The recently announced Nintendo Switch 2 might not be the hardware revolution some fans were hoping for, but it’s exactly what Nintendo needs to succeed in the next generation of gaming.
The online response to the first-look trailer for the long-anticipated Nintendo Switch successor has been fairly mixed. Some viewers have expressed disappointment at the console’s seemingly iterative improvements over the original Switch, while others are more appreciative of the improved features that will come with the new console.
Both viewpoints are understandable, but I firmly believe that this is the best approach Nintendo could have taken with their next-generation system.
The reason some viewers are so disappointed is because the iterative approach taken with Nintendo Switch 2 is highly unusual for the company. Throughout each new generation of hardware, Nintendo has been known to surprise viewers with innovative ideas that change the way games are played.
To understand this unique approach, take a look at 1996’s Nintendo 64, which featured one of the first controllers to incorporate an analog joystick that has become a mainstay for console controllers up to today. Another great example is 2006’s Wii, which broke from the industry’s power-driven mindset to prioritize motion controls, something that would draw in plenty of casual gamers who had never owned a video game system before. Even the Wii U, which was a massive failure in terms of sales, still tried something different with a touchscreen implemented on its controller. While the console bombed, it’s impossible to deny that Nintendo was still focused on creating new, inventive ways to play games.
The original Nintendo Switch captured the company’s innovative spirit perfectly. While their competitors focused on an increasingly irrelevant race for more powerful hardware, Nintendo shook up the gaming landscape with their hybrid home-handheld system, which could play large games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the big screen at home and be easily transferred to a handheld unit. It finally felt as though the Wii U’s vision had been realized, and with the Switch Nintendo remained the most innovative player in the console race even if their hardware was far from the most powerful.
So, when Nintendo revealed their next-generation system would simply be a Switch with improved functionality and graphics lacking any big change to the hardware, it’s not hard to see why some fans were disappointed. Even as someone who is incredibly excited to get my hands on the new system, I acknowledge that it’s not nearly as conceptually interesting as past hardware reveals from the company.
But that’s just the thing. With the Nintendo Switch, the company has finally found a form factor that is so perfect in concept that the best way to guarantee continued success is to improve that same concept in a new iteration. The philosophy behind the Nintendo Switch 2 embraces the old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” a mindset that might have saved Nintendo from past failures.
Consider again the Wii U. The console’s core idea — incorporating a touchscreen onto its controller — was certainly interesting in concept, but it felt like its designers never bothered to think of practical applications that would enhance the way games are played with it. In many cases, the touchscreen simply ended up being used to display maps or inventory spaces while the main game was played on the TV, which felt like the system underdelivered on its promise of revolutionizing gaming with a dual-screen setup.
This was a case where Nintendo prioritized innovation over practicality. In other words, just because an idea is unique, that doesn’t mean it’s good. You can have the most interesting hardware idea in the world, but if you can’t figure out how to make it fun for players, then it’s probably best to go back to the drawing board.
By building on the success of the Nintendo Switch rather than attempting something innovative just for the heck of it, Nintendo is improving on a concept that has already proven to resonate with players. Sure, it might not be as exciting as past hardware reveals with brand new ideas at the forefront, but it embraces what players love about Nintendo Switch and makes it even more fun to play.
While I believe the original Nintendo Switch was perfect in its concept, it had some issues in its execution. The Joy-Con controllers are very small and uncomfortable to use when held sideways; the kickstand (on the original model) is weak and prone to popping out; the Joy-Cons slightly rattle when attached to the sides of the console unit; and the joysticks are susceptible to the infamous case of “Joy-Con drift.”
Judging by the Nintendo Switch 2’s trailer and various leaks about the system, these are all issues that will be mitigated by its successor. The larger and more ergonomic Joy-Cons will make them a more comfortable fit in the hands; the U-shaped kickstand will provide solid support for the console in tabletop mode; the magnetized Joy-Cons should prevent rattling when attached to the main unit; and the rumoured hall effect joysticks should prevent drifting during gameplay. That’s not even to mention the increased graphical and processing power that the system will undoubtedly offer, which should allow Nintendo games to look more stunning than ever before.
In other words, the Nintendo Switch 2 looks like a perfected version of the original 2017 console, which already had a wonderful, versatile concept. Throw in confirmed backwards compatibility with Switch 1 titles and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Nintendo system ready to be played anytime, anywhere.
It’s true that this is a safer approach than coming up with something totally different, but I’d argue that this is best for consumers and Nintendo alike. We get to keep playing amazing games through a beloved form factor, and Nintendo doesn’t need to worry about incorporating needless gimmicks to complicate the experience. They can simply continue to focus on what they’ve been working on throughout the past generation: making incredible games.
The Nintendo Switch 2 might not be the revolution that some players were hoping for, but that’s okay. Nintendo has learned from their successes and failures alike, and they’ve reached a solid conclusion: sometimes, a revolution just isn’t necessary.