How many Switch 2s should there be? (Nintendo)
A reader argues that for the Switch 2, Nintendo should make a reverse of the Switch Lite: a non-portable model that’s more powerful.
I’m writing this on Thursday afternoon and I feel confident in saying that the Nintendo Switch 2 (or GTA 6) isn’t going to be announced at The Game Awards. I just don’t think that Nintendo or Rockstar Games want to do that kind of annoucement at someone else’s event, where they don’t have complete control over every single factor. It’s interesting to me, how the best game makers are all so very different in terms of what they create but surprisingly similar in how they act.
In many ways though, I’m not that interested in the initial reveal, but more the second one that will inevitably go into more detail about the games. Given how many rumours there have been recently, it would now be a shock if the Switch 2 looked very different from the current Switch, bar this extra ‘pedal’ on the back and some other minor differences. But that’s fine. The physical design of the Switch has been a proven success, and I am happy for it to be iterated on.
What I want from the Switch 2 is for it to be more powerful, not just for the sake of it but so that it can run all or most current gen games. I realise that’s probably not likely this generation, even if it has been a small leap from last gen, but that’s why I would like them to do an equivalent of the Switch Lite, but instead of being portable-only I’d like it to be not portable at all and more powerful.
This very idea, of there being two models of the Switch 2, was suggested by a rumour a year or so ago but I have never heard it brought up again, which means it’s either not true, and someone just made it up, or Nintendo’s lawyers got to them. Sadly, I feel the more likely explanation is the first one.
The thing is though, the Switch Lite is a special model that removes the main gimmick of the console (and loses the meaning of its name) in order to offer a cheaper version for a specific use and audience. What I am arguing for is to simply do the opposite: a more expensive version for a different audience.
I’m not suggesting a £700 PS5 Pro monstrosity, but I don’t think that would be necessary. It must be possible to approximate the PlayStation 5’s power much more easily now than it was four years ago, especially as the Switch 2 wouldn’t need a disc drive, so you’re already looking at something more equivalent to the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition’s price, which is around £350 at the moment.
That’s less than £100 more than the Switch OLED, so we’re not talking about some massive leap in price. That’s why I think my suggestion is reasonable, because a more powerful Switch 2 will immediately allow it access to a much wider range of third party games. Remove the portable features, like the detachable Joy-Cons (which the Switch Lite also doesn’t have) and I think you’d be able to keep the price quite low.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: Nintendo would not want certain Switch 2 games to only work on one model but they’ve done that multiple times before with their portables, going as far back as the Game Boy Color – when it was quite commonplace – and as recently as the New Nintendo 3DS, which had over half a dozen games which only worked on it and not standard versions of the console (Xenoblade Chronicles 3D was the most famous).
So, all I’m asking for is this: a non-portable version of the Switch 2 that is less than £400 and which is powerful enough to run Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 games. I believe this would sell in significant numbers, certainly a higher percentage of normal Switch 2 sales than the PS5 Pro compared to the PlayStation 5.
Ordinary Switch 2 customers would not be inconvenienced in any way, but those that wanted to pay a little more and/or sacrifice the portability, would be given access to a wider range of games, of the sort that more hardcore gamers would probably only be interested in anyway.
I haven no expectation that Nintendo will do this, but it’s what I hope for anyway.
By reader Cinnamon
The New Nintendo 3DS ran different games to the old one (Nintendo)
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