Hands-on with Nintendo's new Switch 2 console reveals a brilliant step up from the original Switch.
After four hours with Switch 2, and time with all of its new first-party games, I can see it - though the console’s more experimental side is also its weaker. Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with creating a better version of a hugely-successful console, keeping the main Switch concept of hybrid play intact while improving the elements that needed an upgrade: the Switch 1’s aged processing power, its fussy Joy-Con attachments, its basic online social capabilities. With Switch 2 in your hands, you hold a console that can tick off a string of current-gen console standards: 4K, HDR, VRR and 120fps, at least on some titles. And while I’ll leave the pixel analysis to Digital Foundry, it is evident just from a quick play with Switch 2’s first-party software that Nintendo is now able to feed off of significantly more power under the hood.
Mario Kart World’s open landscape is a dramatic revolution for the series - a gamble that I believe pays off, and a new landmark entry that seems likely to rival the huge popularity of Mario Kart 8 Deluxeover Nintendo’s last generation. I’ve written my detailed thoughts on Mario Kart World’s brilliance elsewhere. And then there’s Donkey Kong Bananza, which ended the Switch 2 Direct in a slot many had expected to be reserved for a long-awaited new 3D Mario, but after some hands-on time actually feels just as exciting.
The key problem for the Switch 2 will be to compete with the Steam Deck. While a good Steam Deck is still a bit pricier, there are a myriad of titles, and the vast majority of them are much cheaper than the 70-90 price point targeted by Nintendo.
Nintendo does not have to compete with the Steam Deck. Nintendo is in a league of their own when it comes to handheld gaming. They will surpass SD sales first month almost guaranteed.
We will see. The big advantage of the SD is the ginormus library of games that already exist, the advantage of the S2 is that they have the Nintendo exclusive titles that have a good and solid fan base. With the S1, it was a no-brainer, the other consoles were limited in their game selection with a small hand of exclusives, and they were more expensive than the S1. The S2 is not far from the SD in terms of price. So this time, there actually is competition.
SD has sold roughly a million units a year. Switch has sold 150m units in 8 years. Most people that buy one don’t care about a Steam Library. They care about Mario and Zelda. Pokemon. They care about ease of use. And yeah, the console is roughly the same price as the CHEAPEST SKU the SD has.
People will still buy the Steam Deck but it’s a completely different audience. One that is much smaller.
I’m so excited to see benchmarks. Nintendo’s offering has a 1080p screen, but I’m curious to see if it actually has more horsepower than the deck and its 720p(ish) screen. My guess is it doesn’t in handheld mode.
Knowing Nintendo, we won’t know until June. Gonna hop over to digital foundry now to see what their impressions of the Wednesday direct was.
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The key problem for the Switch 2 will be to compete with the Steam Deck. While a good Steam Deck is still a bit pricier, there are a myriad of titles, and the vast majority of them are much cheaper than the 70-90 price point targeted by Nintendo.
The general casual gamer crowd who plays Nintendo games doesn’t know what Steam Deck is.
That might be true. For party games or Animal Crossing, the Switch is still the top choice. For the non-casual gamer, though, it is way to limited.
Nintendo does not have to compete with the Steam Deck. Nintendo is in a league of their own when it comes to handheld gaming. They will surpass SD sales first month almost guaranteed.
Then tell me why Nintendo got steamDB to remove cover art for switch games that they know were being emulated on steam deck
Maybe because pirating?! Maybe copyright? I’m not a lawyer lol.
We will see. The big advantage of the SD is the ginormus library of games that already exist, the advantage of the S2 is that they have the Nintendo exclusive titles that have a good and solid fan base. With the S1, it was a no-brainer, the other consoles were limited in their game selection with a small hand of exclusives, and they were more expensive than the S1. The S2 is not far from the SD in terms of price. So this time, there actually is competition.
SD has sold roughly a million units a year. Switch has sold 150m units in 8 years. Most people that buy one don’t care about a Steam Library. They care about Mario and Zelda. Pokemon. They care about ease of use. And yeah, the console is roughly the same price as the CHEAPEST SKU the SD has.
People will still buy the Steam Deck but it’s a completely different audience. One that is much smaller.
I’m so excited to see benchmarks. Nintendo’s offering has a 1080p screen, but I’m curious to see if it actually has more horsepower than the deck and its 720p(ish) screen. My guess is it doesn’t in handheld mode.
Knowing Nintendo, we won’t know until June. Gonna hop over to digital foundry now to see what their impressions of the Wednesday direct was.
Lol the overhype begins I guess.
Don’t care for marketing. Wait what the users say.
So basically $450+ to play Nintendo IP games at a current-gen caliber level.
This pricing just sucks. Unless you’re a Mario Kart or DK fanboy, you’re probably better off with PS5 or XSX.
The Switch is a family console. Neither Xbox nor Playstation can compete in this sector (and maybe they don’t want to).