A Nintendo Switch is going to cost more in Canada starting in August.
That’s right, for hardware that’s now eight years old and never got a price discount. It currently sells for C$400 – but they’re about to jack the price.
There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.
Video game companies are going all-in on seeing just how greedy they can be and get away with it. I’m curious to see just how much consumers will put up with.
Mind if I ask for information on what emulator u use? Been considering getting into a handheld PC one of these days, got a switch little over a year ago for mobile gaming and honestly I love it for what it is but it was a bit dated when new to put it nicely… And price of a switch 2 I might as well spring for a legion go or something if that nature
Seriously, there are games I bought 25 years ago that work on Steam Deck—and they were never meant to work on Steam Deck. But through the power of Proton, they work.
How many original GameCube games work on a Switch 2?
No original ones do considering there’s no disc slot, but you can play whatever they choose to drip-feed you via NSO if you pay for the Expansion Pack subscription.
Or you can play every GameCube game on Steam Deck with improved visuals for free.
And consider this: you can hook up your Steam Deck to a dock – and connect an external DVD drive, which allows you to play decades old titles that aren’t available on any storefronts.
It’s how I was able to play both Black & White as well as Black & White 2 on my Steam Deck.
Compared against a Switch 1, yes, it is a crazy deal, but I’d personally wait for a more powerful handheld, or a successor at least in 2025 (almost 2026) that truly competes against more recent PC handhelds, including the Switch 2.
Was considering a new switch, but may hold off now.
Which tablets do you have in mind? I could not find any suitable for anything but phone games via touch screen and unimpressive battery, but I don’t really know this market
Love my steamdeck but it’s definitely not similar to a switch other than they both play video games handheld. Even the docked experiences are super different.
Great, the touchpads are amazing for mouse-related stuff while handheld. I can comfortably use mouse heavy menus with them. Obviously, a lot closer to a laptop touchpad than an actual mouse, but still a lot better than a joystick as mouse.
A Steam Deck is a PC. If you dock it, you can hook up a mouse+KB and a monitor, and use “desktop mode” (KDE plasma) to use it exactly like any other Linux desktop. Docked “gaming mode” makes it feel more like a home console for PC games (and emulators). It is even possible (though not recommended) to install Windows.
Playing portably, mouse-based games run pretty well. Games that use a lot of keyboard keys are where it gets difficult without using an actual keyboard.
You’d probably be better served by a retro handheld. A lot of them run android so you can play android games, but the built in controllers make emulating actually enjoyable.
Major issue is that the ones cheaper than a switch struggle with 3D games.
If you have the money, steamdeck is definitely one of the best bang for buck, but it’ll probably be more expensive than a switch (unless you can find a deal on a used/refurbished one).
Thanks! I am starting to think a steamdeck is going to be my solution. SteamOS on my tiny nongaming Linux laptop works perfectly for 2D or light 3D games, so I expext it to be fine.
There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.
You’re not really suggesting that playing mediocre android games on a touchscreen tablet is the same market as a handheld gaming device with controllers
Android has a couple high-profile indie games like Stardew Valley and some rare ports of older games, that’s it. I wouldn’t call it very good. and unless you’re willing to shell out $150+ for a great telescopic controller there’s no way playing on the tablet would be comfortable.
The OP is really blowing smoke up Android’s ass when it comes to the quality of native Android games. Most “top” mobile games are freemium crap riddled with microtransactions.
What it does have, however, is emulators. Including one for the Switch itself. Paying $350 for decade-old hardware and $80 for games is just bad value compared to a $300 used S21 and $0 games.
If we’re going by piracy logic then you can buy a $200 used Switch and hack it to download games for free. I genuinely don’t think a phone or tablet would ever be a good experience. nobody is going to play with touch controls, it doesn’t let you play games on the TV, the emulator has compatibility issues and bugs, not to mention how most phones throttle hard when they get warm. I’m not buying this discussion at all.
Oh, there’s no doubt about that. I’m not disagreeing that Android has some good-looking games. The problem is that games like GRID Legends Mobile are the exception, not the rule.
The Switch is crap, yes.
The Play Store is also overwhelmingly crap, though.
If you exclude all of the mobile games from both stores, the Switch simply has a better catalog of games.
Android’s problem isn’t lack of good games. Nor is it performance of hardware. It’s discoverability.
But really, that’s also the problem of every storefront. Steam too has a lot of legendary games. But they’re also hard to find because shitty asset flips are so abundant.
If discoverability was better, I’m sure Android would get way more ports of good games. With the way it is right now with shovelware and Google pushing microtransaction-riddled crap over one time purchase games, though, it’s treated as a second-class platform because it’s not nearly as profitable as other platforms.
The mobile gaming market is leagues larger than every other market combined. That doesn’t mean the games are even remotely comparable to console games.
It’s an entirely different target audience. Mobile games are focused on quick sessions and design patterns designed to encourage spending money on microtransactions. Games made for the traditional gaming market are mostly designed for longer play sessions with more mechanically complex gameplay. I as well as many others prefer the latter.
Nintendo’s store is full of shovelware, but at least you’ll find more traditional games than just ports of indie hits. Or, buy a Steam Deck and enjoy something better than both.
To me, this is one of the funniest things in gaming culture right now.
I mean, have you looked closely at most Nintendo releases lately? They often feel like glorified indie games. They just happen to have big-budget marketing that indie developers lack.
Meanwhile, people act like Nintendo is some untouchable giant of innovation. Let’s be real: when was the last time a Mario game genuinely pushed boundaries? Nowadays, most releases are cash grabs riding on nostalgia and brand recognition.
No one, and I mean no one, is out here mistaking Mario Kart World for a visually groundbreaking, ambitious masterpiece like Black Myth: Wukong.
Maybe instead of throwing shade at indie devs, you should appreciate that indies often deliver fresh, daring experiences Nintendo no longer risks taking.
There is also dead cells, slay the spire, monster train, disable immortal, etc.
However, those are also all playable on switch too. Technically you can emulate the switch on android, but I think this brings up the biggest flaw in gaming on android; you’re either emulating or streaming for most good games.
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They rip the emulators from your hands then increase the price on the console. That’s anti consumer af
Video game companies are going all-in on seeing just how greedy they can be and get away with it. I’m curious to see just how much consumers will put up with.
Buy used. Because fuck them.
Or better yet, consider a SteamDeck instead of supporting Nintendo in any way, shape, or form.
Emulators are great these days. Far better experience than using their underpowered console.
I bet, played through tears of the kingdom on the switch and it was rough.
Same. Then played it with emulator and it was buttersmooth. There are even upscaling and FPS unlock mods on the emulator.
Mind if I ask for information on what emulator u use? Been considering getting into a handheld PC one of these days, got a switch little over a year ago for mobile gaming and honestly I love it for what it is but it was a bit dated when new to put it nicely… And price of a switch 2 I might as well spring for a legion go or something if that nature
Ryujinx. Not sure if it runs better than a Switch on a handheld. I have a beefy PC.
Just buy a steam deck and actually own your hardware and software.
Except you don’t own your software on steam
You own more of the software that runs the steam deck than any Nintendo console. You also have the option to buy games from other digital platforms.
Buy games on GOG and run them on the steam deck.
Seriously, there are games I bought 25 years ago that work on Steam Deck—and they were never meant to work on Steam Deck. But through the power of Proton, they work.
How many original GameCube games work on a Switch 2?
No original ones do considering there’s no disc slot, but you can play whatever they choose to drip-feed you via NSO if you pay for the Expansion Pack subscription.
Or you can play every GameCube game on Steam Deck with improved visuals for free.
And consider this: you can hook up your Steam Deck to a dock – and connect an external DVD drive, which allows you to play decades old titles that aren’t available on any storefronts.
It’s how I was able to play both Black & White as well as Black & White 2 on my Steam Deck.
You can, although I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with just downloading the game, especially considering it’s not being sold anywhere.
You can run non-Steam games on the Steam Deck as well.
Compared against a Switch 1, yes, it is a crazy deal, but I’d personally wait for a more powerful handheld, or a successor at least in 2025 (almost 2026) that truly competes against more recent PC handhelds, including the Switch 2.
Because fuck you.
Of course they are. They don’t want anyone buying anything but switch 2.
Fuck Canada in particular, as usual. It’s starting to feel a bit personal.
Probably to offset any tariff costs in the USA.
Uh…wow. The balls.
Was considering a new switch, but may hold off now.
Which tablets do you have in mind? I could not find any suitable for anything but phone games via touch screen and unimpressive battery, but I don’t really know this market
If you want a similar gaming handheld, Steam Deck.
Love my steamdeck but it’s definitely not similar to a switch other than they both play video games handheld. Even the docked experiences are super different.
How’s the deck for mouse-heavy strategy games like Stellaris, Civ, etc?
Great, the touchpads are amazing for mouse-related stuff while handheld. I can comfortably use mouse heavy menus with them. Obviously, a lot closer to a laptop touchpad than an actual mouse, but still a lot better than a joystick as mouse.
A Steam Deck is a PC. If you dock it, you can hook up a mouse+KB and a monitor, and use “desktop mode” (KDE plasma) to use it exactly like any other Linux desktop. Docked “gaming mode” makes it feel more like a home console for PC games (and emulators). It is even possible (though not recommended) to install Windows.
If you hook it up to a monitor and use a keyboard with mouse, it’s indistinguishable from a regular PC.
Playing portably, mouse-based games run pretty well. Games that use a lot of keyboard keys are where it gets difficult without using an actual keyboard.
I don’t personally have one, but Civ has a touch interface (at least 5 does, never got into 6). The touchpads probably approximate a mouse input.
You’d probably be better served by a retro handheld. A lot of them run android so you can play android games, but the built in controllers make emulating actually enjoyable.
Major issue is that the ones cheaper than a switch struggle with 3D games.
If you have the money, steamdeck is definitely one of the best bang for buck, but it’ll probably be more expensive than a switch (unless you can find a deal on a used/refurbished one).
Thanks! I am starting to think a steamdeck is going to be my solution. SteamOS on my tiny nongaming Linux laptop works perfectly for 2D or light 3D games, so I expext it to be fine.
You can get a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (with a pen) for C$330. It has better GPU performance than a Switch.
You can play games like Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and Sky: Children of the Light pretty damn well.
Thanks. Does it work well with controllers, or do people mostly play with the on-screen joysticks?
Yeah, you can hook up a Bluetooth controller just fine. Lots of them available.
You can emulate too.
You’re not really suggesting that playing mediocre android games on a touchscreen tablet is the same market as a handheld gaming device with controllers
No, I’m suggesting that it’s 2025—not 2017 anymore.
Android gaming is now very good, with many excellent titles available at an affordable price.
What’s more, you can play them very easily with an actual controller.
Google will change the APIs every 2 years and break all your old games so I’m kinda over it at this point.
Android has a couple high-profile indie games like Stardew Valley and some rare ports of older games, that’s it. I wouldn’t call it very good. and unless you’re willing to shell out $150+ for a great telescopic controller there’s no way playing on the tablet would be comfortable.
The OP is really blowing smoke up Android’s ass when it comes to the quality of native Android games. Most “top” mobile games are freemium crap riddled with microtransactions.
What it does have, however, is emulators. Including one for the Switch itself. Paying $350 for decade-old hardware and $80 for games is just bad value compared to a $300 used S21 and $0 games.
If we’re going by piracy logic then you can buy a $200 used Switch and hack it to download games for free. I genuinely don’t think a phone or tablet would ever be a good experience. nobody is going to play with touch controls, it doesn’t let you play games on the TV, the emulator has compatibility issues and bugs, not to mention how most phones throttle hard when they get warm. I’m not buying this discussion at all.
Take a look at GRID Legends Mobile and tell me what on the original Switch looks better than this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItnOLA7-Er4
Oh, there’s no doubt about that. I’m not disagreeing that Android has some good-looking games. The problem is that games like GRID Legends Mobile are the exception, not the rule.
The Switch is crap, yes.
The Play Store is also overwhelmingly crap, though.
If you exclude all of the mobile games from both stores, the Switch simply has a better catalog of games.
Let’s be real.
Android’s problem isn’t lack of good games. Nor is it performance of hardware. It’s discoverability.
But really, that’s also the problem of every storefront. Steam too has a lot of legendary games. But they’re also hard to find because shitty asset flips are so abundant.
deleted by creator
Yeah, I agree with you on that.
If discoverability was better, I’m sure Android would get way more ports of good games. With the way it is right now with shovelware and Google pushing microtransaction-riddled crap over one time purchase games, though, it’s treated as a second-class platform because it’s not nearly as profitable as other platforms.
Wrong-o. Android has Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.
And they outperform the Switch with hardware that’s less expensive.
…So basically mediocre Android games and rare ports of older games. Nobody is buying a handheld console to play these.
Buddy, you’re completely out of touch with reality.
The Android gaming market is leagues larger than Nintendo’s—and it’s not even close.
Better games, better hardware than the original Switch. Other than first party titles, there’s no reason nowadays to buy an eight-year-old Switch.
You’re comparing apples to oranges.
The mobile gaming market is leagues larger than every other market combined. That doesn’t mean the games are even remotely comparable to console games.
It’s an entirely different target audience. Mobile games are focused on quick sessions and design patterns designed to encourage spending money on microtransactions. Games made for the traditional gaming market are mostly designed for longer play sessions with more mechanically complex gameplay. I as well as many others prefer the latter.
Nintendo’s store is full of shovelware, but at least you’ll find more traditional games than just ports of indie hits. Or, buy a Steam Deck and enjoy something better than both.
To me, this is one of the funniest things in gaming culture right now.
I mean, have you looked closely at most Nintendo releases lately? They often feel like glorified indie games. They just happen to have big-budget marketing that indie developers lack.
Meanwhile, people act like Nintendo is some untouchable giant of innovation. Let’s be real: when was the last time a Mario game genuinely pushed boundaries? Nowadays, most releases are cash grabs riding on nostalgia and brand recognition.
No one, and I mean no one, is out here mistaking Mario Kart World for a visually groundbreaking, ambitious masterpiece like Black Myth: Wukong.
Maybe instead of throwing shade at indie devs, you should appreciate that indies often deliver fresh, daring experiences Nintendo no longer risks taking.
What android games would you suggest?
Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.
Thanks
There is also dead cells, slay the spire, monster train, disable immortal, etc.
However, those are also all playable on switch too. Technically you can emulate the switch on android, but I think this brings up the biggest flaw in gaming on android; you’re either emulating or streaming for most good games.
Retroid Pocket 5
I’ve been playing some games in a retroid pocket 5.
Mind you, it doesn’t run all games, nor all well, but could be worth checking out.
It may be that value prop of 1 with OLED is higher than 2.