@NotSoCryptic Very few people would have access to actual hard data, and not to call you into question, but I do have my doubts about a number cited by "analytics" just so happening to be the exact internal number. Especially when Gabe himself specifically told us the numbers they're doing in the factory- so it would take a source more reputable than Gabe Newell to convince me what he said was wrong. Manufacturing throughput doesn't change that dramatically on a dime.
Long term I don't see it ever gaining status as anything more than niche enthusiast device. I heard all these arguments before about VR, and how it's the future, and it'll be a force to be reckoned with... none of that ever panned out.
When you say "demand is there" the question is how much. Enough to maybe sell 1-2 mil units in a year, and assuming sales don't fall off a cliff after the initial preorder rush ships out post Q3/Q4, another 1m per year after.
Ya, they'll eventually release a successor, and it'll be the same story all over again. The fact is, the demand for portable PC gaming and all the problems and issues that comes with it is and will continue to be something the mainstream doesn't latch onto. A $400-650 device with all the hindrances and pitfalls of PC is not and will never be mainstream. It's for the enthusiasts, like me.
I feel like continuing this further would just be going in circles, so feel free to disagree. But until I see hard evidence to the contrary- actual meaningful double digit millions confirmed for Deck in a fiscal year, and evidence that wasn't additional purchases by enthusiasts but actually put a notable dent in Switch sales, I won't be convinced.
@NotSoCryptic BTW, I just did some research and I'm doubting that 1.5 mil number. It's based on "analytics" which is not confirmation, and takes into account all preorder projections.
Valve themselves said they're only producing tens of thousands in month 1 (February) and a few hundred thousand in month 2 (March). Which means maybe a quarter million shipped by April 1st. There's no way they did another 1.25 million in April.
So ya, that 1.5 mil is just an estimate based on analytics which means it's accounting for all preorders in the system, meaning they'll be at 1.5 mil by the end of Q4.
@NotSoCryptic Oh, right on. I was going by preorder estimates that indicated 500k units were secured, and that was backed up to Q3 and beyond. Since they haven't shipped all those units, it would follow they haven't shipped more than 500k. But if you say 1.5 mil, I'll take your word for it, because it doesn't really change anything. Wii U did 3 million in half the time, so saying it's done half the numbers as Wii U in the same time frame isnt really saying much.
Your post seems to be trying to convince me it's a cool device, but I already know that. I also never said it didn't need to be niche. I know perfectly well it'll do just fine as a niche device because it is supported via Steam. But that was never my argument. My argument is that it's impact is negligible, and it is. That's just a fact. The only lunch it's eating is Aya Neo and GPD. It's practically eating the crumbs Switch is leaving behind. Nothing more.
One can acknowledge it's a cool device (and it is), acknowledge it doesn't need to do big numbers to have a place in the market (which it doesnt), but also acknowledge it's not impacting Switch in any significant way. And again, the numbers prove it. Switch just pushed 23 million (and would have been more if not for the shortage). It's slated for another 21 million this year, even despite the shortage. That's double the PS5 projections
So if Deck is supposed to be competing with Switch it's doing a piss poor job of it thus far. On the other hand, if it's competing against Aya and GPD and OneXplayer as a lower cost but still expensive alternative PC based handheld, it's doing a stand up job.
It's getting ever closer to an all time record blowout. 155 mil doesn't seem that far away anymore. If Switch 2 comes March 2022, they'll break the record (since Switch would be around 148 mil by that point, it would easily do another 7m after Switch 2 releases during the transition years) but if it comes in 2023, they'll land somewhere around 135m lifetime after transition sales. If it's a Pro model though, they'll landslide well beyond the PS2/DS.
@JayJ I mean it's still got a niche appeal
Got it mixed up. Switch forecasts over 21 million this upcoming Fiscal Year. That's not niche. That's higher than the best year PS4 ever had. Steam Deck, with 100k sales per month, that is a textbook example of having niche appeal.
They'll be just fine. There's always ppl in fansite comment sections declaring how they need this, they need that, for reasons X, Y and Z, but at the end of the day, they're still crushing over 20 million units a year, so the broad consensus is it doesn't really need anything except for the games to keep coming. And they are.
Eventually it'll see a successor. Until then, it's gonna be just fine. Deck isn't competing, and neither PS5 or Xbox Series are doing half the numbers Switch is slated to do this year (PS5 projects 11.5 mil). Unless and until we see sales drop below 10m per year, they don't need to do anything.
@NotSoCryptic (Message was too long so I split it into two parts)
I'm glad you're enjoying it, I love it too, but you're imagining it's something it's not. It's a verifiable fact it's a niche product. It's a verifiable fact it hasn't even done 500k units in 6 months. It's a verifiable fact it's not competing in the same league as Switch, or even the league under Switch. It's like 2 or 3 leagues under Switch. That's just what it is. Doesn't mean people can't enjoy it, but no, it's not competition and the data proves it. Switch continues to sell 20+ million every year, Steam Deck continues to sell 100k per month to a very tiny subset of enthusiasts. No need to get emotionally attached to its success. It's a cool niche product, super happy I ordered one, but it's not a Switch replacement for any significant number of gamers.
And the size is too big to be a main handheld. I can fit Switch OLED in the Hori slim case in my back jeans pocket (barely, but I can) when walking into work. Coffee in one hand, other hand grabbing wallet and time card. I cannot even remotely do that with Deck. When you're too big to fit in my rear jeans pocket in a slim case, you've crossed a threshold. Deck has crossed that threshold. The weight also makes it less usable for long periods of time. It's just a fact.
And a LOT of people embrace tabletop. I use it every day at work. Deck is already too big. Toting an additional controller and leaning it against something is just not it. It's not it. That's not a viable alternative. It's yet one more reason it's not a Switch replacement.
Don't think I'm attacking Deck. I love it and have defended it from zealous fanboys hating on it from day one. But you're crossing into wishful thinking here, marginalizing the fact Switch and Deck are not competing in the same league, and pretending Deck is more than it is. It's awesome, it's cool, I'm so glad Valve finally gave us an alternative with gyro and without Windows. But it is (and will only ever be) a niche enthusiast device.
And if you doubt that, just watch the numbers for Switch and Deck. They can do the talking.
@NotSoCryptic I'm not missing anything. I ordered one day one myself and fully understand the appeal. But I'm also a GPD Win 2 owner, the type of niche enthusiasts that's into $650 handhelds that can't even run half the games in the Steam library, and the other half have compatibility issues. Even some games officially verified like Horizon Zero Dawn crash every 30 minutes after 5-10 hours into the game. It's not a mass market product. It's more akin to Valve Index than Steam Machine. Only sold on the official Steam store, in low quantities and will likely do a couple million over its lifespan.
I'm not debating how cool the device is, I'm looking at things objectively. It's impact is negligible. It's ok to like a device but acknowledge it's niche. Just because it's not as niche as GPD or Aya doesn't mean it's mainstream. Far from it.
There's plenty of games on Deck not on Switch, that's true, but they're also on every other platform under the sun, from PS4, PS5, X1, Series X and PC. So the appeal isn't getting new games. It's playing them portably on a PC, and as we've seen, the market for that is relatively small. Hence why Valve is only producing in the hundred thousands, not millions. That's just what it is.
As for battery, it's worse than v1 Switch, and everyone complained about that. It was a problem and it's precisely why they improved the battery life with Mariko. Getting 90 minutes in some games is just not enough. I'm limiting framerate to 30fps, lowering res to 540p and using FSR to upscale just to try to hit 3 hrs. And that leaves many games looking no better than on Switch, and yet still has battery life no better than the v1. It is a problem. That, combined with the bulky size, the lack of features of Switch like tabletop and removable controllers means its just not a viable replacement. That's not just my opinion, that's true for most. Hence why Steamdeck hasn't even sold half a million units in half a year. It's not an insult- the system is awesome and I'm glad it exists, as a complement to Switch.
@Joe-b For the record, I'm more inclined toward believing a March 2024 release. But I can't deny the possibility of new hardware alongside Zelda, which is their best hope of pushing new hardware.
In either case, Switch won't be discontinued. Like 3DS, it'll continue to sell for as long as the market buys it. If it is a 2023 release with Zelda I expect a Pro with cross compatible 1st party titles but some exclusive 3rd party titles that couldn't otherwise run. If it's a 2024 release, I expect a full generational jump to Switch 2 with exclusive 1st party games, but Backward Compatibility for Switch games.
@NotSoCryptic They're not in a bad situation. Steamdeck won't have any effect in the slightest. It's a niche product for enthusiasts. I ordered one, but it's by no means a replacement for Switch. Not only is it missing all the Switch exclusives (and no, trying to download roms and use emulators with poor battery life and compatibility issues isn't something I'm interested in, but more importantly, it's not something most ppl will be interested in), it's also too big with too little battery life, without detachable controllers or tabletop. It's a great enthusiast device to play games too heavy for Switch to handle, but it's definitely going to remain niche, and won't provide any real competition to Switch. We're talking about a device that MIGHT do 2-3 mil lifetime vs a device that will do 150 mil lifetime. They're not competing at the same level.
As for PS/Xbox, Switch has always competed against them and frankly, left them in the dust. That was true for PS4/X1, it's true now for PS5/XS, and it will continue to be true moving forward.
They're in the best possible position- the most popular system of all time and demand chomping at the bit for a successor.
Also, I'm quite sure it'll be BC. Using their strategy 3 decades ago under Yamauchi isn't a viable indicator for modern strategy. GBA was BC with GB, DS was BC with GBA, 3DS was BC with DS, Wii was BC with GC, Wii U was BC with Wii. The only reason Switch wasn't was because they merged console and handheld and moved beyond the dated PowerPC architecture. Switch 2 will almost certainly be BC, if history is any indication.
@Joe-b Just because you personally wouldn't doesn't mean it's a bad move. A new system has to have games to make it appealing, and Zelda is as good as any. Of course it would be diehards buying it at first. That's always the case. And that's precisely why you release it with a game catered to the diehards.
The only reason sales have "dipped" is due to the shortage directly after the boom from the pandemic. They were on track to do near 30 million and saw 2 reductions down to 23 million. This year is a reduction to 21 million.
But perspective is key. The PS4 in its best selling year never topped 20 mil. Even with the shortage in its 6th year, it's doing more than PS4 did in its best year.
Which means March 2024 is the most likely candidate, IF a new generation is planned. If a Pro model is planned to extend the current generation, I could see a March 2023 launch alongside Zelda BotW 2.
We'll see, but I'm not really expecting anything until March 2024.
Hate the Xbox ergonomic design which makes bumpers hard to reach
Hate the lack of HD rumble
If it had HD rumble I'd consider one. But I love the ergonomics of Switch Pro so much, and I love the HD rumble so much, and my Xbox Elite magnetic analogs modded onto my Pro Controller so much, and the fact it charges on the Nyko charge block so much, I'm not sure I want to switch.
I've also never encountered drifting on the Pro Controller. Heck, I haven't even encountered it on joycon. Still, the zero deadzone is hugely appealing. They should sell the analogs separately so we can mod them into our Pro Controllers. Or better yet, release a version small enough for joycon so we can mod them in.
@gcunit I'd say this is a good start. A 2D entry just became the best selling in the entire series in 6 months. That's serious progress. It'll do 4 million over it's lifetime, which many hyper-realistic AAA games don't even achieve across 3 platforms.
It's easy to lose sight of just how much that is, on a single platform no less, what with many Nintendo evergreens selling 20, 30 even 40+ million copies. But 4 million lifetime sales on one platform, for a core, unapologetically difficult 2D entry at $60 is, imo, about as good as one could reasonably expect.
I think a Metroid Prime Remaster could do 5 million lifetime, and assuming Metroid Prime 4 is a worthy successor, it could be the one to truly make Metroid "mainstream" with 6 or 7 million. That's my take, anyways.
Even though I respect Jeff Grubb and listen when he actually says he knows something, he's not saying that. He's just shooting from the hip like all of us on the site do every day.
Nothing makes his speculation more valid than anyone else's, provided they're reasonable educated guesses.
@Tom-Massey I grew up in the 80s and 90s- Mega Man 2 and 3 were my all time faves. Sonic 3 & Knuckles, F-Zero X, etc. But nowadays those types of games don't hold my interest very long.
I agree with modern games relying on single buttons. I can't stand that cinematic stuff either. But there's a lot of modern games with very skill dependent, fun gameplay. Games like Monster Hunter Rise, Splatoon 2, Sniper Elite 4, Metroid Dread, Triangle Strategy, Ori Will of the Wisps, DKC Tropical Freeze, etc. And games with aiming mechanics, if they have gyro (such as Zombie Army 4) it's so incredibly engaging, and you're always improving your aim and response time as you get better.
The high difficulty, die over and over type games just frustrate me now. I grew up on Mega Man, but nowadays don't have much patience for it. I still play MM3 every few years, and the old Metroid games still hold up, as does Super Mario World, and the SNES/GBA Fire Emblem games, but those aside there isn't really much that holds my interest. And even those don't really provide the same level of thrill as the aforementioned examples of modern games.
Basically, I love older games, I just think games have improved so much over the last few decades. They're so much more fun and enthralling and complex now with better difficulty curves that are challenging but not frustrating. So while I loved all those older games growing up, times have changed, games have gotten better, and the raised bar makes it hard for me to go back.
I recently started a new save in Splatoon 2 and have been ranking up from scratch, and it's so dang good. I'd forgotten how much I absolutely adore this game. One of my favorites of all time.
So, even with the reduced projection, 20m is still a LOT of Switches to be selling in FY6. That would put Switch at around 127 million sold by March 2023, after 6 full years on the market.
If they can pull another 20m in FY7, that would take them to 147 million by March 2024 when Switch 2 is likely going to release. That's within a stone's throw of the record held by PS2/DS. At that point, they'll continue selling Switch for another year or two. Even if they do just 5m the first year Switch 2 is out, and 3m the next, it will have broken the record. So it all comes down to whether Switch can do another 20m in FY7. If it can, then it's a wrap. The record is broken. There's just no stopping it. But if they release the Switch 2 early, in March 2023, or if demand falls in FY7, it may fall a smidge short.
Regardless, the reality of breaking the all time record is becoming ever more real by the month. When Switch launched, people laughed at the idea it could even do 100 million. Nobody in their wildest dreams actually thought it could break 155 million.
@Otoemetry Switch uses Nvidia while Sony/MS use AMD. Both Nvidia and AMD source from the same manufacturer, but it's complex. Hard to say how the domino effect will take place.
@Tom-Massey Oh I prefer it too. By far. There's no way to avoid variation between different reviewers, because no two people think the same. And there's always someone who won't agree with a review score, no matter what it is. I also know not every older or indie game scores highly.
But I do think games like Zombie Army 4 (just using as a recent example since it the review just dropped and I've been playing a lot) are far more fun and entertaining, and are better made games, than a lot of the more simple or older titles that score higher. And offer great co-op fun, both locally and online. I played with my brother today, as well as some Splatoon 2 and Switch Sports, and we had a blast. I can't imagine many older or retro games providing anywhere near as much fun. And maybe that's a bias I have toward more modern games. I don't think so- I feel like I play pretty much everything, and judge it all equally. It's just that older games and retro titles don't impress me nearly as much, and typically aren't as fun (some exceptions exist, but I'm speaking generally).
I don't think that's anyone's "fault", it's just a result of an imperfect system where variation among different reviewers exists. Unless the same reviewer did every single game, that variation is unavoidable. And for whatever reason, the specific individuals who review more modern 3rd party games seem a lot harder to impress. Or, maybe it's a result of, as you said, judging within its genre so a 9 in genre A may not be anywhere near as good as an 8 in genre B, because genre B has a larger number of better games as competition. But if that's the case, it makes comparing games to buy hard to decipher because there's no continuity of scores between genres. I always assume there's continuity. So if a game receives a 9 I expect it to be better than a game scored an 8, even if marginally.
But ya, didn't mean to criticize or anything, just speaking my mind, and I couldn't help but notice that.
Yes it's barebones, BUT, it's also only $39.99 and with Golf, offers 40% more sports than the original Wii release.
It's exactly what I wanted. So I couldn't care less if NintendoLife gave it a 2/10. Opinions are just opinions.
And my opinion is, this game is an 8/10, and if speaking in terms of fun factor, a 9/10, and such a classic it's an essential must-own for any Switch gamer.
I set up tabletop this morning in my office at work and got my reports to play bowling with me. That's priceless 😀
Inkstrike was a classic. Always set it off just before the timer. Tenta Missiles are kind of similar in Splatoon 2, but you don't have full freedom of where it lands.
I don't doubt this is a fine game and all, but it does reinforce my observation that retro titles and indes see a clear and distinct bias over AAA games on this site.
With this getting a 9, and Zombie Army 4, the most immaculate Switch port of the last 5 years (and perhaps the best zombie game ever made) getting an 8, rightfully or wrongfully, it does lend itself to confirming my beliefs that even the best AAA games will get outscored by almost any indie or retro game here.
I know, different reviewers and all, but it's not just this once. It's a consistent trend I've noticed for a long time.
In my personal opinion, I think most indies and retro titles typically score 1 point higher on average than they should, and realistic AAA games score 1 point lower on average than they should. I'm not sure if it just comes down to a difference of reviewers assigned for different types of games, or if it's a more general disinterest in more mainstream, modern 3rd party titles. Obviously I don't think it's malicious or intentional, but, the observation is what it is nonetheless.
Honestly, the gyro aiming singlehandedly changes shooters from "it's ok I guess" to "this is INSANELY fun!!!" and Zombie Army 4 is no exception.
Amazon even had a price error for the physical copy- $19.99, so I preordered immediately. And bought digitally this morning because I want this game with me at all times.
@pilonium64 Its 1080p docked, 720p handheld.
It looks fabulous and feels smooth as butter in action.
I lover Daemon X Machina. But the reason it was so fun, was because they added gyro aiming for the mechs. Any time quality gyro aiming is involved, the gameplay is fun.
This looks... OK. I downloaded the demo but have barely started. Just got a save file going and went to sleep.
@Justaguest In older games the Hub Quests didn't scale to solo, but even then they scaled for 2 to 4 players. Rise and World scale to solo play in Hub quests, and hunts are quicker in general which makes for a double whammy. They're not long, arduous tasks like they used to be.
@Justaguest First off, Ultimate expansions do add High Rank Quests for the village. They always have.
Secondly, the Hub Quests don't take 40 min. If they do, you're doing something wrong. In MHGU, I would hit 40 minutes for some DUAL MONSTER Quests, but in Rise for single monster? 15 minutes tops. The hunts absolutely do scale based on number of hunters, and unlike previous games, scale to solo also. So I'm not sure where you're getting your info from.
Rise Quests are super quick. I can take out 3 monsters in the Hub solo in less than 20 minutes, every single time.
I suck though, and pitched a grand slam to the opposing team like a moron lol. But I'm getting better. The meter pitching is super tough. The timings change and it's hard to nail it. But I didn't want to do the shrinking circle because it felt too easy.
@WaveBoy Agreed. There's no disputing it's superiority from an experiential standpoint. I blame Nvidia's marketing team for trumping up benefits of high frames beyond just comfort and enjoyment to imply having a statistically and practically significant impact on competitive outcomes.
I own a PS5, XSX, PC with 2080 ti. Never has "crisp visuals" affected my play in the slightest
And wall of text or no, the math proves it. 8ms isn't changing the outcome of any game. Period.
And no matter how much you claim something "isn't acceptable" when tens of millions of ppl gladly accept it, you're just wrong. Simple as that.
If it's unacceptable to you then you don't have to play the system. Sell it and play something else. But you have no authority to declare what is or isn't acceptable to everyone else wholesale. Until a more powerful sub-$400 OLED portable with removable controllers is released, I suspect it will remain perfectly acceptable to the 100 million + Switch owners who still use the system.
Tens of millions of gamers still play games at 30 fps in the year of our Lord 2022, and will continue to do so in 2023, and 2024, and 2025, and 2026, and they accept it just fine. Your personal opinion about what is acceptable for you is not a declaration of fact for the majority. Even on PS4/X1 which the overwhelming majority of gamers still own and are still using, plenty of games run at 30fps. And that's on power consoles.
Not to mention, taking power console standards and applying them to a portable system is ignorant in the first place. Even SteamDeck, the brand new portable that's way stronger than Switch, needs to run demanding games at 30fps (and sub 720p in many cases also) if battery life beyond 90 minutes is desired.
So no, it's not "unacceptable". Not in the slightest. If it's not good enough for you, that's fine. Everyone has different standards. And if that's the case for you I'd just recommend not playing Switch, because that's what most games are going to be. But I and many others do accept it, as there isn't any other sub $400 OLED handheld with removable controllers that can run The Show 22 or most of the other games on Switch. If a better portable hybrid option exists by all means tell me about it- I'd certainly be interested. But there isn't, so for now Switch is as good as it gets.
@Savage_Joe Input lag from framerate is only for the display. The game still registers the input when it was pressed.
Not only that, but even if it didn't, the amount is so low it's virtually negligible.
30 fps = 4/120 seconds per frame
60 fps = 2/120 seconds per frame
The average button press falling in between would be at 3/120 seconds, a mean difference of just 1/120 seconds, or about 8 milliseconds.
Nobody is going to lose an online game because of an average delay of 8 ms. Absolutely nobody. The amount of TV latency, controller latency and online latency makes that nothing more than a rounding error (and that's ignoring the fact the game still registers the input when it was pressed, regardless of how long it takes to refresh the screen)
The entire narrative about framerate and online play is not backed up by the mathematics.
If... [you're] happy playing CPU and offline games, then yes, it's not bad and holds things together just enough for gameplay to be enjoyable.
That's me!
If you want an 'on-the-go' version to accompany a more powerful home console version, perhaps on Game Pass, then it's another yes
Also me!
I don't care about online, I just want a handheld version that doesn't run like a slideshow. It seems to look and run well enough to me.
also If your opponent has double the frame rate and crisp visuals, the odds will be long
You are grossly overestimating the impact of "crisp visuals" with regard to skilled play online, and even double the framerate isn't going to give anyone a significant advantage. You're not going to suddenly start missing catches and swinging strikes just because the framerate isn't 60. Too long people have bought into this corporate propaganda narrative about "frames win games". Don't just blindly accept these kinds of ludicrous claims. Does 60 make motion appear smoother and feel more fluid? Definitely. Could 60 make enough of a difference to swing the outcome of an online baseball game? Very seriously doubtful.
I can't really disagree with this assessment or the score.
Nevertheless, I do like what I've played thus far. It's a nice package of games, they look good, run well, and it has a 4th new game to cap the trilogy off.
Idk. Just one of those games where ya, there's a lot of other, better alternatives and no, I wouldn't recommend this before 2 dozen other JRPGs first, but I still don't regret buying it. I like it enough I want it in my collection.
Ya, I agree with the rankings for the games I've played.
Forgotten Land is best, then Planet Robobot, then Triple Deluxe. And while I haven't played All Stars I hear it's a classic. So I have no qualms with that in the #2 spot.
Comments 13,174
Re: Nintendo Says It Wants To Avoid A Repeat Of Wii U With Switch's Successor
Good. It should be a major concern.
Restarting your install base from ground zero shouldn't be approached nilly willy. It must be done with careful planning and forethought.
Gage consumers for what they want. Do they want a "new experience"? Or do they want a better Switch experience? I'd argue it's the latter.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
Very few people would have access to actual hard data, and not to call you into question, but I do have my doubts about a number cited by "analytics" just so happening to be the exact internal number. Especially when Gabe himself specifically told us the numbers they're doing in the factory- so it would take a source more reputable than Gabe Newell to convince me what he said was wrong. Manufacturing throughput doesn't change that dramatically on a dime.
Long term I don't see it ever gaining status as anything more than niche enthusiast device. I heard all these arguments before about VR, and how it's the future, and it'll be a force to be reckoned with... none of that ever panned out.
When you say "demand is there" the question is how much. Enough to maybe sell 1-2 mil units in a year, and assuming sales don't fall off a cliff after the initial preorder rush ships out post Q3/Q4, another 1m per year after.
Ya, they'll eventually release a successor, and it'll be the same story all over again. The fact is, the demand for portable PC gaming and all the problems and issues that comes with it is and will continue to be something the mainstream doesn't latch onto. A $400-650 device with all the hindrances and pitfalls of PC is not and will never be mainstream. It's for the enthusiasts, like me.
I feel like continuing this further would just be going in circles, so feel free to disagree. But until I see hard evidence to the contrary- actual meaningful double digit millions confirmed for Deck in a fiscal year, and evidence that wasn't additional purchases by enthusiasts but actually put a notable dent in Switch sales, I won't be convinced.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
BTW, I just did some research and I'm doubting that 1.5 mil number. It's based on "analytics" which is not confirmation, and takes into account all preorder projections.
Valve themselves said they're only producing tens of thousands in month 1 (February) and a few hundred thousand in month 2 (March). Which means maybe a quarter million shipped by April 1st. There's no way they did another 1.25 million in April.
So ya, that 1.5 mil is just an estimate based on analytics which means it's accounting for all preorders in the system, meaning they'll be at 1.5 mil by the end of Q4.
https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-says-steam-deck-production-will-be-in-the-hundreds-of-thousands-by-next-month/
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
Oh, right on. I was going by preorder estimates that indicated 500k units were secured, and that was backed up to Q3 and beyond. Since they haven't shipped all those units, it would follow they haven't shipped more than 500k. But if you say 1.5 mil, I'll take your word for it, because it doesn't really change anything. Wii U did 3 million in half the time, so saying it's done half the numbers as Wii U in the same time frame isnt really saying much.
Your post seems to be trying to convince me it's a cool device, but I already know that. I also never said it didn't need to be niche. I know perfectly well it'll do just fine as a niche device because it is supported via Steam. But that was never my argument. My argument is that it's impact is negligible, and it is. That's just a fact. The only lunch it's eating is Aya Neo and GPD. It's practically eating the crumbs Switch is leaving behind. Nothing more.
One can acknowledge it's a cool device (and it is), acknowledge it doesn't need to do big numbers to have a place in the market (which it doesnt), but also acknowledge it's not impacting Switch in any significant way. And again, the numbers prove it. Switch just pushed 23 million (and would have been more if not for the shortage). It's slated for another 21 million this year, even despite the shortage. That's double the PS5 projections
So if Deck is supposed to be competing with Switch it's doing a piss poor job of it thus far. On the other hand, if it's competing against Aya and GPD and OneXplayer as a lower cost but still expensive alternative PC based handheld, it's doing a stand up job.
Re: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Event Reveals Follower Quests, New Monsters And More
@Ulysses
We haven't seen any indication rampage Quests will feature in Sunbreak. They might, but then again, they may not.
Re: Nintendo Forecasts Profits And Sales To Drop In This Financial Year
It's getting ever closer to an all time record blowout. 155 mil doesn't seem that far away anymore. If Switch 2 comes March 2022, they'll break the record (since Switch would be around 148 mil by that point, it would easily do another 7m after Switch 2 releases during the transition years) but if it comes in 2023, they'll land somewhere around 135m lifetime after transition sales. If it's a Pro model though, they'll landslide well beyond the PS2/DS.
@JayJ
I mean it's still got a niche appeal
Got it mixed up. Switch forecasts over 21 million this upcoming Fiscal Year. That's not niche. That's higher than the best year PS4 ever had. Steam Deck, with 100k sales per month, that is a textbook example of having niche appeal.
They'll be just fine. There's always ppl in fansite comment sections declaring how they need this, they need that, for reasons X, Y and Z, but at the end of the day, they're still crushing over 20 million units a year, so the broad consensus is it doesn't really need anything except for the games to keep coming. And they are.
Eventually it'll see a successor. Until then, it's gonna be just fine. Deck isn't competing, and neither PS5 or Xbox Series are doing half the numbers Switch is slated to do this year (PS5 projects 11.5 mil). Unless and until we see sales drop below 10m per year, they don't need to do anything.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
(Message was too long so I split it into two parts)
I'm glad you're enjoying it, I love it too, but you're imagining it's something it's not. It's a verifiable fact it's a niche product. It's a verifiable fact it hasn't even done 500k units in 6 months. It's a verifiable fact it's not competing in the same league as Switch, or even the league under Switch. It's like 2 or 3 leagues under Switch. That's just what it is. Doesn't mean people can't enjoy it, but no, it's not competition and the data proves it. Switch continues to sell 20+ million every year, Steam Deck continues to sell 100k per month to a very tiny subset of enthusiasts. No need to get emotionally attached to its success. It's a cool niche product, super happy I ordered one, but it's not a Switch replacement for any significant number of gamers.
And the size is too big to be a main handheld. I can fit Switch OLED in the Hori slim case in my back jeans pocket (barely, but I can) when walking into work. Coffee in one hand, other hand grabbing wallet and time card. I cannot even remotely do that with Deck. When you're too big to fit in my rear jeans pocket in a slim case, you've crossed a threshold. Deck has crossed that threshold. The weight also makes it less usable for long periods of time. It's just a fact.
And a LOT of people embrace tabletop. I use it every day at work. Deck is already too big. Toting an additional controller and leaning it against something is just not it. It's not it. That's not a viable alternative. It's yet one more reason it's not a Switch replacement.
Don't think I'm attacking Deck. I love it and have defended it from zealous fanboys hating on it from day one. But you're crossing into wishful thinking here, marginalizing the fact Switch and Deck are not competing in the same league, and pretending Deck is more than it is. It's awesome, it's cool, I'm so glad Valve finally gave us an alternative with gyro and without Windows. But it is (and will only ever be) a niche enthusiast device.
And if you doubt that, just watch the numbers for Switch and Deck. They can do the talking.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
I'm not missing anything. I ordered one day one myself and fully understand the appeal. But I'm also a GPD Win 2 owner, the type of niche enthusiasts that's into $650 handhelds that can't even run half the games in the Steam library, and the other half have compatibility issues. Even some games officially verified like Horizon Zero Dawn crash every 30 minutes after 5-10 hours into the game. It's not a mass market product. It's more akin to Valve Index than Steam Machine. Only sold on the official Steam store, in low quantities and will likely do a couple million over its lifespan.
I'm not debating how cool the device is, I'm looking at things objectively. It's impact is negligible. It's ok to like a device but acknowledge it's niche. Just because it's not as niche as GPD or Aya doesn't mean it's mainstream. Far from it.
There's plenty of games on Deck not on Switch, that's true, but they're also on every other platform under the sun, from PS4, PS5, X1, Series X and PC. So the appeal isn't getting new games. It's playing them portably on a PC, and as we've seen, the market for that is relatively small. Hence why Valve is only producing in the hundred thousands, not millions. That's just what it is.
As for battery, it's worse than v1 Switch, and everyone complained about that. It was a problem and it's precisely why they improved the battery life with Mariko. Getting 90 minutes in some games is just not enough. I'm limiting framerate to 30fps, lowering res to 540p and using FSR to upscale just to try to hit 3 hrs. And that leaves many games looking no better than on Switch, and yet still has battery life no better than the v1. It is a problem. That, combined with the bulky size, the lack of features of Switch like tabletop and removable controllers means its just not a viable replacement. That's not just my opinion, that's true for most. Hence why Steamdeck hasn't even sold half a million units in half a year. It's not an insult- the system is awesome and I'm glad it exists, as a complement to Switch.
Re: Nintendo Aiming To Spend Over $400 Million On Another Share Buyback
I'll be the first to admit I don't understand their reasoning here.
But if an expert in finance cares to chime in and explain this, I'd certainly be grateful.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@Joe-b
For the record, I'm more inclined toward believing a March 2024 release. But I can't deny the possibility of new hardware alongside Zelda, which is their best hope of pushing new hardware.
In either case, Switch won't be discontinued. Like 3DS, it'll continue to sell for as long as the market buys it. If it is a 2023 release with Zelda I expect a Pro with cross compatible 1st party titles but some exclusive 3rd party titles that couldn't otherwise run. If it's a 2024 release, I expect a full generational jump to Switch 2 with exclusive 1st party games, but Backward Compatibility for Switch games.
But that's just one guy's take.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@NotSoCryptic
They're not in a bad situation. Steamdeck won't have any effect in the slightest. It's a niche product for enthusiasts. I ordered one, but it's by no means a replacement for Switch. Not only is it missing all the Switch exclusives (and no, trying to download roms and use emulators with poor battery life and compatibility issues isn't something I'm interested in, but more importantly, it's not something most ppl will be interested in), it's also too big with too little battery life, without detachable controllers or tabletop. It's a great enthusiast device to play games too heavy for Switch to handle, but it's definitely going to remain niche, and won't provide any real competition to Switch. We're talking about a device that MIGHT do 2-3 mil lifetime vs a device that will do 150 mil lifetime. They're not competing at the same level.
As for PS/Xbox, Switch has always competed against them and frankly, left them in the dust. That was true for PS4/X1, it's true now for PS5/XS, and it will continue to be true moving forward.
They're in the best possible position- the most popular system of all time and demand chomping at the bit for a successor.
Also, I'm quite sure it'll be BC. Using their strategy 3 decades ago under Yamauchi isn't a viable indicator for modern strategy. GBA was BC with GB, DS was BC with GBA, 3DS was BC with DS, Wii was BC with GC, Wii U was BC with Wii. The only reason Switch wasn't was because they merged console and handheld and moved beyond the dated PowerPC architecture. Switch 2 will almost certainly be BC, if history is any indication.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@Joe-b
Just because you personally wouldn't doesn't mean it's a bad move. A new system has to have games to make it appealing, and Zelda is as good as any. Of course it would be diehards buying it at first. That's always the case. And that's precisely why you release it with a game catered to the diehards.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
@westman98
Keen observation, and it aligns with my own expectations of a 2024 release.
Re: Talking Point: As Switch Hardware Sales Slow, How Long Can Nintendo Delay 'Switch 2'?
The only reason sales have "dipped" is due to the shortage directly after the boom from the pandemic. They were on track to do near 30 million and saw 2 reductions down to 23 million. This year is a reduction to 21 million.
But perspective is key. The PS4 in its best selling year never topped 20 mil. Even with the shortage in its 6th year, it's doing more than PS4 did in its best year.
Which means March 2024 is the most likely candidate, IF a new generation is planned. If a Pro model is planned to extend the current generation, I could see a March 2023 launch alongside Zelda BotW 2.
We'll see, but I'm not really expecting anything until March 2024.
Re: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Event Reveals Follower Quests, New Monsters And More
Seregios!!!
And you can now have 5 switch skills with 2 separate loadouts you can swap between on the fly, even utilizing an evade swap.
And you can now hunt with NPCs in single player village quests? Yo... I've been wanting that forever!
I'm so ready for this. Between Splatoon 3 and Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak, I'm gonna sink 1,000 hrs, easily
Re: Meet The Switch Controller That Promises 'No Drifting, Ever'
If it had HD rumble I'd consider one. But I love the ergonomics of Switch Pro so much, and I love the HD rumble so much, and my Xbox Elite magnetic analogs modded onto my Pro Controller so much, and the fact it charges on the Nyko charge block so much, I'm not sure I want to switch.
I've also never encountered drifting on the Pro Controller. Heck, I haven't even encountered it on joycon. Still, the zero deadzone is hugely appealing. They should sell the analogs separately so we can mod them into our Pro Controllers. Or better yet, release a version small enough for joycon so we can mod them in.
Re: It's Official, Metroid Dread Is The Best-Selling Game In The Metroid Series
@gcunit
I'd say this is a good start. A 2D entry just became the best selling in the entire series in 6 months. That's serious progress. It'll do 4 million over it's lifetime, which many hyper-realistic AAA games don't even achieve across 3 platforms.
It's easy to lose sight of just how much that is, on a single platform no less, what with many Nintendo evergreens selling 20, 30 even 40+ million copies. But 4 million lifetime sales on one platform, for a core, unapologetically difficult 2D entry at $60 is, imo, about as good as one could reasonably expect.
I think a Metroid Prime Remaster could do 5 million lifetime, and assuming Metroid Prime 4 is a worthy successor, it could be the one to truly make Metroid "mainstream" with 6 or 7 million. That's my take, anyways.
Re: Altus Releases 'Accolades' Trailer For 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Excellent game. Immaculate Switch port.
Get it.
Re: Rumour: Could Switch Get Zelda: Wind Waker And Twilight Princess This Year?
This is an article about speculation.
Even though I respect Jeff Grubb and listen when he actually says he knows something, he's not saying that. He's just shooting from the hip like all of us on the site do every day.
Nothing makes his speculation more valid than anyone else's, provided they're reasonable educated guesses.
Re: Review: Pocky & Rocky Reshrined - A Thrilling New Interpretation Of A SNES Classic
@Tom-Massey
I grew up in the 80s and 90s- Mega Man 2 and 3 were my all time faves. Sonic 3 & Knuckles, F-Zero X, etc. But nowadays those types of games don't hold my interest very long.
I agree with modern games relying on single buttons. I can't stand that cinematic stuff either. But there's a lot of modern games with very skill dependent, fun gameplay. Games like Monster Hunter Rise, Splatoon 2, Sniper Elite 4, Metroid Dread, Triangle Strategy, Ori Will of the Wisps, DKC Tropical Freeze, etc. And games with aiming mechanics, if they have gyro (such as Zombie Army 4) it's so incredibly engaging, and you're always improving your aim and response time as you get better.
The high difficulty, die over and over type games just frustrate me now. I grew up on Mega Man, but nowadays don't have much patience for it. I still play MM3 every few years, and the old Metroid games still hold up, as does Super Mario World, and the SNES/GBA Fire Emblem games, but those aside there isn't really much that holds my interest. And even those don't really provide the same level of thrill as the aforementioned examples of modern games.
Basically, I love older games, I just think games have improved so much over the last few decades. They're so much more fun and enthralling and complex now with better difficulty curves that are challenging but not frustrating. So while I loved all those older games growing up, times have changed, games have gotten better, and the raised bar makes it hard for me to go back.
Re: Gallery: Splatoon 3 Is Looking Pretty Fresh In These New Screenshots
It looks so good.
I recently started a new save in Splatoon 2 and have been ranking up from scratch, and it's so dang good. I'd forgotten how much I absolutely adore this game. One of my favorites of all time.
Re: Video: 8 Exciting New Games Coming To Nintendo Switch In May 2022
May is a bust for me. Nothing releasing this month I'm interested in.
But that's OK, because I'm stacked to the hilt with new games.
And I just started a new save file in Splatoon 2, which I'm utterly addicted to all over again.
So I'm good until June when the onslaught starts.
June Onslaught
July Onslaught
Re: Nintendo Reportedly Expecting 10% Decrease In Switch Sales Due To Supply Issues
So, even with the reduced projection, 20m is still a LOT of Switches to be selling in FY6. That would put Switch at around 127 million sold by March 2023, after 6 full years on the market.
If they can pull another 20m in FY7, that would take them to 147 million by March 2024 when Switch 2 is likely going to release. That's within a stone's throw of the record held by PS2/DS. At that point, they'll continue selling Switch for another year or two. Even if they do just 5m the first year Switch 2 is out, and 3m the next, it will have broken the record. So it all comes down to whether Switch can do another 20m in FY7. If it can, then it's a wrap. The record is broken. There's just no stopping it. But if they release the Switch 2 early, in March 2023, or if demand falls in FY7, it may fall a smidge short.
Regardless, the reality of breaking the all time record is becoming ever more real by the month. When Switch launched, people laughed at the idea it could even do 100 million. Nobody in their wildest dreams actually thought it could break 155 million.
@Otoemetry
Switch uses Nvidia while Sony/MS use AMD. Both Nvidia and AMD source from the same manufacturer, but it's complex. Hard to say how the domino effect will take place.
Re: Review: Pocky & Rocky Reshrined - A Thrilling New Interpretation Of A SNES Classic
@Tom-Massey
Oh I prefer it too. By far. There's no way to avoid variation between different reviewers, because no two people think the same. And there's always someone who won't agree with a review score, no matter what it is. I also know not every older or indie game scores highly.
But I do think games like Zombie Army 4 (just using as a recent example since it the review just dropped and I've been playing a lot) are far more fun and entertaining, and are better made games, than a lot of the more simple or older titles that score higher. And offer great co-op fun, both locally and online. I played with my brother today, as well as some Splatoon 2 and Switch Sports, and we had a blast. I can't imagine many older or retro games providing anywhere near as much fun. And maybe that's a bias I have toward more modern games. I don't think so- I feel like I play pretty much everything, and judge it all equally. It's just that older games and retro titles don't impress me nearly as much, and typically aren't as fun (some exceptions exist, but I'm speaking generally).
I don't think that's anyone's "fault", it's just a result of an imperfect system where variation among different reviewers exists. Unless the same reviewer did every single game, that variation is unavoidable. And for whatever reason, the specific individuals who review more modern 3rd party games seem a lot harder to impress. Or, maybe it's a result of, as you said, judging within its genre so a 9 in genre A may not be anywhere near as good as an 8 in genre B, because genre B has a larger number of better games as competition. But if that's the case, it makes comparing games to buy hard to decipher because there's no continuity of scores between genres. I always assume there's continuity. So if a game receives a 9 I expect it to be better than a game scored an 8, even if marginally.
But ya, didn't mean to criticize or anything, just speaking my mind, and I couldn't help but notice that.
Re: Review: Nintendo Switch Sports - Familiar Fun With Friends, But Little More
I disagree sharply.
Yes it's barebones, BUT, it's also only $39.99 and with Golf, offers 40% more sports than the original Wii release.
It's exactly what I wanted. So I couldn't care less if NintendoLife gave it a 2/10. Opinions are just opinions.
And my opinion is, this game is an 8/10, and if speaking in terms of fun factor, a 9/10, and such a classic it's an essential must-own for any Switch gamer.
I set up tabletop this morning in my office at work and got my reports to play bowling with me. That's priceless 😀
Re: Capcom Confirms New Digital Event For Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
e3 is coming early, ladies and gentlemen!
And I'm all about it. Been waiting what feels like forever for Sunbreak
Re: Nintendo Shows Off A Splatoon 3 Weapon That's Both New And Familiar
Inkstrike was a classic. Always set it off just before the timer. Tenta Missiles are kind of similar in Splatoon 2, but you don't have full freedom of where it lands.
I'm all about this. Love it.
Re: Nintendo Shares Advice For Those Suffering Switch Battery Issues
No battery issues on my OLED.
But good to know just in case.
Re: Review In Progress: Nintendo Switch Sports - Familiar Fun With Friends, But Little More
I'm all about it.
At $5.71 per sport (once Golf releases), how could I not be.
I just wanna play Wii Sports Bowling and Golf in HD, anywhere I go. Set up tabletop in my office at work and have at it.
But I'll play the other sports too. Variety is the spice of life.
Re: Review: Pocky & Rocky Reshrined - A Thrilling New Interpretation Of A SNES Classic
I don't doubt this is a fine game and all, but it does reinforce my observation that retro titles and indes see a clear and distinct bias over AAA games on this site.
With this getting a 9, and Zombie Army 4, the most immaculate Switch port of the last 5 years (and perhaps the best zombie game ever made) getting an 8, rightfully or wrongfully, it does lend itself to confirming my beliefs that even the best AAA games will get outscored by almost any indie or retro game here.
I know, different reviewers and all, but it's not just this once. It's a consistent trend I've noticed for a long time.
In my personal opinion, I think most indies and retro titles typically score 1 point higher on average than they should, and realistic AAA games score 1 point lower on average than they should. I'm not sure if it just comes down to a difference of reviewers assigned for different types of games, or if it's a more general disinterest in more mainstream, modern 3rd party titles. Obviously I don't think it's malicious or intentional, but, the observation is what it is nonetheless.
Re: Review: Zombie Army 4: Dead War - A Sweet Switch Port For This Schlockiest Of Shooters
Honestly, the gyro aiming singlehandedly changes shooters from "it's ok I guess" to "this is INSANELY fun!!!" and Zombie Army 4 is no exception.
Amazon even had a price error for the physical copy- $19.99, so I preordered immediately. And bought digitally this morning because I want this game with me at all times.
@pilonium64
Its 1080p docked, 720p handheld.
It looks fabulous and feels smooth as butter in action.
Re: Random: Have A Listen To Nintendo Switch Sports' Main Theme
It sounds terrific. I really like the instruments used
Re: Capcom Confirms Next Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak 'News Reveal' For May
I'm ready. The time is approaching. We're only 3 months away from Sunbreak!
Re: Daemon X Machina Creators Announce Survival Game 'Deadcraft', Coming To Switch In May
I lover Daemon X Machina. But the reason it was so fun, was because they added gyro aiming for the mechs. Any time quality gyro aiming is involved, the gameplay is fun.
This looks... OK. I downloaded the demo but have barely started. Just got a save file going and went to sleep.
Re: Want To See The Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Games On Switch? Let Aspyr Know
And KOTOR 2.
It needs to happen.
Re: Take A Closer Look At The Citadel And Garangolm In Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
@Justaguest
In older games the Hub Quests didn't scale to solo, but even then they scaled for 2 to 4 players. Rise and World scale to solo play in Hub quests, and hunts are quicker in general which makes for a double whammy. They're not long, arduous tasks like they used to be.
Re: Take A Closer Look At The Citadel And Garangolm In Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
@Justaguest
First off, Ultimate expansions do add High Rank Quests for the village. They always have.
Secondly, the Hub Quests don't take 40 min. If they do, you're doing something wrong. In MHGU, I would hit 40 minutes for some DUAL MONSTER Quests, but in Rise for single monster? 15 minutes tops. The hunts absolutely do scale based on number of hunters, and unlike previous games, scale to solo also. So I'm not sure where you're getting your info from.
Rise Quests are super quick. I can take out 3 monsters in the Hub solo in less than 20 minutes, every single time.
Re: Major Update Goes Live In MLB The Show 22, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
I've been playing on Switch, and I love it.
I suck though, and pitched a grand slam to the opposing team like a moron lol. But I'm getting better. The meter pitching is super tough. The timings change and it's hard to nail it. But I didn't want to do the shrinking circle because it felt too easy.
Re: Scalpers Set Their Sights On LEGO Star Wars Deluxe Edition 'Blue Milk Luke' Minifigure
The Deluxe edition sold out but I got one on a quick restock.
Re: Former PlayStation Exclusive 'Bugsnax' Will Soon Be A Tasty Arrival On Switch
Skipped it on PS5, and will likely be skipping it on Switch as well, unless I hear word of mouth convincing me otherwise.
But, glad for those who are interested.
Re: Hands On: Nintendo Switch Sports Has Great Highs, But Disappointing Lows
Some sports were always more fun than others.
But it's exactly what I want- Wii Sports in HD with better character designs than those awful Miis.
I'm in it for the Bowling and Golf. But the Badmitton, Chambara and Soccer is a nice bonus. The Tennis and Volleyball will be some nice variety too.
Re: Review: MLB The Show 22 - Sony's Switch Debut Isn't Just A Sinker Feeling, Thankfully
@WaveBoy
Agreed. There's no disputing it's superiority from an experiential standpoint. I blame Nvidia's marketing team for trumping up benefits of high frames beyond just comfort and enjoyment to imply having a statistically and practically significant impact on competitive outcomes.
Re: Review: MLB The Show 22 - Sony's Switch Debut Isn't Just A Sinker Feeling, Thankfully
@Captiosus
I don't buy that for a second.
I own a PS5, XSX, PC with 2080 ti. Never has "crisp visuals" affected my play in the slightest
And wall of text or no, the math proves it. 8ms isn't changing the outcome of any game. Period.
And no matter how much you claim something "isn't acceptable" when tens of millions of ppl gladly accept it, you're just wrong. Simple as that.
If it's unacceptable to you then you don't have to play the system. Sell it and play something else. But you have no authority to declare what is or isn't acceptable to everyone else wholesale. Until a more powerful sub-$400 OLED portable with removable controllers is released, I suspect it will remain perfectly acceptable to the 100 million + Switch owners who still use the system.
Re: Review: MLB The Show 22 - Sony's Switch Debut Isn't Just A Sinker Feeling, Thankfully
@WaveBoy
30fps(which is unacceptable in 2022)
No it's not. Not even remotely.
Tens of millions of gamers still play games at 30 fps in the year of our Lord 2022, and will continue to do so in 2023, and 2024, and 2025, and 2026, and they accept it just fine. Your personal opinion about what is acceptable for you is not a declaration of fact for the majority. Even on PS4/X1 which the overwhelming majority of gamers still own and are still using, plenty of games run at 30fps. And that's on power consoles.
Not to mention, taking power console standards and applying them to a portable system is ignorant in the first place. Even SteamDeck, the brand new portable that's way stronger than Switch, needs to run demanding games at 30fps (and sub 720p in many cases also) if battery life beyond 90 minutes is desired.
So no, it's not "unacceptable". Not in the slightest. If it's not good enough for you, that's fine. Everyone has different standards. And if that's the case for you I'd just recommend not playing Switch, because that's what most games are going to be. But I and many others do accept it, as there isn't any other sub $400 OLED handheld with removable controllers that can run The Show 22 or most of the other games on Switch. If a better portable hybrid option exists by all means tell me about it- I'd certainly be interested. But there isn't, so for now Switch is as good as it gets.
Re: Review: MLB The Show 22 - Sony's Switch Debut Isn't Just A Sinker Feeling, Thankfully
@Savage_Joe
Input lag from framerate is only for the display. The game still registers the input when it was pressed.
Not only that, but even if it didn't, the amount is so low it's virtually negligible.
Nobody is going to lose an online game because of an average delay of 8 ms. Absolutely nobody. The amount of TV latency, controller latency and online latency makes that nothing more than a rounding error (and that's ignoring the fact the game still registers the input when it was pressed, regardless of how long it takes to refresh the screen)
The entire narrative about framerate and online play is not backed up by the mathematics.
Re: Review: MLB The Show 22 - Sony's Switch Debut Isn't Just A Sinker Feeling, Thankfully
If... [you're] happy playing CPU and offline games, then yes, it's not bad and holds things together just enough for gameplay to be enjoyable.
That's me!
If you want an 'on-the-go' version to accompany a more powerful home console version, perhaps on Game Pass, then it's another yes
Also me!
I don't care about online, I just want a handheld version that doesn't run like a slideshow. It seems to look and run well enough to me.
also
If your opponent has double the frame rate and crisp visuals, the odds will be long
You are grossly overestimating the impact of "crisp visuals" with regard to skilled play online, and even double the framerate isn't going to give anyone a significant advantage. You're not going to suddenly start missing catches and swinging strikes just because the framerate isn't 60. Too long people have bought into this corporate propaganda narrative about "frames win games". Don't just blindly accept these kinds of ludicrous claims. Does 60 make motion appear smoother and feel more fluid? Definitely. Could 60 make enough of a difference to swing the outcome of an online baseball game? Very seriously doubtful.
Re: Review: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - A Rich Narrative Adventure/RTS Hybrid With Outstanding Art
They're super proud of this Switch port. Early previews all saying it looks great, runs great, early review copies confidently sent out...
I'm on it.
Re: Review: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga - A Triumphant Return To A Galaxy Far, Far Away
First LEGO game I've preordered since Undercover on Wii U
Re: Review: .hack//G.U. Last Recode - Intriguing But Ageing PS2 ARPGs Get A Solid Remaster
I can't really disagree with this assessment or the score.
Nevertheless, I do like what I've played thus far. It's a nice package of games, they look good, run well, and it has a 4th new game to cap the trilogy off.
Idk. Just one of those games where ya, there's a lot of other, better alternatives and no, I wouldn't recommend this before 2 dozen other JRPGs first, but I still don't regret buying it. I like it enough I want it in my collection.
Re: Best Kirby Games Of All Time
Ya, I agree with the rankings for the games I've played.
Forgotten Land is best, then Planet Robobot, then Triple Deluxe. And while I haven't played All Stars I hear it's a classic. So I have no qualms with that in the #2 spot.