Launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch was the Kyoto-based video game company's attempt to bridge the divide between handheld and home consoles following the mixed reception of the Wii U.
The hybrid console was a runaway success, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the video game the world needed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Nintendo has announced the launch of the Switch 2 on 5th June. To combat scalpers, pre-orders will be by invitation only.
“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”
Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:
Nintendo Switch 2 console
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable
Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 from Amazon (affiliate link).
After the pandemic, I traded my original Switch for the OLED model and am tempted to upgrade to the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle. The majority of Nintendo Switch games will be backwards compatible with the Switch 2, and some titles offer enhanced performance on the console. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom. However, upgrading will cost extra. As an early adopter, I've been burned before by price drops for the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS.
Are you getting the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch or are you holding off? Let me know in the comments below.
I've got a pre-order in for the complete bundle (with camera and pro controller) as that's all that was available at my retailer of choice about 10 mins after pre-orders were released (a week earlier than anticipated).
ReplyDeleteI quite like this new world where software and hardware are backwards compatible. It's working well for the Xbox and the PS5 too. The Nintendo classics on Nintendo Switch Online are a welcome way to enjoy and replay though older classics with a few modern advantages (not me using the save state feature just before a final boss in Link to the Past!).
It feels like we've moved away from the new platform, new games, new tech, fresh start and we're now evolving into a 'bring your games with you'. This is great for consumers, who like me bought four pro controllers so that we could do 4 player couch mario kart at home with the kids.
It'll be nice to know I can do that with the Switch 2 and only have the one new pro controller (for me, obviously) and the others can use the other (still fully functional and great in their own way) controllers without me having to spend an absolute fortune on replacing them.
I know there's quite a lot of negative press on the game price, but I was paying £70 a game for the SNES, I only had 10 games. It's crazy how people forget. I know the console itself was cheaper but we are in a place where non-pc games seem to retail quite highly.
I got the 3DS and the 3DS XL and I do remember there being a price cut after launch and I got some sort of perks for paying more. So I'm sure if there is some sort of price drop, the early adopters will be treated with respect and fairness.
The biggest win for me will be a change to the eshop. Hopefully it uses some local caching and optimisations to make using the eshop a pleasure rather than a pain.
Nintendo has always been about first party titles for me. I tend to buy Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda games, Luigi's Mansion (can't wait for the gamecube classic), and I use other platforms for other games.
I'm excited for the release. I don't think it'll flop like the Wii U (which I also had, and really enjoyed some of the innovation with).
Great points as always and I'll certainly pre-order once availability is improved! I remember the SNES era and paying big bucks for Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting!
DeleteI was going to resist. I’d had my fingers burned in the past early adopting Nintendo consoles. Not to mention then confused launch of Switch 2, lack of OLED and dreadfully short battery life (in comparison with original Switch). Then Nintendo sent me an email saying I met the criteria and had until the end of the day to secure my pre-order. What can I say? I’m weak. It arrives on launch day. Mario Kart World bundle.
ReplyDeleteSuper Mario Kart for SNES was a defining video game and I'll pickup the bundle, too!
DeleteWhen preorders are available in Canada I'll probably give into the base console. I have no interest in Nintendo Switch Online or most of its launch lineup (since I have most of them on other platforms) but I am interested in a launch day Switch 2 as an emulation device. I may just keep it in a drawer while I wait for the day it can be exploited. While I do remember the times of $120 CAD SNES games, we had fewer people into gaming back then. A lack of an OLED screen is criminal and imo 256GB isn't big enough for a handheld but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteI think it'll be a great system though... if only for the fact that Nintendo can finally get the third party support they've lacked since the SNES days.
I am excited for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which was announced for the original Switch before development hell delayed it!
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