As I said back in June it was time to move on. 6 months with Switch 2 has done nothing to change that. Apart from battery life which is understandable given the power difference, everything about Switch 2 is an upgrade. Still got a Switch 1 and it’s really hard to go back to the tiny joycons, slower loading times and inferior graphics.
Handy to keep around to play Retro games on where there’s no upgrade but that’s about it. Switch 1 is my favourite system of all time but things move on and Switch 2 is a proper generational leap.
Again, that underestimates the power of convenience. Ever since the Gameboy launched Nintendo have had no issues selling massive numbers of portable systems. All those systems have been missing many of the big third party games of the day. The absence of Tomb Raider, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty or whatever it may be hasn’t been an issue. Of course losing their exclusives would have an impact but portability is a huge factor for many.
They’d go third party, 100%. They only exist to make money whether it be Video games, Gaming hardware, Hanafuda cards, love hotels or whatever the means to that end is.
I think you’d be surprised how many people value convenience over a power difference that needs YouTube videos to explain to the average punter these days
Whether to keep games exclusive comes down to a value calculation. Would the money made from sales elsewhere outweigh the losses that inevitably follow when hardware sells drop and then third party revenue and peripheral sales drop? The bigger the sales as exclusives the harder it is to make that maths work. That’s before you get to the intangible value of things like brand loyalty. For Nintendo exclusives on their own hardware make so much sense it’s hard at this stage to see that ever changing.
Yeah it’s right up there. Launch line ups are usually pretty uninspiring. Switch 2 has a good mix of strong exclusives, good quality upgrades and a lot of third party games.
The writer is way too hard on that SNES line up though.
Fair play to them for managing to salvage a fine game from this situation. It’s never ideal to be inheriting someone else’s work part way through development.
As for the complaints Online that’s always going to happen. With any series like this there’s going to be criticism from some fans if they do a straight copy of what’s gone before, then other fans who criticise if they try something different. I haven’t finished it yet but from what I have played the graphics, sounds, atmosphere and controls are excellent.
That doesn’t make sense. No other company puts Nintendo games on sale. What I obviously mean is I treat them the same as every other company in that I assess the price of the product and decide if it’s something I want to pay. If I don’t see a particular nonessential product as being priced in a way that suits me, I don’t buy it, but I don’t label them ‘greedy.’ Same process for Nintendo games, other games, designer clothes, TVs etc
The greed thing is a funny one. Nintendo is a multinational corporation that only exists to make profit. They do this by selling entertainment products that nobody actually needs. If they don’t make a profit they cease to exist. Of course it would be great if everything was cheaper but I treat them same as any other similar company. If I don’t like the price of something I don’t buy it, but I find it hard to put a ‘greedy’ label on any company that isn’t selling products people need to live.
The Wii U didn’t sell because it was awful. A confused mess that was very slow to build a software library. The Switch 2 is hugely successful because it has anyone of the same problems.
Yeah I’m not in the US but I hear the complaints about the economy. In Europe the PS5 got heavy discounts and hugely outsold the Switch 2 but you’d expect a system right at what should be at its peak to do so.
I just find the takes on here that Switch 2 is struggling to be utterly surreal. Completely divorced from reality.
This Comments thread is absolute comedy gold. Sales in one territory have dropped because of Trade War-induced price rises and Xbox tanking. Some seem to have taken that as Switch 2 failing because of Game Key cards and needing a ‘wake up call.’ Despite Switch 2 being the biggest selling system worldwide in October and estimating 1.5 million+ sales in November…..
The reality of so many games having updates is why I can’t get emotional about whether Games are on physical media. It’s often the case that by the time they’ve been published they’re incomplete anyway.
You might be willing to pay that, but how many would? In the world of Game Pass, Netflix, Apple Arcade etc? I I know I wouldn’t and I don’t think GKC are going to be an issue for the mass market.
More options is always a good thing, however in reality I can’t see any smaller cards being used very often.
The price of storage is going up so they’re not likely to be cheap. They won’t be suited to games that require fast read speeds. They won’t be suited to games bigger than 64GB.
Most publishers looking for mass market success will be unlikely to swallow a $10-15 cost increase over a GKC and won’t want to pass that on to consumers if competitors are sticking with GKC.
They could be of benefit to hardcore collectors, those who collect more than they actually play, but that’s a niche market. Maybe some publishers of smaller games can make use of them, maybe some special and collectors editions will use them. That would be very nice. I hope this happens.
This is another hugely impressive Switch 2 port. I have a theory that the demise of Xbox will see more and more third parties bringing games to Switch 2 as the worst thing for them would be Sony having total domination.
It’s pretty bizarre. The idea of denying yourself games now because you might lose access to them (if you haven’t downloaded them) at some currently non-existent point in the future when you may not be alive seems pretty self defeating to me.
TBF they’ve just used the first 6 months of a new system to release DK Bananza, Drag X Drive, Kirby Air Riders and a new Hyrule Warriors. There were people (including me) praising them on here for being pretty leftfield in Switch 2’s first few months rather than just relying on the old staples.
On the one hand, not the greatest game ever, certainly no world beater. But on the other, exactly the type of thing I love to see added to NSO.
Everyone’s played the big games over and over, give us the slightly more left field stuff. This will be great fun for many people who can now try it without having to resort to inflated second hand prices. Good to see.
This is going to drown under all the other third party software out there performing well, not to mention first party stuff. In the last week alone we’ve got Assassins Creed, Sonic Crossworlds, and Metroid Prime 4. Shovelling this onto the shelves just looks ridiculous.
You still don’t get it. If other people like it, they like it. You calling them whatever is not going to change that. You seem to think you are objectively right. That is wrong.
Redditor? Pokémon? ‘dont want to make the effort?’ What are you on about?
“ Nintendo is all about shares”
Always has been about profit. That’s why they exist..
“in 2 years people will forget about MP4”
Like everything else this is just opinion. You’re doing all this thrashing around and yelling at clouds rather than just accepting the reality that’s it’s all just opinions.
Haven’t played it yet. Very encouraged by the scores here though, seeing a lot of people Online enjoying it. Looking forward to getting some time with it.
“ am very happy with it, enjoying Nintendo taking risks with their franchises and leading with some more niche ones, even if it makes their games more polarising. I'll always take polarising Nintendo over safe Nintendo, their games lately really reminds me of GameCube era”
The hardware is great. I’d love better battery life but it’s way more of a leap from Switch 1 than I expected. The joy cons are also a big leap forward.
First party software is off to a good start. MKW, Donkey Kong and Hyrule Warriors are excellent exclusives (as is Fast Fusion though that third party. Some of the upgrades are superb-BOTW, TOTK, Bowsers Fury, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Links Awakening spring immediately to mind.
The real bonus has been Third Party support. Couldn’t care less about the Key Card Online hysteria. The likes of Hogwarts, Cyberpunk, Star Wars Outlaws, Red Dead Redemption, FC 26, Madden, No Man’s Sky, and from what I’ve seen WWE 2K25 and now Sonic Racing Crossworlds run at a close enough level to PS5/XSX that the portability tips the balance towards the Switch 2 versions being my preferred way to play. NS2 has become my Main Console while the other two get used less and less. Well played Nintendo.
Black Friday price cuts helping increase the Switch 2 shares of FC/Hogwarts/Cyberpunk sales is good to see.
Kirby was never going to do all that well. It’s a spin off and one that looks like an acquired (chaotic, motion sickness inducing) taste. I also think they’d have been better to drop the price a bit given that.
The other thing to bear in mind is sales of everything at this time of year are high. Landing outside the top ten in late November doesn’t mean the same as it does in February.
Comments 10,202
Re: Feature: Farewell, Nintendo Switch - It's Finally Time To Bid Our Old Friend 'Adieu'
As I said back in June it was time to move on. 6 months with Switch 2 has done nothing to change that. Apart from battery life which is understandable given the power difference, everything about Switch 2 is an upgrade. Still got a Switch 1 and it’s really hard to go back to the tiny joycons, slower loading times and inferior graphics.
Handy to keep around to play Retro games on where there’s no upgrade but that’s about it. Switch 1 is my favourite system of all time but things move on and Switch 2 is a proper generational leap.
Re: Pikmin 3 Deluxe Nintendo Switch 2 Rating Pops Up Online
Mouse controls, game share, and a significant resolution boost please. 720p on Switch 1 wasn’t the best effort.
Re: "If Mario Starts To Show Up On PlayStation, That's The Apocalypse, Right?" - Ex-PlayStation Boss Thinks Console Exclusives Are Still Important
@Grumblevolcano
Again, that underestimates the power of convenience. Ever since the Gameboy launched Nintendo have had no issues selling massive numbers of portable systems. All those systems have been missing many of the big third party games of the day. The absence of Tomb Raider, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty or whatever it may be hasn’t been an issue. Of course losing their exclusives would have an impact but portability is a huge factor for many.
Re: "If Mario Starts To Show Up On PlayStation, That's The Apocalypse, Right?" - Ex-PlayStation Boss Thinks Console Exclusives Are Still Important
@TheBigK
They’d go third party, 100%. They only exist to make money whether it be Video games, Gaming hardware, Hanafuda cards, love hotels or whatever the means to that end is.
Re: "If Mario Starts To Show Up On PlayStation, That's The Apocalypse, Right?" - Ex-PlayStation Boss Thinks Console Exclusives Are Still Important
@Gamecuber
I think you’d be surprised how many people value convenience over a power difference that needs YouTube videos to explain to the average punter these days
Re: "If Mario Starts To Show Up On PlayStation, That's The Apocalypse, Right?" - Ex-PlayStation Boss Thinks Console Exclusives Are Still Important
Whether to keep games exclusive comes down to a value calculation. Would the money made from sales elsewhere outweigh the losses that inevitably follow when hardware sells drop and then third party revenue and peripheral sales drop? The bigger the sales as exclusives the harder it is to make that maths work. That’s before you get to the intangible value of things like brand loyalty. For Nintendo exclusives on their own hardware make so much sense it’s hard at this stage to see that ever changing.
Re: Talking Point: Does Switch 2 Have Nintendo's Best Launch Line-Up Ever?
@Dalamar
….or old people with (shock horror) a different opinion
Re: Talking Point: Does Switch 2 Have Nintendo's Best Launch Line-Up Ever?
Yeah it’s right up there. Launch line ups are usually pretty uninspiring. Switch 2 has a good mix of strong exclusives, good quality upgrades and a lot of third party games.
The writer is way too hard on that SNES line up though.
Re: Nintendo Suggests Metroid Prime 4's Tortured Development Meant It Was "Divorced From The Changing Of Times"
Fair play to them for managing to salvage a fine game from this situation. It’s never ideal to be inheriting someone else’s work part way through development.
As for the complaints Online that’s always going to happen. With any series like this there’s going to be criticism from some fans if they do a straight copy of what’s gone before, then other fans who criticise if they try something different. I haven’t finished it yet but from what I have played the graphics, sounds, atmosphere and controls are excellent.
Re: Mailbox: 'Greedy' Nintendo, New Horizons Vs. New Leaf, Boney M. - Nintendo Life Letters (Holiday Edition)
@shoeses
That doesn’t make sense. No other company puts Nintendo games on sale. What I obviously mean is I treat them the same as every other company in that I assess the price of the product and decide if it’s something I want to pay. If I don’t see a particular nonessential product as being priced in a way that suits me, I don’t buy it, but I don’t label them ‘greedy.’ Same process for Nintendo games, other games, designer clothes, TVs etc
Re: Mailbox: 'Greedy' Nintendo, New Horizons Vs. New Leaf, Boney M. - Nintendo Life Letters (Holiday Edition)
@Danrenfroe2016
Yeah, I remember 2011-2017 😄😄
Re: Mailbox: 'Greedy' Nintendo, New Horizons Vs. New Leaf, Boney M. - Nintendo Life Letters (Holiday Edition)
The greed thing is a funny one. Nintendo is a multinational corporation that only exists to make profit. They do this by selling entertainment products that nobody actually needs. If they don’t make a profit they cease to exist. Of course it would be great if everything was cheaper but I treat them same as any other similar company. If I don’t like the price of something I don’t buy it, but I find it hard to put a ‘greedy’ label on any company that isn’t selling products people need to live.
Re: Batman: Arkham Knight For Switch Receives Another Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility Update
@8bit4Life
Switch 2 can run anything PS4 can, it’s a developer issue not a hardware thing.
Re: Feature: Games Of The Year 2025 - Nintendo Life Staff Picks
A very solid year all round
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@Kingy
The article is about hardware overall declining in one month in one territory. Switch 2 is selling very well.
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@Kingy
Sales aren’t declining
Re: "A Really Good Experience" - Digital Foundry Dives Into Switch 2's Final Fantasy VII Remake Demo
@1970sGamer
Must because you didn’t bother to watch the video doesn’t mean the rest of us didn’t
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@progx
Fair
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@Coffee-Waffle
Wii U just wasn’t a good idea and the software was sparse for most of its life. Switch 2 is https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-switch-2-biggest-console-launch-10-million/
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@Coffee-Waffle
The Wii U didn’t sell because it was awful. A confused mess that was very slow to build a software library. The Switch 2 is hugely successful because it has anyone of the same problems.
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@progx
Yeah I’m not in the US but I hear the complaints about the economy. In Europe the PS5 got heavy discounts and hugely outsold the Switch 2 but you’d expect a system right at what should be at its peak to do so.
I just find the takes on here that Switch 2 is struggling to be utterly surreal. Completely divorced from reality.
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
This Comments thread is absolute comedy gold. Sales in one territory have dropped because of Trade War-induced price rises and Xbox tanking. Some seem to have taken that as Switch 2 failing because of Game Key cards and needing a ‘wake up call.’ Despite Switch 2 being the biggest selling system worldwide in October and estimating 1.5 million+ sales in November…..
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
@PikminMarioKirby
It isn’t selling poorly. Quite the opposite. Record breaking so. You are wildly overstating the importance of your own personal quibbles.
Re: Rumour: A Game-Key Card Alternative? Nintendo May Have Smaller Switch 2 Carts In The Works
@rvcolem1
The reality of so many games having updates is why I can’t get emotional about whether Games are on physical media. It’s often the case that by the time they’ve been published they’re incomplete anyway.
Re: Rumour: A Game-Key Card Alternative? Nintendo May Have Smaller Switch 2 Carts In The Works
@FredsBodyDouble
You might be willing to pay that, but how many would? In the world of Game Pass, Netflix, Apple Arcade etc? I I know I wouldn’t and I don’t think GKC are going to be an issue for the mass market.
Re: Rumour: A Game-Key Card Alternative? Nintendo May Have Smaller Switch 2 Carts In The Works
More options is always a good thing, however in reality I can’t see any smaller cards being used very often.
The price of storage is going up so they’re not likely to be cheap. They won’t be suited to games that require fast read speeds. They won’t be suited to games bigger than 64GB.
Most publishers looking for mass market success will be unlikely to swallow a $10-15 cost increase over a GKC and won’t want to pass that on to consumers if competitors are sticking with GKC.
They could be of benefit to hardcore collectors, those who collect more than they actually play, but that’s a niche market. Maybe some publishers of smaller games can make use of them, maybe some special and collectors editions will use them. That would be very nice. I hope this happens.
Re: Batman: Arkham Knight For Switch Receives Another Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility Update
I can’t believe they put this out on Switch 1 in the state they did.
Switch 2 should be able to run it reasonably well, being ahead of PS4, but I bet it doesn’t get to where it should be.
Re: Surprise! Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade's Free Switch 2 Demo Is Now Live
This is another hugely impressive Switch 2 port. I have a theory that the demise of Xbox will see more and more third parties bringing games to Switch 2 as the worst thing for them would be Sony having total domination.
Re: Surprise! Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade's Free Switch 2 Demo Is Now Live
@TomSupreme
It’s pretty bizarre. The idea of denying yourself games now because you might lose access to them (if you haven’t downloaded them) at some currently non-existent point in the future when you may not be alive seems pretty self defeating to me.
Re: Mini Review: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Now A Legit Contender For Mario's Karting Crown
@dskatter
Good tip, I’ll give it a go on PS5 thanks
Re: Mini Review: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Now A Legit Contender For Mario's Karting Crown
People getting upset about the number at the end of a positive review never fails to make me 🤣
Might give this a go but would like a proper demo first, played the Switch one and it was pretty bad.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch 2 GameCube Library With Wario's 3D Outing
@datamonkey
TBF they’ve just used the first 6 months of a new system to release DK Bananza, Drag X Drive, Kirby Air Riders and a new Hyrule Warriors. There were people (including me) praising them on here for being pretty leftfield in Switch 2’s first few months rather than just relying on the old staples.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch 2 GameCube Library With Wario's 3D Outing
On the one hand, not the greatest game ever, certainly no world beater. But on the other, exactly the type of thing I love to see added to NSO.
Everyone’s played the big games over and over, give us the slightly more left field stuff. This will be great fun for many people who can now try it without having to resort to inflated second hand prices. Good to see.
Re: Mini Review: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition (Switch 2) - Just Hugely Disappointing
What on Earth are Bethesda thinking?!
This is going to drown under all the other third party software out there performing well, not to mention first party stuff. In the last week alone we’ve got Assassins Creed, Sonic Crossworlds, and Metroid Prime 4. Shovelling this onto the shelves just looks ridiculous.
Re: Nintendo Expands Switch Online's N64 Library With Two Classic Platformers
Tonic Trouble is one of the few N64 games I have never played.
Anyone who’s never played Rayman 2 is in for a treat, very good platformer.
Re: Video: Skyrim Still Isn't 60fps On Switch 2, But Here's How It Fares Against Switch 1
Not much of an update is it? Really needed 60 FOS to be worthwhile. Poor show.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
@Bootlicker333
You still don’t get it. If other people like it, they like it. You calling them whatever is not going to change that. You seem to think you are objectively right. That is wrong.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
@Bootlicker333
Redditor? Pokémon? ‘dont want to make the effort?’ What are you on about?
“ Nintendo is all about shares”
Always has been about profit. That’s why they exist..
“in 2 years people will forget about MP4”
Like everything else this is just opinion. You’re doing all this thrashing around and yelling at clouds rather than just accepting the reality that’s it’s all just opinions.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
@Bootlicker333
“this game is 7 at best”
In your opinion
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
@Bootlicker333
10 doesn’t meant perfection.
If someone gives it a 10, that’s their opinion.
If someone gives it a 1, that’s their opinion.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
@Bootlicker333
“You people still rate it 10/10 because you are 8 years old and dont have any selfrespect”
No it’s just people having different opinions to you.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/opinion
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
Haven’t played it yet. Very encouraged by the scores here though, seeing a lot of people Online enjoying it. Looking forward to getting some time with it.
Re: Talking Point: Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?
@Suketoudara
“ am very happy with it, enjoying Nintendo taking risks with their franchises and leading with some more niche ones, even if it makes their games more polarising. I'll always take polarising Nintendo over safe Nintendo, their games lately really reminds me of GameCube era”
Totally agree.
Re: Talking Point: Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?
9/10. Easy call really.
The hardware is great. I’d love better battery life but it’s way more of a leap from Switch 1 than I expected. The joy cons are also a big leap forward.
First party software is off to a good start. MKW, Donkey Kong and Hyrule Warriors are excellent exclusives (as is Fast Fusion though that third party. Some of the upgrades are superb-BOTW, TOTK, Bowsers Fury, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Links Awakening spring immediately to mind.
The real bonus has been Third Party support. Couldn’t care less about the Key Card Online hysteria. The likes of Hogwarts, Cyberpunk, Star Wars Outlaws, Red Dead Redemption, FC 26, Madden, No Man’s Sky, and from what I’ve seen WWE 2K25 and now Sonic Racing Crossworlds run at a close enough level to PS5/XSX that the portability tips the balance towards the Switch 2 versions being my preferred way to play. NS2 has become my Main Console while the other two get used less and less. Well played Nintendo.
Re: "One Of The Best-Looking Games On Switch 2" - Digital Foundry Dives Into Metroid Prime 4
@AussieMcBucket
The HDR sounds really good. Glad to see Nintendo/Retro nailing it.
Re: "One Of The Best-Looking Games On Switch 2" - Digital Foundry Dives Into Metroid Prime 4
@OmnitronVariant
1) Games don’t have to be exclusive to look good
2) There’s more than 3
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
About what I expected. Been on the fence about this but the reviews are selling it to me.
Re: Here's Another Look At Elden Ring Running On Switch 2
@Ganon821
That’s the same Nintendo that delayed the entire N64 to allow Miyamoto time to finish Mario 64
Re: Here's Another Look At Elden Ring Running On Switch 2
Not my thing but it looks good, and nice to see that extra development time being put to good use
Re: UK Charts: Kirby Is Nowhere To Be Seen In A Quiet Week
Black Friday price cuts helping increase the Switch 2 shares of FC/Hogwarts/Cyberpunk sales is good to see.
Kirby was never going to do all that well. It’s a spin off and one that looks like an acquired (chaotic, motion sickness inducing) taste. I also think they’d have been better to drop the price a bit given that.
The other thing to bear in mind is sales of everything at this time of year are high. Landing outside the top ten in late November doesn’t mean the same as it does in February.