Topic: Do we really want to pay for a next gen Nintendo console built around a rechargeable battery without battery access built-in? Nintendo still doesn't sell replacement batteries for Switch. (has anyone else thought this far ahead?)

It's a nintendo enthusiast site. We like the Switch. But, do we really want to pay another $300-$400 for a new, next gen Nintendo console with the same anti-consumer mobile tablet construction? = No battery access built in. Nintendo STILL doesn't sell replacement batteries for the current Switch. Have we been pleased with aftermarket battery quality from unknown chinese companies? (If you're not aware: non-nintendo batteries typically have very disappinting lifespans)

I don't mean this thread to be negative, but don't most of us plan on having our Nintendo consoles for a long time? Previous gen nintendo console batteries have had access built-in. And, Nintendo sold quality replacment batteries - are those days over?

@Damo @KateGray
(@Eel Seems like a fair question that maybe people hadnt' thought about yet, but if this topic attracts too much negativity, I have no problem deleting it)

No we don't really want to pay for such, but I was moaning about this when the Switch was announced and I've still bought about 7 Switch devices (and counting...)

But... my background hope is that by the time I've exhausted all the batteries in all the Switches I own, there'll be some new hardware powerful enough to run a Switch emulator and I'll be able to rip any games I want on to that.

Well people pay for the Series X which is just as anti-consumer as the Xbox One so ...

Also all modern phones are capsulated and you can't change their batteries. Well you can but it is not that simple. I see the 3rd party Switch batteries to be a nice replacement and it is NOT that difficult to do it at home.

Yes it is still a pain to do it by yourself and it brings a certain risk but after after all we are past the comfortable BG, GBA, DS and 3DS era

All we can do is find workarounds like putting paper inside of joycons to try and battle the drift

If people are willing to buy unfinished products (games) or consoles that are paper weight if you do not have Internet connection when you buy them, then they are ok with a handheld that has a battery glued inside of it.

I liked the approach used for the Wii U Gamepad, you had the internal battery pack that came with the controller and using a screwdriver you could replace it with official Wii U Gamepad battery packs that Nintendo sold. But as Wii U Gamepad was a controller, not a console I didn't like how the Wii U basically became a brick if your Wii U Gamepad stopped working (e.g. initial setup required the Gamepad, settings require the Gamepad).

I wouldn't want the other extreme though as I absolutely hate that Xbox controllers still require AA batteries.

Some kind of middle ground would be nice where the hybrid model is kept and an internal battery pack is present but that you can replace it with an official battery pack sold by Nintendo if it dies.

I don't think batteries will be an issue.
I have a launch Switch, and the battery still works fine 5 years later.

Even my 3DS batteries that are 11 years old still works as intended.

Do I want to? No. Will I? What, are you kidding, of course!

Seriously though, companies aren't going to change the sealed box approach unless enough of the world passes laws that mean they have to change it. The idea that consumers should be able to do more than buy a new one when their device fails wasn't controversial until Apple made trillions having the opposite view. Right to repair laws are starting to appear in more jurisdictions, so there's some movement in the right direction.

There's every chance that legislation will force them to make the change down the line. I know the European Commission are examining right to repair initiatives at the moment.
Sadly, most companies don't offer such pro-consumer options until legally compelled to do so.
The whole Joy-Con debacle is a good example of this considering it took lawsuits being filed for them to start offering free repairs.

Ah, another Brexit bonus.

I would hope that an easily swappable battery would be a feature on a future switch - you can then keep gaming for longer.

This trend for sealed phones with no easy access to the battery is some sort of cartel practice. Why make replacing your battery (or even having a spare?) easy when you can get charged £50+ for the privilege?

@Grumblevolcano On what grounds do you absolutely hate AA batteries in controllers?

personally, I would rather nintendo releases a strictly home console for next gen. But I know I am in the minority on that one.

@gcunit Everyone who isn't SO obscenely rich that they poop diamonds, hates them because in the long-term it'll cost you a fortune in batteries if you regularly use your console.

@TowaHerschel7 Not everyone, no. Some people have the sense to invest in some decent rechargeable batteries and a charger.

I don’t think most people care. Nintendo could go back to 4 double A’s and people be buying, buying, buying

@blindsquarel I've wanted a tv-only console, too. I got the Switch for Mario Kart 8, and other nintendo titles, not because it was a hybrid console.

I don't see the need to shell out for the extra bits & hardware I dont need: a screen, gyro controls in a console, dock, rechargeable battery, or whatever other bits are needed for the hybrid model. I just want the hardware to play the games on a tv, a pro controller, and maybe a joycon pair, but I could live without the joycons. (split joycon use only happens when I see my nieces and they want to play mario tennis with motion control)

It's going to follow their same design and style of look. They have a winning formula maybe more power to play beefed up games and still be backward compatible is what going to happen. The carts AFAIK are flavors of 16, 32, 64, and even maybe 128gb in size. So there is no limits to what they can put there. What they need to add more SD slots to expand past 2tb sdcards when they come out.