Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@GrailUK Booo!

@FragRed Sorry

@GrailUK @Grumblevolcano Just randomly typed Nintendo Switch 2 in YouTube…. I immediately closed the app 😂

It's not though, it's an Autumn release

I mean it's a tad more than just "gamers wanting more". There was that Nvidia leak which had a lot of bits and pieces referencing a new SoC being used with their NX drivers (i.e. Switch). Specifically T234/T239, Ampere, DLSS 2.2 and a few other things. Then a couple of months ago there was a patch to the Linux Kernel from NVidia which added support for the T239 SoC which has some die changes designed to reduce costs.

Also worth noting that this generation of Tegra SoCs were delayed and are just becoming available. Which kind lines up with the theory that the OLED was going to be this but was delayed when everything went to crap. And in any case, it's not like NVidia has a lot of other companies who are chasing them for customised Tegra SoCs. It's pretty much just Nintendo in that space

Also next year puts us at 6 years since the Switch launched. Which means nothing on its own but in terms of technology? They could pretty comfortably offer a lot more than what they are. And for a platform where what'll probably end up being the best selling game of the year is marred by a rushed development and poor performance? I don't know, a tad more horsepower wouldn't hurt

I had always assumed that Tears of the Kingdom was a late 2022 game pushed back to spring 2023. Given that it will be almost 4 years between the initial trailer and release, I guessed they didn't want to delay it any further.

We might also have other big games planned for late 2023. Although I don't know what that could be at this point of the Switch's life cycle...

@FragRed You Tube don't want us to know about the Switch sucessor, @Buizel yes in the E3 2021 when Nintendo gave a estimate for the release date of Tears of the Kingdom, i expected the game to release exactly in the date Pokémon Scarlet e Violet was released, the holiday game for 2023 could be the rumored 2D Donkey Kong game by Nintendo EPD 8 or a 2D Mario game, since the Mario movie will be in movie treaters next spring
https://www.gamesradar.com/leaker-claims-a-new-2d-mario-game-...

They pushed back BotW to align with the Switch launch. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they pushed TotK back to align with whatever comes next.

To be clear, we knew about the dual release of BotW for almost a year ahead of release. I wouldn't be surprised if it drops alongside another console revision, but it's highly unlikely to be the successor.

New Zelda releases on Switch will probably follow the Wii pattern: launch with a cross-gen Zelda game, and then get another exclusive Zelda game a year or so before a new console releases.

@Ralizah The more successful the current system is, the more quiet Nintendo can be about the future. The Wii U's commercial failure is what forced Nintendo's hand to talk more about NX early before the system's big reveal.

Given Switch is still a big success, Nintendo doesn't really need to talk about new hardware until around 2 months prior to launch.

@Grumblevolcano Um... no?

The Nintendo 3DS was revealed 11 months prior to launch. I believe the Wii U was announced a year and a half prior to launch. Those followed Nintendo's most successful systems previously.

Giving people only two months notice on a brand new console generation would be insane.

@Ralizah That was back in the era where E3 was everything. The way Nintendo approached things in the Direct era shows the gap has shortened, NX was announced in March 2015 but the actual reveal of the console didn't come until much later (tease in October 2016 and proper reveal in January 2017). Also all the 3DS and Switch revisions were announced a few months before launch.

If there's major differences then sure, more time would be needed but I don't think that'll be the case. Rather something more like GBC -> GBA.

@Grumblevolcano Wouldn’t surprise me if Nintendo have scrapped plans for a pro/revision. The OLED as many suggest, was probably going to be that pro revision but due to Covid and the chip shortages, was ultimately scrapped. They may just be focusing on developing the true successor instead.

@Grumblevolcano We already knew the basic concept of the Switch, what it looked like, etc. It had already been announced and revealed prior to January. That was simply the full unveiling of the device.

And yeah, Nintendo generally announces revisions close to release. If TotK launches alongside a revision, two months would be reasonable. It would NOT be reasonable for new gen hardware.

The GBA was announced about eight months prior to release, I believe.

Basically, everything you've said has reaffirmed my point: TotK will not launch alongside a successor unless an announcement happens soon, as there simply won't be enough time between reveal and launch.

Tempted to agree with @Ralizah on this...it just feels too soon.

Also, is TotK really what Nintendo would use to showcase the system?

Nintendo in the past have been very adamant about software driving new hardware, so it seems out-of-character for them to use a cross-platform game like TotK in their unveiling.

Sure, we had Twilight Princess launching on the Wii, and BotW launching on the Switch. But the former showcased motion controls, and the latter showcased console gaming on the go. What will TotK showcase?

It is possible that there's a huge gimmick or something in TotK / the Switch successor that Nintendo are hiding. But I just don't see them releasing a Switch successor with TotK on the grounds of "the same experience, but better graphics".

Although maybe riding off the Switch's runaway success...maybe that's all they need to do? And maybe they realise that.

@FragRed I think we'll be in blurred territory where it's technically both a revision and a successor. That it's powerful enough that you could consider it a successor and it has games that doesn't run on the Switch but the system itself just looks like a Switch OLED.

@Grumblevolcano To be honest, I'm kinda wondering this also. Do we have another Gameboy Color -type situation?

@Grumblevolcano They’d need to be extra careful marketing such a device. Nintendo are notorious for being utter cack when doing that with revisions.

@skywake I don't doubt they have some sort of new Switch waiting in the wings. Nintendo said they need to be ready for competition and like you said, that NVidia leak was pretty telling. I only wonder how long they can go without needing one.

I'm not sure if Nintendo would have released a 2 year DLC for MK8DX, when they are about to release a new gen console. And why have they released Splatoon 3 now, and didn't release it just a year later. (Which has a 2 years of updates planed)
I know this argument is old, but still..

Dragon Quest Treasures and FFVII Crisis Core in early December.

Is there anything else to be hyped for?

I'm mildly interested in Redout II, but I've barely touched the first game.