Following some lower key jargon-heavy info dumps earlier in the year, both of 2020's next-gen consoles and several of their key titles have been unveiled now, and we've got a much clearer picture of what the gaming landscape will look like at the end of the year, at least in hardware terms. Despite worries that Switch would look like it was standing still next to PS5 and Xbox Series X, the gameplay we've seen so far from the upcoming console generation has left us feeling optimistic about Switch's continued relevance alongside those behemoths.
We've now had a few weeks to get used to PS5's unusual looks, too. From an aesthetic point of view, Sony's next-gen console is monstrously large and wouldn't look out of place as part of the Dubai skyline in its vertical form. Microsoft revealed the Series X shell a while ago and it looks like.. well, it looks like a box. Fitting, really.
We're not quite there yet, but ultimately the Xbox itself looks set to transition into a semi-peripheral role; the option for gamers who can't live without the very best performance.
Still, it's the games that count. Content-wise, Sony and Microsoft have shown some of their biggest cards in their respective presentation. Judging from general online sentiment, Sony arguably has the broader, stronger software offering, while Microsoft has the slight technical edge and a far-reaching vision of content delivery with the potential to radically alter how it reaches a gaming audience, arguably de-emphasizing its new flagship console in the process. Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service continues to grow in popularity and value as the ever more awkwardly named Xbox lineage shares the spotlight. We're not quite there yet, but ultimately the Xbox itself looks set to transition into a semi-peripheral role as Game Pass itself becomes Microsoft's chief platform; the option for gamers who can't live without the very best performance.
Selling a cutting-edge console while also touting the fact you don't need it in order to play the games being shown muddies the messaging, and is certainly a challenge for Microsoft's marketing team, but the potential rewards are far greater than simply 'winning' a console cycle.
Sony's proposition, by contrast, is much simpler: PS5 is a big juicy next-gen box that plays big juicy next-gen games - games you can't play anywhere else. The message is comfortingly familiar and easy to understand: BUY OUR CONSOLE, PLAY OUR GAMES!
Sony's proposition, by contrast, is much simpler: PS5 is a big juicy next-gen box that plays big juicy next-gen games - games you can't play anywhere else
So, as the Xbox Series X and PS5 head to the ring to tag out their predecessors, where does this leave Nintendo with the plucky little Switch? The rumours last year and earlier this year that we'd see an upgraded Switch or Switch 'Pro' to better compete with new consoles were certainly loud, but so far they've come to nothing. Was Nintendo right to carry on business as usual?
Well, having had our first proper glimpses of next-gen titles, we'd argue that the tight-lipped company made the right choice sticking with the current SKU for the time being. That's not to say PS5 and Xbox Series X games aren't looking gorgeous, but arguably only a couple of titles really showed the potential of new hardware beyond native 4K and fancy realtime lighting (the Ratchet and Clank gameplay, in particular, showcased the ability to load entire worlds and switch between them in an instant - something Switch could never handle however dynamic the resolution). Based on what we've seen so far, next gen is (predictably, at this point) a step forward rather than a leap. Impressive, of course, but not enough to send Switch to the knacker's yard just yet.
Nintendo's decision to plough on and let Microsoft and Sony duke it out amongst themselves was, with hindsight, doubly appropriate given the production issues affecting the entire industry this year. Switches are still selling as fast as Nintendo can make them and although this year's first-party lineup has been less than satisfying for many Switch gamers, it still feels like there's life in the old dog yet. For those of us lucky enough to have more than one console, any generational disparity is even less of an issue; Switch remains--and will remain--the most convenient, comfortable way to play 'proper' games on-the-go, as well as its incomparable exclusives. Nintendo's next gen really does start when it says so, and that's just fine.
Nintendo's next gen really does start when it says so, and that's just fine.
If anything, it's Game Pass that should be giving Nintendo pause for thought. Microsoft's continued focus on its subscription service has paid dividends and the mainstream acceptance of it represents a significant shift not only in delivery of games, but in gamers’ perception of content ownership. The overwhelming opinion seems to be that Game Pass represents incredible value. It's very much 'the Netflix of games', with all that entails - the library exists only as long as your membership.
The fact is, though, that gamers--primed by umpteen subscription services elsewhere--seem ready to embrace that model given the appropriate value and convenience, the latter of which is one of Switch's chief selling points, With xCloud coming to Android devices in September, Microsoft is encroaching into Switch's territory, and while it can't offer Nintendo content, the quantity and quality of games to delivers is nonetheless compelling.
Of course, Nintendo still has an ace up its sleeve in that particular fight: Switch doesn't require a good internet connection (or any connection at all) to deliver home console-level gaming on-the-go. Sufficiently strong (and cheap) mobile internet is something many gamers simply don't have access to - not yet, at least.
Ultimately, then, nothing revealed by its rival companies is likely to change Nintendo's strategy or timetable for new hardware. We've got Sony taking a more old-school approach (albeit continuing to experiment with PS+ and PlayStation Now), Microsoft taking a wider, softly-softly approach, and Nintendo off to the sides in its own niche. If xCloud can make good on the promise of Stadia (remember that?), Nintendo might have to rethink it's approach.
There's nothing stopping Nintendo creating its own Game Pass-style service, either. Technically, the NES and SNES games available with your Nintendo Switch Online subscription deliver quality titles as part of an online service, although no-one is suggesting that Nintendo is offering a fraction of the value Microsoft does. Nintendo is experimenting, though, with temporary Game Trials, discount promotions like Game Vouchers, and that Tetris 99 is a tasty little bonus. How about adding older titles as an extra incentive for NSO subscribers, for example, or a 'Deluxe' bonus in the form of all of Switch's Deluxe Wii U ports? These would be baby steps towards a Game Pass-style offering, but the potential exists and Nintendo seems willing to experiment - there's space to pivot as the landscape changes over the coming months and years. And who can say what Nintendo's got in the works for Switch Pro or Switch 2 or DoubleSwitch or whatever the successor ends up being? You never can tell these things.
Whether Microsoft can make xCloud a success given the realities of today's internet is still a big question mark. We have little doubt it'll make a better job of xCloud's launch than Google did with Stadia, although we'd wager that our dear old mum could've done better. Whatever happens, in a year that's taken us to some dark places, the end of 2020 is looking unexpectedly bright for gamers. Now, we just need Nintendo to pull an incredible rabbit or two out of Mario's cap and announce some bloody games.
Ooo, there's one!
Plenty of life in the old dog yet? Let us know below how you're feeling about Switch after seeing some of the next gen treats coming this Holiday season.
Comments (192)
"Wow, no comments, why not be the first?"
Don't mind if I do!
Nintendo can't claim not to be in competition with the others anymore. They are very much in direct completion with both Sony and Microsoft, while also having the benefit of being handheld, something the others don't have.
The Switch isn't a blue ocean success the same way the Wii was. It's still core gamers and some casual gamers who buy the console, same consumer base as the Playstation has.
Nintendo is doing their own thing. They don't have to compete with MS and Sony.
It's thin so I'd say it fits between them pretty easily.
Where does it fit in? You could probably tuck it into that weird shell thing on the PS5.
I'm super happy with my Switch, but I totally get the frustration over announcements this year. It's forgivable IMO though, given everything that's going on. After the first few absolutely packed years, we've still gotten Animal Crossing, Paper Mario and another well deserved Wii U port.
I'm sure they have more up their sleeve for the end of the year, and whatever those games are, coupled with my massive backlog of third party and indie stuff, means I'll definitely be playing this bad boy til the end of its life cycle!
I don't think too much will change for Nintendo, considering they're main focus is the handheld market whereas the other two are after the home console market. There's plenty of room for co-existence between the two. The biggest challenge is trying to get enough third party support to fill the release schedule. They don't need every third party game but at least a few good ones here and there helps.
Considering the next gen Switch is currently being worked/developed along side nvidia and has minimum DLSS 2.0 tech in it, it will fit very well, and all OG Switch games will be upscaled with no effort from the developers and no patches needed in most cases. I am guessing this generation for Nintendo will be 6 years maximum. 4k is what we are looking at docked for the next Switch
@dartmonkey great article by the way 👌
My take on this is that they're safe for now, but next year they're going to be in a really tough position support wise. I know their first party stuff keeps them afloat but third party is way more important than people give it credit for as it practically sustains the library from experiencing droughts in the wait time between big first party games, and keeps the library diverse as a result. If they don't come out with something like a next-gen Switch or even a new console entirely, then the library might just drop off in terms of consistent releases. and the Switch as is will definitely lose out on big next-gen stuff like Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI and Diablo IV because the PS5/Series X definitely look like attractive propositions to developers and third party publishers. I know people like to say Nintendo is doing their own thing but as someone else in the comments pointed out, they're definitely in more direct competition with Sony and Microsoft than people realize with how many big games for the core gaming audience outside of Nintendo the Switch already has in its library, so how they address the major power gap between them and next-gen systems is going to basically make or break the Switch as a value proposition in my opinion.
It fits in my hands, duh =P
Nintendo will do their own thing like they always do.
My set up next gen will be PS5 and Switch/Switch 2 and maybe a Series X if Microsoft gets its act together.
@Agriculture that all “we don’t compete with them” is just company marketing spin to get gamers and game journalists to stop comparing their system to the others.
It’s complete bs.
The answer is definitely more Wii U ports.
I have and always will consider Switch to be the next gen after Wii U. The gen that PS5 and Xbox Series X is joining.
@Agriculture I agree that it's not as blue ocean as the Wii was, yet it's the first time this kind of Hybrid has such a huge install base and also having a handheld that plays AAA titles, which are not stripped down completely for handheld.
I don't agree that it's the same consumer base as Sony or Microsoft. They have some in common, but I'm sure there are plenty of consumers who react to Nintendo's console but never considered buying a PS or Xbox.
@Jokerwolf Not that I doubt that, DLSS 2.0 is a gamechanger for Nintendo since it would let them compete with the other systems without hitting the same native resolution targets. If they do go that route, they could hit 4k resolution docked in most games with a system that's only about as powerful as the PS4/XB1.
Obviously, that won't solves games that rely on SSDs to function but we'll have to see how much that's really a thing.
Nintendo's always fit in their own lane, and I remember last year prior to the reveal of the new Xbox and Playstation that news outlets were emphasizing that the name of the game moving forward was not graphics, but performance. Which makes sense because graphics have almost gotten to their endpoint. There's only so detailed a game can get.
And because of this, the gaming landscape makes it conceivable to own both a Nintendo console and one of the powerful consoles at the same time. Nintendo's lineups exist independently of the other consoles.
I think, at present, Nintendo are doing very little because they are saving some heavy hitters to compete with Sony and Microsoft. I don't think they will "compete" in the sense that they are trying to do the same thing, because they aren't. There will be lots of big franchise games that still turn heads away from Sony and Microsoft in the game stores. While at present, Animal Crossing or Paper Mario are not the most exciting games, when Horizon Zero Dawn 2 and the like pop up, Nintendo will release some bigger, more crowd pleasing games. I do not think Nintendo will release more powerful hardware. At a stretch there might be an update that wouldnt go beyond the difference between 3ds and new 3ds; a little bump but not a next gen system, and not for a year or two.
@link3710 They will just have procedural loading like current gen, though the Switch does have SD memory it is just super slow lol.
There will be a few caveats but DLSS is super promising, AMD has one as well.
The Switch is already a ninth generation console. The improvement in graphics is only going to be marginal at best from now on (there's an upper bound on what the human visual system is even able to process), and there's no need to split the install base. Third party AAA games typically don't sell well on the Switch anyway. Stay the course and keep on making great games.
@TheFrenchiestFry,
Well considering that third party games sell very badly on the Switch, I would say Nintendo is fine as long as they have the first party and indie games, however the momentum of the Switch i so strong I doubt they would be in much trouble no matter what they did, potential Switch owners will see a cool console with tonnes of games.
We also have to consider the Switch has not even had a price cut as yet.
@sanderev Complete bs corporate talk. The Switch isn't a blue ocean console like the Wii or Wii U. At least not anymore with the amount of high profile multiplats it receives alongside PS4/Xbox One. Switch appeals to a considerably bigger amount of the core gaming crowd with the exclusives and third party games it has under its belt. It is absolutely in competition with Sony and Microsoft's offerings.
Am so happy right now cos pikmin 3 coming in October! Only because it’s now more likely that Mario 64 remastered is true. I feel like Mario is the missing piece in my gaming life, and I remember as clear as 1998 when I first played that an updated more beautiful Mario 64 would be my endgame so to speak. Eagerly awaiting news and then I can relax xxx
@johnvboy Third party games don't sell abysmally or anything on Switch, but they do sell worse. It's still important regardless that they're there because it would sustain the library long enough until the next major Nintendo offering, and would also give options to someone who picks up a Switch and doesn't want to get into those other console's respective ecosystems. Otherwise it would just be a repeat of the software drought the Wii U had.
They ARE competing with Xbox and Playstation. Why? Because they are competing for people's time. Especially the time of adults, who are a huge market for all of these companies.
I think third party support will tank come next year. PS4 ports were feasible, barely, but these next gen games just won’t run without some major work that I’m not sure studios can justify. If there’s a Switch Pro, perhaps, but I’m not sure that’s a good look for Nintendo if they have to release a whole new console just to compete with consoles in the same gen.
Nintendo will continue to struggle receiving ports of AAA third party games. Even if Nintendo releases a Switch 2, it'll be less powerful than a PS4.
Nintendo does its thing, but is also a second console for some. I think the PS4 / Switch combo is the most popular in a recent survey. So far so good. But to keep this up for next generation they need to start producing those top in house studio games that they pumped out in the Switch early days. Gone a bit dry at the minute. With possible less third party support those new games are needed even more.
Nintendo will only get indies and their own 1st party games. And considering how many new games nintendo have released this year it does not look too good.
Gameboy, was able to do well on significantly weaker hardware than it's competitors. I see Switch lasting longer than most people expect, just like the gameboy, because there is a good install base and last gen is cheaper to develop for, especially when releasing old ports and Wii U games. Nintendo hasn't got into N64 or Gamecube yet. They have not released alternate joycons yet, or even a D-pad on the original model. They still need to release Wii games and GBA, NDS too. They are moving very slowly because they aim for Switch to last a long time.
I fear for 3rd party support, but we’ve seen a lot of indies come to the switch, so I’m anticipating that Switch will still be my place to play Nintendo exclusives and indies, but then I’ll play my big AAA games on PS5 and PC
Hardware is hardware, portable or not. I can smack an LCD/LED screen on any ventilated box I want and take that sucker to-go.
Where Nintendo is genuinely a "Blue Ocean" is its almost "Disney levels of brand loyalty"-power first-party IP's (though they're starting to age) that they crank out regularly compared to Sony and Microsoft squaring off over tired microtransacted franchises with a scant few big "experiential" games.
I think with nintendo, hardware is a distant second to software. Ship compelling software, go to bank. Luckily, the switch is also compelling hardware warts and all
4K is pointless with less than 60 frame rate!
As a soon as you move the camera is a blurry mess!
They need to keep the design but up the hardware!
It's like the Game Boy competing against the Genesis/Mega Drive.
It's like the Game Boy Color competing against the Playstation.
It's like the GBA competing against the original Xbox.
It's like the DS competing against the PS3.
The third party ports will dry up excluding indie games that look like they could run on 16 bit hardware. Microsoft's Gamepass is raising the bar and NSO will look even worse than it already does.
@JH64 Look at DLSS technology, all the big 3 have it in some form now. 99% of people will not be able to tell the difference of an upscaled 1080p image to 4k. Next Switch will have it because nvidia is working on their new custom tegra.
If third parties can comfortably keep porting classics from past consoles onto it they will. It will need to wait until a new iteration and then Xbox one ports will be on the way. People seem perfectly happy trading newness of material for convinence and fun of the handheld option. Long live the system that recycles.
Nintendo has the games that I like, the other guys don't, except for maybe Street Fighter V, but I am not buying a PS4 for only one game. I am kind of a handheld only gamer right now, which makes the Switch great for me.
It'll still be the place to just play awesome games the way you want. There will be the usual need for a PC or other console if you wanna play absolutely everything, but otherwise I think Switch will be there in much the same capacity as it is now. I think we'll see the next Switch in about three years, and I hope it's the same form just updated guts.
No place.. Nintendo better bring more first party games to switch to keep the competition alive. If they don't release a heavy title like Zelda this fall, then they should as well forget about it. Cause PlayStation 5 pack some serious punch.
Handhelds will always exist. That is a fact.
@Slowdive well said.
a pointless article. Switch is either second console or third console for gamers. or main console for bulk people that dont care about 4k etc etc etc or people with kids that want to play games. both MS and Sony fail ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff big time on family gaming. Which if N actually wise up will kill the other 2
At this pace, it's going to belong in the closet with my Wii U. That's all they seem to be releasing these days, WiiU ports and remasters from old systems.
I don't mind not getting PS5-quality games, but I really wish the Switch could handle a real FFXV port because it's my main FF machine now. I love my Switch whether I get those games or not, though. Got a huge enough backlog to last me a long time.
I'll tell you where they fit in, Right on the store shelf where I'll be leaving them you really only need a PC and a switch job done Sony's so called exclusives have plenty of alternatives, and as for Xbox I can get a good chunk of there games on my pc anyway the only loser in my eyes is Sony here.
It doesn't sit anywhere. The Switch isn't in the next gen tech race and Nintendo will continue to innovate in their own way.
I feel they are one, if not two generations behind in online infrastructure and aren't really interested in catching up due to old fashioned thinking.
Nowhere! Yeah, I know people love handhelds. Especially in Japan. But people also like new stuff. Ps5 and Serious X are the new kids on the block. Serious X won't fly in Japan, but Ps5 might. Nintendo is its cocky self. Dajobe, no worries. Switch sells, the indies sells. We have to do nothing ourselves. But judgement day is approaching. And then its crying again (boohoo, no holiday sales) and they totally desrve it!
Or they don't give a bleep since they are focusing on their upcoming Switch 2, that might also be possible.
Put shortly: I want to see them fight with a bunch of great NEW games, but I am not seeing it. There might just be one anouncement left, for December. Please let it be botw 2 or something else that's new and cool. But I fear its just Mario 3d world deluxe...
I think Nintendo can do cartoon-style graphics as well as anyone. If they stick to their wheelhouse, the Switch can absolutely remain relevant.
I don't get the obsession with trying to port AAA, hardware-intensive titles to the Switch, which then just point out its obvious deficiencies. If you want to play those games, just buy the system they work best on. Let Switch developers stick to what the Switch can do best.
Where does the Xbox Series X and PS5 fit in to the Switch landscape?
Switch is is the long term success it’s needed for a long time. No longer do they need to go away and create a totally new console. Switch covers every gaming need and will grow and grow. Switch 2 and 3 will come and more. Switch hits the sweet spot. Long may it continue. And it will.
@FatHedgehog agreed. I really don't care so much for the latest AAA titles either. I think tho, that with the ports they have and will get, Indies and future Nintendo titles, it will still sell well. But they need to get moving on something new and substantial.
@idrawrobots Where does the Xbox Series X and PS5 fit in to the Switch landscape?
High above it, in the clouds.
@mazzel Anyone who just prefers Nintendo's platform over the other two is likely doing so because they're a Nintendo loyalist and want to stick to the brand they feel the most comfortable with. Outside of that the library definitely mostly targets a considerably greater amount of core gamers than their last two consoles as a whole.
@FatHedgehog It's not really an obsession. It's just that many people who own Switches, only own Switches and as a result an option to get a high profile game on their platform is welcomed and definitely helps sustain the library for a longer period of time as Nintendo is working on stuff themselves.
This is very interesting. For the first time, Nintendo will not have a home console (Switch is a "hybrid" console based on mobile Tegra X1 technology) next generation. Also for the first time, Nintendo's console will be approximately two generations behind in power terms as Switch is slightly more powerful than Wii U and WIi U is basically last-gen because it's roughly as powerful as 360 and PS3. Will Nintendo release a new console or will they rely on Switch and Switch Lite? Will Switch receive third-party support apart from mobile games?
The last quarter's financial results should destroy the myth that Switch will collapse when PS5/XSX are released. Even if you ignore Animal Crossing, the last few months have been gigantic for Nintendo and it seems like lack of supply is the only thing holding Switch (and Ring Fit Adventure) back.
Some of these comments are outright denying reality.
Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are completely different companies.
They have their benefits from each machines.
But, both Nintendo and Sony are standing next each other in my gaming room.
No competition at all since they are like C.J. and Flick now.
When EA still insist not to port The Sims 4 for Switch, PS4 saved my day.
When Earthlock (reworked version) has physical release on Switch, it saved my day too.
The Switch already OWNED the 9th Gen. (no matter how many times Wikipedia will argue it as 8th Gen hardware)
This generation already proved a lot of things:
that developing on/porting to the lowest denominator of Hardware has it’s benefits.
Middleware engines like Unreal Engine, Fmod, and Unity are as good as AAA in-house engines.
Port house developers like Panic Button and Virtuos can deliver on making games work on lower-end hardware.
Smaller indie devs can be on par with full AAA monoliths like EA and Activision in terms of success and quality.
Word of mouth is king.
Games don’t need 7 to 12 Teraflops to be the best.
Better treatment of Game Devs is also king.
Good things come to those who wait.
@Jokerwolf Yes, but look at a game like the new Ratchet and Clank, you'd have to completely rework sections of the game around the idea of procedural loading.
Luckily, anything that is going to have a PC port will need to have procedural loading anyways, it's not just Switch.
No problem the first year.
The nextgen consoles are expensive, there is a console shortage and good games and deals are scarce. And nintendo has alot of new and quality games.
Worries start in 2022
@link3710 Exactly and the next Switch is going to outsell the PS5 very likely so it will be something they will be willing to do as that is too much of the gaming landscape to ignore.
it doesn't the Switch is the third wheel
@Jokerwolf
I dont believe that, nothing is certain in the gameindustry, its all about momentum and the games.
The problem is that if nintendo waits too long with tgeir nex gen console, people are fed up with the switch and start moving over to ps5(probably ps5)
It happend with the wii.
It will coexist the same way their Handhelds have coexisted with competition for over 30 years.
It will coexist the same was GBA/DS/3DS coexisted with Sony and MS Home systems.
It will coexist the same way it has done so far, getting hardly any of the big new AAA games and it not holding back sales.
The power gap is mostly going to be relevant in AAA games, and Switch gets almost none of those anyway. Indies and lower budget experiences will continue to release on Switch, same as they always have. Just in 600p/30 instead of 4K/60 and with a variety of settings reduced or turned off.
I also maintain that Nintendo isn't in direct competition with these other companies. It gets almost nothing AAA-wise. None of the big modern Resident Evil, Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, etc. releases that dominate sales for the home consoles. That was a problem on Wii U, but less so on the Switch. This is primarily down to the fact that most people have different standards and expectations for mobile hardware than they do for stationary set-ups. People don't expect Resident Evil 3 Remake on a handheld.
And, frankly, when modern AAA games do, very rarely, release on Switch, they tend to look ugly and sell poorly compared to games like Enter the Gungeon, Stardew Valley, etc.
Which isn't to say that Nintendo won't lose more support the longer it goes without updating its hardware. We're already seeing cracks develop with non-AAA support as smaller devs struggle to optimize their games for Switch's weak mobile hardware. But the idea that a tsunami of support is going to be lost immediately when the next console gen officially hits is a bit laughable.
@electrolite77
There is not realy coexistence, nintendo also needs an audiance. Fact is the true loyal nintendo fanbase, is not that big. The switch is just a popular console wich had great games from the start, but loyalty and consumers dont exist anymore.
One simple rule, dont ***** it up in the early stages of the launch. Nintendo kept delivering quality games like an absession, and this is what paid off
It’s pretty obvious that Nintendo’s 2020 is pretty subdued, but so is the launch lineups for PS5 and XBX with Miles Morales and Halo being the only definitive 1st party releases. We know that BOTW 2, Bravely Default 2, Pokemon Snap 2, No More Heroes 3, Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, SMT5 are on their way in the future- the question is does Nintendo have more 1st party goodness like another 3D Mario, Mario Kart 9, Pikmin 4, Donkey Kong, Punch Out, Mario Strikers, Mario Golf, and anything else new? Because if they do I don’t see any reason people giving up playing Switch for a long time.
Dedicated handheld with TV out option. May get unique games for it or tailored/cut down versions of next gen games depending on how successful and generous 3rd parties are. Nintendo need to ramp up game production regardless.
@Anti-Matter They are completely different companies, for sure. But they are all doing the same thing: competing for the shrinking attention and time (as well as wallet) of consumers. So in that sense, they all need to be keenly aware of what the others are doing and act accordingly.
Nintendo will dominate the next console generation, an it won't even need a new console to do it. Even the current Switch will beat the PS5 and Xbox4. The problem with the new consoles is that they're offering nothing new for a very high price. We long ago passed the point of peak graphics, so the new consoles will be seen as useless. Faced with the choice of PS5 or Xbox4, people will buy the Switch.
The Switch is 'the' handheld console. And will be a second choose for many gamers Including PS and Xbox users who want to replace their ds.
For solid Nintendo fans the Switch is ideal for both their console and handheld needs. But those who want the big new games, rather than 5 year old ports, they have to look beyond the Switch. Even a Switch Pro, I don't think will offer that.
Many homes have two consoles, a Switch and a PS or Xbox, this will be the future for most gamers soon.
It's not the console wars Nintendo needs to lookout for, it's the fall in sales. Let's say I buy 10 AAA games a year for my only console, the Switch. And I invest in the new PS5. It's not affecting the Switch sales but if I now buy 5 games for the Switch and 5 for the PS5, Nintendo has lost 50 percent of my spend. Like this year I've only bought two Switch games. Not because I can't afford to buy them but because Nintendo games are in short supply.
Nobody watched just one TV channel and soon no one will be happy with just one console. I'm not.
I think it's pretty obvious how it's the portable, so it doesn't need to compete with the power of new home consoles. All you gotta do is ask "can I walk around with those and play them" and if the answer is no, then they aren't really a competitor.
The Switch will coexist just fine, just like it has been versus the current power consoles. With the expensive next gen approaching, Switch will have the advantage of being the cheapest option by quite a bit.
I'm sure Nintendo will have some ace up their sleeve whilst partnered with NVidia. However, despite this, I think they will continue to go their own path. Their strategy of 1st party games and proven third party classics can continue into next gen as there are plenty of PS4 / X1 games that can make the jump (especially with the AI resolution upscaling probably in a Switch DX).
Basically, the more gaming becomes standardised across all companies, steering the hobby to PC gaming for babies, the more room there is for something different and unique. Something everybody else can't do in a standardised infrastructure. And that something always has the potential to capture people's imagination.
Xbox are borrowing cues off the Switch with XCloud, using mobile phones as the screen. So Nintendo will always remain influential. There is a saying 'the comedian's comedian'. Nintendo is the industry's developer. Everyone has eyes on them because even their flawed ideas are inspiring.
So they aren't going anywhere. In fact, I honestly think they have plenty of opportunity to become stronger than ever without such close competition.
6 more years!
Switch doesn't fit anywhere in PlayBox landscape. The latter are home consoles boasting graphics and - points for that last one, it actually does something for the interactive experience - SSD-revamped load environment. Switch is a hybrid console boasting the relative but already arguably nonpareil ability to adapt to the changes in its owner's schedule and habits without so much as closing or sometimes even pausing the game. Which, I daresay, is at the very least every bit as revolutionary in QoL terms as PS5's nigh absent loading screens.
Once again, PlayBox does what Nintendon't, Nintendo does what PlayBox doesn't. PS5SX are expected to cost an arm and a leg but have the hype and newness to appeal for that, Switch is 3.5 years old but inherently cheaper even before late-year bundles and sales factor in. Game passes and SSDs don't "threaten" Switch sales simply because regardless of how cheap you've got the game or how fast it loads, the respective console juggernauts still require you to plug yourself into a room before a big screen or try banking on a stream to the trollful laughter of your ISP before you can actually play this game. Only XBox claws out of these conditions a bit if you don't mind dragging around a laptop that runs the shared titles. What games you have on Nintendo Switch... you usually just switch to whatever your time and environment during a gaming urge dictates.
@Jokerwolf
nope DLSS 2.0 is absolutely on the devs to implement that support. games that dont have dlss dont just magically get dlss 2.0. hell there are even dlss 1.0 games that are still 1.0
@Brydontk
Yes and that detail level is when games are indistinguishable from movies/real life.
I mean; people still look like mannequins in even the BEST games right now. We have a LONG way to go. Maybe in 15-20 years if some processing limit isn't hit and can't be overcome but I'll wager it'll be even longer than that if it ever happens.
As for Nintendo; they aren't competing with MS/Sony anymore except in the sense of 'entertainment dollars'. Direct competition is Iphone/Android now if you want to do the 'graphics' thing but that's about it and Apple smokes that old Nvidia thing in the Switch.
@codyf They are baking it into next gen, PS5, XBOX (with their own versions, AMD based), and Switch Next will all have it for every game. It is a literal game changer as far as giving a ***** about power.
@PALversusNTSC 2022 at the latest for the next Switch, mark my words as they are already developing the damn thing as we speak.
Absolutely nowhere.
For me, until i see Metroid Prime 4, Zelda Breath of the Wild 2, or some new IP. In the shelve...
I think xcloud to switch would be compelling
Lol, Nintendo don’t compete with the ‘next gen’ fight. That’s for the middle people without kids (maybe 16 to 35).
Nintendo get the younger kids (thanks to the parents buying it) then when they grow up and have kids, they show all the cool Nintendo stuff to their kids, it’s a self perpetuating cycle. As long as the IPs and the quality is maintained then they will never need to compete with Sony and MS directly.
I hope this means more support and exclusives for the Switch, just like the Wii era, where games where easier to make and took less time to develop
@Henmii
Totally agree Nintendo are sitting on their arse with my Switch gathering dust.
And they are least consumer friendly out of all three currently.
Not sure what they are playing at. But I have read their in house studios are no where near the size of Sony’s and now Microsoft’s group of studios, they run an extremely tight ship financially as well.
They my least favourite out of all my three consoles and companies at the minute and deserve a consumer kick up the arse.
But with 60 million sold and rising they are probably in big head land at the minute.
I'll do what I always do. Go where the handheld is.
@sword_9mm Have you played Hellblade, God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn?
For me this is a good year. We finaly get a decent golfgame on every console for the first time in 6 years.
I was so dissapointed with mcilroy and ea dropping all pga licenses.
I think we’ll see a lot less 3rd party ports to Switch once the focus is fully on next gen.
@mazzel I mean technically that is true, but the PSP and PS Vita put full sized games on a handheld. Not the latest AAA-games, but then again neither does the Switch.
The hybrid idea has been done before, with the Neo Geo X and the PSP Go, though the Switch does it far better. My point is that while the Switch offer this great benefit of portability, it's still not exempt from competition. And this isn't even a critique against Nintendo, because if anything they have been competing well with Sony and Microsoft, because they've put out way more good exclusives.
This is pretty much my point, that Nintendo could take the number 2 spot, or even the number 1 spot, if they deliver enough good games next generation.
The idea of streaming games is worrying on so many levels. Download only titles already make it harder to preserve games for the future, but things like stadia or xcloud would make that downright impossible. Not to mention problems availability of games from the same generation. If this somehow ends up like Netflix there could appear situations where you have to stress through a game just to finish before it "rotates out" . I've seen friends do this with TV-series and I never want gaming to end up there. Thankfully, both stadia and apple arcade have failed miserably. I don't see why Microsoft would do better with xCloud.
I am interested to see of the switches sales will decline following the release of the ps5 and xbox x. My thoughts are that they won't because the switch is something completely different. I see the switch a little like what the gba was. A chance to play old classics portably together with first class nintendo games all at once. Nintendo doesn't need all the new 3rd party entries yet, they just need to keep the classics coming. Fallout and Mario remasters next please. 🙏😁😎
Nintendo is the only game company that still makes True Gaming Consoles. Xbx and PS are more simmilar to medium-rate PC's that connect to the TV. Nothing wrong with that.
Nintendo has always survived because they know how to play their cards. They have made mistakes but their arcade and toy dna makes them stand out and keep going.
@TheFrenchiestFry No, it's not. The Switch is only in competition with the PSVita and 3DS. And both of those have been discontinued.
@Agriculture yeah exactly, Nintendo was not the first but so far the most successful. My guess is it's because it's their only platform, so customers really get to play EVERY game on one system, regardless of Switch or Switch Lite (ok, almost every game, except a few which do not run on the Lite). This makes the system a safe choice and does not give this B-System feeling that the PSP had...
@Brydontk
Yep. Don't look photorealistic at all. Unless you live in the Mushroom Kingdom I guess.
@TheFrenchiestFry nah, that's not true. There are lots of people who buy a Switch but no PS or Xbox but are not Nintendo loyalist. I'm talking about young generations for example. Switch is a good first console, like Gameboy was in the past. Or actually girls and women, who are no casual players but somehow really react to the Switch. It's just my experience and for sure unrepresentative. Some female coworkers, who never were into gaming bought the Switch, my two cousins, both girls age 18 and 21, never into gaming, both bought a Switch. I don't know what it is, maybe games like animal crossing or ring fit really have this kind of impact. But it works, great for Nintendo, great for every Switch owner
@Agriculture Yep, I own both a Switch and a PS4. When growing up, I always had both a Nintendo and a Sony console, the compliment each other nicely. Heck, even today, you can only play SOTN on Sony consoles, and Mario/Zelda/Metroid on Nintendo ones. Stuff like that may never change.
They need to start pumping out 1st party gaaaaames, just go nucking futs with 1st party releases. It’s the best way to compete, because there’s not going to be as much 3rd party support going forward, IMHO. The start of the ps5/Xbox Series X gen is gonna be slow and disappointing. Nintendo can counter punch with an absolute glut of 1st party titles. I don’t think they’re going to try to compete with new hardware, unless it’s more/interesting bits for the current model.
Growing up, I’ve always had both a Sony and Nintendo console of some kind, so owning a Switch for Zelda- Links Awakening and Mario Maker is a no brainer, and owning a PS5 for Demons Souls will also be a no brainer. I can’t imagine why people would want to be loyal to just one company because they all have something to offer, other than financial reasons of course.
@commentlife Have you seen any reaction videos to the Demons Souls announcement? Slow and disappointing ain’t it! Lmao
Switch:
As much as I love my switch I do worry with all the PC like hardware that Sony and Microsoft are releasing. I see third party games drying up as developers start to rely on the fast SSD units when making next gen games. Thus making it very hard for the Switch to keep getting ports.
I honestly thought they needed a huge game like Zelda BOTW 2 to release holiday season to keep consumer focus on the switch. These console sale figures are great, but I don't feel like they have enough first party games to keep the momentum in to 2021. Is the future going to be a first party game every 6th months and old ports and 2d Indies. That's what worries me.
Cloud:
As regards Xcloud I've been hammering it since beta and it's been impressive. HALO 5, Batman Dark Night both running very well on my Pixel 3XL. Add a Razor add on and that's a smart little handheld. Placing it in to the Ultimate Game Pass model is very smart.
Stadia is probably my most used platform right now, hardly any issues and currently enjoying Metro in 4ak. The games have been looking stunning, as said before only as good as your internet but loving the easy access to games and no downloads..
@Jokerwolf Lol 😂, in your dreams. The switch is going to last at least 4 more years.
@sanderev If it was in competition with either of those it wouldn't be getting titles initially designed with dedicated home consoles in mind. The fact that it's a handheld does not make it specifically in competition with other dedicated handhelds because it is designed to be played on a TV as well. A PSVita or 3DS would not be able to handle something like Breath of the Wild or third party stuff like DOOM and Outer Worlds.
@TG16_IS_BAE it’s games like Demon’s Souls that are perfectly emblematic of why the next gen launch slates are stale af IMHO. To each their own, I suppose. I just don’t think next gen will show its promise until devs have sat with UE5 for a long while.
@commentlife Yep! You don't have to like what's on offer, that's fine by me!
@westman98 Well, it's hard to deny something that hasn't happened yet. Remember that the Switch is sprinting. They took an early start, probably so that they could look good to their investors. All sprints end earlier than walks or jogs. They get you far ahead, but you'll burn out faster.
Honestly, it's a tortoise and hare comparison. I think this time, the Switch is the hare, and if either the PS5 or the Xbox become the tortoise, we will see!
@sanderev That depends largely on who you are talking to, though. Some kid at a store wants a video game console, and to many parents that don't read nintendo blogs and such, they all look the same. Companies recognize this fact, which is why they all offer similar subscription services. The point is to sell the console with the hopes that people buy the subscription. Nintendo just figured that out this generation, so we will see in the long-run how it works out for them.
Does it need to “fit”? I don’t think so. As long as they keep bring the games and improving their product, I really couldn’t care.
@PALversusNTSC
There’s always been coexistence between Handhelds and Home systems. Of course you still have to get everything right-hardware, software, marketing-and just being a handheld is no guarantee of success. As a fan of the Vita I know this all too well. But successful handhelds have always been able to find a market alongside Hime systems. Switch only has extra advantages like being a Hybrid/Home System that plays Nintendo’s own games. It will be absolutely fine.
"Forgive us for going back over old ground we've already covered, but could Microsoft and Nintendo please just stop flirting with one another and hook up?"
No.
I can see streaming being huge by the end of the next generation. Stadia has been a slow starter but is already showing real promise and the tech works great.
Xbox clearly see a future in it and they've decided to go down the subscription route.
If Nintendo had a similar subscription streaming service that was more than just NES and SNES games they could clean up. They have a huge library that no one has access to but would pay good money for.
@BenAV There's no handheld market anymore and the Switch is on all research tracks and by Nintendo a home console that also can be a handheld. It's why it's 60$, it's why it's more expensive than a 3DS, etc.
@nintendope64 As far as the amount of quality titles, the Switch isn't too far behind the PS4 this year. Yes it sucks compared to previous years, but it sucks across the board.
@mazzel The Switch significantly closer than the Vita ever was to give all AAA-games portability. The Vita had YS-8 and some of the Persona games, while the Switch has Doom 2016, Skyrim, plus several Assassin's Creed games.
However, there's still a significant gap that needs to be reduced. You can't get Red Dead Redemption 2, Far Cry 5, Metal Gear Solid 5, and much more. I'm hoping that a Switch 2 comes 2021 and it will narrow this gap to the point where you can start to expect the latest AAA-game to also come to Nintendo.
If Sony and Microsoft don't implement gyro in their FPS, I'll stick to Switch, thank you
@Nemesis666 The Switch is absolutely a handheld. It just has an adaptor that allows it to connect to the TV and function as a home console too. It has the power and all the functionality of a handheld though and there's even a model that's literally only a handheld. It made sense to market it as more of a home console at first though considering they were still trying to sell the 3DS alongside it whereas they were abandoning the Wii U.
I've stopped caring whether the Switch fits in or not. I already own a PS4 and Xbox One and will probably own next gen at some point assuming mtx and other issues I have don't get even worse. All I care about is games, and not just any games, NEW games, not Wii U ports.
I don't have anything against ports normally; the odd one here or there is welcome, but without new games to back that up, what was the point in buying the blasted thing?
Are we going to have the same problem with the Switch sucessor if that turns out to not have bc natively?
Once again, it doesn’t. Good luck with 3rd parties.
I've got no concern about Sony. They've gifted us a string of top-quality titles this gen, and if all they did was make sequels to those (experience says there'll be a lot of new IP from Sony as well as sequels) that would still be enough to shift hardware. Not sure about Microsoft, but Sony have proven they'll deliver quality first-party exclusives. They're also guaranteed all third-party support at this point. Nintendo can stay relevant, but they need more years like 2017 once Sony have got through their first year and are banging out the hits.
The best insurance the Switch has is this: From the average consumers POV, Is a PS5 and Xbox Series One really very different from a PS4 and a Xbox One?
And do they care about the differences. Here's the thing - If someone showed me the best looking games on PS4 and then some PS5 titles, I'm fairly sure I'd be like, PS4 looks just fine thanks. And I'm sure I'd not be alone.
Conceptually they are just not very different. But the Switch is.
Nintendo just needs to make a stronger engine for the sequel and make sure the 3rd party games are coming while also coming up with a few new 1st party ones.
PC plus Switch is the perfect combination.
im fine with just a PC right now though. Microsoft and Sony have nothing to offer on consoles. even the exclusives come to PC
I say with the way sales have went they really dont have to worry
I don't mind. I am content playing Paper Mario and the rest of my third party backlog this year, any additional announcements are a bonus.
The switch is no competitor to playstation or xbox in terms of power, technical abilities and graphics.
Nintendo are doing there own thing and targeting a difference audience, the main worry is if third party support stops as companies focus on the next gen titles.
Nintendo need to step up the first party support in a bigger way than just throwing out ports and remasters
Also the switch has some impressive sales to date but you got to remember the switch is selling to the Nintendo handheld market that the 3ds used to cater to aswell, so if the switch was purely a home console then I'm sure it would only sell half the figures it has now, and I think a revised version is needed at this point, better ram and power are a must going forward if it wants better ports og newer games
nintendo doesnt want to be #1 nor do they care. stupid article
COVID or no, if Nintendo doesn't show more than Pikmin 3 Deluxe to headline their holiday 2020 lineup, the Switch will "fit in" as a doormat as both Sony and Microsoft's new consoles walk right over it. You can tout sales figures all day (and for now at least, the Switch is still very much going strong), but to have almost nothing to show going forward this late in the year raises some serious questions and concerns.
If the rest of 2020 passes without any new, major first-party announcements (preferably new games/installments, not remakes of titles from previous Nintendo platforms), I would heavily suspect it to be a sign that they are already "moving on" from the Switch the same way they did the Wii U only four years ago. That system too had almost no new major first-party releases over the course of its last year, which was a big factor in why Nintendo knew it was crucial to have such an incredible launch window/first-year lineup. To be frank, it was ugly. But what was already a noticeably less powerful console when it launched is being left even further behind now. Yes, in the end it's all about the GAMES...but then right now there aren't any new games for fans to look forward to (at least not any with concrete release dates, especially this year).
Would gamers be warm to the idea of Nintendo abandoning the Switch only about four years into its life cycle? What if there's no backward-compatibility (a feature whose importance has become apparent to all on every other platform), or if all the purchases made on it (especially the eShop) don't move forward to the next console, the same way things happened on the Wii and then the Wii U? Will you be satisfied with (re)purchasing the next round of "Deluxe" remakes, this time with Switch titles added to the mix?
While of course that last paragraph is all speculation, again, the lack of 2020 new first-party releases for the Switch is a serious concern, and could well point to a new Nintendo console being imminent, perhaps as soon as next year. Nintendo could put that speculation to rest, or at least diminish it somewhat, by doing one thing: giving us a full-length Direct packed with near-future announcements for the Switch.
Ultimately, I'm mainly a Japanese games gamer. I grew up with a taste for the sensibility for as long as I can remember, in many different ways, starting with Nintendo handhelds. Nintendo is the last major platform that maintains the aesthetic in its ecosystem. Almost none of the major Western franchises maintain my interest beyond a brief let's play on Youtube. And the big franchises from Japan that you can't find on the Switch have disappointed me lately;
Monster Hunter World's aesthetic was Westernized to go mainstream, with all the success it hoped for and more.
Final Fantasy XV was severely disappointing, adopting a Western sensibility to cater to the open world crowd, aside from the hairdos, swords and magic grenades.
Kingdom Hearts 3 had a disappointing storyline, and essentially turned into a Disney vehicle, completely lacking any FF presence.
At this point, the only major games I am missing with solely a Switch are Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Granblue Fantasy Relink, and the next Monster Hunter, and that's if the rumored Monster Hunter on Switch never comes to fruition.
Japanese gaming is becoming more niche over the years, and I am happy to stay in Nintendo's corner where the best of them steadfastly reside.
Fits where it does now. Much like Sony, sites such as this one are stuck in the past console wars. There isn't one anymore, at least not like it used to be.
Nintendo carved out a new market bridging home and portable gaming. Microsoft is in the middle of transitioning to a digital/streaming/gaming service structure. Sony is still in the mindset of the console wars of the 90s.
Regardless little will change for me. Switch will still serve as a companion to my gaming PC. Microsoft is the only other one enticing me, and that's because I don't even need their console, it's their service I'm interested in. Sonys stubbornness about playing well with others (and only doing in a limited fashion to negate the negative outcry from players) and 'play it our way on our hardware or you don't play' attitude just doesn't jive with me in this day and age.
@johnvboy some third party games have sold alot better on the switch past platforms just depends on the genre especially since switch is an epic rpg machine.
@TG16_IS_BAE
This "Switch will fall off a cliff" spiel"has been a common talking point since late 2017/early 2018, and yet here we are in 2020 - the Switch's 4th year on the market - and it is just beginning to reach its peak sales.
The Wii - a console that genuinely sprinted far ahead at the beginning but sputtered to irrelevancy at the end - was starting to slow down at this point in its life, while the Switch is still on the rise.
If the Switch is a hare, it's a hare that isn't prone to narcolepsy.
Switch doesn't fit well with the others.
The others fit well with the Switch.
@sanderev mmmmm.....I get your point, however, nintendo were very quick to point out during the wii/blue ocean strategy era that not only do the compete with other consoles they also compete with cinema, swimming, riding a bike basically any distraction/entertainment. They do offer something no one else does (Disney, Ms, Sony, Apple) and will always have a place in my heart for sure!
I have an xbox, and I already feel Microsoft is in a deep hole against the PS5. Their message has been muddled, because at times it seems you won't need the newest console to play xbox games. I could stick with my current xbox. Then get game pass and play on my phone too. It's weird. Also, the games MS have shown leave alot to be desired. Another Halo...I'm good.
Sony has had good messaging. But I'm still playing my PS3, so my next purchase would be a PS4. I'm glad to see PS5 will be backwards compatible with a majority of PS4 games.
The Switch is fine. Nintendo is not releasing a Pro next year or the year after. They said quite some time ago, this is going to be a long generation. I'm sure Nintendo is going to drop significant info in September after Sony and MS have revealed their console prices, which might make folks reconsider what they're spending money on. Especially in what is going to be a very tight economy. I'll be playing my backlog for the next few years, so I'll do the occasional game purchase here and there but nothing beyond that.
@NinjaWaddleDee exactly!
according to several rumors theres going to be 2 directs this month including a major one.
@RiasGremory
which sites are claiming this?
Like two points made:
1) steps in graphics not leaps and bounds, as at this point the needle is going to be hard pressed to move much further; instead give me my frame rates please (looking at Nintendo for their Urban Legend Pro Model).
2) Games, games, games; that's why we buy a system after all (PS5 has 2 I like; New Xbox zero)
@westman98 What happens after every peak?
@Cotillion Your comment about Sony: "play it our way on our hardware or you don't play." You mean like almost every Nintendo first party exclusive? Can't mod Skyrim on the Switch. Can't play Mario on anything but a Nintendo console or a (gags) iPhone. No Metroid or Zelda, for that matter. So yeah, you really mean that, with your "companion Switch," or did you kinda forget that part halfway through your post..?
@TG16_IS_BAE
Nobody is denying that the Switch will grow infinitely and won't decline at some point, because it obviously will.
What I am denying is the the PS5/XSX launch is going to be a cliff that the Switch falls off of.
These repetitive articles is pointless.
Switch will sell as usual and won't be much affected by Next-gen consoles.
Why? Switch is the worlds most powerful handheld and have closer to 3500 games so far.
PS5 and XSX is unable to compete with any popular portable. Phone games is also unable to compete with Switch.
Switch will probably get less third party AAA games as the hardware leap is too big, and 200.GB games is too big to scale down.
Also. Loads of Switch owners own other consoles too.
I own Xbox One X, Xbox One, PS4 and gaming PC too this gen.
@sword_9mm Whether you believe it or not, those games have extremely realistic looking graphics. ESPECIALLY Hellblade. And I'm not aiming for photorealistic, nor are the devs. Aiming for a generation for game lineups consisting entirely of only photorealistic games would not only kill creative ways to utilize the art form, but would use too much time and resources to be financially feasible. When I say that we're at the peak of graphic capability, I mean without devs requiring every game to take entire decades because they feel as though they need to make every dimple, every skin pore on a character (we'll mostly see the back of) look just like real life. Nor should they.
Look at Breath of the Wild, looks absolutely nothing like a PS4 or Xbox game graphics-wise but they utilized the limitations to make it look beautiful and play great. So beautiful that a number of upcoming games are attempting to imitate it.
I’ll not be buying a PlayStation this go round there’s just not enough games that appeal to me and it looks like it’s gonna be very expensive.
Switch, for Nintendo first party games, portability and some of the ports.
Xbo, mainly for third party games, gamepass, online play.
Ps4, sony exclusives.
I think if everybody, plays to their strengths, it should work out for all. Plenty of options are great for gamers.
Xcloud is cheap, no money down and it works really well on my cheap android phone. And it performs well both on my wifi and over 4G. Given for my £18 a month I already have unlimited data, I must disagree that network service is not ready or available, at least in the UK both are more than ready. Xcloud would now seem to be Nintendos direct and largest competition
@westman98 That's fair and reasonable, I just think it's better to wait and see. It will depend on how much attention people decide to give Sony or Microsoft. I'm not worried that Nintendo is going to just disappear, but I do think that they have hit their stride, and we can smile that we had a good run and let the big guys have their shot in the spotlight for a second. If Nintendo does a repeat of the Switch, it will happen mid-way in the next gen's cycle like they did this time, and it will differentiate them again. It was a very smart move to break from that cycle.
@Fandabidozi I thought the same thing and then I saw both "Demon's Souls" and "backwards compatible with PS4 games" and that pretty much sold me. I literally have no idea what else will be coming out on it, that's how much I love Demon's Souls lmao.
@bobzbulder Ya and they were also supposed to continue support the 3DS far into the future and assured us the Switch would not replace it...oh wait lol.
As long as AAA 3rd party games keep not being able to run on Switch. It basically stays same as it is now.
A Nintendo handheld, same as when you owned a 3DS + a home console back in the day.
@Agriculture Yeah, I hope they keep this kind of Hybrid design for some years and release more powerful systems. However I don't think we will see a Switch 2, soon, as they would split the install base... Probably they want to keep the One-System-One-Software approach a little longer.
Nevertheless, I can't wait for the next generation of Switch, as I already bought a new Laptop to keep playing, I'm a little tired of JRPGs right now and need some Mafia, Darksiders 3, Red Dead Redemption, which all have not been released on Switch
So the Switch can't play modern games. I like retro better anyway. Why make remakes of old games or ports of old existing stuff ? Just make New old games. I want Nintendo to get into making follow ups to old games done in the old style. i.e. a new GBA style Kirby or River King. But more complex .
Maybe they can do this on the SwitchU.
@mazzel If it's fully backwards compatible, and Nintendo release all their first party games to be compatible with the original Switch it won't necessarily split the user base. I'm hoping a Switch 2 comes 2021, but it needs to come at least 2022, otherwise Nintendo will be too far behind in hardware power (which matters if you want to run the newest AAA-games).
@Agriculture Backwards should be standard for the next generation, I'm thinking about frontwards... The devolepers still would need to develope for Switch, Switch Lite and Pro/2. Not sure if this is practical. If there will be dedicated Games for the Pro/2 you have the split... And a completely new Generation after 4-5 years will be bitter pill to swallow for the customer. Sony and Microsoft are 7-8 years, Nintendo usually 5-6 years. So following that logic, 2022 or 2023 should be realistic, I guess?
@Jokerwolf theres no talks of a dlss solution for new consoles. There is DML but that has yet to be announced if it will be utilized on amd cards or Microsoft consoles. You either need to stop talking out of your ass or provide a reputable source.
The only sure thing is that even the most talented developers wont be able to port AAA PS5 games to Switch. So the gap widens. Developers need to make games exclusively for Switch.
@RiasGremory,
I was comparing to the first party efforts from Nintendo, as those titles are driving Switch hardware sales.
@mazzel The rumor stated that Nintendo is planning to release a more powerful "Switch 2" and not require third party developers to make their games compatible with the original Switch. At the same time Nintendo themselves would make all their first party games compatible with both the original Switch and the Switch 2.
That way games like Far Cry 6 can come to the Switch 2, but at the same time the original Switch won't be obsolete.
@Brydontk
Agree to disagree. If you're happy where things are good for you. I won't be till GTA looks like an episode of cops.
@codyf Nintendo will be using DLSS in their new switch, mark my damn words.
@Euler Uh, humans can resolve a lot more than the poor quality 720p lcd on the switch. Just putting a decent display of the same resolution in the switch would be a massive upgrade.
@sword_9mm Sure, I genuinely hope that happens for you. I'd play it.
@StevenG The difference actually has to be appreciable (you still get HD when playing on the TV), and enough to justify the inevitable loss of battery life. Diminishing returns.
@Dezzy70,
I agree, they are super consumer-unfriendly. Take the Pikmin 3 situation for example. Taking the Wii u version of the e-shop to boost upcoming Pikmin 3 Deluxe sales, what a a..holes! I am happy for you that you have all 3 consoles, you don't have to miss out on anything. Me, I have only a Switch. I really should go for Ps5 or Serious X someday. My stance always was: No big new third-party releases, the ones found on Ps and Xbox? At least Nintendo delivers. But even that doesn't happen anymore. What's left, only indies? I really should broaden my horizon with other devices someday (yeah, I know I say this all the time. Old habits heh!).
@Jokerwolf
I agree. That would be nice but until we hear it straight from the horses mouth, its not happening.instead i got a," trust me bro", response
@Jokerwolf The 3ds was 8 years old then. We all knew that it was going and they actually supported it after the switch launched.
@bobzbulder Not as long as they definitely led us to believe it would be, they were insisting it would exist along side the Switch. It is ok if Nintendo isn't perfect, no company is and they all do this when a more successful product of theirs is on the market. I don't think generations are going to be more than 6 years max from now on.
@TheFrenchiestFry third parties dont even necessarily sell worse on Switch, its just that those high selling third party games dont come out on Switch. I dont think Switch has had a single AAA third party game released at the same time as the other platforms or just in general has released as an exclusive. The few AAA third party games Switch has gotten, and it is starting to receive more this year, are years late, sometimes even a decade old. Which is fine, but you can't expect a third party game that is years old to sell well when most people who wanted the game already bought it years ago. Given the context in which AAA third party games get released on Switch that sell quite well. If third party AAA games were actually made for the Switch they'd sell better than xbox but worse than ps4, which means they'd sell very well.
@Jokerwolf The switch can make 8 easy and I think it will. If it continues to sell they have no reason to make a new console. It’s the same reason why they won’t make a Mario kart 9 for switch. 8 sells so well that there is no reason to make a new game.
@Ulysses nintendoeverything plus lot of coverage of it on youtube as well.
I don't see how third party support is that big. The Switch didn't even have that in the current generation really.
People complaining need to realize they can just buy a PS5 or X1X and play third party games just like they do now.
This isn't much different than when they released the PS4 Pro and that didn't really hurt Nintendo in any meaningful way. I doubt this is going to matter since you still can't play Mario Zelda or Pokemon Smash Bros Mario Kart, Splatoon, etc on a PlayStation or XBox. I think it's a different market entirely.
I think nintendo needs to pull out all the stops for the switch, like finally giving us the next game in there biggest franchise (if I'm not mistaken) MarioKart. Come on its been 6 years since the last New addition to the franchise (and no MarioKart 8 deluxe doesn't count! )
We don't know that a Switch Pro will be announced next week. A more expensive and more powerful machine that would handle a Port of a New game without much effort......
But if that is not the case then the Switch Lite is a blessing for PS and Xbox owners. They can play all their PS/Xbox games as they should be played and still play Mario Odyssey or Zelda botw, something they couldn't do on the DS.
The fallout for Nintendo Wii be that PS/Xbox sales will rise as well. But that might not be a bad thing.
@Henmii
Try the PS4 or PS4 Pro.
They have amazing exclusives.
Uncharted, last of us, god of war, horizon zero dawn and ghost of t. To name a few.
I have a switch but currently there is no way I can game on it alone, the big Nintendo exclusives have dried up. Also you would get to play the big third party titles on PS4 as well.
As long as Nintendo continues to innovate games through the Switch's capabilities and support its various indie developers, the Switch wouldn't be hindered by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Of course, the number of ports to newer games will definitely reduce, but as we saw with Ubisoft and other developers, older games are seen making comebacks on the Switch, which isn't necessarily a bad thing because the Switch still lives up to its name of offering players mobility and a variety of controller options when playing big titles.
I highly doubt Nintendo would release a "Nintendo Switch Pro" or "New Nintendo Switch" throughout its lifespan, because I think they want to avoid the 3DS situation where some games are locked exclusively to the New 3DS models.
@Dezzy70,
Yeah, the games you mentioned would probably all be up my alley (especially the Uncharted games and Horizon). But I think its a bit late for me to buy a PS4. So now I probably wait for a PS5 (at launch it will be to expensive though. I'll see what I do.
@Euler A higher quality panel could have lower battery consumption. The same resolution OLED panel would have better colors and use less batter.
Nintendo will remain my main console as i do play nintendo's ips more! But as a secondary console i'm really leaning to xbox only because if GPU! $15 a month to play all games! Man thats really good!
@NathanTheAsian I highly doubt Nintendo would release a "Nintendo Switch Pro" or "New Nintendo Switch" throughout its lifespan
You do realize that innovations also means a Switch Pro or 2.0 or HD version will come eventually not will it.
@SwitchForce
That's a successor, which is entirely different than a hardware revision.
Besides, the Switch is technically already HD.
Switch is the system I use to play zelda or metroid. It has next to no usefulness for 3rd party because that i'll either get on PC or a more powerful console. So what does it mean for switch? absolutely nothing. i'll continue buying nintendo hardware for nintendo IPs, just as I will by sony hardware for sony IPs and a lot of the 3rd party stuff I don't feel like playing on PC.
@sanderev To be honest, this is the first generation where literally every company is going in very different routes, maybe there will be no console war to speak of, or Nintendo might have world domination
@MysteryCupofJoe We need to have a good balance of 1st party and 3rd party games, we need to keep on having the 3rd party games like the other consoles, as Nintendo had advertised the Switch from the very beginning as a console that plays very serious, core gamer games and then again, Nintendo needs to keep putting out 1st party games as Nintendo is all about the exclusives and without a slew of them, that would be a Sony move and the Nintendoness is lost
Nintendo to launch Super Mario Allstars this Q4 on an all new "Enjoy Nintendo" monthly subscription streaming online service, playable on mobile devices, tablets, smart tvs with new games launching regularly. No Nintendo hardware required to play.
Enjoy Nintendo subscription to cost $99 for first 12 months, with subscribers receiving a Nintendo Switch Pro controller compatible with all Enjoy Nintendo games on non-native devices. $4.99 per month in year 2.
Existing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will receive Enjoy Nintendo for free (no Pro controller provided) as part of existing subscriptions and games will be playable on Nintendo Switch family devices.
Enjoy Nintendo service to include back catalogue games prior to the Wii U and requires an online connection to play unless playing via a Nintendo Switch device.
Enjoy Nintendo is the new "recruitment service" to allow consumers to enjoy previous Nintendo games at an affordable entry price, to ultimately drive more sales of Nintendo Switch device and games, but also to compete for people’s time against alternative sources of entertainment such as SVOD services Netflix, Disney+ as well as free AVOD services Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram etc.
Of course, all of the above is completely fabricated, but could become reality as part of Nintendo's shift into wider entertainment worlds (Universal Studio Themepark attractions, Lego bricks, Animated Mario movie coming..).
So this topic of how Nintendo Switch will fit into the PS5 vs XBOX Series X battle is just one of many competitive battles Nintendo should be considering to remain relevant in an era with an ever increasing choice of entertainment sources and competing gaming subscription services (Apple Arcade, Gamepass etc) but have multiple cards in their deck to play with their treasure trove of IPs rivalled only by Disney.
@NathanTheAsian your comments was as though there was no new hardware in the works from Nintendo. That's what people a always trip on and never recover from.
@sanderev yeah they need to compete - it's how we get good games, lol. Look at 2017. Look at that year. They totally targeted the core audience that buys the other consoles. Nowadays....they got cocky again. It's paying off for the them in the short term, just like the Wii.
You know? Nintendo can play smart and put an Android support update, that would mean it could run xcloud, but that might have dire consequences
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