Do we really need a Switch 2? I'm asking
It's no secret by now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is available for pre-order around the world, a fact I wasn't aware of until I was doom scrolling on TikTok, but now it's out there I have thoughts and questions and I want to share - because what's the point of this blog otherwise?
In between my TikTok fyp page's memes, arts, crafts, and cosy gaming content was a video detailing the new features and the (in my opinion) eyewatering cost of the Switch 2.
Except I have one question - why?
In my mind as a Switch owner - who has managed to lose both the charger and the dock in the boxes I need to unpack - the Switch hit its peak back when no one could be out of their homes for more than a couple of hours a day without a really good reason aka 2020. So why are we bothering with a new Switch that is heavy and bulkier than edition one and won't even have real game cards for some games?
To view the TikTok that inspired this article, click here!
The new features
Let's start with the good, in the reviews I've read across gaming websites - gotta support news gaming sites - the major highlight has been increased experience in the joycons, feeling rumbles of engines in Mario Kart and other effects for various games. To me this feel likes a huge leap in technological advancement for gaming and we love to see that, but these new features have a draw back from official reports of the console.
Joycons attached to the console base, now mean the Switch 2 weighs a whopping 1.18 Pounds - in grams that's 535.2g for us non-Americans. I'm no expert but my 'old' (can't believe I've had to type that) Switch can feel heavy after an extended period of time. The thought of the weight alone makes my hands hurt.
Games, except not physical games
When I first heard about the new games coming to the Switch 2 - most specifically Mario Kart World, I was all but jumping for joy. I'm a competitive Mario Kart player and have been since I was a child, and the speculation surrounding new Mario Kart games, the waves (phases) added to previous editions of new maps is exciting in my mind. But then I thought back to my DS and 3DS days, like with the DS to 3DS, you can play old Switch games on the new Switch but naturally it doesn't go the other way. So for the privilege of playing one game, I'd be buying a new console. The economics aren't economizing in my opinion.
But that's not all, many of the games (reports have suggested) will have physical holders but be a download code without the game actually on the card itself - personally my experience of downloading games from the store was problematic, the storage on my Switch filled up fast and I couldn't find a way to get more - granted I could've missed something but if limited changes have been made to the storage then how many games can you actually store? And what about those of us who love a physical card?
*Note - having done some research this has since been debunked by Nintendo who have confirmed physical cards will be inside the boxes - with the standard game content as well as booster / upgrade packs pre loaded onto the card and will not require a download code (Source - Vooks.net) and this will be the case for all Nintendo games. But games for other providers and companies remain to be confirmed.
And then there's the price
I've already mentioned that the price is slightly eye-watering, starting life in the UK at 395.99 - with price increases for the games, fans have commented on social media about the price rises. Not only to the console itself but games now starting at 60 GBP whether that is a physical copy or a download code.
In fact the cheapest item you can buy as part of the Switch 2 is ironically (or not) a USB camera to attach to the Switch 2 which is 50 GBP, oddly however is if you want the piranah version (an omagee to Mario Kart's signature tripper-upper on the tracks), it is costing significantly less at 33.99. I'm no math whizz so I went and read an article with industry experts talking about the prices:
"And even simpler, I think they raised software prices across all these regions because they think they can." - quote taken from Games Industry.Biz
I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions on the quote...
Serious question - who is buying this?
As I said already, I have a switch - one which is admittedly a little dusty from me forgetting to take it back to uni life with me but it works, it has survived over five years of intense races (Mario Kart), swimming around an island (Animal Crossing) and puzzle solving (Koa and the 5 Pirates of Mara), with all that in mind, why buy a new one for the sake of one or two games? At current only 6 games are available on the EU / UK Nintendo store and each retail around 65-75 GBP.
By no means am I judging the people who are buying this new console, if you've got the money to go and do it, and know you'll make the most of it - good for you genuinely, but aside from collectors and Switch fanatics, is this console really needed?
It's a question I can't answer, I can only offer my input, but as it stands I'm sceptical - I hope I'm wrong and that it turns out the Switch 2 is incredible and the thing we didn't know we needed. But for now I'm firmly on the fence weighing up whether this was needed and who it really serves.
What are your thoughts on the announcement and pre-orders? Will you be buying / pre-ordering or are you unimpressed with the news? Let me know in the comments I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Until next time,
Byeeee
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