Topic: Would you buy the "Switch Pro" if this happened?

I have a feeling when we see the Switch Pro in a couple more years the landscape of Physical Vs Digital will shift even more towards Digital. Nintendo might make the bold move to make the next Switch successor all digital. I could see a 2k OLED display, 4k60 output when docked and using DLSS to allow it to have ever higher framerates. 256 gb/512 gb/1 tb for base storage with microSD expansion. $499.

I think games that came out for it, 1st party would be properly ported for the next couple years after it launches and then phase to cloud based on the older Switch models. 3rd party would be mostly absent from the Switch except for cloud games.

Would you buy a Switch Pro if this was the route they went?

Short answer: YES!!!

Long answer: I'd need to save up the money first.

I believe most people don't have proper internet connections to make cloud gaming viable.

@Solarstriker I've tried cloud gaming on my wifi and the game ends up looking like popcorn.

I wouldn't like a digital only Nintendo console, but what Nintendo games are being released and at what rate on that technology? I'm expecting with every jump that Nintendo will struggle increasingly more with development, and both longer waits for certain games and releases being more bloated experiences would continue. I would be more willing to pay $499 for a dual screen, dedicated handheld that truly continues off of the DS-3DS line than put that same money to the next Switch, but if Prime 4 releases on your hypothetical Switch Pro I would end up investing eventually as I do want to experience that game.

A majority of Murica has trash internet service. Even if you live in or near a major metropolitan area, cloud gaming is your worst option. Personally, I wouldn't purchase a Switch Pro if it were all digital since a majority of my collection is physical. However, I would purchase a Switch successor if it were all digital since the question of backwards compatibility hasn't been addressed yet.

I'm under the assumption Switch cartridges won't be compatible with whatever Nintendo platform comes next.

@Magician
The majority of America lives in major cities with internet that has speeds of 1 gbps or larger. Cloud based gaming needs less than 50mbps for 4k. It can be done, if people are having issues with cloud gaming it usually has to do with having tons of devices hooked up wirelessly to an aging Modem/Router. You can call your internet provider and see if they can provide a new router with advanced newer wifi bands.

@Magician I think Nintendo already addressed that and mentioned backward compatibility with the carts. AFAIK the software is the one that will determine which GPU chipset it will use the lower current or Nvidia NeXt gen GPU based on the system itself. I think for the most part OLED current and OLED Pro will be the flavor were getting. The Lite was short lived but filled a niche but until they can allow the Lite to Dock it will not have a long lifespan. The Switch is bigger then Lite but still compact enough to go places and you have options with it.

But a Pro/V2 or Super Switch is coming regardless of what NintenDoomed and Naysayers want to admit. They have to up the games and the system will price accordingly with this. But the Cart designs will be here to stay. Put this way they have 16g, 32g, 64g and maybe 128g carts it's the cost to production that is the factor. So it's not like it can't happen it's will the suppy be enough to keep prices low. Those carts are sold state chipsets not Optical media so don't know why people keep discounting this product for when it has no moving part and faster transfers.

@SwitchForce
Why do you think they would continue with carts when even in this current generation they can't get third parties to put the whole game on them and major games keep getting leaked and uploaded before launch. I think a completely digital system would prevent this from happening, and since the original Switch was so easily hacked it will be a huge priority of the Switch Pro to put up much more of a fight

While i definitely hope that the V2 switch would use carts so its backwards compatible both physically and digitally i definitely wouldn't want to have to deal with more cloud related or always online stuff.

@SwitchForce
a lot of the people I've seen who are not fans of the idea of a more powerful switch don't seem to be from the "nintendoomed" crowd, if anything i would imagine people who are critical of the switch would welcome a hardware upgrade.

then again its not so much an "either/or" situation, some people are critical of aspects of the current switch but are sceptical of a V2 situation because the current switch is doing so well, there's a lot of different takes.

For me i really want a more powerful switch to happen, im not expecting the hardware to be similar to steam deck but more a more powerful mobile chip if it does happen so it will keep a similar form factor.

My only concerns regarding one happening are the chip shortage or whether nintendo will drop the hybrid concept for their next system (though nintendos track record with their handhelds combined with them mentioning not wanting another wiiu situation suggests it will get a follow up at least)

The other idea I think would work for a stop gap at the moment is if they released a stand alone Switch Pro dock. You could put the Switch or Switch OLED in it and the dock would provide increased visuals and power to run the existing library of games (that sent out a patch for it) to increase the visuals and frame rates when docked.

@Kermit1
Couple questions:
1..) What Internet plan do you have? I have Midco internet which is 1 gbps download 100 mbps upload and an unlimited data cap
2.) Where is your wireless router in conjunction to your Switch? Or is your Switch in a dock where it's able to be hardwired?
3.) How many wireless or wired devices are also using your internet service at the same time you were trying to play the game?

These three questions would help determine if it was fault of the game or the cloud service, or if it was user error

@steventonysmith @Mgalens There are and still are alot of NintenDoomed on here but once the Switch didn't die in the 1st year they died off or had nothing better to offer other then it's not powerful enough and even then that couldn't hold a stick of water. As to Digital only only a fool would only choose that route. One hasn't released you own nothing Digital and only the Account holder can only access that Digital - that's the biggest downside-not only that but you need larger and larger microSD cards to store the games wasting valuable microSD compared to the same Physical game. The Chipset for the cart will remain they get smaller and more dense chipsets to fit into smaller spaces not larger spaces that counter-intuitive here. Cloud wifi is cowpuk that's the jest of it. No one can make it any other logic besides that. Look where is Stadia??? Disappeared off the face of the universe. Also you pay for ISP that doesn't come free and if you live in NA don't even talk that it's cheap.

With all the games I have I am in need of an excuse to get out of the cycle. Nintendo going all-digital would be doing me a favour in that respect.

I wouldn't mind it being download-only, but cloud-only is out of the question. Not that I'm saying they should abandon physical; I just wouldn't mind, personally. The main thing I want is backwards compatibility. As long as it has that, and it's not cloud-only, I'm happy to buy it.

@SwitchForce
My 1 gbps plan with no data cap with Midco is $88/month

@MetalKingShield
I was thinking cloud would be used more for next gen Switch games to be played on previous gen hardware. I have always thought that if in dock only it would be cool if even with the current Switch if new games coming out would be native on the switch for portable or docked, but have the option to play some super suped up version over the cloud if you so desire.

@SwitchForce
A lot of arguments in favour of an updated model are less that it will impact nintendo if they dont (they will be fine regardless) and more to do with the impact on the games, as in i imagine nintendo will still be making good money but the wide power gap will still result in quite a few sub 30fps games and cloud versions.

though at this point as mentioned the biggest hurdle is the chip shortage, it wont do any good if no one can buy the system.

If they made it backwards compatible but not with the game carts, then no, I wouldn't buy it. At least not right away as I just bought a Switch a couple of months, and also since they'd be screwing people who bought physical games. I can't see them doing that though, as while they are greedy just like the other game companies, they would get an extreme amount of backlash for that.

Personally, I would love to go all digital, especially with the Switch as it's the one system that seems like it's kind of made for that extra convenience. Well, that and the fact that they made it a bit of a pain with the OLED since they made it a bit harder to open and keep it open, and the dock being mediocre at best, so the Switch moves while putting in game carts. That would require Nintendo to put their games on sale more than once a year though, as it will always be more expensive overall to go all-digital for Nintendo first party games except when getting them day 1.