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[Negotiator]

Just the fact that they’re seemingly doing a remaster of BotW is such a strange thing to me.

I can’t see that being much of a hit a second time around if it’s just a visual upgrade of the base game at $70.. I’d be very curious to see how something like that performs.

No way they're doing that. Do you have any source?

At worst I expect them to charge $10 for next-gen updates, at best they'll offer them for free.

BoTW is an evergreen title, it will keep selling for a long time, even to a new audience that didn't enjoy 720p sub-30 fps graphics.

With DLSS boosting it to 4K 60 fps it would render emulation irrelevant. Currently there is no legal way to do it. Maybe that's why they're chasing down emulation sites.

 

[BlackTron]

Just the fact that they’re seemingly doing a remaster of BotW is such a strange thing to me.

I can’t see that being much of a hit a second time around if it’s just a visual upgrade of the base game at $70.. I’d be very curious to see how something like that performs.

There needs to be a way to play the game with better fidelity. But don't act like it's some epochal event that takes the place of another game. Give me a new Zelda that looks better before double dipping that one. Unless you're gonna give me some kind of upgrade path for already owning it (lol).

 

[lughnasadh123]

Why is this hardly a concern?

Am sure Nintendo executives would be having sleepless nights at thought of launching Switch 2.

Am assuming they have some BOTW level games ready, and that has caused launch delay. So it takes off right after release.

What is there to be concerned about? Assuming no major disaster happens, they just have to launch this thing and let gravity take care of the rest.

 

[March Climber]

Selfishly, it wouldn't matter to me, as I simply want the ability to play some Switch 1 games at a better framerate, legally.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Switch was novel when it was released. Now eight years later the competition is out in droves. Nintendo has to rely soley on first party to drive sales. Third party can be played anywhere else and be played better, if Nintendo is once again sticking to the low end.

Nintendo is in the conundrum that they cannot go back to being only a box with no portability because they don't have the buffer of "well its portable" so it can't be as powerful. Very few are going to accept a low power box without a screen unless it's the Nintendo faithful and they are most likely buying only first party games anyway. The Switch 2 will do amazingly well, due to first party and good will/momentum. But it will pale compared to the first Switch. Will they be able to get away with 8 years between systems? We will have to wait and see.

Nintendo has quite a task ahead of them to figure out the successor to the Switch 2, probably have much less than 8-years to figure out how to differentiate themselves as Sony and Microsoft are going to throw their portable hats into the ring as well. This is the last hurrah for Nintendo hardware in its current form as the Switch 2 just seems more powerful but not really innovative this time around.

There’s something to this take. Every big player in the console space is now moving toward hybrid handheld devices, and there is a lot of offerings from the PC space. If the cozy gaming subreddit is any indication, many of them prefer Steam Deck and Nintendo shouldn’t rest on their laurels, especially when new games will skip a low spec console.

I don’t think they’re in danger now or in the next couple years, but when the next generation of hybrids launch Nintendo will need an answer aside from “next gen in a few years”.

Yeah, and when Nintendo faceplants their marketing while failing to show games, it shows they were due a reality check, people are in fact not gonna buy it just because you're Nintendo. Wii U and 3DS suffered from that mindset, the same "but we're Nintendo" they said when Gamecube was failing...with Switch 2 launch games we find out whether they are getting too comfortable again. If they have BOTW DX at launch come on lol...but I think they are wise enough to have a good lineup.

Nintendo has a core fanbase, but after seeing performance of some of their first party Switch games, I question if they can thrive on first party alone. The Switch was a phenomenon and it basically was buoyed by a few meme status bursts of popularity - the novelty of the console and BotW during launch, then Animal Crossing during COVID lockdowns. If they remain “just another Nintendo console” the casual audience may not feel the need to repeat. I don’t think it’s likely, and Nintendo has probably planned for it. But stranger decisions have been made there. Furukawa has been great so far though, I am optimistic.

 

[kindaGoth]

So is it not going to launch with a big new Zelda or Mario adventure? Or would that still be under wraps? I’m out of the loop with Nintendo these days but I played Odyssey a few years back and it was the most charming and delightful game I had played in a while.

 

[SNG32]

They might go to PC one day but steam is off the table. Why would they?

lol Hiphopgamer said he’s talked to a reputable source and he said that Nintendo is going to start putting there games on pc.

 

[Imtjnotu]

as long as nintendo can differentiate the differences between the Switch and Switch 2 it should be okay

they couldnt do this with the Wii and Wii U. my only fear is parents for the next three years will continue to buy their kids a switch lite and not a switch 2

 

[IDKFA]

lol Hiphopgamer said he’s talked to a reputable source and he said that Nintendo is going to start putting there games on pc.

And kill their profitable hardware sales?

I don't see this happening in the near future.

 

[dragonyeuw]

I don't expect it to sell as much as Switch 1( because really, only two other systems in history have sold that much), but to outright fail it would have to be overpriced and not offer BC, off the top of my head. We know that the latter isn't an issue, but unknown is the pricing and whether it may be affected and/or to what degree by tariffs and just the inflation of components since the original launched. A big appeal of the Switch was being able to purchase multiple ones for a household, especially once they introduced the Lite model. The Switch offered the triple threat of an appealing concept, great software and an attractive pricepoint. We'll see if they land all 3 this time around. The hybrid thing in and of itself IMO is inherently less exciting than when it was introduced, but for the most part it seems like most just want a powerful version of the existing thing, but maybe Nintendo has a few tricks up its sleeve.

My personal interest in the next Switch has somewhat waned in the aftermath of PC handhelds entering the market, so it's not something I'm likely to jump on day one or even year one unless they drop some can't miss software out the gate. And even then, I'm sitting on alot of unplayed Switch 1 first party games so it's not like I need this stuff immediately nowadays.

 

[Stevonidas]

The PS5 doesn't bring anything new to the table and the PS5 Pro even brings less then that. And both are selling pretty well. If Nintendo doesn't fuck up the marketing, like they did with Wii U, and provides some good games for launch, it will sell well. And the nature of Switch 2 being portable will automatically give them a sizeable audience in Japan anyway.

The only way this thing is going to fail is if there is some sort of widespread hardware issue (ala RRoD).

Also the install base of the regular switch is way too large it will have the same problem as the ps5 with games being cross gen between switch 1 and 2 for atleast 3-4 years before "true" switch 2 games come out.

Name one console where this has happened with Nintendo. And don't say BotW, because that was a case of a Wii U exclusive being repurposed as a launch title for their next platform.

Unlike Sony/MS, Nintendo actually support their new consoles at launch with new software.

Biggest competition for Switch 2 is Switch, as ancient as it is and underpowered as it was when it launched. Switch 2 is guaranteed to do well, but to do as well or better than the phenomenal performance of the Switch itself, it's got to both convince 10s of millions of kids they need the new one that is more of the same, and also be priced well enough to appeal to the same market Switch did.

No, their biggest threat comes from Valve with the Steam Deck and possibly Apple, should they ever decide to throw their hat into the ring with more than crappy mobile games.

Yeah right. They must have on shelf, waiting for launch, a new Mario, a new Mario Kart, Metroid Prime 4 and something Zelda. And these will not be cross-gen (except Metroid Prime 4). Contrary to the other companies, Nintendo are not stupid and know how to run a business.

I don't think MP4 will even be cross-gen when they can simply release a performance patch for it. And yeah, if they don't already have a new Mario/Zelda/Animal Crossing/Pokemon, etc. ready to go Day 1, then they're at least probably far along into development. After seeing the year they had in 2017 (an all-time banger), they're going to want to do everything they can to replicate that.

It would be really weird, even by Nintendo's standards, to have a "remastered" version of Breath of the Wild for Switch 2, when the Switch 2 has BC. They could provide an update for both BotW and TotK for Switch 2, though.

It would be a massive waste of development and marketing resources when a simple performance patch would do.

 

[Robb]

No way they're doing that. Do you have any source?

At worst I expect them to charge $10 for next-gen updates, at best they'll offer them for free.

BoTW is an evergreen title, it will keep selling for a long time, even to a new audience that didn't enjoy 720p sub-30 fps graphics.

With DLSS boosting it to 4K 60 fps it would render emulation irrelevant. Currently there is no legal way to do it. Maybe that's why they're chasing down emulation sites.

Codename for BotW was “U-KING” and there’s been a leak of codenames for new titles where “U-KING-O” was part of it which follow Nintendo’s remaster trends (for example the Captain Toad port was codenamed 'Kinopio' on Wii U, 'Kinopio-S' on Switch, and 'Kinopio-C' on 3DS).

In that same leak the codename “Edward” was also included, which was rumored to be related to Link’s Awakening/Zelda in some form (which was codenamed “Richard”). And now we have confirmation that the codename was indeed “Edward” for Echoes of Wisdom.

Similarly the leaked codename “Banquet” was rumored to be a new Mario Party as Super Mario Party had a very similar codename with "Buffet”. And now we have confirmation that the codename for Jamboree was indeed “Banquet”.

There was also “Anna”, which is currently rumored to be related to Switch Sports as “Elsa” is the codename for Nintendo Switch Sports.

It’s all been very spot on thus far. But the pricing I have no idea about, I was just guessing they’d price it at $70 if it’s a retail release.

 

[Fess]

They’re doing true exclusives. They’ll still sell consoles no matter what.

 

[SNG32]

And kill their profitable hardware sales?

I don't see this happening in the near future.

Tbh I could see Nintendo doing it with games like Bayonetta, Astral Chain and Xenoblade before the heavy hitters like Mario, Zelda and Pokémon.

 

[HogIsland]

It could underperform vs Switch, but it's not going to fail.

 

[cireza]

I don't think MP4 will even be cross-gen when they can simply release a performance patch for it.

By definition, if you simply put out a patch, then it is cross-gen. You have the performance patch on Switch 2 and you are done.

And yes, they will very quickly (first year) have Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing to boost sells. They will be long sellers.

 

[Fabieter]

lol Hiphopgamer said he’s talked to a reputable source and he said that Nintendo is going to start putting there games on pc.

I know that but he didnt say they will put their games onto steam.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Yes I sometimes think about things as well.

 

[March Climber]

lol Hiphopgamer said he’s talked to a reputable source and he said that Nintendo is going to start putting there games on pc.

You reminded me of this, thank you. I will have to continue to remember just in case there will be a feast of crow being served in a year or so, because a ton of people here laughed and scoffed at the idea of Nintendo porting anything to PC.

 

[DanielG165]

I could become a millionaire this year. Hypotheticals are just that: Hypotheticals.

 

[paolo11]

I pray not. Yes anything can happen but I pray for its success

 

[Sorcerer]

I know that but he didnt say they will put their games onto steam.

It's hard to imagine Nintendo willingly handing out 30% to Valve. They will probably circumvent by having a cloud service, so they can keep their cut, and avoid piracy.

 

[BlackTron]

lol Hiphopgamer said he’s talked to a reputable source and he said that Nintendo is going to start putting there games on pc.

His uncle?

 

[SteadyEvo]

Ok... they've failed before. We all do.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

Depends on your metric of success. Is it going to put up PS2 numbers again, probably not? 100mil is doable but 80-90 million seems likely to me.

 

[EruditeHobo]

Nintendo aren't innovative enough to fail. Not for Switch 2 at least. They must have learned their lesson from WiiU, as a result this will be right over the plate with no messing around. No goofy way of controlling the thing, no gimmicks at all most likely... just literally a Switch part 2.

And considering success of the Switch, considering we already know BC is in, considering the buy-in that represents... there's roughly zero percent chance Switch 2 "fails".

 

[Euler007]

Not fail but I think people look at the sales number and overestimate:
1- The number of different clients (I know households have bought 4+ switches due to breakage and number of kids)
2- How much those people care about a better performing Switch, especially if it's more expensive and their kids are abusing the consoles.

 

[ShirAhava]

I just want faster hardware for older switch 1 titles. Even if it completely bombs I still win. I never bought the OG switch

 

[v1oz]

Success is not guaranteed. Nintendo have a history of releasing consoles that flop or outright bomb. And they usually have a flop not long after a hugely successful console. The N64 and the Gamecube both followed the massive success of the SNES. And then the Wii U came after the Wii. The consumer market is a very fickle one .

 

[v1oz]

And kill their profitable hardware sales?

I don't see this happening in the near future.

Did putting games on other platforms kill sales for Sony or Microsoft?

 

[IDKFA]

Did putting games on other platforms kill sales for Sony or Microsoft?

Too early to say with Sony. Also, they're not releasing their games day one on PC.

With Microsoft? Yeah. I'd say it was one of the reasons they're console sales have dropped.

 

[kevboard]

consoles usually fail for a reason.
if Nintendo has even a remotely compelling set of exclusive games for its first year, they'll do fine.

they don't have any real direct competition either.
the GameCube had direct competition, as did the Wii U. both of these were just home consoles, one with a badly designed controller that made third party games annoying to play and bad storage medium. and the other with bad marketing and a gimmick people didn't like.

The Switch's concept is compelling to people. The Switch 2 seems to literally just improve on every aspect without taking anything away and only adding small things.
so no direct competition, and no weird gimmicks or drawbacks that could alienate people.

 

[Knightime_X]

Do any of these blunders to help guarantee failure:

1: Market your device as TV
2: Refuse game trading
3: Sell for $800
4: Add the U to the name
5: Make it so weak, it gets little to no support.
6: Become arrogant to the point you're disliked

 

[DKPOWPOW]

Switch 2 could totally fail. If Nintendo puts on the dumbass cap, we will surely see a major decline.

Possible Dumbass Cap Future

• More major games are cross-gen with Switch (Prime 4 already hurt)
• $499 price or more
• $70 prices for ports, even Switch ports.
• Forces you to buy new controllers for multiplayer, despite joycons looking exactly the same.
• Issues carrying over your Switch account to Switch 2, preventing or creating problems using digital games.
• The power gap between Switch 1 & 2 is not noticeable enough, therefore Switch 2 becoming thought of as a "Pro" edition instead of a new console.
• Lack of exciting new games. Most are just ho-hum updates and don't contain exciting new gameplay experiences.
• Refusing to patch updates for prior Switch games to run better on Switch. Instead forcing gamers to pay $70 for slightly better versions.

Too many jumps into dumbass land and we will almost certainly see a gigantic withdrawal of the console user base. No one is immune to this, and of all the console makers I think Nintendo is the most vulnerable. Yes they have their IP, but if you look at the grand scheme of things. There are only 10-20 million hardcore Nintendo fans. The rest of the 140 million Switch owners will easily drift away.

 

[K' Dash]

 

[DragonNCM]

Nintendo will never fail console, even WiiU was success !!!

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

The naming scheme and familiarity to the previous has bit Nintendo before.

I think it will be fine still.

 

[TrebleShot]

I don't think it will be anywhere near as popular as the first one.

 

[Danjin44]

And you could die from a bus crash...

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

The trick to Nintendo is mass market pricing. If they go above $400 = DOA. We saw that with the launch 3DS.

This isn’t why the 3DS had a bad launch. It had a horrible launch lineup, so there was simply no incentive to buy one. By today’s standards, 3DS launched at a very reasonable price. It simply lacked any killer apps until 6 months later, and the damage was done.

Switch didn’t set sales charts ablaze when it launched, it simply sold remarkably better than 3DS or Wii U, launch-aligned, and made it clear that software sells hardware. Switch had a great launch because of BotW, and later on Splatoon 2 and then Mario Odyssey.

A very clear, compelling concept for the console combined with a game or two that makes people say “I need to buy this so I can play that game”. That is how Switch 2 makes it or breaks it.

 

[SNG32]

Success is not guaranteed. Nintendo have a history of releasing consoles that flop or outright bomb. And they usually have a flop not long after a hugely successful console. The N64 and the Gamecube both followed the massive success of the SNES. And then the Wii U came after the Wii. The consumer market is a very fickle one .

Honestly it has the potential to flop. Especially now with PC handhelds I wouldn’t be surprised if a good chunk of exclusives that come out are cross gen with switch 1. I don’t think Nintendo will cut off that base once the new console is out like previous. Which is why I think they have been going so hard on emulation.

 

[delirium trigger]

Nintendo could shit in a box and Nintendo fans would ask for more.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Nintendo could shit in a box and Nintendo fans would ask for more.

I never understand why this attitude still persists. Not when 3DS and Wii U happened. How do you look at the Wii U business and still hold onto this fantasy that “hardcore Nintendo fans will keep the company alive, Nintendo doesn’t need anyone else”.

Nonsense. Pure nonsense.

 

[Days like these...]

Clutch those pearls a little tighter

 

[SidViscous]

I think Nintendo are in a great place purely because they have barely any competition who are actually making joyful games.

Most "modern" games are grim dark, Sony has three IPs about the end of the world (TLOU, Horizon, Hell Divers), and our recent game of the years have been the depressing Cyberpunk and bleak as fuck Elden Ring. The reason I rave about Astrobot is because it's the first game that's made me smile in a long time.

Honestly, I think the world needs Animal Crossing and Mario Kart more than ever.

 

[RyanEvans21]

Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Super Mario, Mario Kart. Smash Bross, Zelda... Nah not even a chance.

Tell that to Wii U.

Of course it can fail. After successfull Switch.

 

[delirium trigger]

The Wii U was 13 years ago, lol. The Nintendo brand didn't have the sweet nostalgia factor back then. They actually competed with the other companies. Nowadays they can make some mediocre title and stick Mario in it and charge you 70 dollars and people won't dare criticize it.

 

[hemo memo]

I think Nintendo are in a great place purely because they have barely any competition who are actually making joyful games.

Most "modern" games are grim dark, Sony has three IPs about the end of the world (TLOU, Horizon, Hell Divers), and our recent game of the years have been the depressing Cyberpunk and bleak as fuck Elden Ring. The reason I rave about Astrobot is because it's the first game that's made me smile in a long time.

Honestly, I think the world needs Animal Crossing and Mario Kart more than ever.

Among the big three, Nintendo stands out as the only company with a portable console, avoiding direct competition with Sony and Microsoft. This is further strengthened by its strong first-party exclusives.

The Switch 2 gives players the choice between better graphics on other platforms or the unmatched convenience of portability and hybrid functionality. For many, portability wins, making the Switch a standout in the market.

Other portables, like the Steam Deck and PS Portal, can’t match the Switch’s seamless experience. The Steam Deck needs extra hardware for TV play, while the PS Portal relies on a PS5 to function. Even if Sony or Microsoft released a portable, it wouldn’t offer the same hybrid experience, as the Switch effortlessly transitions between handheld and docked modes. The Switch remains the only all-in-one solution for both portable and home gaming.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Here’s some reasons Nintendo won’t fail.

Animal Crossing
Mario Kart
Zelda
Super Mario
Smash Bros
Pokemon

Doesn’t matter if every third party ditches them. Nintendo will be fine.

 

[hemo memo]

Here’s some reasons Nintendo won’t fail.

Animal Crossing
Mario Kart
Zelda
Super Mario
Smash Bros
Pokemon

Doesn’t matter if every third party ditches them. Nintendo will be fine.

The list didn’t save the Wii U. A console needs to be unique and appeal to a broad audience, something the Wii U lacked.