On June 16, Nintendo finally decided to announce its Nintendo Switch 2. We knew it would be revealed at the beginning of the year, but we didn't yet know what form this famous revelation would take. The firm staged its next console in a short trailer showing all the innovations in terms of design, taking the current version of the Nintendo Switch as a model.
A reworked dock, magnetic Joy-Con, a new enigmatic button, but also a new Mario Kart game and a significantly larger console: here is what what players can expect to see in a few months. While this all sounds enticing, the presentation was deemed largely insufficient for many players.
A risky decision for Nintendo
Comments like “nothing has changed”, “it’s the same console” or “it’s not a Switch 2, it’s a Switch 1.5” have been flying around since the announcement. Indeed, Nintendo has only focused on for this demonstration on the aesthetic and ergonomic novelties. At first glance, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems extremely similar to its current version except for a few “details”.
But aren't these “details” that would make all the difference? Gamers criticize Nintendo for its lack of ambition, as do investors. Following the presentation, Nintendo's stock on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell between 4% and 7%. It seems that the lack of concrete information and the trailer that was not very demonstrative made investors and players alike cautious.
Back to the Wii U era?
However, we must remember that the Nintendo Switch 2 is not that different from other consoles. It was expected to be a breakthrough like no console has ever been before. The many rumors, leaks and lack of teasing increased the pressure. This announcement was therefore inevitably as eagerly awaited as the messiah. However, the Switch 2 is not disappointing.
We grant you, the design is not innovative on many points. The reality is that Nintendo had to make a choice between keeping a winning team, or risk losing its community over a design that could have turned out to be a damp squib (shout out to the Wii U). The closer you get to perfection, as was the case when the Nintendo Switch was revealed in 2017, the harder it is to improve.
Even at the end of its life, the Nintendo Switch is recording impressive sales figures. It's a safe bet that despite the criticism, the Nintendo Switch 2 will sell just as well. The manufacturer's ambitions are also quite high. An analyst specializing in the field states that Nintendo would like to sell 20 million consoles in just one year, or 33% more sales than for the first Switch.
Let's change perspective
Finally, let's not forget that the main criticisms leveled against the console since the beginning of its existence mainly concern its performance, whether its internal power or its screen. So many problems that will be solved with the Nintendo Switch 2, if only players would be patient to realize it.
Nintendo has warned us, we won't know more until April 2, when a Nintendo Direct is planned. If the current rumors are true, then the Nintendo Switch 2 could have similar power to that of the PS4 Pro. This is the aspect that will allow Nintendo to make the big leap to its next generation.
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