Talking Point: How Does Switch's Year 7 Compare To Previous Nintendo Consoles?

Personally, I’m glad the Switch is having a nice, long lifecycle. Let the games keep coming!

Nintendo 64 was pretty great, but no console can be the perfection that was the GameCube. Nintendo 64 was good, but GameCube made everything better.

were not the n64 and gamecube commercial failures in terms of console sales?

This list really puts into perspective just how impressive of a lineup the Switch has in its 7th year. Based on longevity, it seems the Switch has more in common with Nintendo's previous handhelds than it does with its previous consoles, as Nintendo handhelds have lasted 7 years multiple times, and their home systems haven't really. It also is kinda revealing of just how likely it is we're getting new hardware soon.

@SwagaliciousJohnson Can’t help but wonder how much better the Gamecube would have been if Nintendo had taken the DVD route instead of proprietary optical discs.

I mean, one could argue that Nintendo wasn’t wrong in it’s view that load time for discs was too slow (something Sony and Microsoft wouldn’t be able to “get right” until now) - it chose the proprietary route in order to have a “catridge-like” experience.

But the storage capacity of the Gamecube discs was the contributing factor for developers/publishers to skip the system for some of their games.

The hardware was an insane beast - if only it had the storage medium to back it up!

Im still happy with my switch, eventho i have a high end gaming pc.

And still i think the WiiU could do evenly well if it was treated the same way as the switch.
People didnt know it was a new console it was so badly marketed that i as a customer myself had to explain to someones dad that its not an wii add on lol.
His responce? Nah ill just buy the wii then lol

@SwagaliciousJohnson you and me? We're friends

Looks like Nintendo wont Switch up on switch yet. As well entering into the 7th year is unprecedented.. almost. The best comparable console, the PS2 in its 7th year was pumping out heavy hitters as well. God of War II, Persona 3, Odin Sphere, Guilty Gear Accent Core, Dragonball Tenkaichi 3 and GTA Vice City Stories. All amazing titles.

Few have been this far. Will it go the furthest?

The fact the switch is still able to hold its own in year 7 is pretty amazing. We need new hardware soon, but there is still a lot of good stuff coming for switch.

Feels like Switch is gonna pull a PS2 and try for at least a decade. People forget that thing was in production for like 12 years.

@Waluigi451 same, it works so well with my lifestyle right now

Switch is likely the best console gen I have experienced (and I started with NES), the hardware does its job and fairly well across various games, 1st party and 3rd party support is still coming in and it has a form factor that means I will be using it long after its market shelf life. I have a lot of games and a lot of systems but I have only enjoyed one other system as much and that is the wiiu (before somebody tags me, that is a good thing, wiiu is my favorite system period). if it has been financially viable to dump the entire VC and Wii/GC library on to the switch...it would be my favorite system, but the Wiiu covers more range so I still say it is my favorite.

NL, you didn't mention Metroid Prime! Edit, just saw the March bit 😉

Happy to see the 3DS having had such a strong 7th year, as it's one of my favorite platforms ever.

Switch has an impressive line-up for the rest of the year (although I think you forgot about the Batman Arkham Collection) only thing is that it's not totally the biggest hitters that it gets (that would be a 3D Mario, Mario Kart 9 and Super Smash Bros. imo).

You do have some remasters, 2D games aaaaand Warioware, Detective Pikachu and the Luigi's Mansion remaster (the latter 3 just like on the 3DS in its final years).

It's a good set-up for a console (the Switch that is) going in to its twilight years, but I personally hope we get new hardware sooner rather than later.

Why do people think the switch pushing past the typical lifespan of a console is a bad thing? People want this new console and have been guessing as to when it would happen since the switch’s 2nd year. Realistically speaking, not everyone can afford a more powerful Nintendo console at the moment. It would cost lots more money and the new games arriving with it would probably be 70$ American as the norm, same as TOTK, cause the games will be higher quality. The switch is the cheapest console on the market, the games, while they almost never go on sale, are cheaper than the competition, and the whole home console/ portable console hybrid still works and is still convenient. Having a cheaper console in the switch saves money while giving up higher processing power and frame rate in exchange. This doesn’t bother me a bit. HD games on the go are good enough for me.

The life cycles of Nintendo's more recent handhelds is impressive. The DS, 3DS and the Switch have all had healthy lifetimes.

That being said, I think we will not see much new quality content on the switch past 2024. That being said, a solid 8 years of good content for a platform with far weaker hardware than it's contemporaries feels pretty worthy of respect.

I was late to get a Switch, had a Lite then the OLED when I realised I was gaming mostly on the Lite. Only had the system(s) about 2 years I think, so it's still quite 'new' to me. It's good to see its it's still getting contemporary support, where technically feasible.

You forgot to mention Kirby Return to Dreamland, Fire Emblem Engage, Master Detective Archives, Bayonetta Origins, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC, Fire Emblem Engage Xenologue, Two Pokémon S/V DLC's.

This hasn't only been the best 7th year of a Nintendo console, it's also the best year for releases for the switch so far.

At the end of the day, it's all about the games. A console can in theory go way beyond it's 7th year with high-profile games, but the major IPs won't be able to implement many ideas due to technical limitations unless new hardware is released.

If the next Nintendo system is backwards-compatible with the entire Switch digital library, they can release any day now. Otherwise, just hold it until the next main Zelda is ready to go.

I think that the Switch install base may not have entirely transitioned to 4k televisions yet. They've historically tried to cater to the broader audience rather than just those who are chasing the 'cutting edge' of what's currently on the market.

Very soon, 4k will be the dominant TV set for the average family, and thats when Nintendo will go full in.

But of course, PS/XB will have an 8k+ system out shortly thereafter for 3x the cost.

This is the way of things.

Atari 2600
NES
Sega Genesis
PS1
PS2
X360
GBA
DS
Switch

For me, those are the only consoles worth remembering. Good stuff on everything else - but pale in comparison.

The Switch's shelf life is nothing short of amazing. It is tops by a mile in that regard.

@Desrever And honestly, personally, I don't really even mind that way of things very much. Makes the Nintendo systems not only more affordable, but any third party game that does come to the Nintendo platform late will generally have all its DLC from the past years pre-installed with it, making that cheaper as well. Resident Evil is a good example of that between 5 and 6, and Revelations 1 and 2. I'm going to guess that the RE2, 3 and 4 remakes will get similar treatments on the Switch successor.

..I know it's a bit silly to think of that as an upside, but if you're not really in a rush to play those games anyway, then I'd hardly call it a downside either.

After being on my ~125th-ish hour playing TOTK on my 2017 Switch, I am really feeling it's age now.
The last Direct promised nice games to close this generation.
But I am ready now for a new, hopefully hybrid too, Nintendo Console announcement, releasing with probably Metroid Prime 4 and a new 3D Mario and maybe even a Mario Kart and Super Smash in it's first year. Too much to ask for maybe

@johnedwin The N64 wasn't a commercial failure, it just didn't do as well as the Playstation. The Gamecube hurt Nintendo financially, however.

I don't think anyone can honestly think that any other Nintendo platform had a comparable 7th year to the Switch.

This is shaping up to be the BEST Nintendo generation from start to finish, hands down.

Switch is doing really well but I hope Switch 2 will improve upon it well. Whether that's very soon or a while away.

I really hope for backwards compatible as well but I think hopefully it has a high chance it will, based on what people would really want.

This is a great article, well done NintendoLife!

I am so ready to move on from this 2017 Switch wether it's a Switch 2 or something completely different I'm ready to move on to what's next

Well... I have little interest in Nintendo's IPs, so... I just want and need more fighting games as possible. We already had Nintendo Direct: Farming simulators Edition and Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Edition... I want Nintendo Direct: Fighting games Edition!

@lyle_catcliffe Agreed. Great article/insight into Nintendo's history, Gavin 👍

I’d say Switch has it the best. It still doesn’t feel like the end to me too. I feel like a Pro system transition is coming instead.

And yet it's still, in certain months, outselling the technologically superior and newer console the PlayStation 5. Unreal.

I'm still amazed that even with a new Xbox Series S console, I'm still putting in so much time on my Switch. It's truly the GOAT.

@The_Trooper49 Cheese, Gromit!

@UltimateOtaku91 you're joking right? Half of what you listed is dlc, and the other half aren't very highly regarded games. Might be in the running for worst year for switch, certainly not best.

@HeftyLaces Not just those on their own but added to the list of Mario Rpg, new Detective Pikachu, Pikmin 4, Metroid Remastered, Zelda TOTK, Dragon Quest Monsters, New 2D mario, Persona 5 Tactica etc

I refuse to believe Switch is 7 years old

The Switch is definitely going the DS and 3DS route of gracefully riding off into the sunset. I could see a Fire Emblem remake coming next year to round out the Switch's 2024 lineup.

@Princess_Lilly That's how I feel, too. Can't believe we're deep into year 7. The Switch released just before my career really got going and a ton of PD has happened since then, so that time really has gone by in the blink of an eye. Whatever's next will come during a period of (hopefully) long stability so we'll see how I perceive the passage of that time.

@TheBigK I could swear it's been like 2-3 years MAX

The passage of time is a dreadful thing indeed

I’d like to just say thps3 for the n64 is a broken mess.

At this point coming 2024 March - I wouldn't be surprised here. If we get lucky Holiday 2023 release or PreOrder.

This is a very deep year for a console this old. We got new releases of Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem, Metroid and Pikmin all in one year. It's impressive how many quality games continue to come out for it this late into it's lifespan.

@Princess_Lilly Just wait until you realize one day the Switch is over a decade old 😬

40 years of gaming and can happily say the Switch is my favourite console (and I never thought anything would beat my SNES!) As much as I want a Switch 2 (and if they don't mess it up, I'm sure I'll love that just as much) I had a wishlist day one of a bunch of games that I thought would never come. Bomb Jack, Katamari Damacy, Super Monkey Ball (althought technically still waiting for that ) and Tempest 2000. Unbelievable that I can play them all on Switch. There are tons more that I just can't believe are 'back' or finally on Nintendo system. I will be sad to see the Switch go. Nintendo totally revitalised gaming (for me) with the loveable hybrid.

I'm OK with the Switch, I just want to have controllers that doesn't suffer issues. All of my 6 JoyCons have drift or other issues. Disconnecting in handheld, an R not working at all, bad connectivity from the couch... I had to move on into Pro Controllers... loosing the coolness of free hands play.

I'm fine to get a better performing Switch 2, that's true, but my biggest need in clear are polished and solid JoyCons.

Note: And a better eshop, not filled by RedDeer games re-releases. How Nintendo allows this? By God's sake...

@GamingFan4Lyf While they did have their reasons, the n64 and GCN still seemed like Nintendo being stubborn for the sake of it.
n64 they stuck with cartridges, and to their credit it was a big factor for me getting it over PS1 (besides being a rabid Nintendo fanboy), cause I couldn't stand the load times. But that choice hurt the n64 and then with the GCN it just seemed like they got in a snit about it and said "fine, we'll do optical, but not yours. We'll make our own". And that hurt them again.

@Bizzyb that day will inevitably come

Not once have I ever thought the Switch didn't have enough games, there's too many to keep up with! and this year I've picked up more first party titles than any other year (I use it mostly as an indie/third party machine) but there have been some bangers this year, and we're only halfway through 2023!

I'm in two minds. On one hand I have 800+ digital games on my Switch, enough to last me a lifetime and more I'd bet. I want it to stay around forever. But on the other hand, devs/people who port to the system have constant trouble getting even non-taxing games to work on the thing and I think its a 50/50 problem, the power and the Switch being a pain to work with/optimise for, so I'd love some more power to alleviate half the problem, I am not an FPS snob or anything either. A smooth digital account transition would be everything to me.

@Cashews SNES would like to have a word with you…. ;D

Honestly, what would new hardware really do? Maybe a bit faster but it's not like you can not just keep making games for the Switch. It's not like Nintendo will be doing 4K anyways and I prefer they don't. Who wants to wait longer for games to be made and downloaded? Not me.

@MythTgr no holiday 2024

@TenEighty That's a good point. Anyone willing a Switch 2 into existence is basically yelling at all the hard working folk at Nintendo...to work harder! I do wonder if it's a Western thing and Japan are quite content. I mean, an article just now mentioned the president of Nintendo earns like $2.5M whereas Activision CEO is on a staggering $150M. Are we really that greedy over here

I'm not really a fan of the library this gen. There's some good first party titles, but a lot left me feeling empty or disappointed in the end. The only games first-party wise that I can say I actually enjoyed were BotW, Luigi's Mansion 3, the Xenoblade titles, and TotK.

I don't understand how backwards compatible is important for the next console. You don't have to return your Switch so you can always keep playing your "old" games on it.
And seeing how they would need to keep the whole cartridge system, it seems unlikely to me.
Wii U was retrocompatible but that didn't help selling it.
The Wii was retrocompatible and I remember not being able to find Gamecube games anywhere. The Wii was also initially really hard to find.
All the consoles before Wii were not retrocompatible.
Switch is not backwards compatible either and it didn't stop many people from buying it.

Otherwise I agree on the games library, it is amazingly insane all the great games of so many different great and also niche genres.
Keep 'em coming!!

@UltimateOtaku91 Can't forget Anonymous;Code coming in September. I definitely believe that 9 years will be worth the wait. There's also been Loop8, Atelier Ryza 3, Warhammer 40k: Boltgun, Crymachina, Grisaia: Phantom Trigger 5.5 to 08, Akibas Trip: Undead and Undressed, Archetype Arcadia, The Fox Awaits Me: Hana, Fran Bow, My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, Konosuba: Love For these Clothes of Desire!, Love on Leave, Sentimental Death Loop, One, Phantom Fury, Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition.

They need to make an add-on for the cartridge slot to add more power to the Switch much like the Super FX chip back in the day.

I've owned almost every console from the Big 3 and I can tell you if you get a Nintendo you are 99% doing it for the first party games.

Nintendo Switch is my favorite gaming system of all time. There. I said it. I didn't know if it was possible to dethrone the GameCube, but here we are. I always knew Switch had the best third-party lineup of any Nintendo console--that goes without saying. But from a first party perspective, I always thought the GameCube was just a little better in terms of quality releases. But man. Sports games aside, Nintendo has really been pushing all their franchises to new heights this gen and have been doing stuff we've asked of them for decades now. Our first 3D sandbox Kirby, our first open world Pokémon, our first truly open world Zelda, a remaster of Super Mario RPG, Banjo-Kazooie in Smash, a return to sandbox 3D Mario, a new 2D Mario on the way that breaks the mould, Metroid Dread back from the dead... it's like a seven-year dream I still haven't woken up from.

What if this is all just a coma? Imagine waking up and the Wii U is still on the market and everyone is talking about NX and whether or not it's gonna be another flop and wondering whether the shift to mobile gaming is gonna spell doom for the company and how they're gonna get by without Iwata's leadership. I don't think it can be overstated just how dire of a situation Nintendo managed to bounce back from. Times were bleak. And I was in an incredibly bad place for other, personal, reasons. I'm so thankful life is better now, the gaming landscape is better... things are just great in ways I haven't experienced since childhood.

In North America, Pandora’s Tower came out during the 7th year of the Wii’s life. It was the last big Wii game in the region.

N64 "Significant releases: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (August 2022)"

So.... The N64 still going in its 26th year? We have a winner!!

Interesting idea for an article.

The Wii U did have Just Dance 2019 in its 7th year time frame, if that counts lol!

If you look at the pattern, previous Nintendo consoles have had 6 year cycles and stopped being supported during the 7th. I think we'll get a Switch 2 announcement after April 2024 and a release for the new console later that year. Hopefully with NoS, we'll be able to take our retro games across to the next console. Nintendo sort of hinted earlier this year that such a feat would be easier to pull off now that their subscription service is in place. It would also be super cool if the next console was fully backwards compatible with current Switch games.

I've always felt that the Switch has had too many dry years, where the majority of the "big" first party releases were Wii U ports. The system has definitely had a better string of years recently, but man, some of the years have been so dry.

How does it stack up to other systems, though? That's a good question. There have now been many systems and many years.

IMO, the 3DS was particularly strong after its first year. I remember the N64 and GCN being strong as well, but that could just be nostalgia speaking for those two. As I said, it has been many, many years.

Personally consoles hit a peak with the PS2 for me.

The Switch has surpassed that as the greatest console and library I have ever owned.

Yeah, I think Switch has the best year 7, though I guess DS and 3DS are the only real contenders. But yeah, imagine having an games like TotK, Prime Remastered, Xenoblade 3 FC, FE Engage in year 7. Such an amazing platform and the support from Nintendo has been great.

@tseliot At this point, the only thing keeping me sticking to the console are the second and third party exclusives.

I started to feel a little bit disappointed with Nintendo Switch in Year 7 as I keep finding the bad treatments from some developers in selling their games by code in box, partial download, streaming only.
If the games cannot be ported perfectly on Switch, don't port them at all rather than sacrifice their performance. And I really hate when the developers really cheap out by pick the smaller size of cartridge and make us download the rest of the games from eshop.
It just wasting the material.
Not to mention a lot of 3rd party multi console games have worse performance on Switch version than the PS4 / PS5 version (30 fps vs 60 fps) so the reason I pick them on PS4 / PS5 version instead.
Anyway, I still like my Switch but I have higher hype with my PS4 games than Switch games currently.
Here is the comparison of my hype level between Nintendo and PlayStation games I have.

1. PS4
2. PS5
3. Switch
4. PS3
5. 3DS
6. Wii
7. PS2
8. NDS
9. Wii U
10. Gamecube
11. PS1
12. PSP
13. GBA

I’m legit indifferent if a successor gets revealed soon. The extra horsepower would definitely be nice for resolution and frame rate increases, but I like the switch ecosystem and the steady game releases are making me happy. If anything, I’d like to see a Pro model, but who knows if that’s even on the cards at this point lol.

If you're going to mention stuff like Warioware, DLC, and ports as big releases for the Switch, then "Skyward Sword was Nintendo's last significant release in November 2011" is definitely wrong. Nintendo published The Last Story, Project Zero 2 Wii Edition, Pandora's Tower, and Beat the Beat: Rhythm Paradise after Skyward Sword. Kirby's Dream Collection too, in NA and JP. Granted it wasn't quite into year 7, but your statement seems disingenuous.

Anyway, I'm glad the Switch is still getting support. It's exciting to imagine how many more games I'll grab for the system before it finally dies.

Solid first half. Looks like a drought in the second.

The Switch has been, and continues to be, a bloody amazing console.

That is all.

The 3DS might have had Nintendo’s best year seven (till now), but that DS year seven, with third parties, has everyone beat. Funny that Ghost Trick, one of the top five games on the system, has been rereleased in the Switch’s seventh year. And Rune Factory III is getting a remaster too! Oh, and we’re getting a new Dragon Quest Monsters - the parallels keep coming.

I predict now that, maybe two or three years after the Switch’s successor releases, Atlus will release another version of Radiant Historia on OG Switch, and it will go criminally overlooked for a third time.

@John_Deacon Yep, I can't really remember which games I started with, SEGA AGES OutRun maybe, it's one of my favourite games ever. I play a lot of retro games so the Switch is great for that, with the NSO too. This year though with Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Prime, Switch has become my main gaming platform after PS4 and the OLED looks great in portable mode.

As I've asserted multiple times, in more than one setting (I replied to a Stealth tweet where I stated it's having the best 6/7th year of any Nintendo console), Nintendo treats Switch as well as it does its handhelds. Even then, it's still better than a lot of them. Easily one of my favorite consoles, of all time.

@Brumblescope great system wouldn't put it with the legends though! I played the heck out of F Zero in college

Oh I hadn't realised that Nintendo releases their next console every 5 or 6 years.

@Vyacheslav333 Why are you here?

Also, doesn't the DSi count as a next gen to DS and previous gen to 3DS? Although it played the same games as DS, it was still different. It was the only DS that had that drawing/animation app, I forgot name, but I think it was called something note, or note something. I think flipnote.

Have we forgotten that Xenoblade Chronicles released in NA in 2012?

@The-Chosen-one I had no idea the WiiU wasn't just a different version than the Wii until a few years back. That has to be one of the biggest marketing failures ever.

They get fair support I'd say for their 5-10 year periods I'd say. Many not surprising like sports. Some cool puzzle games. It varies.

Only had Switch since Xmas 2021 so not long but still it's been fun hearing about what it offered during the times I didn't have it. Having a PS3/360 over the Vita and 3DS time to shine of GameCube/under PS3 since 2017 and 2020. Wii U since 2018. Wasn't into gaming news during certain periods of time though like I am now for even the most obscure of consoles. Collecting for other systems.

Been used to 720p/1080p for a while but no interest in 4K or hard drives being better (when can experience some optimised games, heck Switch running from the cartridge, and Wii U even when the others were wanting/forcing installs is insane to see, saves space and well good design to see how they go about it.

As even installs the games run terrible so does it change much only sometimes at least for 360 with those you can install or are forced to for PS3 (never tried PSP physical games with data installs just never cared to do that and use up my memory card space that way I keep it for saves or the Killzone Chapter 5 import I did as it's free/official and well my Sim City PS1 purchase or well music files) with some games and PS4/Xbox One no choice to do so besides 'if you can' ignore the updates/use offline if possible.) only game design, peripherals and controller/console features that goes for all 3 platforms.

So used to PS3/360 during PS4/Xbox One relevance and using them more now then I did on and off for a few games. I do have access to current gen consoles of their time I just use last gen because I have enough to experience there and I also don't care for most on current gens sometimes (especially PS4/Xbox One as 2016+ the changes with Sony IPs made me care less, Xbox One I did come around to some games over time but of course don't use it much other than the odd third parties I find copies for if don't a PS4 copy and well the exclusives I have interest in).

Not a fan of people that go oh it didn't get big releases as if Indies, Sports and Just Dance among continued support leading up to disk or eshop ending doesn't exist. Sure......

That and some regions got games late too.

I mean even Dreamcast got games after 2001 just because Sega stopped support of the console production doesn't mean GD-ROMs weren't still being made for the consoles (yes not counting homebrew at all). Karous was 2007 in many regions, Tetris/Puyo Puyo was 2004 in Japan. https://www.denofgeek.com/games/last-sega-dreamcast-game-ever-released/

As if after relevance support doesn't exist for limited run companies physicals somewhat too for Wii U/Vita/3DS.

Or yes the official third party of Sports/Just Dance and licensed games.

Like N64 sure it's last was Tony Hawk 3 it's fair. GameCube I mean you can't forget Madden 08 or others of licensed games and such in-between which of course many licensed count for a bunch of systems.

I mean count Wii getting Just Dance 2020, where is the Wii U one of 2019 that's more than 7 years into the system of 2012-2022 come on.

3DS getting Kirby's Epic Yarn and a few others at the end is pretty cool though.

@brandonbwii 'Cause I am Nintendo fan and I have Nintendo Switch with SNES Nintendo Classic Mini.

How are you a Nintendo fan and not like any of their IP? What do you like about them then?

I really enjoyed this article. Thanks so much for writing it. Felt like a trip down memory lane.

İ feel like this is running like N64. İ mean his life. The N64 was also dying slowly.

I hope Nintendo takes their time with a Switch successor. I see all these portable gaming PCs and their crappy battery life and I’m like don’t do it Nintendo! I really really really really really love my switch OLED. And my boys love their switches and my daughter loves her switch lite.

Honestly, those "failed" systems deserved better. N64 had some of the best games I'd play for a long time. Gamecube, uhh, started a couple franchises and had Melee? Wii U basically was given the immense disrespect of having a lot of its comfort and utility features being completely scrubbed from switch, in some cases, I imagine Nintendo had to go out of their way to do it. Like, not even streaming services reached switch till much later, not to mention a LOT of the big early hitters were effectively Wii U titles. Like, let's disrespect a system simply because we don't like it. Poor Virtual Boy didn't even get a chance to be fully developed iirc.

Interesting article.

A current strong 7th year then for our Switch

@Desrever I don't think 8K tvs will be mainstream anytime soon, and i don't really see it as the future of gaming. 4k/60 fps with RT (or not) will still be the standard even for PS6. Switch 2 will be weaker than Series S and S can handle 1080p/60fps. I don't know if Nintendo with Nvidia with DLSS can pull a 1440p/60fps,

This list was very interesting and comprehensive. Good job all!

Such an impressive line up for the seventh year. And you're missing there the LEVEL 5 games (Fantasy Life, Professor Layton, Decapolice...), Prince of Persia, the Disney Illusion game, the Batman Trilogy... Lots of good stuff coming!

I think Nintendo releasing so many first party games this late in the Switch's lifespan, is "hopefully" proof that Switch 2 will be backwards compatible. Otherwise it's a bit more confusing, because they never did this before. Nintendo console's are usually abandoned by Nintendo as they move their focus to the new hardware.

Thing is, Switch can still outsell the PS5/XBox. Did so globally during April/May.

Have to think is there any need for a new console, probably could go on an 8th year.

@UltimateOtaku91 for real. They left out so many😂

Week 24, 25, 26 & latest week 27 (also selling more than 100k in Japan) all selling much more higher than before in it's 7 years in the market ! Totally unbelievable. It's like the more old the Switch, the more valuable it is ❤

@RenanKJ I agree that it's all about the games. You also make the point that new gameplay can't really be explored when the hardware meets it's limits but yet Tears of the Kingdom introduced some pretty insane new capabilities on a 7 year old console. I always feel like the hardware goes under utilized in video game generations, developers just lack the creativity to capitalize on it. Credit to Nintendo for being far better at this than most.

@Cashews I reckon you gotta throw in PS4 too friend.

@Yalloo The Switch isn't backwards compatible, yeah, however, Nintendo have been striving this entire generation to make it effectively BackCompat by porting almost their entire first party WiiU lineup to the Switch.

You're totally correct, we can just get our Switches out as and when we need them to play these old games whenever the next console comes, but, why do we have to? BackCompat is only a good thing. It means I can play, all 3D Marios (other than galaxy 2), 12 Kirby games, the previous 2 and a half Pokemon Generations, the best 2 Zeldas in the franchise, the greatest Smash ever, etc, on day 1 with the new fancy hardware whatever that ends up being, it'll probably be faster, have better controllers, better screen and overall be a better experience, and also most people only have 2 or 3 HDMI ports on their TVs, I wanna unplug my switch and plug in the next console without losing the switch experience.

Much like my PS5, which allows you to import your entire ps4 library and saves so effectively my PS4 is still alive but inside my PS5 so I dont have to keep swapping consoles whenever I feel like playing an older title. BackCompat is just super convenient and gives you more reason to have the newer console.

For example, to play the entire library of Nintendo's Pre-Switch handheld library all I need is a DS Lite and a 3DS of some kind, if none of them were BackCompat I'd need 5 separate consoles.

People saying the switch can keep going I don't get it, you sound like you don't want a new console?

The Switch is amazing, easily my favourite console ever, but its clear that it's struggling now, sure Devs can keep their games as they are making them currently but that's not how development works, studios strive to improve upon themselves every game, otherwise we'd still all be playing our 8-bit consoles. Im not asking for a jet powered nintendo console, idc about it being super powerful, its just there's an obvious ceiling that developers keep bumping their heads on now, we just need Nintendo to raise that ceiling a little so that Devs can keep striving to make bigger and better games as they always have tried to.

@Sputnik_Corner Thanks for taking the time to explain how gaming works for you. So you have plenty of consoles and games and it would be more convenient to have them all on as few hardwares as possible. Makes sense.

I currently have both the Switch and the Wii U on my TV, which also allows me to play all of my Wii games. But that's a setup, I can't say what my setup will be when a new console comes out. And I don't launch the Wii so often, just want to have the possibility for now.

@dartmonkey you've got Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 release year on N64 as 2022. Not sure that's wholly accurate 🤣

@Vyacheslav333

Go buy Sony or Microsoft branded "PC" if you're so much into fighting games then!

Super Tecmo Bowl FTW!!!

@XE77 No, I can't. I don't have money to buy PS2/PS3 or gaming PC. Ну и Xbox для файтингов не подходит.

@Vyacheslav333

In this case you've bought the wrong console. My condolences.

@XE77 «In this case you've bought the wrong console.»
Well... Not really. If talking about Switch as a portable console – it is the best option that I had. I can't play games on TV, sadly. And I have health problems with the vision. So, that's why I needed a portable console with the big screen. I play ~96% of time only in handheld mode, and ~4% of time in tabletop mode, only to discharge Joy-Cons. And, it is one of the reasons why I hate 3D fighting games on Nintendo Switch – they looks horrible in handheld mode. They looks decent only in TV mode.

@bransby From what I was seeing from doing some quick research it hurt them financially in first 2 years or so, but was profitable overall towards the later years because it had an insanely high attach rate of games, the highest in Nintendo history at 9.79.

@KevinP It's more iterative than revolutionary, to be honest. But I agree that it's hard to capitalize on a single gen. In today's dev time, each studio can hardly release 2 games per gen.

This comment is buried way down low, but this thought occurred to me a week after reading the article. I didn't purchase a Switch until 2020, but the main reason is that the first 2-3 years of the console were plagued by releases of Wii U ports (games I already owned) and indie darlings (games I could get cheaper on Steam Sales). The Switch was essentially the first Nintendo console with this long of a life, but for me it only feels three years old, because it's only been getting new content that I wanted to play since the pandemic started. Luckily I purchased a Switch about a week before they were impossible to find. I Animal Crossed my way through 3 months of unemployment because COVID put the company that I worked for out of business. Mario Odyssey is the only Switch game I own that was released prior to AC:NH.