In 2017, Nintendo released theNintendo Switchand blew everyone away with its compact and seamless design, as well as launch games likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Now seven years on, rumors of the Switch 2 have been building, butit’s likely that the official announcement and reveal for the next generation console will be abjectly lame.
Alongside what may be a disappointing announcement is a slightly underwhelming follow-up console for the Nintendo Switch, according to themassive number of leaksthat have been coming out regarding the upcoming console. It seems thatthe Switch 2 will be more like an upgraded version of the existing Switch, with better Joy-Cons and improved docks, rather than an entirely new console. While it could be disappointing to not see more innovation from Nintendo, this could indicate that the company is focused on improving on what they see as a perfect console. However, the reveals so far have been less than perfect.
The Only Official Switch 2 News Is Coming From… X?
Random Tuesdays Have Yielded The Most Official News
So far, every piece ofmajor news from Nintendo regarding the Switch 2 has come out in the form of tweetsfrom theNintendoCoLtdX account. The first-ever confirmation that a new console was in development came on a random Tuesday in May a little before 3 am EST.
It read, “This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year.”The tweet continued on, confirming that the next Nintendo Direct livestream would not discuss the Switch 2.
For such a huge piece of information for Nintendo, it was surprising to see itannounced with almost deliberately as little fanfare as possible. While it could be because Nintendo would prefer to quell too much speculation from the rumor mills, seeing a next-gen confirmation in a random tweet was still jarring.
Why A New Zelda Game Is So Important To The Switch 2’s Launch Success
The Nintendo Switch 2 has many first-party games that could launch for it. However, for it to succeed, it might need a new Zelda game.
While Nintendo has still not come out with an announcement for the Switch 2, including its name or price, the company didcontinue to drop feature information in more random tweets. Later in the year, another post fromNintendoCoLtdread: “This is Furukawa. At today’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well.”Again,no fanfare or hype for a fairly important announcement, which simply makes what should be an exciting news reveal fall flat.
We Already Know What Switch 2 Looks Like (Probably)
Numerous Leaks Show A Similar Product To The First Switch
Unfortunately for Nintendo,the design for the Switch 2may have already been leaked by an accessory company. From an image of the Switch 2 in a case, it looks likethe successor to the Nintendo Switch is essentially an upgraded Switch. Even the Joy-Con colors, those iconic shades of red and blue, are exactly the same. While this information is interesting, it is important to remember that leaks can never be fully trusted.
10 Games That Should Be Added to Nintendo Switch Online In 2025
Nintendo Switch Online does an admirable job brining retro titles to modern hardware, but there are plenty of Nintendo classics still missing.
From a report fromPolygon, it seems that the biggest changes for the Switch 2 will bekey updates to common issues with the original Switch. First and foremost, a new type of joystick that will hopefully eliminate Joy-Con drift, a common issue that has plagued the Switch since the beginning. Additionally, a more powerful dock with fans may accompany the Switch 2, which holds promise for better graphical performance.
Nintendo Is Known For Innovation, So Why Does Switch 2 Seem So Uninspired?
Can You Improve Upon Perfection?
Looking atevery console Nintendo has ever releasedcreates a stunning line-up of entirely unique shapes, colors, and functions. It seems thatthe Switch 2 will end a parade of innovation in favor of perfecting what already exists. It’s been seven years since the original Nintendo Switch came out, but beyond a new OLED version in 2021, reports indicate that Nintendo isn’t doing much to create an entirely new console. Instead, the company seems to be focused on perfecting its current console design. While this is admirable, it is slightly disappointing that the company known for innovation in both its hardware and software will likely be sticking with a safer option.
10 Games That Should Come To Switch 2 As Remakes Or Remasters
New console generations are typically defined by their new games, but the Switch 2 has plenty of potential with remastering some classics.
The most likely reason for the Switch 2 to be so uninspired, in that it’s just an upgraded Switch, is thatthe Nintendo Switch is already the perfect console for the type of games and players Nintendo is marketing to. Rather than selling both handheld consoles and home consoles, like Nintendo did throughout the Game Boy to 3DS era, Nintendo can sell one core console to everyone.
Also, being able to remove the controllers makes it the perfect console for the more interactive family-oriented games Nintendo creates, likeSwitch SportsandSuper Mario Party Jamboree. Between tweet-reveals and what’s very likely to be the final console unofficially showcased, the official reveal ofNintendo Switch 2just doesn’t seem as exciting as it should.
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