Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

Still on the fence... I don't know. It's just...350 is so close to the price of a PS5 and doesn't run anything my current Switch can't.

@rallydefault Don't forget, a revision like this usually means that it's only a couple of years until the next system launches... I'm guessing March 2023 is possible. Though, with the insane 2022 lineup, maybe not til 2024...?

I'm expecting either 2024 or 2025 for the next Nintendo console whether it be Switch 2 or not

We're definitely going to hear of at least its existence next year imo since it'll be like the 5th year of the Switch being available and we know it's in active development

My current assumption is it will come out pretty much exactly 7 years after the Switch, and will try to repeat what made that launch successful. But if it comes out the holiday season before or after that March, I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm thinking 2022 but I don't think it will be the usual kind of new console cycle. We'll still have the vast majority of titles released being OG Switch compatible. They'll just run at a lower framerate/resolution.

@skywake I think 2022 is too early. They clearly still have major Switch stuff planned for that year and we have yet to see a lot of previously announced games that were targeting Switch like Breath of the Wild 2, Bayonetta 3 and Metroid Prime 4, some of which might not even show up until 2023

@TheFrenchiestFry
I agree it would be too early if the next system was a traditional kind of next generation system. But I don't think that's going to happen. My gut feeling is that they had planned on the OLED SKU to have a newer SoC but supply constraints forced them to continue using the X1 SoC. As a result they pushed it back to next year and possibly even pushed back BotW 2 along with it.

I also think that when this new hardware releases there won't be that many exclusive titles. It'll mostly be more a case of these certain titles run with higher resolution assets and better lighting on the new hardware. These other games run with a similar level of detail but render at a higher resolution. And these other games run at the same spec but more consistently hit their frame targets. But yeah, heavy forward compatibility and not a lot of games locked to new hardware.

Whether it's 2022 or later will mostly depend on whether or not Nvidia can ramp up production next year or not. And they're all kinda in a bit of a hole ATM in that regard. I don't think Nintendo has much of a say on when they pull the trigger

check out the hand-on of Switch OLED

@skywake
I agree. I think Nintendo has, for now, hit on the type of console they want to continue making for quite some time. I think the next "gen" for Nintendo will just be kind of what Xbox is doing now, a more fluid spillover into more powerful hardware, but with the older hardware still running the same games for a good chunk of time.

The future seems to be keeping the ecosystem as intact as possible. Even Sony is sort of doing the same thing with many "PS5" games also being playable on the PS4 so far. We all thought this was going to happen for the last generational change, but instead it seems to be happening this time.

the Zonai might have a important role in Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2

Switch OLED likely means we’re closer to the next gen system than we would be if a Pro released. Which is a good thing. And that means when it does come, it’ll be a proper leap rather than a half measure.

In the meantime, just do your best to avoid games with performance issues. As much as I hate to say this, and it’s taken a bit to sink in, I won’t be playing Monster Hunter Stories 2 on Switch. Not unless they patch it. And I won’t be playing Ys IX on Switch, either.

I’m not a framerate hawk. I’m perfectly ok with 30 on a handheld hybrid device. I’m even OK with a few dropped frames from 30 here and there (Zelda BotW is a perfect example- it had a few blemishes but overall it was fine). That’s ok too. But when a large part of the game consistently drops frames below 20… even I draw the line.

And so, I started a new save for MH Stories 2 on PC. Did the same for Ys IX. And if I have to wait until next generation for a more powerful Switch 2.0 that can actually run these games properly… so be it. Until that day comes, any game with severe performance issues, I’ll be playing on PC instead. Sucks I won’t have them hybrid- I really prefer playing games on Switch, but I have a full terabyte of other games on Switch that do run well I can play instead.

I’m out of space on my Switch, so I went ahead and archived all games with severe performance issues (notably MH Stories 2 and Ys IX, as well as Ninja Gaiden Razor’s Edge) and redownloaded Resident Evil Revelations 2. I needed some high quality Switch games that look and run great to cleanse my pallate. Plus, the Steam version sucks, as enabling gyro causes a message to flash across the screen “input method has changed” every time I press a button. Apparently there’s a mod to fix it but I couldn’t find it. The game is 24 GB on Switch, and space is precious, so I was trying to find a way to play it elsewhere with Gyro. But that’s just one of those games best played on Switch, no matter the file size cost. Plus is had HD rumble and gesture reloading which is quite well done and very immersive, at least when playing docked.

And I gotta say… it feels liberating just writing off bad performing games and accepting playing them on PC. It removes the frustration of some games not measuring up on Switch. Just let go and accept it, and embrace the games that do play well on Switch. The Mario Rabbids, Resident Evils, Monster Hunter Rise and Gen Ultimate, Tony Hawk, Mario Golf, Neo TWEWY, Zelda Skyward Sword, etc. There’s too many quality Switch games to lose sleep over the ones that aren’t.

Unless Stories 2's performance bombs after that first part of the game, I'm cool with playing the Switch version. It'd run a lot better on my PC, but I'm just... not going to play it on there, lol.

@Ralizah
It’s playable, but I have just run out of patience for playing games that constantly stutter. You know me- I’m usually the last person to give up the hybrid advantage. I’m ok with 30. Even ok with 30 and occasional dips (rarely are games perfectly flawless). But I feel like there’s a line being crossed with games recently that are really pushing the limits of acceptability.

I also have the problem of not sticking with games on TV-only platforms. But I’m going to make a conscious effort to do just that moving forward, and play other games on Switch that don’t have issues.

I will say, MH Stories 2 seems to do a little better in handheld mode, and it’s less noticeable too. But docked… man. Capcom needs to put some of their core MH team on this and get it fixed up.

@JaxonH It all seems to add up to around holiday 2020 being the original planned release for the proper new Switch revision but got delayed or cancelled due to the chip shortage caused by the pandemic resulting in the Switch OLED edition recently announced. Age of Calamity framerate is really rough in general, Bowser's Fury framerate massively tanks when Bowser appears, etc.

Very sudden and loud "I cant put up with the poor performance of Switch games anymore" across the web.

I wonder why :thinking:

As much as I'd jump on a Switch Pro the second it's announced, I'm more than happy with my Switch as it is.

I remember pre-E3 people saying that a Pro needs to be revealed in order for the Switch to continue to get third party support in the age of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

What are these big third party titles shown at E3 that Switch is missing out on? I honestly can't think of any.

@Haruki_NLI
Probably the recent string of games, hype release after hype release, that consistently stutter and/ dip into the teens.

@Snaplocket
Ya, that’s what I thought too. Until I got the full game and progressed to the Wyvern town and the open areas on the way.

Ys may not be that much better than PS4, but I’m not playing on PS4 either. It’s rough as heck in towns.

@Grumblevolcano
Age of Calamity was borderline. I archived it also, but it wasn’t as bad as these recent releases. And Bowser’s Fury was fine as far as Im concerned. Imperfection is fine. Severe drops are even fine, Provided they are far and few between. But consistent severe drops, that’s another category of its own.

And that's a good thing. People should not put up with anything like this regardless of their affinity for a series. These Switch games aren't Red Dead Redemption or BattleField. No excuse for poor performance ( dips from time to time are fine, no game is perfect).

Customers should always ask for better, not less.

I think that I'll get a Switch OLED, give my normal Switch to a family member, and if a Switch Pro is announced ever, I'll probably just wait a bit to get it, but once I get it, I'd have to think about what to do with my Switch OLED. Perhaps either trade it in, or keep it downstairs for party games.

I just hope nintendo lets all all their (new) have an option to hide the HUD. Like only botw has it, and you still see your hearts…