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Nintendo is well-known in the industry for thinking outside the box. The Japanese company seemingly pays little attention to what the likes of Sony and Microsoft are up to, instead focusing on producing hardware that elevates its tentpole IPs. You never quite know what Nintendo is going to do. But everything Nintendo reveals about Switch 2 seems surprisingly sensible. Whether this uncharacteristically pragmatic approach works, however, and the console is a success, will entirely depend on its specifics.
Predictably Unpredictable
If there’s one phrase that neatly encapsulates Nintendo, it might be “predictably unpredictable.” The home of Mario and The Legend of Zelda has a reputation for making decisions that often appear baffling, and yet usually do no major harm to the company or its brand. Take its recent aggressive stance against emulators, for example, despite the fact emulation is technically legal. Or the recent shadow reveal of the successor to Nintendo’s best-selling console, Switch 2.
Look back on Nintendo’s recent hardware releases, and you see that unpredictability and innovation as clear as day. The Nintendo Wii eschewed the graphics race and traditional controllers in favor of motion control and a console designed to appeal to the mass market. The approach worked. What didn’t, however, was the ill-fated, muddled Wii U, which sold horrendously before Switch came along—a true hybrid handheld console—and turned Nintendo’s fortunes around with incredible sales figures.
Now, Nintendo finds itself in a very strong position as Switch 2 looms, set to release later this year. And the company doesn’t want to squander that enviable platform. So, in a truly unpredictable fashion, it isn’t seeking wild hardware innovation or taking risky ploys. Instead, Nintendo is being extremely sensible—and some more uncharitable gamers might say boring—with Switch 2.
For starters, Switch 2 is essentially a bigger, more ergonomically-friend Switch. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s a far cry from Switch’s novel hybrid approach or the Wii’s gamble on motion controls. Switch 2 will also be backward compatible with Switch games, which is eminently sensible given Switch’s massive install base. And then there’s the Nintendo president’s recent remarks during an earnings call which, you guessed it, were very sensible. It seems that Nintendo are very aware of the weight of Switch 2’s expectations, which is why the company needs to get the console’s specifics bang on.
Supply and Demand
During the earnings call, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told investors that the company is “taking the risk and proceeding with production to meet as large a demand as possible.” Essentially, Nintendo has recognized that, as was the case with Switch, it’s not easy to rapidly scale up console production. It doesn’t want to be in a position where it cannot meet demand. Again, all are very sensible. Scalpers are a blight on the industry, so any attempts to combat them are certainly welcome.
Furukawa also alludes to the difficulty in striking the balance between supporting the mass of existing Switch adopters while still encouraging the adoption of Switch 2. He acknowledges that “many people are playing Switch”, so support won’t dry up anytime soon. But he points out, correctly, that “exclusive games are crucial when launching new hardware.”
What this likely means, in reality, is that there will be versions of landmark games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for both Switch and Switch 2. Perhaps, given backwards compatibility, it will be a single game, merely enhanced for Switch 2. This approach runs the risk of hamstringing the game so that it runs on old hardware, however, and risks a poorly-performing version on Switch.
Slow and Steady
At the end of the day, though, this surprisingly sensible, steady approach to Switch 2 may be irrelevant. First and foremost, Nintendo needs to get one thing right: the console’s specifics. The price point must appeal to those who already have Switch, which is nearly everyone. And, while nobody expects Switch 2 to be the most powerful console on the market, it needs to be a significant upgrade on the horribly dated Switch.
Get these specifics right, and Switch 2 has every chance of success. Although some of our writers disagree, I think Nintendo is right to take a purely iterative approach for Switch 2. When you have a console that has sold over 150 million units, why toy with that formula?
But, as I’ve said before, it’s crucial that Nintendo’s April Direct tells us everything we want to know about Switch 2. Consider us teased and intrigued, but now we need enticing details. Otherwise, no amount of sensibleness will negate the risk that Switch 2 could be a hard sell, particularly with many games set to release on Switch. The ball’s in your court, Nintendo.
