Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

The rumours always rely on the fact, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are always researching development for future hardware. But the reality is they never know whether it’s going to be announced from one day to the next. It’s really just an easy prediction to make that Nintendo’s next hardware release is a successor rather than a pro model because it’s nearly 6 years into the life cycle. Easy predictions to generate clicks.

@Haruki_NLI @FragRed All that has really happened in the land of Youtube is the name Switch Pro will be dropped and they will be speculating the exact same shi-errr stuff about the Switch 2 alongside some fantasy context.

@GrailUK Are people still speculating pro versions of the PS5 and Xbox? I remember that was a thing for a while - I think in part because of how limiting ray tracing is hardware wise.

@Haruki_NLI also dont forget the fact that Eurogamer/Bloomberg was the fist media outlet that got the information how the Switch could be first, they could be wrong or not, only Nintendo to tell us about the Switch sucessor, 2023 is very likely they will start droping hints, even revealing the Switch sucessor for a 2023 holiday release or a early 2024 release, Nintendo will only reveal the Switch sucessor when they want, you can rush it reveal/release, holiday 2023/early 2024 and using Tegra 239 as it chipset is the only information we can speculate for the console, before Nintendo reveal more of the console, @Fragred some analysis speculate Nintendo could release the Switch sucessor in 2024

I think we can say with confidence we'll have a successor in our hands within the next 24 months. I just don't see them extending Switch lifespan much beyond that. Maybe 27 months at the absolute most, with a March 2025 release.

So either it comes with Zelda in May.

Or.

It doesn't, in which case it's a coin toss as to whether it's 2024 or early 2025. Guess it depends on how things go with the chip supply, market demand, etc. But if they opt to hold off on Switch 2 and not release with Zelda, I wonder what they do plan on launching with. Can't put it off another 5 years waiting for another Zelda to be developed. So they'd probably launch with Mario, Mario Kart, Metroid Prime, a new Monolith Soft JRPG and a Pokemon in the first 9 month launch window, with teases of a Zelda to come.

@JaxonH they could release the Switch sucessor with the next 3D Mario, Metroid Prime 4, Mario Kart 9, Pokemon gen 10, a new IP for Nintendo, the next Animal Crossing/Splatoon game, a return of a long dormant franchise(Kid Icarus or F-Zero or Star Fox) some ports of PS4/Xbox One games, at least one/two timed exclusive game for a major third party like Capcom/Square Enix

@Giancarlothomaz
Ya. As long as it has a big 20 million seller at launch, a good 20 million seller in summer, and a good 20 million seller for November, with some quality titles tucked in between, they'll be fine, Zelda or no Zelda.

@Giancarlothomaz
Curious about this video mostly because I have no idea what the distinction between "Switch 2" and "Switch Pro" is. And I'm constantly confused about what on earth people mean when they make that distinction. Seems kinda..... arbitrary.....

We'll find out either way soon enough, early February would probably be the absolute latest for announcement if launching with TotK. I'm still leaning towards launch with TotK but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

@skywake
I think the distinction is, a Pro model does not have new exclusive games, or if it does, they're limited and feature similar box art but with a Pro moniker denoting the requirement. It features the same architecture with no radical changes to the console's philosophy, and runs the same OS with same UI elements.

Whereas a successor only features exclusive games, box art for said games sees a notable redesign, form factor for games can change (maybe still a cartridge but different size or shape, or maybe same size and shape but different color and different internals), and the OS is redesigned.

As far as we are concerned, I don't think people care much. Ppl are just thirsty for more power. And, who can blame them. The PS3/360 level of power is just enough to start producing good looking HD games, but it's right at the cusp, and can still see performance issues for anything not well optimized. PS3 and 360 went through the same thing in their time, with games dropping frames into the 20's (Resident Evil 5 and 6, Skyrim, etc). And now handhelds have finally caught up in power and are going through similar teething pains. People want that next leap, because they know the leap from PS3/360 to PS4/X1 drastically reduced performance issues. Not eliminated, but drastically reduced. And we all know the next bump up in power should achieve similar results for Switch.

But I think we all pretty much agreed a Pro is a no-go at this point. Too much time has passed. And I think it's for the better. Makes that big generational leap more meaningful when it finally arrives.

@skywake Switch Pro was a more powerful version of Switch like a New 3DS, Switch 2 is the sucessor of Nintendo Switch

@JaxonH
Honestly having now watched the full bit from DF I think people are maybe reading into the tea leaves a tad too much. The only thing really said of any insight was that there was a hardware revision earlier (i.e. the 2021 murmurs) that has since been dropped. Which seems probable and not really anything new. He then goes on to speculate that what will come out is not that (i.e. Switch "Pro") and then offers names like Super Switch and, jokingly, Switch U

I think you're right that the thing that differentiates a "successor" from a "revision" is exclusive content. But as I've said kinda endlessly on this site, there's a whole spectrum between "effectively the same platform" and "hard library reset". And also, this is kinda where DF went to next in their discussion where the consensus was generally that Nintendo's next hardware really needs to at least maintain BC

My personal view, which I've probably stated plenty. I think practically speaking we'll get something somewhat like the GBC era. I think they'll make the branding clear enough that it's obvious these are two distinct platforms. That "Switch 2/Pro/Super/whatever" games can't play on the regular Switch, probably even making the cartridges physically incompatible. And that library of games will be far larger than the one or two New 3DS/DSi exclusive games. But they'll also hold onto the Switch name which still holds some weight

But under the hood, outside of the artificial limitations imposed? I don't think there would technically be much stopping you from running a "Switch 2" game on Switch. I think it would just be an artificial construct to stop people buying games that won't run well. Eg the equivalent of if Valve stopped you from buying games if you didn't meet the minimum specs on the store page

Random tangent, this morning I went and brought myself an LG CS 55" OLED and a Sonos Beam. So I could turn the spare room into more of a home theatre/gaming room. Also because the OLED was heavily discounted making it viable as was the Beam. OLED because of the great contrast, fast response but it also has a huge VRR range (Nintendo, please). But Beam because it's a Gen2 Beam which means eARC so, with eARC on the LG I can, in theory, get surround via the Switch which stubbornly only does LPCM surround

The Beam I have now and I also had some other Sonos gear so I have a full 5.1 setup already. The TV I'm getting delivered so it'll arrive tomorrow. A 5.1 setup? Kinda useless without a TV. So I dug up my old 32" LCD (and I mean Cold Cathode backlit old) and moved my Switch into that room. Which means right now I have my Switch connected to something like $1500AU of Audio hardware and a 14 year old 32" LCD which you'd be lucky to get $30AU for

Not sure what my point here was. Just thought it was kinda amusing to (temporarily) have a setup where I can play a game on a console that's worth less than the sound setup and a TV that's worth less than the game. Also I guess tomorrow I can say I've joined team "Switch OLED" on a technicality

@skywake
Nice score.

I have the LG C1 55" 4KTV and it's great.

I also use my Switch with a surround setup, though I use the Sennheiser Ambeo which is consistently rated the best all-in-one soundbar in the world. It's crazy how it bounces sound off the walls and ceiling, sometimes I peak behind me thinking a noise came from there but it was the Atmos surround lol.

You'd be surprised how many Switch games actually support 5.1. Though to be fair, it's hard for me to tell the difference because the Ambeo boost mode gives everything a crazy awesome sound bubble.

If you have room for an actual 5.1 setup though, I don't think you can beat the real thing (though Ambeo comes darn close).

eARC is a must. It makes surround so easy. I also like that having a soundbar means having 3 extra HDMI ports. They may not be 2.1 (mine are just 2.0b) but that's OK. Switch, Wii U and Switch successor. Done and done. Without sacrificing the other 3 on the TV for PS5, XSX and PC.

@JaxonH
Yeah, eARC is definitely a game changer although I don't get the passthrough advantage given Sonos' love of single cable solutions. They don't have HDMI passthrough. But being able to push LPCM surround from the TV to a sound system over audio return? Means you can get surround on Switch. It also means it doesn't matter that DTS doesn't pass through because you can just convert DTS to LPCM. And on PC LPCM is usually what's used for surround also because there's no licencing

The headline act with eARC is Atmos but.... really it's having the bandwidth that can do multiple channel PCM that saves the day. Being a PC/Nintendo person it effectively means I go from not having surround on any games to having it as an option on pretty much everything

........... with that said, I'm mostly just hopeful that I can get surround going on PC. I'm not entirely confident of that. I've had headaches with it in the past

Picked up the Switch Lite for the first time in what feels like forever. Had like 40 games to download to catch up to my OLED.

Man, I forgot just how tiny and lightweight this system is. It's ultra thin and pocketable. After playing SteamDeck this thing feels like a GBA Micro by comparison. Even compared to the OLED it's small and light.

Right on the home screen I see Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core, Bayonetta 3, Persona 5 Royal, Nier Automata, Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak.

A tiny, pocketable handheld that has games of that caliber is blowing my mind all over again.

An ode to the Nintendo Switch Lite. All this attention we give the OLED nowadays, I'm afraid our more compact friend here has been neglected.

Nintendo never learn for it mistake, i higly doubt the Switch sucessor is gonna be a sucess like the Switch(the probabity of it be another failure like Wii U or worse is huge, when Nintendo have a sucess they become arrogant, and this lead to a failure for they next console(history will repeat itself with Switch sucessor, you can demand to me if i am wrong, i always right)

@Giancarlothomaz
Our monkey brains like patterns, doesn't mean they exist

Sparks of Hope is 50% off ($30) in the US on Amazon and at GameStop right now for those that haven't picked it up yet.

@IceClimbers I just checked the U.K. Amazon and it’s same for us so I bought it. Thanks for the heads up.