Rumors of a Nintendo Switch 2 (or Switch Pro) have been circulating for years. Whispers of the next-gen Nintendo console first began when The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was first teased in 2019, gained steam when the Switch OLED launched in 2021, and are rising now that the usual Switch has been out for six years.
There’s little question that the Nintendo Switch is a improbable console — it has a singular spectacular recreation library (with extra upcoming video games slated for this yr), the variety of options included with Nintendo Switch Online is continually enhancing, and it’s nonetheless our favourite moveable console — however it isn’t with out its flaws. There’s sufficient room for enchancment that will warrant a completely new console within the close to future.
Looking on the Switch’s lifespan and the present gaming panorama, right here’s what we expect the Nintendo Switch 2 must deliver to the desk to be a worthwhile improve and compete with different platforms.
4k decision and sooner processing
While the Switch absolutely wasn’t constructed to compete with the Xbox Series X or PS5 when it comes to uncooked horsepower, it could possibly really feel woefully underpowered working even Switch exclusives, not to mention multi-platform titles. Trailers for upcoming Nintendo titles are sometimes met with “that looks great … for the Switch” and new launches don’t all the time run as easily as followers hoped. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet had been unusually buggy at launch, Sonic Frontiers couldn’t hit excessive body charges on Switch, and video games like Hogwarts Legacy and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum are coming to the Switch properly after preliminary launch dates as these ports require further work to suit them on the system. While the upcoming Legend of Zelda installment appears nice, we will’t assist however dream about how properly it’d run on one other console or PC.
Nintendo has actually carved out its personal piece of the gaming marketplace for gamers who don’t want improved graphics or processing energy (do we actually want high-res Kirby or Pikachu?), however the Switch’s limitations actually maintain it again and that problem is barely going to worsen shifting ahead.
The present Switch can hit 720p to 1080p decision and has a 60fps body charge restrict. We’d like to expertise full 4K gaming on the Switch 2 and bump up that body charge potential (so it could possibly on the very least constantly hit 60fps). We aren’t going to get into the ins and outs of processing energy and most well-liked chipsets right here, however we undoubtedly want extra energy from Nintendo going ahead.
Make the OLED display the brand new normal
Nintendo
The Nintendo Switch has all the time been filled with brilliant, colourful gaming experiences in comparison with different consoles that concentrate on mature titles that are inclined to pattern darker (visually and content-wise) and its successor will want a display to replicate that content material. When the Switch OLED mannequin launched in 2021, the usual Switch’s LCD display instantly regarded washed out by comparability. OLED screens are steps forward of their counterparts, boasting improved black ranges, brightness ranges, and coloration accuracy whereas utilizing much less energy general.
We’d be actually upset if Nintendo walked again on such a terrific replace and didn’t standardize the OLED display on its subsequent console on the very least.
More built-in storage
Any longtime Switch homeowners have run into storage points and have been compelled to archive recreation knowledge to make room for brand new video games usually. The normal Switch and Switch Lite include 32 GB of inside storage, whereas the Switch OLED mannequin bumps up storage to 64 GB. With new video games turning into extra demanding and needing more room with every passing yr, the thought of becoming greater than a handful of premium titles inside 64 GB is laughable. And even a few of that restricted storage is reserved to be used by the system!
Switch customers can simply broaden the storage on any of those consoles by buying a big microSDHC or microSDXC card as much as 2TB, however these are offered individually and may value as a lot as a brand new recreation in the event you go together with a big one. This a bizarre value to cross off to gamers when it’s going to be 100% vital to keep up a good digital library of video games.
Nintendo ought to make the swap over to an inside solid-state drive when the Switch 2 comes out. An SSD would permit for higher inside storage and drastically improved load instances in comparison with the Switch’s normal flash reminiscence or exterior SD card knowledge switch instances. Current video games would carry out higher and sooner, whereas builders would have much more to work with when growing new video games. It’s a win for everybody.
Improved Joy-Cons
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Everyone loves the power to maneuver the Switch forwards and backwards between docked and handheld modes. What’s higher than doling out Joy-Cons to your whole mates for a recreation of Mario Party Superstars or Mario Kart 8? The simplicity of the Switch’s controller design works — we’re not asking for something complicated — however the high quality of them simply isn’t as much as business normal. Joy-Cons really feel low cost for the way a lot they value, aren’t probably the most ergonomic form for comfy lengthy gaming periods, and can inevitably undergo from drift points. This is when a Joy-Con thumbstick will transfer with out a participant touching it, inflicting apparent gameplay issues.
Joy-Con drift is the large problem right here as a result of it has existed for the reason that console’s launch and Nintendo actually hasn’t finished something about it with newer fashions. The firm has been repairing out-of-warranty Joy-Cons since 2019 however the course of isn’t precisely easy and Switch homeowners shouldn’t must ship their very primary controllers off for issues with the design.
Color customization choices
Nintendo has launched some spectacular particular version Switch fashions for video games like Splatoon 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, however there aren’t an entire lot of customization choices outdoors of shopping for a completely new console or a separate set of Joy-Cons that you just won’t want. There are a number of coloration schemes accessible for the Switch Lite and some totally different coloration first-party Joy-Con colours however outdoors of that its loads of third-party equipment that may not meet Nintendo requirements.
Obviously, there must be a coloration scheme for the bottom mannequin, however wouldn’t or not it’s cool in the event you may order a Switch 2 on-line and choose your personal types for the console, dock, and Joy-Cons? That stage of personalization may make a Switch successor really feel a bit extra particular, giving gamers an excellent motive to improve. It’d be nice to see that vitality prolonged to its UI as properly, bringing again the Nintendo 3DS’ themes and including new methods to customise the present Switch’s barebones menu display.
And please, Nintendo, deliver again translucent controllers.
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