Topic: Nintendo Switch 2 Predictions

On a slightly related note, I wonder what are the chances that the Switch 2 will improve how bluetooth headphones work when compared to the Switch. I would definitely use mine more if it wasn't for the noticeable audio delay.

@Waveboy Doubt there's any chances of them bringing back the 3D effect. Mainly because of how expensive that tech was- along with how little it was really used in the first place.

@VoidofLight Really, does anyone even use a 3DTV these days?

Imo, VR is going to stay a novelty. There's so many experiences that wouldn't really work well with it. The best games that utilize it are all First Person generally speaking, given that it puts you into the shoes of the characters. Anything outside of that feels like it would just play better on an actual screen. Not to mention the heavy eye-strain.

@Waveboy Haven't played anything. Don't really find an interest in VR outside of the few videos I saw of it years ago, and I'd prefer to stick to playing games on a monitor or normal screen.

You forget that it has been 8 years. RayTracing has been a standard feature of NVidia GPUs since 2019, 6 years ago. This SoC we know is based on a modified Ampere micro-architecture. A 2020 GPU architecture, 5 years ago

All this leak does is talk about the clock speeds as reported in development documentation. It's around 500Mhz, which is fairly low. Not as low as some had predicted but still low. But with this architecture and size? You can calculate the power. That's all they've done. And you land at something that's not clocked as high as Steam Deck (1.6Ghz) or PS4 (800Mhz) and only marginally higher than Switch in portable mode (300MHz) but because of how wide and modern it is, relatively, it makes up for it

And docked obviously they can clock it way higher. As they do with the Switch currently. This shouldn't surprise anyone because, again, it has been years. They didn't put 12GB of RAM in this thing for laughs

Point of relative comparison, the Switch when it launched. It was more capable than the Wii U (4 years old), 360 (11 years) and PS3 (10 years). Outclassing not just on features but also in raw compute. It was something like a 100x jump in spec over the 3DS (yes, that much) but it was about a 3rd of the power of the PS4/XBOne which by that point were just over 3 years old. They sold it for what would be the equivalent of ~$390US today adjusted for inflation.

These specs we're talking about for Switch 2? They outclass the XBOne (11 years), PS4 (11 years) and Steam Deck (3 years). Outclassing not just on features but also in raw compute, although more of the former than the latter than the Switch did. It's something like a 4-6x jump in spec over the Switch, the current 3DS equivalent, which is significant but not quite as monumental. And it's about a 3rd of the raw power of the PS5 which at this point is just over 4 years old. They'll probably charge ~$400US for it

.......... these are basically the same gaps in time and power ratios

@skywake Wow that is pretty impressive. Of course I’m one of those that understands things like this better when I can see games running on the hardware so I’m hoping that the rumours turn out true and at some point today we get that announcement from Nintendo of the reveal tomorrow.

@Waveboy It's nice to see anyone else here positive about VR prospects. I've been hoping Switch Successor would pursue VR more seriously than Switch has for... well, pretty much since I played some Breath of the Wild in VR, and the Astro Bot demo. Metroid Prime, Animal Crossing, Mario & Mario Kart, all in VR... it's the golden ticket!

@gcunit I’m not sure VR is the big thing many were hoping it would become. Maybe in the future when many of the issues the headsets still have are ironed out and they are significantly cheaper people will take an interest. But for now, people don’t have the money to spend on accessories to gaming machines.

@FragRed My cardboard LABO goggles didn't cost me much.

@Waveboy I feel like the reason a lot of people are a little down on VR is a combination of the fact that it's been 'the next big thing' for over 30 years with the fact that a lot of big promises in the area never came to fruition — consumer hololens was a myth, Facebook metaverse was a farce, Google had a whole VR app store and then closed it down because not many people used it after the first couple hours of trying ot out. Combined with the fact that many people's experiences with VR involves some level of motion sickness.

I've been hyped for VR a couple times in my life — once when I was very young and once in the 2015-2018 era. But I've repeatedly fallen off the horse hard.

If Switch 2 has an affordable VR accessory I'll probably buy it, but my expectations would be low after the inevitable initial fun from new thing phase wears off.

I do generally want Switch 2 to have interesting optional accessories though.

I remember when color button theory was a huge thing. I really like the idea, I hope they go with this for Switch 2 (although the leaks are making this feel less likely)

So...if Nintendo send out nothing by 9:30pm EST tonight, fair to qualify NateDrake as being misinformed?

Or do we allow some leeway and say, "by the end of business day"?

Which would be 1am EST.

@Magician I expect a “old information” response if it doesn’t happen to allow for a new date further down the line.

In over 3 hours (depending on where we all live) we’re about to see if Nintendo of America will actually announce the Switch 2 reveal to happen tomorrow.

Regardless of pre-tweet, if there isn't a reveal this week I'm happy to go back to ignoring Nate, Pyoro, and leakers in general.

Well, you know my stance, I would still be surprised if there is a reveal this month...but so many media outlets seem so sure I'm wilingl to go along for the ride (just this once.)

5:30pm PT will be what decides when we can expect the Switch 2 reveal.

If Nintendo announces it at that time, the reveal will actually come tomorrow like the rumors said. But if nothing is heard from them at that time, then all the rumors were wrong and no reveal happens tomorrow or even this month.

I dont wanna be a jerk and say "Told ya so".. but