they lost their touch with Game development. Only a serious case of misdirection with the platform itself.
@spiderman0616 Amen.
Look at all of you, underestimating Pikmin... almost ten years ago, everyone begged "Pikmin 3 would save the Wii U" and all that! I can trust that game could be the system's second swansong. You can expect all future games coming to the console to not be the same size as these releases.
And remember, Ghost of Tsushima was the PS4's swansong, every first-party release ever after were cross-gen titles. In that case, Metroid Prime 4 would fit a similar role to a cross-gen game.
@the_beaver Hopefully yes 🙌🏽
@johnedwin You never know... 2024 might be the next 2016 (people say it'd come that year despite Nintendo never saying it would, ends up releasing the following year)
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