While there are no official details on the Switch 2 just yet, I’m not hyped about the announcement like many fellow gamers. Rather, I’m still happy with the original Switch.
What Do We Know About the Switch 2 So Far?
Honestly, we know almost nothing about the Switch 2, because it hasn’t been announced yet. Thanks to Nintendo’s financial reports, we do know the new Switch console will be announced before the end of the current fiscal year, which is March 31, 2025. So we will get some official details in the next six months, leaving plenty of time to ramp up for a Holiday 2025 release.
Everything else you hear is just rumors. Last year, Nintendo reportedly showed some developers tech demos of the new system, with specs akin to current PlayStation and Xbox offerings. And online sleuths have been paying close attention to what parts Nintendo has been ordering, speculating these are for the new system.
But none of this has been confirmed and, again, without an announcement, we don’t know what we’ll actually see on store shelves when the system does drop.
Game announcements aren’t much help either. While you may see some upcoming titles (like new Pokémon games) talk about being on “Switch consoles,” this doesn’t necessarily hint at a release date for the Switch 2, since the Switch OLED and Switch Lite exist. They may not be a new generation of the system, but they are still “Switch consoles.”
Why I Keep Playing My Switch in 2024
When you’re a busy adult like me, hearing all these unsubstantiated rumors about a new system isn’t that exciting when there are already so many games to play on the original Nintendo Switch, with new titles dropping every day.
My most anticipated title of 2024 was Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, released back in May, and I haven’t even finished it yet. Even if I had, I’m certainly spoiled for choice in a year where we’ve also seen releases like Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon.
And those are just the games that I personally would play. I’m sure some of you are excited about titles like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Sonic x Shadow Generations, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
After seven years, the release schedule is not slowing down one bit for the original Switch. In the past, one of the major reasons to buy a new video game console was that they stopped releasing games for your current console, necessitating an upgrade if you wanted to keep up with the latest and greatest titles.
But even rivals like PlayStation and Xbox haven’t stopped releasing games for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In fact, that’s why I haven’t stopped playing my PS4 because, aside from the few exclusives like Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy XVI, every game I’m interested in is still being released for older systems.
What Would It Take for Me to Get Excited About the Switch 2
I’m not saying that I would never buy a Nintendo Switch 2. The original Switch is an eight-year-old system after all, using even older hardware, as is Nintendo’s practice. I play games on my phone that look just as good, if not better, than the Nintendo Switch. A new system could provide just enough of a spec boost that would tear me away from my Pixel 7.
Even the Nintendo Switch OLED, released in late 2021, made some changes that really enhanced the Switch experience, indicating that there’s plenty of room for the system to grow. The new screen was fantastic, and I even liked little touches like the widened kickstand. An entirely new generation of Switch consoles could make even more design tweaks that might encourage me to start carrying a Nintendo system around again.
Of course, what we’re all really interested in is what the Switch can offer on the inside. Nintendo’s never been the leader when it comes to graphics, preferring to focus on improved gameplay. But that doesn’t mean it can’t make Zelda and Mario look better.
Right now, when I want realistic graphics, I always gravitate toward my PlayStation, but it would be nice if I could rely on my Switch instead.
