Topic: Nintendo Switch 2

[Order.RSS]

Nintendo finally announced the long-awaited successor to Switch in January in this video, with further info scheduled for an April 2nd Direct. Following that presentation, events will occur in April/May/June where the device will be shown off to the public.

No exact release date for the device was mentioned yet, but it will release in 2025. Personally I think June or later seems likely, given the dates on their public preview events.

Notable hardware observations:

• Looks larger than current Switch models
• Joy-Con seem to attach in a slightly different way, and have a button to release on the back
• An extra button below the Home button on the right Joy-Con, purpose seems unclear for now
• It appears the Joy-Con may potentially be used as a mouse when attaching a little plastic rail?
• Wider kickstand
• Extra USB-C port on top of the handheld
• Very little attention was paid to the dock this time

Software: new Mario Kart game

• It appears a new Mario Kart game was shown
• Donkey Kong has been redesigned to match his Mario Movie design
• At various points in the video more than 12 racers appear visible at once. This suggests races may potentially see 16+ racers at once. The starting grid appears to have 24 positions even. However, we don't know yet if the game will support 24 racers on track at once, or whether 24-player multiplayer is feasible.

Software: backwards compatibility

• Physical game cartridges of Switch 1 games are supported by Switch 2. The video showcases Super Mario Bros. Wonder as an example.
• Digital Switch 1 games are also backwards compatible, implying your Nintendo Account will carry over between generations.
• Some software may not be backwards compatible. No details were given yet, but I imagine this will impact niche use cases such as Nintendo Labo.
• No word about whether Switch 1 titles may see improved performance when running on Switch 2.

So, with the cat finally out of the bag, what are your initial feelings? Were you hoping for a more drastic change, or is "Switch but better" exactly what you were hoping for? Got any hopes and dreams for future software? Do you envision yourself buying a Switch 2, or will you stick with other gaming devices instead?

[Ian Sane]

I was thinking the rumours of the reveal being on Thursday were nonsense because Nintendo had not announced a Direct or anything like that by the end of Wednesday.  It just didn't seem likely they would just drop a trailer like this.

I really like that they outright confirmed that it plays both Switch 1 physical and digital games.  That was not completely clear.  Now that it is, I can probably say that I will get a Switch 2 at some point.  Probably not at launch as I currently have an OLED so I would wait for a comparable screen (unless this has that) in a revision.

This trailer was hurt by the fact that almost all of this had leaked.  Like it wasn't just that the general concept was leaked but I had already seen the system's exact appearance and even the logo.  The one surprise was Mario Kart.  That is such an obvious and brilliant choice for a launch title.  Let's not mess around - Mario Kart 8 sold better than anything so let's give them a new Mario Kart.  Hopefully that actually is a real game and not just some demo footage.

I like that it's just a better Switch.  I was a little worried that Nintendo would get cute and introduce gimmicks.  The Switch is such a success in virtually all ways.  It has sold like gangbusters and has a wide selection of both first and third party games and those games sell.  For all the success of the Wii, the attach rate was abysmal and third party complained that their games didn't sell on it.  Not so with the Switch.  The only real complaints about the Switch are Joycon drift and tech heads complain about its frame rate and resolution and stuff like that.  But I get my first party Nintendo games and virtually all third party games I'm interested in show up in versions that are still perfectly playable even if they aren't the best version.  For Nintendo, why mess with a good thing?  Even the straightforward name of Switch 2 indicates to me that they're happy to take this great gaming experience and just extend it another 8 years.

But I want more details.  What's the release date?  The price?  What type of screen is that?  Is there a change to how the sticks work to prevent drift?  The leaks indicate that the Joycons attach with magnets but it didn't outright say that in the trailer (though it looks like that's what's happening).  Is there a Pro Controller?  Do existing Switch controllers work with it?  What's the battery life?

[stevey]

Odd that they are censoring the new "C" button on the joycon2. A lot of leakers are hinting that it's the Switch 2's biggest gimmick and no one has guessed it yet.

[Luigi Dude]

But I want more details.  What's the release date?  The price?  What type of screen is that?  Is there a change to how the sticks work to prevent drift?  The leaks indicate that the Joycons attach with magnets but it didn't outright say that in the trailer (though it looks like that's what's happening).  Is there a Pro Controller?  Do existing Switch controllers work with it?  What's the battery life?

That's what the April 2nd event will be for.  This first reveal was basically an announcement of that upcoming event so that anyone that wants to see it, has more then enough time to ask off work and schedule there life around so they'll be free to watch that.

[M.K.Ultra]

I like the design and look forward to all the improvements Switch 2 will have over Switch. I don't plan to play Switch games on the new device, just Switch 2 exclusives so I until we see Splatoon 4 or something else I am dying to play I am not too excited. I still plan to get one at launch. One question I have is about amiibo support. Do folks think there will be an NFC reader on the device?

[Order.RSS]

One question I have is about amiibo support. Do folks think there will be an NFC reader on the device?

This IGN article notes the logo is absent from the right Joy-Con, but that doesn't necessarily indicate its absence.

Personally I don't see them dropping NFC yet, since they're also using the amiibo technology in their themeparks, and I have to imagine they'll eventually want to create ~bRaNd SynErgY~ between their gaming operations and theme parks.
But to be honest I don't know if amiibo themselves are still a notable driver of revenue for them. It feels like the pace of figure releases has slowed dramatically.

[UncleBob]

>It feels like the pace of figure releases has slowed dramatically.

It's complicated.

The average over the past five years is about ten figures per year (with the highest in that time being four years ago with 20 and the lowest being five years ago with four).  We had nine figures released in 2024.

But, what we also had was a *lot* of reprints of figures people had been wanting to see reprinted.  There were *tons* of restocks/reprints in 2024.

I don't *know* the business side of things, but my gut instinct is that including the NFC reader is cheap (although Nintendo does love to pinch pennies) and leaving it in A.) keeps Switch 1 compatibility, B.) provides the *option* for new amiibo (/wrist bands), and C.) would allow them to experiment with other ideas (tap to pay on eShop?).

Could be wrong.  But I'd keep it in there.