Topic: Is The Switch 2 Worth It???

I do wonder how many of the people who have multiple platforms actually actively use them. I don't know about other people but as a PC/Nintendo guy since the 90s I guess I've always had the option to get games for multiple platforms. But I always just end up neglecting one of those platforms and playing mostly on the other for long periods of time. Currently I'm mostly on Switch 2, last year I was more into PC, a couple of years before that I was mostly Switch, before that PC, before that Wii U

You should never make comparisons with PPP, there is a manufacturing cost in China and a fair margin. Just because Japanese wages are lower or Japanese taxes are higher for life in general should not come into the comparison at all. That seems a highly biased way of looking at pricing. It is a product shipped from China and Vietnam with the same manufacturing cost. So are you saying in rich countries like Switzerland or Norway people should pay £1000 for the console or more?

When I say £300 I'm suggesting that as the suggested selling price. Discounting may drive that down a bit. I'm making a comparison between the full retail price in Japan vs the UK before discounting and saying I would be happy with a suggested selling price of £300 in the UK which is still a lot more than Japan even allowing for tax.

The Switch definitely had issues with the commercial viability of ports for quite some time. When it reached a large enough userbase it got to a point where the sales figures were profitable but never compared to first party Switch 1 titles sales. We are quite a few years away from a larger userbase for Switch 2 at best. It feels like it was 3-4 years for the original Switch to get established with a large user base. It certainly feels like it will be longer than that with the sales in Europe, maybe 5-6 years for Switch 2 to reach a large user base if Europe keeps dragging behind. However by that time the Switch 2 hardware will be even less competitive and not capable of running many ports anyway designed for more powerful platforms. However Nintendo has pushed for far higher pricing for software for Switch 2 and this might have ramifications for the Switch 2 platform. Switch 2 console to software sales ratio may decrease and likely this will have a greater effect on third party ports, maybe.

@JaxonH

It was plural when the article said publishers had Switch 2 software sales below their worst expectations but no publisher names were given so at least 2 and at a time of the Game Key card backlash. At the time Cyberpunk was praised for bucking the trend for sales which was the full game on cartridge. However recent articles have stated Cyberpunk has not sold as well down the line and again quite heavy discounting in the UK at times so it feels like Cyberpunk sold really well at launch but sales have reduced. I've also seen some comments about phantom liberty issues where the frame rate tanks in more intense shooting situations from owners of the game, maybe as their save file gets larger.

The suggested selling price for Cyberpunk is £69.99 in the UK for cartridge but current offers brings it down to £45 plus you can get cashback from some sites too normally, that is a 35% reduction I think. That would confirm demand has dropped sharply and the retailer or publisher is in a overstock situation. However some people have bought Cyberpunk on the US Nintendo site for less than £15 in the UK when that price was available for a short time.

However its generally the game key card titles that have had the most aggressive discounting by far with titles being well under half price at times.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/cyberpunk-2077-ultimate-edit...

Your argument was about affordability of the console in specific countries relative to Japan, e.g. UK. For this purpose PPP is a better measure than exchange rate, as it accounts for differences in local economics.

Btw using PPP the Japanese price would be 4852 - 6794 NOK (admittedly the RRP for Switch 2 in Norway is on the higher end of this at 6695 NOK) - I don't see how you get £1000 from that. Swiss price wouldn't come close to £1000 either.

The Switch definitely had issues with the commercial viability of ports for quite some time. When it reached a large enough userbase it got to a point where the sales figures were profitable but never compared to first party Switch 1 titles sales. We are quite a few years away from a larger userbase for Switch 2 at best. It feels like it was 3-4 years for the original Switch to get established with a large user base. It certainly feels like it will be longer than that with the sales in Europe, maybe 5-6 years for Switch 2 to reach a large user base if Europe keeps dragging behind. However by that time the Switch 2 hardware will be even less competitive and not capable of running many ports anyway designed for more powerful platforms. However Nintendo has pushed for far higher pricing for software for Switch 2 and this might have ramifications for the Switch 2 platform. Switch 2 console to software sales ratio may decrease and likely this will have a greater effect on third party ports, maybe.

Essentially it boils down to these arguments: (i) Switch/2 is less technically capable than its contemporaries, (ii) third party games supposedly do "poorly" on Switch/2.

Yet third party support only increased over the Switch's lifespan. Clearly third parties were convinced that it was worth their effort. And right out the gate we're getting stronger third party support on Switch 2. This is despite Switch 2's lower user base at this point in time.

This would not be the case if (ii) were true. They would just give up. Sure it's a bit early to say with certainty how things will ultimately go with the Switch 2 - but I don't see much evidence of third parties pulling back. If anything, we've had evidence of greater investment, esp. from publishers like SEGA and Capcom. I'm not quite convinced by your response to JaxonH on this. Again your arguments seem to be bemoaning that things are too expensive...but then pointing towards a supposed abundance of discounts as evidence that things aren't selling?

As for (i) - this was much moreso an issue with the original Switch and - while it did limit third party output to some extent - the third party support we have now is greater than ever. With the Switch 2 a gulf in power with PS/XB/PC remains...but the gulf is much smaller due to diminishing returns in graphical output. Even to the point that we're getting major AAA releases (see: Resident Evil) day-and-date with home consoles.

@rallydefault Glad to hear a similar story. I also grew up on the SNES, but then I switched to PC until 2015, when I switched back to consoles with the Xbox One and later the PS4. I got a Series X and a PS5 at the beginning of this generation, and also got a Switch to play on with my wife and daughter, but I didn't use it that much otherwise.
I sold my Series X when they decided to release all their games on other consoles, and due to some budget issues earlier this year, I had to sell my PS5 and Switch as well. Then I got the Switch 2 when it was released and have been stuck with it since then.

@BonzoBanana, I agree with most of what you said except the 3rd-party ports. So far, I tried Star Wars Outlaws, Yakuza 0, Street Fighter 6, Cyberpunk 2077, and FFVII Demo, and they're all working well. That's why I'm more concerned about the upcoming games to see how they'll perform. If they run smoothly at 30 or 40 FPS, I'll be happy regardless of how they compare to the PS5 or XSX.
And yeah, I know a lot of people own a Switch or Switch 2 just for exclusives, but that doesn't mean Switch 2 might be a good solution if you're looking for an AIO console and have a busy life, making it challenging to play a lot.

@FishyS 100% with your comment, you basically described my current needs in this life stage, and Switch 2 is enough for me for this

@Lazz Thank you, and I see you raised a little Nintendo fan here. Glad that he feels Switch 2 is enough, and I hope my daughter, when she grows up, will feel the same

@JaxonH Thanks a ton for all the recommendations. I had Switch 1 before, but I didn't play it a lot, except for Zelda BOTW and some family games. However, with Switch 2, I played BOTW again, Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokemon Legends Z-A and, of course, Mario Kart World from time to time. Currently, I'm 150+ hours in Zelda TOTK.

I would like to play the Xenoblade series as it's more to my taste, but I've high hopes they'll announce Switch 2 Edition for the 4 games. Also, I got Metroid Prime 4 Beyond and I guess I'll play it after Zelda TOTK.

Already played Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch, but I want to check how it looks on Switch 2, as I heard the update was really good. I've played Super Mario Bros. Wonder with my daughter. It was so much fun.

Just bought Mario + Rabbids in the current sales and added Paper Mario, Pikmin 4 and the rest of games you recommended to my games to watch.

Since you mentioned Monster Hunter Stories 3. I saw the trailers and some gameplay, it looks fun to be honest, but do I need to play the first two games?

Thanks again for all the recommendations. Much appreciated!!

@BonzoBanana
So... you have no concrete evidence. Just a vague anonymous claim at launch? Ya that's not a problem. Whatever game had issues, perhaps it just didnt appeal to day 1 adopters, especially with their fanaticism about physical.

But now, 3rd party games are permanently in the best sellers list. Just like they were on Switch.

So that claim really doesn't have any weight to it. Notify us when Capcom or Square Enix or Ubisoft comes out with a statement saying they're gonna stop supporting the system because their games aren't selling, then I'll pay attention.

Until that happens, what you're saying means nothing, even if it were true.

@Khwarezm89
Oh you're on it! Right on man. Zelda TotK and then Metroid Prime 4? You're set.

No, you don't need to play the prior Monster Hunter Stories games. Each entry is a new story with new characters completely unrelated. They're all good, but the 2nd was notably better than the 1st, and I expect Monster Hunter Stories 3 to be much better than the 2nd.

Just wanted to put this here since we were talking about Switch 2 in Spain.

@Khwarezm89
That's impressive.

It's important to keep in mind that it took Switch 1-2 years before really kicking into gear. Such is the case with all consoles. I think some people expect Switch 2 to just skip that process and jump straight to its peak years, forgetting that all consoles start off slower and build up their momentum into years 3, 4 and 5.

So if Switch ends up selling 20+ million in its first 12 months (which is almost a guarantee at this point- it may well come close within the first 10 months, in fact), that's absolutely wild. Usually it takes a couple years to see a 12 month period that reaches 20m.

All this to say, we can rest easy concerning 3rd party support. I mean, the fact we're about to see our 4th Yakuza title in the first 8 months, when the producer previously said his games wouldn't sell on Nintendo platforms, says everything we need to know.

@JaxonH
This is just a theory, but at least around here I think a lot of us are scarred from the Wii U years.

Hardware sales got slow pretty quickly after launch, we had that software drought until Pikmin 3, low hardware numbers persisted... and every big game coming up (Wind Waker HD, 3D World, Mario Kart, Smash Brothers, etc.) we kept saying THIS has to be the game where the Wii U recovers and hits its stride, where people realize the console has awesome games.

But it never happened. Even with games like Mario Kart 8 that are now considered some of the best of all time.

Anyway, it's not at all what is happening at the moment, but people keep TRYING to make it into what's happening with the Switch 2... even when the facts and figures don't support it whatsoever.

Just trying to take a stab at some mindsets around here.

@rallydefault
It does seem that way. And it's futile because you can't stop this train. You just can't. Switch is the most popular video game console in the history of the medium. People have been begging for years to get a more powerful Switch, and Nintendo delivered precisely that.

A higher cost won't stop it. Economic downturns won't stop it. Cherry picked launch titles ignored by the extremely miniscule subset of day one adopters won't stop it. Barring an economic collapse, thermonuclear war or perhaps the return of Jesus Christ himself, Nintendo Switch 2 isn't gonna fail.

I can't speak as to how successful it will be in the end, except to say it will crack triple digits in millions sold. And frankly, anything beyond that is just gravy anyways. The only thing we care about is the hardware reaching enough people for 3rd parties to support it.

There's a stark difference between Wii U, where Ubisoft abandoned all support after Year 1, and other publishers by the 6 month mark, and the Switch 2 where developers like Capcom are bringing their entire catalog over as fast as their little Japanese feet can carry them.

Switch never saw Monster Hunter World ported over, which released around the same time as the console launched, even despite its huge success and Iron Galaxy offering to handle the port. Yet here we see Monster Hunter Wilds being brought over immediately, and by Capcom themselves.

We may be scarred from the Wii U, but nothing heals those wounds like seeing Final Fantasy VII Remake, Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Pragmata, Yakuza Kiwami 3, 007 First Light, Elden Ring, Borderlands 4, Fallout 4, Starfield, South From Midnight, Monster Hunter Wilds and more all slated to release on our console in the coming months.

Something people need to keep in mind, when they contemplate the impact of things like tariffs or economic downturns on the Switch 2: there is no reason to think these broader issues wouldn't also hit the consoles produced by Microsoft and Sony. A crap economy leading to people buying fewer Switch 2s, will also lead to fewer people buying PS5s. If anything, the impact will be greater, since Nintendo has a relatively invincible hold on the Japanese market ( third biggest in the entire world, I would note ), while Sony has no such benefit.

@rallydefault
That is a fairly generous take when Switch 2 has possibly already outsold Wii U's lifetime sales. But there is probably some truth to it. I also think it's worth noting that economically people are being squashed currently and so the idea of a new piece of gaming hardware itself is seen as a threat. Especially to those who gravitate towards Nintendo because it's a more budget friendly piece of hardware

But, of course, time marches on. Eventually Switch 2 will become the cheap platform and, despite the tone-deaf nature of the NoA CEO statement on it, the OG Switch continues to exist as a budget option. And in a similar vein when we're talking about gaming generally. Yes, gaming hardware is getting more expensive (especially if you're a PC gamer looking at the RAM price coalface) but even so, gaming is a relatively cheap form of entertainment. Eg if you get a Switch 2, an ongoing individual NSO+ sub and buy a full retail game every three months? Over 5 years that's ~$50AU/mo. Which is not nothing sure..... but on my personal budget spreadsheet the only thing cheaper than that is my water bill. Which brings me to....

@BonzoBanana
I'm sorry, PPP does matter in these discussions. Very simple example but I live in Perth Western Australia where generally speaking wages are high. But because wages are high things like food, shelter, trades, energy etc are also high. Both because the wages have to come from somewhere but also because when everyone has more money everyone can pay more. Economically speaking, where I live per-person we produce more than the US but without the massive wealth inequality. Statistically speaking one of the most profitable places in the world to live if you're "middle-class", but also one of the more expensive

But when you buy a gaming console or a piece of software? Almost none of the inputs to the production of that good was domestic. So for us here in Westralia what we end up seeing on the sticker price is basically the same as what it is everywhere else in the world. Except, because our money doesn't go as far here and we get more of it, what we end up with is essentially a lower price

If I lived in a city that was significantly less flush with cash the equation would be reversed. I might be able to get by on a lower wage because, naturally, the cost of everyone else's labour would also be low. But products imported that have little-to-no domestic input, those products would be unaffordable. There's a reason why you see more Australians on gaming forums than South Africans

I'd think that higher prices and less competition in the console market might result in it losing further ground to mobile and PC in the grand scheme of things. We're already looking at a situation where the latter two account for around 72% of the global market and most of the growth.

Certainly, if money was tight enough for me that I couldn't afford to have a phone, a computer and a games console, the last of those three would be the easiest one to give up.

@Matt_Barber
I'm not entirely convinced. It's hard to align this stuff because the sample size of global economic turmoil and its impact on gaming sales is small, especially given gaming hasn't been a thing for long historically speaking. Also you can't exactly A/B test historical global sales in different conditions. Even so, it's hard to ignore how much COVID boosted the Switch and how the Wii's best holiday sales period was immediately after the GFC and in a world where iPhone/iPod Touch existed

I would say that an economic downturn will hit the sales of shiny new gaming consoles. Especially the more premium ones. But we just need to remember that the Switch 2 while it is the shiny new thing right now won't be that product for long. Right now to get a Switch 2 console you're buying new and then for the software you're either going for Switch games (at which point if you were on a budget just get a Switch) or you're paying a premium for brand new Switch 2 titles. A couple of years from now that'll change

Pretty much an easy choice for most people. PC and mobile can not only play games but browse the internet, stream music, play movies, and do a zillion other things. A Switch 2 just plays games. There's a reason behind that 72%.

Ultimately I do think it's inevitable that consoles will succumb to PC and mobile at some point and the affordability crisis may accelerate that decline. It's hard to say when that will happen exactly, I thought that things looked bad for consoles in the 2010s but consoles have hung in there. Nevertheless, an affordability crisis is the last thing the console industry needs right now.

It... really depends overall I think? These are very anecdotes of course, but I know there's definitely some decent amount of people over here in my country, who do like, mobile phone + console (usually playstation), because that's overall cheaper and they have no needs for PC, and majority of what they need to do there can be done on smartphone (even cheaper smartphone that's 200 usd or less)

Yea - I don't think a lot of people actually have computers at home anymore. Definitely not desktops, and many don't even have laptops. Their phone and/or a tablet seems to do the trick.

If we’re going by anecdotes…I know far more people with a switch than a gaming PC. Same goes for PS5 vs PC. And even amongst those that I know have a gaming PC, for most it’s not their preferred platform. Most people I know that have PC as their primary platform have been PC gaming for a long time and are fairly enthusiastic about PCs in particular.

I can see PC making a dent in the market, but tbh I think it’s mostly gonna take Xbox’s slice of the pie. I think PS and especially Nintendo are safe.

To address the topic here of “worth it?” A bit further:

I got the original Pac Man World: Re Pac during a used game sale, and I’ve been playing it on my Lite. Fun game, but the framerate is total garbage. Reminded me of Crash Bandicoot 4 on the Switch - really struggled. In an action platformer, a low framerate like this really affects the gameplay and makes the whole thing drag.

So I figured I’d just pop it in my Switch 2 to see if anything was different, and lo and behold, the framerate and load times are soooo much better. Didn’t download a patch, didn’t need to do anything other than just put it in my Switch 2 and it’s a much more enjoyable experience. (And this is all in handheld.)

The Switch 2 is an awesome machine.