Topic: Nintendo Switch 2

@JaxonH From the trailer I thought that this game was going to be a sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles X- given the mechs and the alien landscape.

@VoidofLight
I did too at first! Then I thought it was Armored Core, then I gave up and didn't know what it was...

It never even occurred to me it was a DxM sequel because it looks soooo much better than the original. Talk about a glow up! Once the title dropped it was like "ooooh, of course"

I'm so happy this game exists. I was such a huge fan of the first entry- even imported the EU exclusive collector edition of Daemon X Machina. Surprised more people aren't talking about it tbh. Same for Fast Fusion. A 4k 60fps/1080p 120fps sequel to Fast Racing Neo with local wireless splitscreen and online multiplayer with Gameshare, available day one? So much yes.

Obviously games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Street Fighter 6 and Yakuza 0 are getting plenty of attention as launch titles. Games not releasing launch day such as Elden Ring, Borderlands 4, Star Wars Outlaws and Daemon X Machina are understandably not in the discussion as much because they're still a little ways off. So I get that. But man... I'm hyped. There are a few games releasing later that are still getting a fair bit of attention such as Final Fantasy VII Remake, Donky Kong Bonanza, Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment and The Duskbloods, and I feel DxM Titanic Scion deserves to be included in that group, just based on that amazing trailer.

I will say, I initially skipped out on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity due to performance issues but I'm now playing it overclocked in docked image output in handheld at 720p 30fps locked, and it's actually a fantastic game. It's so nice being able to enjoy it finally. And naturally, it's got me excited for Age of Imprisonment.

That's one thing I think is a major missed opportunity with Switch 2. If even a homebrew system module can tell the Switch to output a docked image in handheld (perfect to get denser foliage, higher resolution and less jagged edges) then why can't Switch 2? The screen is 1080p. There's no reason to run the games in "handheld mode" when playing portably. But they won't do it, and it leaves me scratching my head wondering why. Even blurry handheld modes of certain Switch games look great if outputting the docked image, which is usually 720p at minimum. So even if it's a dynamic resolution, the power of Switch 2 would ensure that resolution stays locked and the framerate flatlined.

Well all those people saying buying a digital PS5 is cheaper than a Switch 2 probably feels like right prats now.

A digital PS5 without a game is now the same price in the UK as a Switch 2 and Mario Kart bundle.

As of last night with immediate effect. Same across Europe.

The PS5 was actually cheapest AT launch. Impressive.

To be honest, those people probably don't care. They go through mental gymnastics trying to prove that the Switch 2 is such a terrible and overpriced product.

Why have Sony increased the price though? Are they trying to spread the cost of US tariffs globally?

@Reprise This is all we got.

"With a backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, SIE has made the tough decision to raise the recommended retail price (RRP) of the PlayStation 5 console in select markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Australia and New Zealand."

Also just checked, the PS5 hasn't had its price increased in the US, in any of the instances of it happening in other regions multiple times.

@Haruki_NLI Yeah, thanks. I just read the same. It's weird times. This is the first console generation where I think a console has ever gone up in price over time and not in the opposite direction.

@Reprise Going up in price is one thing. Maybe once due to exceptional circumstances like a pandemic.

But multiple times? Now that's absurd. Though I don't expect any systems going forward to get price cuts. Switch 1 only got a cut here in the UK because of exchange rates meaning we were overpaying by a LOT.

@Haruki_NLI Yeah, it is a bit absurd. Sony also quietly increased the RRP of the controller not long ago too, from £60 to £65.

Prices of controllers are insane in general though. Who remembers when they were £20-25? I do... Around £25 was generally the RRP for several years. I know, I know, they are way more complex now in terms of what they do.

I really hope the Switch 2's eShop isn't a laggy mess.

@Kairuuu
It's not.

They already addressed this in the creator's interview thing where dude said the eShop was top priority to ensure it's lag and stutter free.

@JaxonH Oh, that's great to hear. I haven't seen/read the interview so I'll have to check it out!

@Bigmanfan I believe they’re doing pre-order batches? As in, they’re doing it in waves here in North America? If that’s the case, I suspect the first opening for pre-orders will take place shortly after the MK Direct this week.

Oh WOW.

I just stumbled upon a video reaction to the Switch 2 Direct and SHUHEI YOSHIDA is just casually among them as a guest, reacting to the Switch 2 Direct

@JaxonH oh yeah, I remember this one. It was one of the newspieces passed around after the Switch 2 direct:
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action-rpg/former-playstatio...

Some rumors seem to suggest Switch 2 preorders will go live in Canada starting April 23rd. If this is correct, that is likely the U.S. date as well (however, this should be taken with a grain of salt as most of the sites reporting on this are questionable to say the least).

So I've read the article about some games having start-up issues on the Switch 2 and around 20 games I own are on that list which is insane.
Do we truly believe that Nintendo will actually improve or fix the issues that arise during start-up or eventually while playing some games or is it just PR on their part?

@Neph I would guess that Nintendo will probably be working with the developers/publishers involved to get them working where possible. It's in everyone's best interest.

@BenAV That would be the most logical course of action but I guess I'm somewhat pessimistic about it.
We haven't heard (to my knowledge at least) anything so far considering patches or fixes and it's increasingly worrying that some games just get "left behind" on the Switch 1 without any updates - Especially from devs that consider their game done or already "abandoned" them for newer releases.

@Neph It's not on Nintendo to fix, it's the rights holders to the source code of those games. A lot of Switch games will have been built "To the metal" so to speak, metal that doesn't exist in Switch 2, which uses a mix of emulation and interpretation at run time.

So if a game does a specific thing that the Switch 2 simply can't do because it lacks the hardware or proper way to recreate it efficiently in the way and speed the game expects and is coded to expect, it'll break.

It was that, no backwards compatability at all, or continue making Tegra X1 chips which pose not only a security risk, but are so old that they are now probably too expensive to bother making - tech exists on an inverse bell curve, where its gets cheaper and then more expensive again.

It's like how Sony's PS2 remasters had to be fully rebuilt for PS3, because the games were built in such a way with data positioned specifically on the disc to load properly, or using little microprocessors from the PS1 still in the PS2 to run certain things in the games, that just making it work wouldnt happen. It's also why each PS3 revision has different issues with back compat support, and how certain games run differently depending on which model it is, and if its hardware based or software based.

I see an article today about Nintendo has removed information about VRR support. Has VRR been removed as a feature on the dock ?