Switch 2: Good Enough for Now

Nintendo are launching a new console at the worst possible time. Their feature set is questionable. They’re charging for absolutely everything, including the game that explains how the console works. People are excited, the biggest fans will buy it no matter what. But the best we can say? The Switch 2 is not without hurdles to hop.

Just hours after the Nintendo Direct revealing its brand new console, US President Donald Trump is holding a press conference of his own. The Make America Wealthy Again announcement will see tariffs put on just about every country in the world (as of writing it hasn’t taken place). Either way, it will likely go down as well as every financial decision he’s made since going into office. On top of that, he’s threatened annexations of Canada and Greenland, has threatened Iran, and messed up support for Ukraine. It’s not going to be a stable few years.

The Switch 2 will release into the heart of all of this mayhem. It’d be nice to think thing will calm down by June 2025, when the console is set to hit shelves. I wouldn’t bet on it. People are already cutting back on discretionary spending.

On top of that, the Switch 2 is no longer the only option for handheld fans. PlayStation people have the Portal. The Steam Deck and other PC handhelds are right there too. The Switch still has plenty of life in it, and many will just keep their old devices. Both PlayStation and Xbox are also rumoured to have handhelds of their own on the horizon too.

None of this will necessarily outdo the wow factor of a new console, and a Nintendo console at that. Early sales will be strong. That might just be enough.

Time for a Switch

Nintendo have stubbornly held onto the Switch since 2017. That’s despite the almost instant call for a pro version with better, more stable visuals. The Japanese company isn’t expecting the Switch 2 to last any less time.

So when I’ve seen people asking why the grand total of the Switch’s launch consists of a Mario Kart, a Donkey Kong and some old PS4 (and some Gamecube!) games, I’ve shook my head. The line-up for the Switch 2 is awesome, mostly for those that currently only have a Switch. There’s a lot of classics to work through.

But Nintendo need to play a slower game than Sony and Microsoft did in 2020. The world is a very different place. There needs to be a steady stream of big releases to make people upgrade. Blowing too much at launch – when the main people who will buy will do so even if your only game is a Wii U Simulator – makes no sense.

I don’t love the new system, which is effectively a fancier Switch. Some people will love it, I don’t. The new gameplay features are the kind of gimmicks that’ll work really well and really badly, and then won’t be used at all. And of course, the long cheesy trailer for voice chat/video chat brought Nintendo right up to the standards of 2006.

Despite my misgivings, it’s a solid device at a difficult time. It’s good enough for now. And I’m sure Nintendo already know how they’ll make sure it’s good enough for 2026 and beyond too.