RupeeClock

Considering that there are physical releases that include the DLC for Switch 1, it is really disappointing that the Switch 2 edition doesn't offer the DLC.

Could it really be for reasons as silly as not wanting to make the cover even less appealing by slapping both the Expansion Pass and Upgrade Pack graphics on it?

I think I'll check out Vampire Survivors again on Switch 2, where it should perform and play a ton better in handheld mode.

@Markiemania95
Something has definitely changed with the My Nintendo Store UK, they've revamped the site and the checkout process, and it used to be that you couldn't use PayPal for any pre-order items.
Now it seems like PayPal is the only option when pre-ordering items! I can still use debit and credit cards for in-stock purchases though.

I wonder if this is in response to previous payment issues with debit cards. Back for the Metroid Dread collector's edition, I couldn't pre-order it on the My Nintendo UK Store, because my debit card was going to expire after the release date, and they didn't let you amend payment details after placing an order.
It's a bad situation when your new payment card hasn't arrived yet. This is the sort of situation I could've been put under if the Switch 2 had an August release date, as my current debit card is expiring that month.

The current rumour is that the minimum capacity for Switch 2 game cards is 64GB.
If they're based on the same underlying flash storage technology as microSD express, which is only available as low as 128GB, this means that there is no affordable option for manufacturing Switch 2 physical games, therefore making the Game-Key releases attractive to publishers.
This is probably also a factor in why first party physical releases are so expensive, imagine if Mario Kart World is a 16 GB download, that's 48GB of unused storage space on an expensive physical media.

This is the unfortunate consequence of needing a new physical format that has fast read speeds, and it'll lead to a lot more developers and publishers continuing to go with Switch 1 releases with Switch 2 Editions available.
Switch 2 Editions I suspect function similarly to Game-Key, in that they work as Switch 1 titles in Switch 1 systems like always, but on Switch 2 they need to download the full Switch 2 version data to run that version (in order to maximise read speeds to minimise load times). It depends how the game cards are manufactured anyway, if they're truly Switch 2 game cards, or just Switch 1 game cards with the same slow read speeds.
I really want to know for certain how this works though, right now this is just speculation.

I commented yesterday that I got no invite.
That changed this morning! I got the invite around 9:30am, and used it order a couple of GameCube controllers.

The brief look in the Switch 2 Direct probably didn't communicate this well enough, but it's like a guided museum experience, and I can understand why there's an admission fee to an exhibit.
They didn't adequately separate the concepts of user manual from museum tour or exhibition, and now have to justify why it isn't free, versus justifying why it's paid.

It's interesting that Switch 2 is the first system to debut with a Mario Kart title.

My NSO subscription lapsed for a bit, so I didn't have 2 years of continuous membership up to the eligibility date.
Pretty sure I won't qualify even as a late invite, but since I've got my console from Argos now the only thing I'll want is that GameCube controller.

@Spider-Kev
Yeah, Nintendo's retro offerings in general are prone to omitting stuff or giving you a barebones experience, or even forcing options like annoyingly dark looking screens. They're always behind on what unofficial solutions provide.
It's absurd that button remapping for N64 games may only be available on the Switch 2 version of the N64 NSO app!

@Spider-Kev
That's not entirely true, the GBA NSO version of Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, included all of the e-Reader content.

@Davina_McCall
Theoretically you should be able to unpack a GameCube disk image and run improved compression on the individual files and file structure. This does more than simply trimming the empty data from the ISO.
Dolphin Emulator already has its own specialised compression format for GameCube and Wii disc images. Nintendo should have their own solution for this.

@roy130390
You're in for a good time, all of the Xenoblade games on Switch are great.
Though from a technical stand point, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is in a pretty rough state when you compare it visually to all of the games that released after it. Here's to hoping they get visual upgrades on Switch 2!

I'll be keen to see how accurate the GameCube emulation is on Switch 2.
Historically, innucuous things like the heat wave effects in the first volcanic dungeon of Wind Waker haven't been rendered correctly in early versions of Dolphin emulator, and there have been bugs with calculating how much goop has been cleaned up in certain missions for Super Mario Sunshine.

They also need to address the GBA connectivity for Wind Waker's Tingle Tuner specifically, I hope they have a creative solution for that, like software features through the Nintendo Switch app?

@roy130390
This is actually pretty typical for big JRPGs, they have a strong launch and then dip when most of the audience have already got their copy.

In any case, first party Nintendo is going to be slow for the next two months, with people saving up cash for the new system, and a lack of new first party releases.

If you're still looking, Very.co.uk apparently had stock again.
https://www.very.co.uk/nintendo-switch-2-switch-2/1601110391.prd
The site Stock Informer has been helpful for monitoring Switch 2 availability.

@sanderev
I'm hoping that they do, since I've got a few 8bitdo controllers that I'm quite fond of.
It's a question of whether "Switch 1 compatible controllers" can be used to play Switch 2 games or not.

Huh, I wonder if you could theoretically connect it on tabletop mode with USB-A to USB-C adapters? The Switch 2 does have 2 USB-C ports, after all.
I'm sure someone will try it, though the point of the second USB-A connector is just to provide extra power for up to 4 GameCube controllers.

I'm still curious if it detects it in the proper dedicated GameCube controller mode, where it has analogue trigger sensitivity that's important for games like Super Mario Sunshine (both the 3D All-Stars version, and the eventual NSO GameCube version).

@Stwert
Since the system has a reasonably generous 256GB internal storage, I'll weather not adding a microSD express for a little while to see how it goes.
Whilst it won't be enough to hold my digital library of games and updates for my physical library, there's only so much I can play at a time you know.

I'd like to know what resolution is used for Switch 1 games in handheld mode.
Switch 1 handheld mode expects to render to 720p, but it's a 1080p screen so there's a risk of Switch 1 handheld games looking fuzzy.
There could potentially be an override that Switch 1 handheld runs with docked resolution, but without the program changes like in Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee where it changes the control scheme accordingly.

@RubyCarbuncle
In my experience with pending transactions, it does usually mean the money will be taken within 24-48 hours, but I will keep an eye on it.
I'm fine with a full money down pre-order, just not certain if that's the case as of yet.

There are meaningful, ethical uses of AI, but the term is so broad and ambiguous that people are quick to assume it's slop generated through models trained on stolen data.
The machine learning process by itself can be trained on internal data and used to deliver powerful insights and transformations, as a form of computation that does not replace human creativity or ingenuity, but the implementation or utilisation itself can be creative. Think of it as the difference between using a digital calculator or doing calculations by pen and paper or in your head.

I just hope that with Nintendo, it's the latter and not the former. We aren't privy to their development processes after all.

@rjejr
GameStop didn't willingly become a meme stock, it happened because people were actively rebelling against the practice of shorting stocks (buying stocks you know will fail, selling them, buying them back at a reduced cost, and making money from that buy-back).

@Kidfunkadelic83
Yes, for my Argos order they have already charged £433.94 (£429.99 Mario Kart World bundle + £3.95 shipping) to my bank account as a pending transaction.
I used debit card, I didn't check if they offer other payment options though.

If you're planning on making an Argos order I'd hurry, the bundle is already sold out, but they're still taking orders for the standalone system.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7550333

@BiscuitCrumbsInMyBed @vesemir0
I just got said SMS from Argos with my order number and item number (not the item name), so yes it seems like I've secured it for certain now. Really excited, and relieved!
On that note, Argos' Mario Kart World Bundle is now out of stock (which is the one I ordered), but the standalone system is still in-stock.

@Moonlessky
I think you misunderstand, I'm talking about the camera itself being positioned directly atop the docked Switch 2, not simply connected via it.

Considering the 420p camera is only needed to display your visage in a small window or such for the chat features, or Mario Party's camera stuff, it'll probably be fine if not looking a bit fuzzier?

One of the nice things about the Pirahna Plant camera is that it can be inserted directly into the Switch 2's top USB-C port, which is an option that Nintendo's first party camera lacks.
That means that the pipe stand is technically just a USB-C extension.

@BiscuitCrumbsInMyBed
I placed my Argos order using my debit card instead of Paypal, and it still shows the transaction as pending on my bank app.
Still, I'll keep an eye on it.

@BiscuitCrumbsInMyBed
My Argos order currently just says "sit tight: your order is in progress".
I'll keep an eye on it, though I've no reason to believe they'll cancel it yet.

I also just ordered through Argos thanks to the comments in the pre-order guide article. Hopefully it won't get cancelled as the payment was up-front.
However, if you want to buy accessories like the Pro Controller or a Carry Case, you can get those on the My Nintendo Store UK without needing an invite.

Very.co.uk has stock now.
https://www.very.co.uk/nintendo-switch-2-switch-2/1601110391.prd
I just ordered from Argos, so I no longer need this.

Edit: Out of stock after about 15 minutes, it appears.

@nocdaes
Thank you, I just placed my order with Argos!
I ordered the Pro Controller and Carry Case with screen protector accessories from the My Nintendo UK Store, since they're not behind the invite system (though the GameCube controller is).

@Rykdrew
Come on, it's not just 32 tracks.
It's a huge open world map and a very large roster of racers.

During the reveal, only seven cups where shown.
This leak reveals an additional eighth cup, using the Life-Up Heart from Super Mario Odyssey.

@N00BiSH
How many Switch 2 collector's editions are going to include mouse pads now?
And you know, those kinds of cushioned mouse pads?

Gotta remember those SL and SR buttons are metal now.

@Kidfunkadelic83
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is 100% justified as a Switch 2 exclusive.
Bravely Default HD Remaster probably could've just been a Switch 2 Edition if they really wanted to.

Otherwise, I get the business decision to just help sell Switch 2 systems.

To be honest, it looks like a game that should be able to run on the original Switch, why does it need to be a Switch 2 exclusive?
Are they compensating for a lack of optimisation? Is the file size over-inflated?

@Zuljaras
It sounds as though the launch firmware will probably have high compatibility out of the game, but it depends on what firmware the warehoused units have.
No doubt there'll be firmware updates that periodically improve the backwards compatibility layer.

@Ploppy
Original PS3's backwards compatibility was by virtue of actually sticking the necessary PS2 hardware inside there, and not because the PS3 was leveraging any of it for PS3 software.

The 3DS being able to natively play DS games, and also GBA games, was because the 3DS re-used the ARM processors present in the DS and GBA.
https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/nintendo-3ds/
The 3DS main processor for playing games was ARM11, whilst ARM9 was used for the operating system and DS/DSi games, and ARM7 was used as the co-processor for those DS/DSi games, but also for GBA games.

@Zuljaras
Nintendo's own compatibility guide is indicating the compatibility rate is more like 98%.
Though of partner games, only 22% were concretely identified as having no issues found in basic compatibility testing, with the rest only identified as being bootable with ongoing testing in progress.

I believe what we're seeing here is not a conventional emulator, but a translation layer where both the Switch and Switch 2 (likely) use ARM processors, and there the instruction sets are so broadly compatible that you can comfortably map them.
It's a big part of why Switch emulation with Yuzu ran so well on Android devices (and ironically, modded Switch systems running ARM Linux).

I'm also really glad their internal testing is identifying straggling compatibility issues that they're working on fixing. They're thorough enough that even something obscure and "shovelwarey" like "OMG Police - Car Chase Simulator TV" was tested.

If you think of the "game" as a guided museum tour, the nominal entry fee becomes a lot more tolerable.
It not being free is probably a reflection of how much there is to do, and not just some throw-away experience.

Primarily for me, the Switch 2 is shaping up to do the most important thing; deliver on performance.
That was always the sticking point for me on Switch, too many games struggling to reach full resolution, full frame rate (30 or 60), or both. The performance is looking to be uncompromising at long last, though with the caveats of Switch 1 games needing updates, some of which being premium, if you want to enjoy them.

What might be lacking a wow factor, will instead of a sense of relief and satisfaction to leave the poor performance behind.

@Dm9982
From what you mention about the selection emails going out, it sounds like I didn't make the initial round.
I'll survive, lol.

It's pretty absurd that it's come to this, that they have to prioritise the customers with the highest engagement.
My NSO membership has been 4 years, 5 months, 6 days so far, but I've had periods of time where it lapsed because I wasn't using it, including in the past two years, so I'm worried that this might disqualify me from the first round of pre-orders.
I'll see how it rolls, I really want the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World, the Pro controller, and the GameCube controller.

Whilst I don't like this, the fact that it's not a download permanently tied to your Nintendo account, therefore eligible for resale and lending, is an improvement.
They're physical virtual game cards lol

@garfreek
I'll be able to download the video before I board the train, I'm prepared.

This reminds me of when they were showcasing Breath of the Wild, this is gonna be big.

I'm not gonna be able to watch this one live, but I'll watch it on catch-up on the train ride home.