Topic: Nintendo Switch 2: Your biggest fears and concerns!!

@rallydefault

It’s a bit of a tricky predicament for Nintendo. If they take the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach and simply add more power it’s a less compelling sell as a successor. Unless there’s a noticeable increase the “more power” option might not be compelling enough to entice buyers at launch. This is why NOT cutting the Switch price was smart by Nintendo.

Now if they do add some features or do something completely unexpected ppl might just write them off as gimmicks. They’ll need a proper balance, enough power to stay relevant and appease devs but enough innovation to distinguish it from Switch 1. Whatever they’re up to , they’ll ensure the experience is exclusive to the Switch 2. I’m thinking they completely revamp the operating system, stuff like resume play, I think they will integrate alot of interactivity like Nintendo Music, I’m sure a Nintendo Movies app isn’t far off with Zelda and Mario sequel heading to the big screen and maybe there is a new button on the controller that changes everything. Rewind, Zoom, Scroll button??

@papahefe

I’d say this is the general consensus. Most ppl would be satisfied with a more powerful Switch that didn’t always get the worst version of ports. I think Nintendo is aware that power alone isn’t enough. I think making it the most comfortable handheld to hold is a feature in itself, so maybe it’s increased power and form factor that’s just a gamers dream to hold and play. Making the system fun to play will be the real key, what’s the point in all that extra power if there’s no fun in actually playing it ?

Another Mario Golf, Tennis, Strikers. Remasters for half fondly remembered Kirby games. Mario Kart’s got the same 50-200cc repetitious structure. Zelda leans more and more towards anime and forgets its western fantasy roots and storybook charm. Splatoon 4.

Basically what I’m saying is I want Nintendo to come out of the gates as bold as they did at the start of the Switch. Give me an open world brawler ARMS 2 with spring arm based puzzle mechanics. Short form but unique games from smaller teams. The next lovable character…The entire GameCube library on day one.

I don’t have any doubt in their ability making hardware but, for me, their software really stagnated after TOTK.

Can't say I have many fears or concerns about the hardware itself, it looks like it is set to be a massive step up from the OG Switch (which is definitely needed)

But I am really hoping for a 2017-esque year for Switch 2 software (New 3D mario, new Mario Kart, New IP or two, some kind of early Zelda representation), as long as the system starts strongly I can't see the system doing any worse saleswise than "Decent"

@Rainz oh, I'll never worry if they can do that or not. Even the Wii U was a blast to play when their games really hit. I have no doubt the software will be there to back it up. That's kind of Nintendo's thing!

@Rainz
Yea, I think this is a trickier position for them than most people are letting on.

The Switch was amazing. Probably my favorite console of all time. But even then, I want something fresh, not just an increase in power.

Unless there is something like Mario Kart 9 right at launch that ONLY runs on Switch 2, I'm probably waiting to buy it, which is something I never thought I'd say. If it's just more power and most of the initial games are going to be playable on both... why should I upgrade?

For me a big appeal of the switch was being able to pretty much play how you want (outside of some games, mainly a couple of first party ones) so a mandatory new "gimmick" that could effect that is a concern, not so much experimental peripherals like the ring controller, mario kart live tour, or labo but more something like with the wii/wiiu/ds/3ds (though the wiiu was a bit more lax on this since quite a few games supported off-tv play and the pro controller as options which i liked)

another is something like some kind of intrusive DRM such as periodic online checks, while i would hope that the xbox one reveal fiasco would have nipped that in the bud nintendo has done something similar with their legacy content and unlike similar services like gamepass and PS+ there is no option to "buy and keep" the games. while i doubt that kind of model would leak into retail games i am hoping that the system remains as "future-proof" as possible

but yeah im really hoping they give the switch format another shot and maybe lean even more into the "play how you want" concept (such as more options to customized your experience) especially since the switch being the only dedicated portable console on the market (as opposed to the more PC based alternatives) it already offers something that no other system does.

Erm, I don't think I have any fears with the next system. Next gen Nintendo is always exciting.

My big concern is honestly the games. They'll have a new 3D Mario and Mario Kart 9 alongside a potentially cross gen Prime 4, which is enough to get it off the ground, but what do they have afterwards? What do they have in the pipeline to prevent a Wii U style post launch drought, which was just as responsible for the system's failure as the god awful marketing?

This is where I have concerns about what they could possibly have. The next 3D Zelda is years away, they just used 2D Mario and 2D Zelda on Switch 1, and Astral Chain 2 most likely isn't happening/was canceled. There's Animal Crossing and 3D Kirby, but those are Spring 2026 at the absolute earliest... what else could they possibly have in the mean time so they don't lose momentum?

@Mgalens
This was a nice write-up, and I like how you phrased the "play how you want" stuff.

Are you concerned with the Switch 2 staying portable, though? I am. It's supposedly not much heavier, but it is significantly larger overall. I'm worried it's going to lose some of its practicality in terms of actually taking it places outside the house.

I might also be spoiled with my Switch Lite. Every time I go from using my Lite to my OLED, I feel like I'm hefting a tablet.

@rallydefault
yeah i can see how it could throw someone off going to a heavier system.

for me i didn't really play the switch outside of home (unless i was visiting family for a weekend) but do play almost 100% of my playtime handheld on either the sofa or the bed (i did similar with wiiu and off-tv play) that being said i still did value the ability to be able to play on TV when i was in the mood .was refreshing too since Nintendo handhelds hadn't had a TV-out option since the GBA iirc and it still feels a missed opportunity that the wiiu didn't had a DS/3DS player attachment like how the GameCube had a GBA player

@IceClimbers Not as sure about Year 1, but there's definitely some IPs that feel like they're on the way Year 2 or 3. Animal Crossing and Kirby are good examples, I would also add Luigi's Mansion 4, Metroid 6, and Gen 10 Pokemon. I think the output will definitely be less than Switch because of the increase in power but not a Wii U-esque drought. As far as specifics for Year 1, maybe something like this:

3D Mario
Mario Kart 9
possibly cross gen ports of Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends Z-A
Smash Ultimate Deluxe
some kind of casual party game akin to Nintendo Land and 1-2 Switch to show off the console's features
probably some kind of remake (I keep leaning towards something Zelda, maybe that rumored OoT remake?)

That should be fine for Year 1. I'm not too worried about the lineup, there's enough IPs that feel like they're almost ready that I don't think we'll see Wii U-esque droughts. Or at least not in the first half of the lifespan, the second half might be a different story.

Because I don’t usually get into stuff like tariffs, but seeing them and how it could affect gaming in the US (especially Switch 2) made me raise an eyebrow

@IceClimbers It's partially why I don't believe 1st half of 2025 release, if Switch 2 released in September they could do:

• September - 3D Mario
• October - Mario Kart
• November - Legends Z-A

Which is a really strong start but by releasing around June, it feels like you're either relying on Prime 4 as a launch title (which seems risky considering the franchise is much smaller) or relying on 3rd party support during the Fall/Holiday season.

3D Mario launch, a couple big third party games mid year as well as Prime 4 and then Mario Kart and Legends in holiday season would be pretty strong. I would worry a little bit that if they saved the hardware plus all the major games for the holiday season they would basically be competing against themselves since people wouldn't have the money to buy them all.

Yeah, I feel like the most we'll get is a new 3D Mario, Legends Z-A (which won't be a Switch 2 game but playable on the Switch 2- akin to how it was with Black 2 and White 2 for the DS and 3DS), and Metroid with maybe a third party and possibly a smaller game on launch day to go alongside the big new 3D Mario.

A BW2 situation doesn't really sell new consoles, it sure didn't help sell the 3DS. It doesn't really give you a reason to buy a Switch 2 specifically, it just gives you the convenience of not having to keep your OG Switch. Z-A isn't really going to count here unless it's specifically a cross gen game, if there's a version of the game with enhancements that can only be played on Switch 2.

@Bolt_Strike Yeah I don't think it's pushing the Switch 2. I don't think it'll be a cross-gen game given Gamefreak never does those. If it does end up being one, I'd be massively surprised.

@VoidofLight Well if it's not pushing the Switch 2 then why are you bringing it up? It's a Switch 2 focused topic and IceClimbers is specifically concerned about the Switch 2 lineup. Mentioning a Switch 1 game that's only on Switch 2 via BC isn't really alleviating that concern.

As far as the possibility of it being cross gen though, Game Freak's done a lot of things lately that they've never done before. It's like they're dead set on breaking every pattern and convention they can find. They never added new Pokemon mid gen until USUM, they never debuted on a new console with anything other than a new generation until LGPE, they never made DLC until SwSh, they never let another studio work on a main game until BDSP. "They've never done this before" is no longer a legitimate argument for why Game Freak would not do something. Expect the unexpected when it comes to Pokemon at this point.

Even if it's not 'officially' cross-gen, Arceus had enough performance issues that I bet the new Legends game will be programmed in a way where it gets at least a little automatic boost on Switch 2. People won't buy Switch 2 only for Legends but if they're thinking of buying it anyways, having another major game in the line-up which is improved a little will be an extra incentive. But also I agree about the 'can't predict' point, so they may go full-out cross-gen, especially if Switch 2 was actually delayed to the extent Game Freak expected it out a year before Legends.