Topic: Is The Switch 2 Worth It???

Honestly, the Switch 2 is doing pretty amazing in terms of sales right now. And the backwards compatibility is near perfect. And the paid upgrades, which are nice, are also optional. And, it's only six months in bit we've got some pretty amazing-looking exclusives like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kirby Air Riders. There are so many games, and so many ways to play said games on the Switch 2.

I say this with one hundred percent certainty: IF GAME KEY CARDS DIDN'T EXIST AND NINTENDO OF AMERICA WASN'T CANCELING THE RELEASES OF A TON OF THIRD PARTY JAPANESE GAMES LIKE NEPTUNIA RIGHT NOW, THEN THE SWITCH 2 WOULD BE MY FAVORITE GAMING CONSOLE EVER. And I say this as someone who doesn't even own the thing yet, but wants to buy one next year.

@Bolt_Strike
You're being a bit dishonest here. You literally cited the full RRP of S2 editions when dismissing the additional value higher performance brings. There are performance gains to be had on the Switch 2 which have zero additional cost beyond the Switch 2 itself. Both actual updates and patches but also the ability for the console to brute force its way through bottlenecks that existed on the original hardware

If you consider these things to be of no value? Cool. But I would say that indisputably it is not a negative. It is most definitely a reason to buy a Switch 2. Of course whether or not it is enough of a reason, combined with the other advantages like the exclusive titles, is something people will have to judge for themselves. Weighed against the monetary cost, how much they will use it, opportunity costs etc. But it isn't a negative

@Nep-Nep-Freak
Well, stay tuned on the game key card thing.

The tide may be changing on that soon. A third-party dev (I think it's the one doing the R-Type remake/collection/whatever) confirmed a few days ago that Nintendo is in the process of offering two smaller cartridge sizes (most people are thinking 16 and 32 gig options).

The dev posted about it, actually, and the post was quickly taken down (lol).

For me it will be because I skipped the switch one now I have a huge catalog of games to check out.

The Switch 2 is doing amazingly in Japan and in the US below expectations but in Europe merely ok. There is a huge amount of stock available right up to Christmas day so we are going into the new year with a lot of stock available in retailers who will likely be motivated to shift it at a reduced margin or maybe even a loss if there is a huge amount of stock available. However into next year component prices are going up so there is the real possibility of Switch 2 console pricing going up and Nintendo might market their inventory better with production matching sales so no need to discount etc. If you are in Europe it definitely feels a good time to buy especially as Christmas returns will get re-sold at a discount as well and we are going into the dead period of gaming sales after Christmas where people don't have much money so harder for shops to extract it from people. It feels to me in the short term it could be a good time to buy and in the long term not so much if prices are forced up.

If I really see a cheap Switch 2 I might go for it but really there is nothing I'm that bothered about currently in order to make that purchase and the first version of the Switch 2 is a bit disappointing with short battery life and a rubbish display panel. I still have Switch games I've yet to start so as ever my backlog of games is very large, many of which are great games. Also Epic have been giving away PC games daily and a couple of those I'm really looking forward to playing. Also the Christmas Day giveaway hasn't been announced yet but is live at 4pm I think. Various rumours about what the game will be have circulated, of those rumours Subnautica below Zero takes my fancy.

@BonzoBanana
Looking at the numbers and ratios I don't really see evidence of what you're saying here. It seems to be doing similarly across regions to what the Switch did just faster. Of course in Japan it is performing the best, especially relative to the PS5, but portable systems have done this in Japan for decades

The only thing that has changed is that XBox doesn't really complete anymore. Which inflates PS5's sales numbers, particularly in the US. Which in turn makes Switch 2 look worse in a direct sales comparison to PS5 than it otherwise would. But if you look at the ratios and rates of sales? Switch 2 is split by region similarly to the Switch. And it's about 1.5mill ahead of where the Switch was in NA, launch aligned

The other thing I want to comment on is your last bit about inflation and the price of gaming hardware likely to keep going up. I'm sure this is true and will likely suppress sales. However I would suggest that it will not apply evenly. It may go against the grain me saying this but Nintendo has the cheaper platform. Sure right now you can get a digital only PS5 for less than the Switch 2. But I would put to you that given the components that are becoming more expensive are RAM and NAND and given the Switch 2 is the platform that has the least of both? And especially given Switch 2 is selling through and likely has more of a margin still built into the price. I would say over the course of this generation the Switch 2 will be the more budget friendly platform. Relatively speaking. Even moreso once we have the PS6, Switch 2 Lite and the Switch eventually gets discontinued

And in any case, as I said on the previous page. Outside of the fun of being an armchair analyst does any of this really matter? For me, I got the Switch 2 because I like Nintendo's software output and the Switch 2 is the best piece of hardware to run that content on. Whether or not they have a decent supply in Iceland, what the Yen is selling for and what the current US tariffs are does not really impact how much enjoyment I get out of the thing

The cost is the cost. A single price. Everything else, as fun as it may be to play that game, is entirely irrelevant to the decision about whether or not the value of the Switch 2 (new games BC, performance, enhanced versions) is worth the price it is being sold for. Everything else is just noise

@skywake
As long as this trend continues, Switch 2 has absolutely nothing to worry about.

People love to cherry pick data points but ignore the forest for the trees. They refuse to analyze the entire statistical trend, typically because it's a mythbuster against whatever narrative they want to be true.

First thing you learn in SPC (statistical process control) is the golden rule... NEVER form conclusions on single data points. Only derive conclusions from statistical trends. Now. If a statistical process is stable, and in control, the only thing you need to look out for is a process change, indicated by a data point falling outside the control limits, after investigating to ensure it's not an outlier, or a random anomaly.

Here is the trend thus far of Switch 2 vs Switch 1:

And here is the monthly global sales data (in millions) plugged into an I&MR chart for SPC. And as is quite evident, the process is stable and in control. Nothing is out of the ordinary (aka "cause for concern").

@skywake Well the inflation and tariffs actually may have an effect because Nintendo may need to raise the price. That was the main reason I jumped on the Switch 2 now, if I waited I was concerned it would get even more expensive. In a vacuum I probably would've waited a few years, I do think the lineup will look good enough after about 2-4 years on the market, but if I waited until I saw the lineup I was looking for, the value wouldn't be as good because I'd be paying more money for the exact same product (and no, a Switch 2 Lite probably wouldn't be better value because it would likely compromise some core feature to get the cost down as the 2DS and Switch Lite did, and if that feature is the hybrid nature like the Switch Lite, that doesn't work for my gaming preferences).

@Bolt_Strike
I'm sure it'll have an impact and is driving purchasing decisions out of fear of price changes down the line. I know people IRL have made that call. Hell, I made a gamble at launch that the Mario Kart bundle might be dropped and in the current climate it seemed unlikely that deals would get better. As it happens I gambled incorrectly (I paid $769AU, that bundle is currently on sale for $715AU) but it was still part of my rationale (i.e. it's probably not getting cheaper so why not enjoy it from day 1)

But that wasn't really my comment. My comment was more that as components get super expensive that even though this will mean people buy less it probably won't be even. And that I suspect that when the market includes Switch 2 Lite, PS5 portable, PS6 etc that Nintendo could actually benefit from this. Because likely people will still want gaming devices, they'll just go to the lower cost options. Which in this case is probably Nintendo's platform

I mean Nintendo probably will be the cheapest relative to that point in time, the PS6 and next gen Xbox will only get more expensive and the Switch 2 Lite will definitely be the cheapest device on the market when all of that dust settles. But @BonzoBanana's point isn't simply about competing devices. It's about when to buy a Switch 2 if you're potentially interested. And a potential price increase is a good reason to buy now, it's objectively worse value to buy the exact same product for a higher price. Standard Switch 2 now vs. Switch 2 Lite in the future might be a trickier and more subjective calculation (are the cut features in a potential Switch 2 Lite important to you or are they features you can live without to save money), but beyond that if you believe a price increase is coming you need to buy now because every other option for the Switch 2 will only get more expensive.

I don't think a price increase for Switch 2 is coming. But the bundle is being discontinued, which is an indirect price increase. Furthermore, the bundle is on sale for $449.99 right now, netting you Mario Kart World ($80 value) for free.

So weighing buying now for $450 and getting NS2 + Mario Kart World, vs waiting a few years and buying for $450 and getting only NS2... I see no rational reason to wait. Again, this assumes ppl have the money to spend. It's irresponsible to blow money on entertainment if you think you might need it for something that matters. This also assumes the person believes they will buy the system at some point anyways. Which, if they aren't, I'm not sure what they are doing in this thread in the first place.

But even if buying now didn't save you $80, I still maintain the opportunity cost of waiting is a net loss. If you're going to buy it anyways and you're not gonna get it for any less by waiting, then you're only losing every day you put it off. Because every day you wait is one less day of enjoyment you're getting for your money when you eventually buy.

Almost nobody buys a system within the first year believing it's worth it just for the couple games that released already. Nearly everyone buys the system within the first year not only for the games that are out, but also with the understanding the nearly a decade of nonstop support will follow. You can't trust everyone to do that because Sony abandons their platforms left and right- I got burned with Vita. Got burned again with PSVR. And learned my lesson with PSVR2. But Nintendo has proven they will support their systems come hell or high water. Wii U received one of the best generations of exclusive software we'd seen in a long time. And it's for that reason people people trust Nintendo to follow through with quality games, especially when the system is doing as well as it is.

I do think Nintendo may absorb extra costs when it comes to the European market unless they want to abandon it as a major format in that territory. It is already far too expensive and more expensive than other markets and sales have not been great. In Japan they are probably selling at a break even price. Last time I worked out the currency conversion it was less than £240 there for the basic pack. They may have to push up the price a bit in Japan. US is Nintendo's biggest market and it's selling well at a price point point between Europe and Japan despite the higher tariffs. I feel like they could be under some pressure to increase prices in the USA but I feel it will be a smaller increase or maybe they will add value rather than just increase prices. I.e. 2 digital games included with the console.

Looking at November sales the 5 year old PS5 is selling over 4x the rate of Switch 2s in Europe and even in the USA the PS5 has sold over 50% more than Switch 2. The Switch 2 is a new console with compatibility with an old console and surely Nintendo would have expected to do better with many Switch 1 owners upgrading at a higher rate? There is tons of Switch 2 stock in the UK and heavy discounting of games and hardware. However being in Europe that is where my perspective is based more specifically the UK. No one is going to be surprised if the perspective of someone in the US is more positive but still I was not expecting the PS5 to do so much better but we are seeing it seems the great migration of Xbox users to PS5 it seems on top of normal sales both in Europe and the USA.

I'm not really emotionally attached to any console brand. I don't have a PS5 and probably never will have but still I'm interested in their commercial success or failure and how they are doing. I'm a PC, Switch, retro and android gamer. I'm not trying to be negative or positive about Switch 2 overall just seeing the positive and negative aspects of the console as it happens. There is always both good and bad with any console story. I'm always trying to be factual at all times and happy to correct errors in my viewpoint or adjustments as I would call them. I said the Switch 2 would be a hard sell in Europe at the pricing in Europe and it has been, it has not achieved the sales success of Japan or the USA. I said the pricing in Japan was fantastic for the console and software and it would be a huge success there and it is. I was more vague on the USA due to not knowing about the effect of the tariffs etc or knowing that market very well.

@BonzoBanana
PS5 sold really well during Black Friday here in the U.S. because Sony aggressively discounted it.

@BonzoBanana The way I look at it is it's very normal for PS5 to outsell Switch 2 this holiday considering the circumstances. GTA6 is approaching, multiple mainstream games this year did not come to PS4, some mainstream live service games are dropping PS4 support early next year, big price drop, etc. The thing that's unusual is it has taken so long for the crossgen PS4/PS5 window to end.

I could easily see PS5 outselling Switch 2 next holiday too if GTA6 isn't delayed again as I have no doubts that Sony will have GTA6 PS5 hardware bundles like they had for GTAV and RDR2 on PS3/PS4 and PS4 respectively. Somewhere in the range of £290 - £320 for PS5 digital + download code for GTA6 would be my guess.

But that's not a problem, it can be both true for PS5 to outsell Switch 2 and the Switch 2 to still be doing well.

For me, it’s a no. Still nothing exclusive I’m desperate to play on it.

And the game prices are unjustifiable… when you can afford something, but still don’t think it’s worth the price, there’s an issue. $100 for galaxy 1&2? $1000 for 15 year old games? No. And I’m not paying $100 for a single new game either.

Just pure principle of the thing for me… especially when they all seem to be key cards, so I don’t even own the software.

.. but once there’s a new Zelda and Mario on there, no doubt I’ll get one then..

@BonzoBanana

Looking at November sales the 5 year old PS5 is selling over 4x the rate of Switch 2s in Europe and even in the USA the PS5 has sold over 50% more than Switch 2.

This is exactly what I was talking about earlier with drawing conclusions from single data points rather than a trend.

Switch blew away PS4 by 40 million units over its lifespan. And yet, did you know the PS4 outsold Switch its first November? Did you know NS2 performed just as well as NS1 its first November? And Switch 2 is outselling Switch, so... think about that.

It's expected for PS5 to outperform Switch 2 right now. Years 3-5 are typically peak years. Having said that, even if it wasn't expected, it was still only a single month as a result of $100-150 orange clearance sticker discounts. So drawing any kind of long-term conclusion that NS2 is in trouble from it is... odd.

Here's the data backing up my claim that PS5 is hugging its peak years, while Switch 2 isn't (and yet NS2 is still outselling it overall)

And here's 2017 data showing Switch 1 was behind the PS4 practically all year, including November. Not that history repeats, but it does rhyme. Trust me on this, the system has nothing to worry about. But don't take my word for it- listen to the Switch 1 data.

Switch 2 is literally following in the same footsteps of Switch 1. And we all know how that turned out.

On the topic of potential price increases for the Switch 2, I think it would be in Nintendo's best interest to avoid increasing the price of the system. Purchasing a Switch 2 is basically a "gateway purchase" into the new Nintendo purchasing ecosystem. Without a system, there is no need for consumers to buy games or accessories. For that reason, rather than raise the price of the Switch 2 itself, Nintendo will likely subsidize the system for additional costs brought upon by the market by increasing the prices of other products and services. Personally, I am anticipating an NSO price increase by the end of 2026.

@Clammy
Whoa - where do you live that the Galaxy package is 100 bucks?!

Canada. Bananza is 100 Canadian dollars also.

Canadian and Australian Dollars consistently confuse conversations, as most are accustomed to pricing in U.S. Dollars.

We might need to either agree to everyone referring to prices in USD, or simply denoting which country's currency is being referenced (USD, CAD or AUD)