Nintendo Looks To Extend Switch Life-Cycle As Demand Looks Higher Than Ever This Year

I really love seeing this device and its ecosystem doing well. There's always room for improvement, but I'm absolutely obsessed with the Nintendo Switch. They've really struck gold this time around.

Pro model or the switch limps to the finish line

I like that it is doing well but I take my switch places and it is beat up and I'm fairly careful. I've had it since launch and really hope I don't have to buy another...

Let me remind everyone again, no company announces a new product until they are ready and they will always pledge to stay by current products. Saying anything else would be shooting themselves in the foot. That doesn't mean there is, or is not a hardware revision in the works.

It just means Nintendo isn't stupid.

BuT NiNtEnDo nEeDs To MaKe a PoWeR CoNsOle!!!1

Seriously though, Switch is still red hot after 3+ years, only makes sense to continue doing what they're doing.

Despite every year on year having less games than that before, I can honestly say I have always had several things to play on my Switch continually, even ignoring half the ports from previous consoles.

I think that’s praise?

Makes me even more eager to learn what they have planned for 2021.

Would be a smart move, but it's just virtue-signalling without actual release dates for 2021 and beyond.

I don’t see any need to rush this.
An updated version could do well but it would have to use the same joycons or it may hurt them, I feel (drift issue aside).
I have my custom joycons and paripherals that I wouldn’t want to dump.
I’d upgrade my system though if it has enough features to justify it...

I can't see them moving to another system after Switch. The successor must surely be a Switch 2, which will be backwards compatible with existing software.

@Heavyarms55 like with the Wii U and 3DS.

@Emperor-Palpsy Same here, I don't see any need to continue innovating on their hardware. Might as well just iterate on it and improve it. Focus the innovation on the software while continuing to design the hardware in a way that lets us play anywhere.

But this is Nintendo so if they wind up doing something completely different I won't be surprised.

Fine by me. I've only been involved in the Switch's ecosystem for a few months and have a LOT of catching up to do.

The demand is high because they have just the one console, so sales of the home and handheld console are combined. To get a truer figure just use 50% of the total. It's a question of companies adjusting figures to suit the needs.

Apart from Animal Crossing, Nintendo seems to have fallen from grace with a lot of gamers.

I

we all know if it isnt a enhanced switch but new independnt console as always N will dump switch like a brick. remember all the campains for wii get already made games released in america even tho they were out in europe.

I’ve never spend that much money on one console. The portability aspect, three years in, still loving it!

A great way to extend the Switch life cycle would be to design joy-cons that last longer than 9-12 months. Honestly, I would pay for more robust joy-cons - or they could at least come down in price more. Please?

@TimboSlice I think they have to grow the offering with a Pro model so it should be the same rails etc for the joy cons just improved build.

@zool you do have to factor in the fact it’s a merging of 2 product lines. It does irk slightly that the gameboy and DS lines are often forgotten when looking at where the Switch sits in terms of sales. That being said if you look at their previous gen the 3DS and Wii U they will sell more in less time than the 2 combined so I don’t think their standing is as bad as you think.

@zool true but retailing at double the price of the 3DS and selling at a profit from day 1, that's the part that interests the shareholders. You can spin numbers anyway you like to shareholders and they only really care about the dividend and longevity.

Nintendo not fallen from grace for me .... Only my opinion though.

For Nintendo, it really isn't about the hardware, it's about the software. Sony and Microsoft have their own games, but really a lot of people buy those consoles for sports - FIFA, Madden - and shooters - COD, Destiny, whatever - and those consoles need to keep up with PC graphics where some of those games can also be played.

Nintendo games are almost never on TV, just Nintendo consoles, AND Nintendo likes it's "1 game per gen' rhythm.

Sooooo..... can Nintendo really go another 3 or 4 years without a new(er) console if it means - NO new Mario Kart, no new Splatoon, no new 3D Mario, no new Smash, no new Zelda, unless you count BotW 2 as new, which is fair.

Point is, either Nintendo starts making new Mario Kart and Spaltoon games for Switch, or it releases a new console in the next 2 years or so, not 4 more years, b/c they are going to run out of AAA games on Switch. They are nearly out of Wii U ports as well.

So yeah, Switch hardware is still going strong, but what about the games? Consoles need games and Nintendo doesn't like to double-dip on a gen. People are already ready for Mario Kart 9 now, not 4 years from now. I suppose SM Odyssey 2 would do, bit a new game would be nice as well, release more ODyessy as DLC.

@rjejr That's why their new games are reduced to a trickle....they're spacing them out for that 7 year run without making any more than usual, and letting 3rd party carry them.

Though we're getting a BotW 2 and I wouldn't doubt we'd see an Odyssey 2 as we did with Galaxy 2 this gen. I wouldn't doubt a Splatoon 3, either, as that's a game with very long legs and takes a minimal amount of new development to reinvigorate.

@sixrings

Agreed. N is so short sighted imo.

I guess it won't matter since most of the games are 2d indie stuff and old ps3/wii-u ports anyway so I guess it should be good enough until N can come up with some most likely gimmicky thing to replace it.

Probably a ball with a screen on it where you kick and yell at it for controls. Or something else stupid (I hate the Wii so much).

Hopeuflly they use the time and money to design a far superior Switch 2 e.g. decent battery life, sufficient ram, a good OLED screen, an aluminum body, current chips and a dock that functions as an external GPU.

The Switch will become the all-time best selling console...eventually. More than the DS's 150 million and the PS2's 155 million. Assuming Nintendo supports the Switch for five or six more years.

@sword_9mm I hated the SD and motion controls so much I just bought a 360. Years later I got one and tried out galaxy and it was horrible with both the controls and the graphics. Heres hoping Friday treats me well as I have not gone through galaxy before since I was protesting silly gimmicks and SD when I had an HD tv.

There has to be some sort of pro-model in the next year. They can't be 2 generations behind.

@zool I actually don't see that Nintendo has fallen from grace from most gamers at all. That is a comment without anything to back it up. In fact most gamers would prefer to play on pc or a console and have their second console be a switch of not choose the switch as their main console.
Nintendo isn't and hasn't competed with any company since the gamecube.

Yeah, I would LIKE a more powerful revision, but even if it doesn't happen, I'll still play on my switch.

@sword_9mm act Nintendo has just as many first party games as any other platform. Just because you don't like them or realize there there doesn't mean their not. In fact Nintendo has more first party games than Xbox and ps4 together.

Could care less about power or next gen*. I would like a switch light form factor that can plug into a tv though

*ok not true. I’m just skint and don’t need the temptation...

@zool what are you even talking about? "Gamers" are an extreme minority anyway. All gamers could boycott Nintendo and it wouldn't make any difference. They are below wii u numbers.

@sixrings

SD didn't bother me but the motion stuff was abysmal other than maybe bowling. Couldn't play Twilight Princess for more than about an hour before I gave up. Mario Galaxy the same.

I lolled when Sony/MS got dumb and tried it after wii sports was selling wiis. Kinect was a travesty and the dumb sixaxis was stupid as the day is long.

No More Gimmicks Please!

@Dirty0814

Huh? N has most of their games out now except for Metroid. What am I missing? Is there a new Pilotwings on the way? FZero? Starfox?

I mean I guess you can hang your hat on maybe a BOTW or Odysee sequel but that's not going to blow my skirt up. Unless the new BOTW2 does away with the stupid weapon degradation. If so I may actually play that one and try to beat it.

@spiderman0616
I love how they talk about extending the life cycle. A long life cycle with the Switch is so great!

@Ghostchip I hope they fix the kickstand in the future. I've already replaced the launch model and now that replacement always opens up when I'm playing in hand-held mode. The switch lite is superb in comparison since I very rarely ever use the kickstand anyway in the main system.

@KryptoniteKrunch WAH WAH WAH I WANT A PRO GOTTA LOOK LIKE PS4 XBOX DEM GRAPHIC

i cant stand these cancer nintendo fan who also say they will never buy a eshop game again but continue to pirate

@Heavyarms55 a good point.

This said the fact that even the current model remains so crazily in demand definitely buy them a lot of time to iron out the kinks of any future revision and introduce the later only when things truly feel like they are slowing down.

@zool
"The demand is high because they have just the one console, so sales of the home and handheld console are combined. To get a truer figure just use 50% of the total. It's a question of companies adjusting figures to suit the needs."

This is easily the dumbest comment I've read on this site. Switch is very successful because it is a very appealing piece of hardware with very appealing software. That's it.

I've seen people try to downplay the success of the Switch, but this galaxy-brained take is an entirely different level of stupidity and denial.

A long life span makes total sense. The casual and family audience that makes up a huge part of Nintendo’s base just isn’t interested in buying a new console every 5 years - I think this is a big part of why the Wii U sold so poorly.

@Ludovsky Absolutely. They have the time to keep refining any future product. We know something is coming. It's not if, it's when. But they have breathing room.

It is very unlikely they will keep this generation going for more than 2 more years, 2022 is looking like Switch Next or Nintendo will be left in the dust by 3rd party which will hurt them greatly. Anyone is foolish to think Nintendo is not very far along on their next console.

@westman98 you obviously have very little concept maths. You don't understand so it comes across as dumb to you, I can't help that.

@westman98 it's no surprise trolls are resorting to ridiculous arguments to downplay Switch's success, as evidenced by our galaxy brained friends...

@Dirty0814 This year Nintendo seems, by its lack of communication, to have got more wrong than right. At least judging by comments that have posted. Looking at the Super Mario all Stars review comments will bare this out.

@Duncanballs I agree it all about shareholders. And if I was a shareholder I would want to know, what is Nintendo's next move? Considering what Sony and Microsoft are launching.

Three old Mario games, a Mario port in January and a Pikmin port and Hyrule Warriors, while welcome are not on there own going to convince shareholders that the Nintendo future is bright.

Yes it is bright, now with rising sales, but analysts think the Switch sales will peak in 2021. And as a second console to Xbox and PS, Switch games sales will suffer if enough fans then view their first console as Xbox or PS.

Hopefully we get a new Xenoblade game soon.

If true, I hold a modicum of hope that we will get a proper Mario Kart.

@zool that doesn’t make any sense outside of the scope of prior Nintendo releases - in terms of industry staying power they’re comparing sales numbers with PS and Microsoft.

Also, many households own multiple switches and I’m sure they factor Nintendo accounts into their internal metrics. The Mario re-release is the second best selling game OF THE YEAR. It’s not even out yet!

@zool You can't apply simple maths if you're using broken logic. Sony and Microsoft don't even have an appealing handheld counterpart. The reason the Switch is doing well is because it's one of the most appealing gaming devices on the market to the average consumer with a strong exclusive lineup.

Most people don't buy a handheld AND a console of the same brand. Hell, I'm a major gamer and even I don't do that. I usually buy one console device per generation and stick with my PC for the rest of the games.

The Switch is sold out in most regions even at a higher price and worse deals than the PS4/X1 because people simply see more appeal in the system. Not because somehow the two 'halves' of the handheld and home console market have combined. Like...dude, what are you talking about?

@Jokerwolf Nintendo has been transparent that the intended life of the Switch cycle was to be around 10 years since it first dropped.

They are intentionally and specifically getting out of the 5 year span, since this is year 3.5 and they’re top of the heap and working on a new Metroid and Zelda I don’t think they’re producing a new model anytime soon.

SOMETHING would have leaked SOMEWHERE.

They’re not interested in the multimedia home internet blitz and are staying true to games.

More people watch porn on Playstation than game, and if you take out Fifa and COD they rarely have a game sell in the multi-millions.

I always laugh when I see people pushing for a SWITCH PRO or moaning about frame rate online, I worked in digital tech for 7 years and everybody I know has a Switch and I’ve never once heard an IRL complaint about the Switch’s processing power.

It is what it is and most people love it. One of my childhood best friends worked at Epic at a dev level for Gears 2-4 and still works in the industry and the switch is his favorite system of all time.

Just enjoy a good thing!

@GannonBanned I actually have a funny experience at work where nobody really plays games but when I pull out my Switch during lunchtime to pass the time some people stand around in shock at just how powerful and impressive a device of its size can be. Then they start asking a million questions which I don't wanna answer because I wanna play my damn game.

The people who complain about the specs of the Switch should really rather invest into a PS5/XBS or better yet a PC. The Switch is a console which can play big name games on the go. I don't understand the need of a Pro version of that when the system already holds so many merit points.

@Varkster haha same! We have a PS4 at my work that exists exclusively to play FIFA and Rocket League in late afternoons and I remember the first time I brought out MK11 to around and do some towers during lunch and 5 people gathered around to watch me play it and they all bought switches over the next couple weeks.

This was after I had read relentlessly negative online reviews of how the Switch horribly butchered MK11 and it sucked and God was dead and I was thinking I was crazy for being happy with it

@zool
Nothing I've said is as ridiculous or dumb as "let's report half of its actual sales" because "it's a hybrid."

Find a better coping mechanism lol

@MrGawain agreed, I’m somehow both frustrated at the lack of new games AND wondering when I’m going to be able to get to Vampyr, Metro, Celeste, Alien, and all the Resident Evils that I’ve already shelled out the dough for.

Meanwhile I keep tinkering with Super Mario Maker 2 and my Stardew Valley farn 😅

The big system seller games are out, everything from here is fan service.

Next year is Zelda. Remakes, remasters, Zelda Dungeon Maker.

Only thing I can think of that would boost sales is GTA5.

@zool this is gonna sound snarky but I don’t mean it in that way:

Do you really think all those people that bought a Switch in 2020 only bought Animal Crossing and then nothing else?

Go online for Smash, Mario Kart, heck even smaller games like Dead by Daylight - 24/7 365 people are playing

i've enjoyed Switch, but this year has been a bit of a bore after last year.

@GannonBanned The Switch was rushed through development, they are taking more time with the next for sure but every generation they lacked 3rd party support it hurt them to the point of a generational failure and the new games coming out are not going to be port-able to the Switch so interest will dwindle. Something is in the works and this system will not last 10 years that is super foolish to think lol.

@zool To play along with your logic, I think it was around 30% who play exclusively in handheld. So 50/50 isn't a true indicator. You'd have to take 70% of those figures to find the number of gamers who use the Dock.

That said, it's a stupid argument. Even if 50% of players were exclusively handheld, those gamers still buy and play games, and that demand for games is causing a constant supply of games to the system.

The console is selling, the games are selling, and the support is still coming. Having handheld players be a part of that cycle doesn't diminsh the strength of the experience. You, as a docked only gamer, can buy the console, and buy a series of games on the system, let's say Doom. You can buy all five games on the system, with a sixth coming out, and those games exist on the system because of every gamer that supported those games on the system. Doesn't matter if they were docked or handheld gamers. You as a docked player benefitted from their engagement with the system and its library.

And it doesn't matter if the Switch made it to 200m units sold because it's benefitting from two markets, it's still just one console.

@sixrings switch is doing fine without a pro model just wait for switch 2 man.

This is consistent with the message they have said multiple times in the past. They say they want the Switch to go past a regular console lifecycle.

As many have said, of course, Nintendo will keep saying that, because they don't want slowdowns at all, and slowdowns can occur if people think a new console is on the way.

@Jokerwolf i just assume we’ll be getting a Fallout pack and GTA V and Various Other Bestsellers and after Doom Eternal we’ll maybe get Cyberpunk 2077.

I assume Nintendo made more money off nindies than Outer Worlds anyway (I don’t have any beef with the Outer Worlds port, I definitely got my $60 worth)

What else would they say? It's not like they are going to say 'yeah, we're going to abandon the Switch soon'.

I really think that next gen consoles will hurt the Switch. Do you think we will see a Switch port of Final Fantasy 16, for example, and if we did wouldn't it be significantly downgraded? Won't that be the story for most multi-platform games?

@rjejr
Good point. I think if we get another Mario or Zelda game on switch then it will be a few years before they launch new hardware. I don't see them releasing a new system without a popular game.

Switch is a great console and I'm glad it's doing so well I play it most days at least 4 times a week.

I'm not as anxious for a new model Switch as some seem to be. Nintendo doesn't always do the next-model-should-be-better thing and could go either way with it. They could make it better (3DS) or they could make the next one worse (Wii) or strip features (DS).

Surely we all know by now their won't be a "Pro" model (something with much more power and sold at a higher price alongside a base model), so a revision is the most likely thing. If it can be the device itself (meaning you keep existing joycons and dock), that could be a success in really extending the Switch's life.

I feel that approach has landed them at the doorstep of lightening in a bottle, and they need to modify and improve now rather than trying to reinvent themselves all over again. Based upon sales globally (about to include Brazil) they have got the "brand" unit that can improve with just using mark number (ex. PS 1,2,3,4, Pro, 5 of Xbox Series #).

@GannonBanned Well there are still a lot of games to come to the Switch luckily and games wont fully utilize all the power of next gen out of the gate so that gives Nintendo a lot of breathing room to still get ports.

@FaroreAbhorsen Thanks. I beat the game at the time (still own it in the box), including the second run-through. I can't remember exactly if it was mandatory or a bonus, after you beat the game, you did it all again at a harder difficulty. Curiously, I found the last Air Fortress easier to get through on this harder difficulty than the first run-through. I've been hoping it return to a modern system too. I'd love even a full remaster, as it was such a great concept of a game.

@spiderman0616 what ecosystem? Apple has an ecosystem. Google has an ecosystem. Amazon.

Nintendo has a game console.

Doing good because it was designed for everyone and every age group. Why else would it be otherwise. hint*hint xbox/psx.....

just saw the ps5 now collection , while we have those snes games ;/

@Richnj I read last year before the Lite release, that more gamers were playing in handheld mode, just over 50%, so with the Lite that figure will be higher.

That said, as well as a Nintendo home console I would buy a DS. So a lot of the Switch sales now come from DS owners who just want a handheld games console and look at the Lite as a DS replacement.

To say Switch sales have increased is true but it is a false dichotomy. It would like Sony bringing out a new Vita and calling it a PS5 Lite and so outselling the Xbox.

@GannonBanned it's not snarky it's a fair question. I guess most gamers buy a Nintendo system, firstly to play Nintendo games. I did. And this year there has been a shortage of choice for new games. Ok AC is great, but it's not for me, so Nintendo games for me this year have been non existent. Ok Paper Mario, but that wasn't so good. And I don't buy games that I've already played. Ports.

Yes all the new Lite owners will have a field with the back log of games, mostly kids I guess, but they are not the ones with the cash to spend. It's the original Switch owners that spend, the ones wanting a Switch Pro.

@Varkster you have done well with you're reply for someone who has to ask what I'm talking about 😀.
An example I gave in an above reply. Would it be fair if Sony released a new Vite and called it the PS5 Lite? Included it with the PS5 sales figures to say they have out sold the Xbox?

The Switch Lite can't even switch.

@GannonBanned and we know why its selling so well, yet getting criticism at the same time.

It's Nintendo's market strategy to boost sales figures in the short term. But I think this will impact on Pikmin and Hyrule Warriors sales. Lots of gamers have budgets and have to make choices when spending.

@zool Yeah, over 50% of Switch owners do play in handheld. It's something like 80%, with the remaining 20% being exclusively docked. But only 30% play exclusively in handheld mode. Bottom line is that 70% of the base Switch audience use the console as a home console to some degree.

And I think I see where I misunderstood you. You don't like including Switch Lite in to switch sales, but why?. Sony and MS have both released slim and pro versions of their consoles, and included them in to life time sales. If there was a PS5/XBS Lite/Hybrid, and it played all the same games, on the same ecosystem, with the same players, then why shouldn't it be included?. It's part of the same family of consoles, and it counts.

The biggest difference between the pro and lite approaches is that the lite actually does less than the base model, while the pros do everything the base models do but better. If we're worried about double dipping, then the pro consoles are a bigger concern when reporting unit sales, no?

(God I wish there were PS5 and Xbox Series hybrids).

@SpaceKaren and an eShop and proprietary cartridges and a museum of classic titles and third party relationships and several “universes”

@zool I understand the logic there but I don’t think the limited sale thing is to ramp up sales - I’m old enough to know that both Super Mario All Stars for the SNES and the Wii got the same treatment - their logic isn’t to artificially increase sales but to make sure they don’t see rereleases of their all time classics discounted to $29.99 with a yellow sticker on them at Wal Mart.

It’s forced scarcity and it sucks, but it’s more about brand protection than maximizing sales. The GameStop in my neighborhood (I live in a huge city and am in a middle class neighborhood) sold out of the Wii All-Stars DAY 1 and people were still in line! They never got a restock and Amazon was sold out, too.

I don’t buy scalped games on eBay so I just never got to own it. So I pre-ordered this one and was delighted when it shipped last night.

I think Nintendo is doing it on purpose to keep the game value high. Doom (2016) is like $9.99 on every other platform, still $60 on Nintendo - they stopped making physical a year ago and it sold well so you can grab a digital copy for full price, wait for a sale, or miss out.

We should be critiquing them more for limiting production on ***** like Bayonetta and Wolfenstein to artificially increase the price, not a rerelease we begged for

@FaroreAbhorsen

It's a stupid mechanic and I have run out of weapons several times.

I didn't like it in System Shock or Last of Us either so I quit those games.

It's no fun. If you like it fine; I do not and won't buy another game with that mechanic. Just no fun. I also don't like games that make you eat to survive or any of that other crap so whatever. Enjoy it; I'll skip it.

@Obitokamui64 My main concern is really Mario Kart. As a Wii U owner, and regarding the other 8 million people who also owned MK8 on Wii U, that game is over 6 years old now, how much longer do we have to wait for a new one? At least before they had handheld versions to fill in the gaps - MKDS, MK7 - now it's just ports.

I don't want to have to wait another 4 years for a NEW MK game, that would be 10 years between version.

@Richnj on balance I think a handheld device should be separate from a home console, and not include the Switch Lite in switch sales. It's not a big thing but maybe a more honest approach. The Lite is not a Switch in the true sense of what a switch does, it could just as easily have been named the new DS. The only thing in common is that they share the same game cards.

I have always had a Nintendo console and a Nintendo handheld in the past, now I only need one, the docked version. I never had a PS or Xbox, but now is the time to go for one of them. I'll use it as a main home console and the Switch will now be my second console which will be mostly used for Nintendo games.

Nintendo have now split my game spending, so perhaps 50% will now go to Sony. Maybe Nintendo are selling more consoles but not necessarily more games.

@rjejr Yeah. I wish they would add some DLC to MK8. I think you are correct though. They'll hold off on a new Mario kart to line up with a hardware launch.

@Dethmunk The problem with Nintendo is that it tries to be all things to all gamers. Not all Nintendo gamers like all Nintendo games. This year Paper Mario was the only Nintendo game I purchased. I am not an Animal Crossing fan. So for me up until now it's been a poor year.

I bought a Switch to play Nintendo games, games should be it's number one priority for its gamers. Not £100 plastic karts.

Being positive I do think the Pro is on its way for a March 2021 release. Otherwise Nintendo will be playing catch up once again, with serious gamers anyway.

@Obitokamui64 Well we did get Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit.

I think it's about 2 years too late for MK8 Deluxe DLC. And personally you can't call a game "Deluxe" and then add DLC to it. Even though they did it with Pokemon Tournament DX. So it's about time for a NEW Mario Kart on Switch. Then they can port it to Switch DS in a few years.

If Switch doesn't get it's own Mario Kart game then Switch 2 is going to get a port of a port of a Wii U game.

Somebody read that last sentence back to Nintendo.

If Switch gets BotW 2 and Super Mario Odyssey 2 at least Switch 2 can get 2 game bundles of those. And they can port SSBU and call it SSBUD w/ the $55 worth of DLC included. At the rate the SSBU DLC is being released Switch 2 may launch before they are done. 😂 But I don't think Switch needs a new SSBU game, at all. Just Mario Kart 9, Splatoon 3, ARMS 2 maybe, BotW and SMO 2. That should get them thru 4 more years until the next gen console.

Pandemic, and Animal Crossing going mainstream is why Switch got revived.

"Nintendo has traditionally used hardware refreshes to boost sales; the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, DS and 3DS all received revised hardware updates during their lifespans, and Switch has already seen one additional SKU in the form of the Switch Lite."
Not always, how'd that NES II or SNES II sell? How did the Wii Mini sell? Yeah, they don't always extend their lives or sell well, only their handhelds, which is clear at this point Nintendo does view Switch/Switch Mini as the 3DS/Wii U successors, there's no way around it, not with both having been discontinued, and neither having a direct successor.