The Nintendo Switch 2 has been the big buzzword of the gaming rumor mill for some time, with leaks and claims allegedly revealing what it looks like, when it will be released, what specs it will have, and more. Before Nintendo officially announced that a Switch successor was coming, the existence of the Switch 2 was one of gaming’s worst-kept secrets. However, now that the Nintendo Switch is seven years old, the point of a new Switch, one that boasts worse hardware than the current gen, remains contentious.
As the end of 2024 approaches, the rumors and leaks surrounding the Switch successor have started cropping up, with the design of the Switch 2 allegedly leaking online. Although fans are certainly excited by the leaks, It feels like it’s too late for the Switch 2, at least when it comes to the console race. However, whether this matters, or indeed whether Nintendo should care, is another issue entirely.
The Switch 2 is releasing late and that’s okay
Nintendo’s new console will sell anyway
Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will be announced sometime before the end of the fiscal year, which is March 31, 2025Although it has remained very quiet about exactly when this will be. Although many believe it will be announced during a rumored September 2024 Nintendo Direct, there is no confirmation that it will be anytime soon. However, even if Nintendo does reveal the Switch 2 in 2024, there’s a very good chance it won’t launch until 2025.
Eurogamer reported that the Switch 2, which, at one point, was slated to release in 2024, is now set to come out in Q1 of 2025. Notably, VGCAs well as Toyo Securities analyst Hideki Yasuda And many others, further confirming this, give the impression that The Switch 2 will arrive sometime between January and March 2025. At this point, the Nintendo Switch could potentially be eight years old and will have seen the reveals of next-gen consoles, their pro counterparts, and the handheld revolution with the likes of the Steam Deck and more.
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It is clear, and has been for some time, that Nintendo does not care about the console warsNor does it really care about competition. Although Switch sales have been slightly in decline in recent years, it has Sold over 141 million unitsThat’s more than the Xbox One and Series X/S series combined, making it the third best-selling console ever. Nintendo consoles aren’t guaranteed moneymakers – the WiiU is a good example – but by this point, they’re a bankable brand and one that clearly isn’t concerned about keeping up with its competitors.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will sell, no matter its release date
The Nintendo Switch audience is a different beast
The sheer number of leaks and rumors surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 should be a big enough indication that people are excited about it, even just to see what it’s like, and that will likely translate to sales.
However, what is important to remember is that The Nintendo Switch user base is completely different from those on PlayStation, Xbox or even PC. The Nintendo Switch sells itself as a casual console that is capable of playing triple-A games, albeit with significantly pared-back visuals, and as a result, there are many people who own a Switch alongside other platforms.
In a 2020 report by gamesindustry.bizIt was revealed that Switch owners are the most likely to own multiple consoles, with 60% of Switch players owning a PlayStation 4 and 51% also owning an Xbox One. Switch users don’t typically buy a Nintendo Switch expecting the best graphics, which is why they own other consoles alongside it.
rather, People buy the Switch for its form factor, its more casual appeal and the ease of use thanks to the simple UI, which the Switch 2 will almost certainly retainAlthough with faster loading times and better visuals.
If the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility, most Switch users will likely see it as an upgrade rather than a traditional next-gen console, as the PS5 Pro is positioning itself as an upgrade.
Nintendo is still the only company producing handhelds that appeal to a more casual audienceWith its closest competition is the Steam Deck, although it struggles with not having every game on its platform even run. PlayStation comes close to Portal, though its reliance on an Internet connection removes the portability factor that the Switch provides, and Xbox doesn’t come close to providing a handheld.
People buy Nintendo consoles for Nintendo exclusives
A new Animal Crossing or Mario Kart will help sell the Switch 2
One of the biggest problems with the WiiU, outside of some obvious exceptions, was that it failed to deliver on the exclusive front. Although it had some decent games that were later ported to the Nintendo Switch, it wasn’t a huge incentive to buy a WiiU because there was little on it that was worthwhile and couldn’t be played elsewhere. The Nintendo Switch was the complete opposite, offering some of the best games ever made on its platform, including the best-selling titles. Breath of the wild And Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
There are many possible Switch 2 launch titles that players would like, and Nintendo has enough recognizable brands, elevated thanks to the popularity of the Switch, that it can be reliably consumed as console sellers. If the Switch 2 is released with a new Mario KartMainline Mario game, Animal CrossingOr a new IP from one of its partner developers, it would likely sell well. Nintendo’s catalog of Syllable series rivals that of the PlayStation and Xbox, and would likely help the Switch 2 get its foot in the door Despite releasing at such a late stage.
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It’s undeniable that the Nintendo Switch 2 is very, very late to the party, and for many, the hype may have dwindled. However, it would be unfair to say it’s too late for the Switch 2, as Nintendo’s bankable franchise and the casual nature of the console mean it’s likely to do reasonably well. While the Nintendo Switch 2 May not have the graphical fidelity of a PS5 or Series X, it is very likely to win the hearts of casual players and those who just want to play triple-A games on a handheld once again.
Source: Eurogamer, VGC, Kabutan, Statistics, gamesindustry.biz