Switch 2
Image: NintendoAU

Update []: Nintendo has uploaded the official English translation of its Q&A session:

I'd like to ask about the positioning of Nintendo Switch 2. Will other new hardware going forward be similar to Nintendo Switch, or is Nintendo Switch 2 bridging the gap toward a revolutionary next-generation platform that has not yet been announced? I do not feel an innovation with Nintendo Switch 2 that demonstrates a generational change. Is this a one-off case, or will you continue to produce hardware that inherits the concept of Nintendo Switch but updates various features, rather than hardware based on entirely new concepts?

We began development of Nintendo Switch 2 as an official internal project around 2019, but we constantly conduct R&D for new hardware, including basic technical research. Nintendo Switch has enjoyed very good fortune in that many consumers are continuing to play it even in its ninth year. On the other hand, over the course of these eight years and counting, it has become necessary to increase hardware processing performance in order for software developers to realize one of Nintendo's most valued tenets: offering new gameplay experiences. Thus, this time we decided to design the hardware with enhanced processing capability. We believe that Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza offer new gameplay experiences that could not be realized on Nintendo Switch.

Regarding your questions about the innovativeness of the hardware, it may appear that there is not a major change between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. However, we have created new hardware and accessories from the ground up, and these are products very characteristic of Nintendo, packed full of our development team's dedication to quality through various creative efforts and integrated hardware-software development.

Going forward, we will develop a variety of new titles centered on Nintendo Switch 2 and offer new gameplay experiences. We aim to make Nintendo Switch 2 the new standard for Nintendo Switch, as hardware that continues to provide fresh surprises to our consumers.


Original Story: Nintendo has released its latest Q&A transcript off the back of its financial results for FY2025. In it, president Shuntaro Furukawa defended the Switch 2's perceived lack of innovation, with one investor questioning whether the Switch 2 is a "bridge" to a more innovative next-gen console yet to be announced.

Furukawa stated that software developers have come to require more powerful hardware over the last eight years, so Nintendo made this a fundamental goal in creating the Switch 2. He also says that while the Switch 2 may not seem particularly innovative at first glance, he is keen to stress that the hardware and peripherals have been completely redesigned (not to mention the awesome new mouse controls, of course!).

What's particularly interesting is that Furukawa specifically calls out Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza as titles that simply would not have been possible on the original Switch. We're inclined to agree with this after our recent hands on with both titles.

Here's a look at the question and answer in full (translated via Google):

I would like to ask about the positioning of the Nintendo Switch 2. Will the new hardware be similar to the Nintendo Switch, or is the Nintendo Switch 2 a bridge to an innovative next-generation console that has yet to be announced? The Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't seem to have much of a generational revolution. Is this just a one-off, or will the plan be to continue the concept of the Nintendo Switch and update each function in the future, rather than releasing hardware with a completely new concept?

Furukawa: Development of the Nintendo Switch 2 began as an official in-house project around 2019, but we are always researching and developing new hardware, including basic technical research. The Nintendo Switch has been blessed with many good fortunes, and even in its ninth year, many customers are playing it. On the other hand, over the past eight years, software developers have come to need higher hardware processing performance in order to realize one of Nintendo's most important values: "proposing new ways to play." Therefore, this time we aimed to design hardware with a large capacity in terms of processing performance. We believe that games such as Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza offer new ways to play that were not possible on the Nintendo Switch.

As for the question about the innovativeness of the hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2 may not look like it has changed much in appearance. However, in fact, both the hardware and peripherals have been completely redesigned, and we feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product, filled with various creative ideas and the commitment of Nintendo's development team to developing hardware and software together.

In the future, we will develop various titles centered on the Nintendo Switch 2 and provide new play experiences. We aim to make the Nintendo Switch 2 the new standard for Nintendo Switch by creating hardware that continues to surprise our customers.

Nintendo has forecast a total of 15 million Switch 2 sales over the course of the next fiscal year, with another 45 million software unit sales to boot. The console will launch globally on 5th June 2025.

What do you make of Furukawa's answer here regarding the Switch 2? Let us know your thoughts with a comment down below.

[source nintendo.co.jp]