7 Features the Next Nintendo Switch Needs
All the way back in 2016, things weren’t looking too good for video game console manufacturer Nintendo. Coming off the back of the wildly popular Nintendo Wii, they were struggling to shift units of their follow-up console, the Wii U, with lifetime sales of this console topping out at 13.5 million.
However, in March 2017, Nintendo released a brand-new console. The Switch. And whilst it’s fair to say first impressions were mixed – 7 years later, it might be Nintendo’s biggest success yet. With over 140 million units sold, and more exciting games still to be released, the Switch doesn’t have far to go to become the best-selling console of all time.
So how does Nintendo follow this up? If rumours and leaks are to be believed, Nintendo won’t be looking to reinvent the wheel with the Switch’s successor. Instead, expect their next console to be a “Switch 2” or “Super Switch” – keeping the handheld-home console-hybrid model that has worked so well for the past 7 years.
Sounds good, right? Well, here are 7 things we think the Nintendo Switch 2 NEEDS to do to avoid another Wii U situation!
1. Backwards Compatibility
If there’s one single standout feature the next Switch must have, it’s being backwards compatible.
Whilst we’ll almost definitely get new Mario Kart, Zelda, and Pokémon game for the Switch 2, it would be great to be able to play the ones we already own.
To drive the point home, the Switch has 9 games that have sold more than the highest selling PS4 game (Spider-Man). Essentially, it’s a console with an insanely high attach-rate.
Backwards compatibility is quickly becoming the standard, with your PS5 allowing you to play PS4 games, and your Xbox Series console giving you access to original Xbox games!
Luckily, Nintendo recently announced through X that Nintendo Switch software would work on their “next system”. What this means exactly is still up in the air, as this may only apply to digital purchases.
However, here’s hoping our Switch cartridges still slot into the next console!
2. Achievements
Back in the Xbox 360 era, Microsoft introduced the “Achievement” system, which added a fun meta-game that allowed you to accumulate points by completing certain tasks within games. Sony quickly iterated on this concept with their “Trophy” system.
Both achievements and trophies have become massively popular on both platforms, and yet Nintendo has remained stubborn in not participating for far too long now. It’s about time Nintendo joined in on the fun and added their own twist to the brilliant meta-game. They could even call them Stars, keeping things on brand with their biggest mascot. Whatever they call them, I can’t wait to earn a few by stomping Goombas and winning races in Mario kart.
3. 4K Resolution
If there’s one BIG thing holding Nintendo back, it’s power. Just recently, PlayStation released the incredible Astro Bot, which is heavily inspired by the many Mario games of the past but takes advantage of the PS5’s more powerful hardware in a number of exciting ways.
This isn’t to say Nintendo’s games have been ugly. Far from it. Thanks to stellar art direction, games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom look great and run smoothly, even at 30FPS.
But just think about how much better these games would look with a fraction of the power of a PS5.
And that’s not even mentioning all the poorly optimized ports of third-party games, that quite frankly aren’t even worth buying on the Nintendo console (The Outer Worlds, ARK, and Pillars of Eternity just to name a few) .
The Switch was fairly weak when it launched back in 2017, and today, just loading up the E-shop is less convenient than heading down to your local game shop and picking up a cartridge yourself.
The console needs to be on par with at least an Xbox Series S, or else it will quickly fall behind when it comes to the performance of Third-Party games.
4. Themes
Okay, this one is more of a “Nice to have” than an essential, but, well…it would be nice to have some lovely themes.
Bizarrely, there’s an entire section of the Switch’s system settings called themes, where you can change your systems look to…Black or white. How exciting.
Just give us something, anything that allows for a little bit more customization.
5. A more ergonomic design
As great as the Switch is, anyone who has used it will tell you just how uncomfortable it is. The entirely flat design makes it tiresome to use for extended sessions. And don’t even get us started on using the joy cons.
If you’re ever playing Mario Kart and someone hands you one single Joy-con to play with, just decline. It’s not worth it.
We get it, it’s also designed for children, their hands are smaller and so the design needs to be accommodating. However, we’re not asking for an unwieldy PS5 Dual Sense-like design that gives your hand cramps and has a battery that lasts 4 minutes. It just needs to feel nicer to hold, with proper triggers and better grip.
Unless you own the Nintendo Pro Controller (which you have to buy separately) you’re probably desperate for an updated design. So please, Nintendo, help us out!
6. Speaking of the Pro Controller…
Oh, and whilst we’re talking about the pro controller, please make sure that it’s compatible with the new system. With a battery life that literally lasts longer than most games’ run times, and a nice, sleek design, it’s something we definitely want to work with the new hardware.
7. A Competitive Price
In this economy, one big thing we’ll all be paying attention to when the Nintendo Switch 2 launches, is the price.
With the reaction to the PS5 Pro’s price, it’s safe to say consumers aren’t too keen on the creeping cost of consoles. So how much should the new Switch cost?
Well, if we want more power than the Series S, condensed into a handheld body, we’ll probably be looking at north of £300.
Considering the original Switch launched at £279 in the UK, which is more like £350 today, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Switch 2 launch at £399.
In a world where a new Xbox or PS5 will run you well over that price, it’s not a bad deal! And if the next Switch has even half the features we want, it will be well worth the investment.
So, will you be buying a Nintendo Switch 2 when it comes out?
If the price does end up being higher than you’d like, you can always sell your old Switch and get cash to put towards your new one.
And hey, it might end up being so appealing that you’re compelled to sell your PS5 or Xbox series X to upgrade. But whether that ends up being true remains to be seen.