Topic: What will happen to the Switch?

As we are gearing up for the announcement of the Switch’s successor a funny thought crossed my mind: what will happen to the original Switch when its successor lands?

The reason I had this thought is as follows: when the Wii U launched it was possible to transfer everything across from your Wii: saves, virtual console titles and Wiiware. This left the Wii with only one real reason for relevance which was Game Cube support. Just as the Wii renders the GameCube largely superfluous, the Wii itself ended up being made largely redundant by the Wii U. Now the Switch took a totally different route, leaving a good reason to hang onto your Wii U: even if you bought all the ports to Switch of Wii U games you were still left with a few exclusives plus your virtual console titles, plus those on Wii mode PLUS access to all your Wii games.

If the Switch’s successor is backwards compatible with all Switch games, the same way the Wii U was with all Wii games and the Wii was with all GameCube games and you transfer your digital content over to a Switch 2 then logically your original Switch will be completely unnecessary.

Thoughts?

@Gamecuber I will be quite happy if my Switch becomes unnecessary. It's in a right state. The Joy-con haven't worked for at least 5 years , the screen is cracked , the body is warped and barely fitting in the dock causing it to over heat when playing games that push the console. This is despite the fact the console has been sat in the dock for 98% of its life. My Wii U meanwhile looks as good as the day I bought it, other than a Gamepad battery that doesn't hold its charge.

From my own experience, the Switch is the shoddiest hardware Nintendo has ever put out. It is one of my favourite ever consoles but I'll be quite happy to dump it, if all my library carries over.

Nintendo will likely do the same that Sony did to a certain extent with PS4/PS5. Some first party games will almost certainly by cross-gen due to the looming economic crisis, that said it'll likely be limited to remasters/remakes as well as budget releases. Third parties will likely support Switch for a few years as well with anything reasonably easy to port over to the system.

Still hoping for a revision that’s smaller than the lite with TV-out. I know it’d sell well alongside the beefy and expensive Switch 2.

As for what will happen with my own Switch.. well the Oled screen will always look nice so I’ll just keep it in my handheld rotation. Maybe jailbreak it in the next few years to get retroarch on it like my Vita.

Still considering the Switch lite Oled mod if that’s still on sale next year

I think the Switch will definitely become unnecessary... for me it may just become a charging stand to recharge my gen 1 joycons for games like ring fit which won't work with the new joycons.

I have a Switch Lite also. I'll likely keep using that occasionally just because it is easy to carry around and nice for traveling.

@OorWullie sorry to hear that. My Switch is pretty much docked apart from when I take it on holiday a few weeks of the year. I only got mine in 2021 (had a lite from 2019 which is my son’s now and gets used a lite but is still in great shape). It’s a pity you’ve had such issues as Nintendo hardware is usually replaced ridiculously tough; my N64 from 1998 is still going strong and I bought a working SNES off of eBay last year.

@WiiWareWave I agree; there will be continued support for a while. My point was more about when support ends; will it be needed anymore of everything transfers across to the new system?

I have this same issue with my Xbox; I got an Xbox One S in 2018 and then a Series X in 2022. The One S sits on a shelf, as there is nothing the Series X cannot do better. At least it will serve as a back up DVD/Blu Ray/ 4K player if needed.

@NinChocolate I can see the Lite being continued as a budget model for quite a while.

@FishyS the Lite will serve as a cost effective budget handheld for a while, especially if they drop the price to £100-£150 alongside the Switch 2.

I think a budget Switch Mini home console that's just a small box with a cartridge slot and TV out, would do very well. It could probably be sold for under150 and would likely do very well in developing countries. Ensuring the Switch continues to sell well for a good few years yet.

@Gamecuber Yeah I've been unlucky with Switch. I've been gaming 40 years and I don't think I've ever had a controller pack in. On Switch, I've had the 2 barely used Joy-con pack in one after the other - which was actually my 2nd set as the original console I bought had to be taken back and replaced as the controllers never worked out the box - my Pro controller pack in and to top it off, a Retrobit pad pack in.
My Switch itself though was in good condition up till a couple of years ago, but then it started warping, with the back almost popping off. Somehow, it still fits in the dock but only just. I'm sure it's the tight squeeze that has led to the screen cracking over time too. I only noticed that a few weeks ago.

Well. I'm going to have to see if my kids want a Switch 2. Probably yes, but we'll see.

If we do get a Switch 2, then they'll use the Switch 2 and I'll grab the Switch so I can finally finish up some games I want to complete.

+1

I would be totally game for that.

I'd hook it up to the TV I have my Wii on right now. Right now I sit down once, maybe twice a week to plug away at a Game Cube or Wii game. But I'd be up to plugging away at a few Switch games I started but haven't finished yet.

@OorWullie the only issue I can see with that would be the controller. If it’s a small device that only outputs to tv I can’t see how the joycons could work. A pro controller might increase the price, unless Nintendo did their own version of the perfectly serviceable wired controllers that are available.

Would a new Switch Lite with output work or some sort of mini dock only for the lite that has all the video output gubbins that’s missing from the Lite itself?

@NintendoDad my kids each have their own Lites with the regular Switch sitting plugged into the big tv for me. Theirs will be used for a long time as I can’t see the new system being affordable to have more than one for a while.

@Gamecuber

+1

That's a nice setup!

For us . . . I'm too cheap to get another Switch right now. LOL. The Switch is still so popular that they never had a price drop, and the used units still command a strong price. [Not complaining. I'm glad the Switch ended up being popular, as compared to the Wii U. ]

So our Switch just floats around the house as each one of us wants to play games on it.

But . . . if there happens to be cheap used Switches come through Game Stop when the Switch 2 comes out, I may be tempted to pick up a used OG Switch or a Lite.

That happened with the Wii. I ended up with 4 Wii's. Each of my kids has their own Wii. I have a Wii in my home office. And I left a Wii hooked up at my dad's place for when the grandkids come over.

@NintendoDad I’ve ended up with 3 Wiis: my original from 2009 (the only system I’ve ever had to have repaired) a Wii Mini bought for Wii Fit in the living room and a cheap second hand model I’ve modded and is now a retro dream machine!

@Gamecuber

Our original Wii still works (knock on wood), it's our Wii U that has problems.

On our Wii U the Game Pad has to be right beside (literally) the base unit or else it loses connection. In the new year I've been thinking of detaching one of the internal antennas from inside the Game Pad and taping it to the Wii U console, and then figuring out how to connect the antenna via a wire to the Game Pad. I have no idea if this will work, but since our Wii U does not let us play Nintendo Land in the condition it is currently in, I really see no downside to trying this experiment out. Otherwise . . . it has simply become a glorified Wii. LOL.

RE: Wii Fit . . . I wish I had picked that step up way back when. I'm at an age where I could really use it. LOL.

Yeah, modding the Wii can make a great retro dream machine. Although, the Switch is shaping up to providing access to a lot of Nintendo's back catalogue — making a lot of old games easily accessible. I think that can be a nice reason to hang on to a Switch, or even pick one up even if you have another console.

@Gamecuber It could come with the Joy-con on the grip I suppose. Although a Pro would make more sense for a Switch Mini. Or like you say, it could come with a cheaper controller. Perhaps not wired but without gyro and HD rumble... The Switch tech is quite old though. With no need for a screen and separate dock, they could include a Pro controller and probably still make a profit at 150. But it's Nintendo, it'll probably cost nearer 200 , have no cartridge slot, no WiFi and a missing charger.

A Switch Lite with TV out is a good alternative. But for people like me who don't really care about the handheld side, Nintendo has us paying for something we won't use. I'd happily exchange the screen for a little more power. I'm hoping the Switch 2 has a home console only model. If not offering more power, it could be priced lower. It wouldn't sell as well as the handheld, but it would do well enough to justify its existence. The Portal has done pretty well for Sony.

@NintendoDad Even with backwards capability on Switch 2, a Switch Mini would be nice to have. Just a little box, that's easy to store and keeps your full Switch library safe for many years.

I tragically sold my GameCube with around 30 games, back in 2009. I still have my Wii and Wii U though. But they're not set up. I haven't played any other consoles since the Switch released. It's served me well for my retro needs. I modded my Wii years ago, because I like playing shmups and arcade games but the Switch has been great for those.