Goodbye Switch, Hello Switch 2!

[purbeast0]

Here is the official trailer:

So it's going to be fully revealed on April 2nd and is definitely coming out this year. I am guessing it will come out around summer time but that is a complete guess. Switch released in March if I recall, Wii was in November, and N64 released around September if I remember, so they are all over the place as far as when stuff releases.

I personally wasn't expecting a vastly different looking console, and the Switch 2 basically looks exactly as you would expect any portable gaming system to look like now a days.

I am a fan of the larger form factor overall especially the joycons being larger. I also like the way they just appear to magnetically stick onto the sides over the sliding now. My son's left joycon rarely connects because he spilled a slurpee on his switch and it's like impossible to clean down where the connection is made.

I will purchase one at launch if there is one title that I want at launch. I am hoping for a 3D Mario game at launch and if that is the case I am all in. If it's another 3D Zelda similar to BotW, then I'm 100% out at launch, but I highly doubt that happens. Perhaps Metroid Prime 4 will come at launch and be out on Switch and Switch 2, just like Zelda: Twilight Princess was at Wii's launch? A new Mario Kart maybe?

Well who knows but hopefully we find all this out on April 2nd.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Was hoping we'd actually get the reveal, not the reveal of the reveal, this week. With Tears of the Kingdom being so recent not expecting a Zelda that will sell me on the system the first year, and with Wonder just coming out last year won't be a 2D Mario either. Don't really care much about Mario Kart, Smash, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, nor Splatoon. Megaten is a multiplat franchise now so that no longer sells me on Nintendo either. So basically it's an Odyssey or Galaxy quality 3D Mario or bust when it comes to getting this system Year 1. I know the system will eventually be worth owning for Zelda, Mario, Bayonetta, Xenoblade, and Metroid plus maybe another Astral Chain but doesn't sound like it's going to be must buy at launch.

 

[NostaSeronx]

Posting from the CPU-side, not to make the future ARM/Neoverse thread busy.

Im not completely convinced of a 5 year old A78 core for a 8 year minimum product that many companies will try to launch their games to.

PS2 = 300 MHz.
Dreamcast = 200 MHz
Dreamcast had one MMO. While PS2 had three MMOs. FFXI on PS2 went from 2002 to 2016.

In most cases for stylized graphics, 8-cores at 1 GHz is overkill. A lot of mobile MMOs are reliant on GPU+Memory Speed, not CPU speed. For example, two of EG7's titles on Switch 1 are DC Universe Online and Palia.

Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest game thing was on the Switch 1 as well.

Spec-wise: Wuthering Waves should be playable on the Switch 2. Since, its lowest setting is for a 128 ALU Adreno with a 32-bit memory bus.

 

[purbeast0]

I did not even realize that Mario Kart shown in the trailer is a whole new game.

It shows a possible 24 player race with the starting positions and the models are completely updated as well.

I couldn't even tell at first glance due to the video kind of being in the background.

So I think it's safe to assume that Mario Kart 9 is a launch title, although clearly not confirmed yet.

Also this is the recent rumor of price and release date.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879905327677870376

 

[MrSquished]

Shit I just want one for mariokart now.

 

[JujuFish]

Never got MK8 for the Switch, won't get MK9 either. Give me 3D Mario.

 

[yottabit]

I can’t believe they would stick a tiny male connector on the console-side of the device. It’s recessed but those are going to get brutalized. Repair shops will love them.

Connections for magnetic attachment are a totally solved problem too (use some pad contacts on one side and bent/spring pins on the other) so strange they would go with this. I’m assuming that’s a data/power connector at least

On a side note that rendered trailer was incredible quality. I can’t say I’ve ever seen one where the old product morphs into the new one, at least with that production value and the playfullness of the morphing and sound effects. Bravo

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Sounds like Jason Schreier is teasing that there will be strong third party support for Switch 2. Have to post a screenshot since the forum doesn't support embedding Blue Sky posts though:

 

[Mopetar]

I can’t believe they would stick a tiny male connector on the console-side of the device. It’s recessed but those are going to get brutalized.

Seems like it's stuck inside of a large recessed groove that would make it impossible to insert/attach the controller without it being perfectly aligned. As long as the male end isn't protruding or better yet isn't level with the edge there shouldn't be too much cause for concern.

My concern is that it doesn't want to stay locked in place well enough.

 

[purbeast0]

Seems like it's stuck inside of a large recessed groove that would make it impossible to insert/attach the controller without it being perfectly aligned. As long as the male end isn't protruding or better yet isn't level with the edge there shouldn't be too much cause for concern.

My concern is that it doesn't want to stay locked in place well enough.

According to Genki, there are magnets on the joycon that holds them in place.

I too think this whole "it will break off" is a huge nothing berder. I see people talking about it in multiple places. It's like worrying about the inside of a USB-C port breaking off.

 

[purbeast0]

Some more rumors...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1880212699382177929

If both MP4 and MK9 are launch titles, that is pretty damn solid.

 

[JujuFish]

I too think this whole "it will break off" is a huge nothing berder.

Yeah, I had a similar worry when I watched the trailer, but Nintendo products tend to be sturdy as hell. I've never broken one before.

I'm sure they have done extensive testing on it, knowing that many of their audience are children who can be quite careless and clumsy.

 

[yottabit]

Yeah, I had a similar worry when I watched the trailer, but Nintendo products tend to be sturdy as hell. I've never broken one before.

I'm sure they have done extensive testing on it, knowing that many of their audience are children who can be quite careless and clumsy.

There’s many scenarios I can imagine it breaking:

1. Dust/dirt/debris in female side of joycon. Someone tries to force joycon on
2. Kids snap it off being dumb

Maybe it’s a lot more sturdy than I think, but having the male side of a port like that on a console seems pretty strange to me.

I totally believe that Nintendo engineers did testing and that they don’t think it will be an issue for the scenarios they tested like common drops and bumps. But it will be interesting to see how it does in the wild

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Some more rumors...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1880212699382177929

If both MP4 and MK9 are launch titles, that is pretty damn solid.

I'm really hoping they have a 3D Mario for launch. Mario Kart's fun for an occasional race or two and I'll eventually buy 9 but it's definitely not a system seller for me and Metroid Prime has never really piqued my interest. FPS are a hard sell for me unless the setting and story are really intriguing like the Bioshock games. BOTW is definitely amazing at 60 fps but already played through that in Cemu.

 

[Kaido]

Dang, the OG thread is 9 years old!!

Goodbye NX, hello Switch

https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/20/switch-is-nintendos-next-game-console/ * Codenamed NX; official name is Switch * Releasing worldwide in March 2017 * Hybrid mobile and home console with a tablet element and detachable controllers Based on the teaser trailer: * The core unit is a tablet *...

forums.anandtech.com

I was soooo skeptical at the time, but it really won me over! Looks like the 2 is just a better Switch, which is what everyone wanted anyway!

 

[gorobei]

if they dont have hall effect sensors for the sticks then i dont think nintendo has learned anything that would give me confidence in buying the 2, the eventual 2 oled or 2lite.

 

[Kaido]

if they dont have hall effect sensors for the sticks then i dont think nintendo has learned anything that would give me confidence in buying the 2, the eventual 2 oled or 2lite.

Supposedly:

Hall effect joysticks
Magnetic Joycons
60w 4K dock

 

[SteveGrabowski]

if they dont have hall effect sensors for the sticks then i dont think nintendo has learned anything that would give me confidence in buying the 2, the eventual 2 oled or 2lite.

They probably learned they can get people to pay $90 for new joycons every couple of years when the sticks drift. It's a lesson Sony has sure taken this gen.

 

[Kaido]

They probably learned they can get people to pay $90 for new joycons every couple of years when the sticks drift. It's a lesson Sony has sure taken this gen.

Nah, cost them a chunk:

If your Nintendo Switch is experiencing "Joy-Con drift," you can currently get a free replacement by sending your Joy-Cons to Nintendo for repair; they will fix the drift issue at no cost, even if your console is out of warranty, in most regions including the United States, Canada, and the UK.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Dang, the OG thread is 9 years old!!

Goodbye NX, hello Switch

https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/20/switch-is-nintendos-next-game-console/ * Codenamed NX; official name is Switch * Releasing worldwide in March 2017 * Hybrid mobile and home console with a tablet element and detachable controllers Based on the teaser trailer: * The core unit is a tablet *...

forums.anandtech.com

I was soooo skeptical at the time, but it really won me over! Looks like the 2 is just a better Switch, which is what everyone wanted anyway!

It's all about the games. Without BOTW the Switch probably wouldn't have sold half of what it did. Switch 2 is going to need a game of that quality before it starts really selling like crazy I'm expecting. Just don't think Mario Kart 9 is going to be that game and Metroid Prime has never been a massive seller. Hopefully Nintendo has a 3D Mario good to go at launch because otherwise the price bump without an absolutely mindblowing system seller game will probably lead to disappointing sales like the 3DS initially. If Nintendo doesn't have an incredible 3D Mario at launch they really screwed the pooch, especially since it has been 7.5 years since Odyssey.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Nah, cost them a chunk:

Are they still fixing joycons free? I have never had mine drift but would be good to know. I also bought my Switch from a pawn shop so doubt I have any receipt for it.

 

[JujuFish]

Without BOTW the Switch probably wouldn't have sold half of what it did.

Even if every single BotW sale resulted in a Switch sale and you exclude those numbers, the Switch would have over 100 million units sold. Nintendo handhelds sell. Always have.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

Even if every single BotW sale resulted in a Switch sale and you exclude those numbers, the Switch would have over 100 million units sold. Nintendo handhelds sell. Always have.

I think you greatly underestimate BOTW's impact. BOTW is hands down the greatest launch title ever released and was the entire reason anyone cared about the Switch the first 5-6 months. 1-2 Switch, Arms, and Snipperclips weren't selling any systems just like Nintendo Land and the mid Super Mario Bros U didn't the previous gen. Nintendo had a huge stink on them from Wii U and the second half of the Wii gen and BOTW's massive success was what got third party devs back on board with Nintendo. Without BOTW you have another failed launch leading to another feedback loop where devs aren't that interested in the system so less great games get made so devs are less interested in it and so on. Would probably take until Smash's launch in December 2018 for the Switch to become a moderate success without BOTW, so take a year and a half time delay before there is any interest from third party devs in the system and as big as Smash was it's still not selling the number of systems BOTW did. I think it's hard to argue there is any other game as important for Nintendo's success other than Super Mario Bros 1.

Look at what the terrible launch did to the 3DS. That system only sold half of what the DS and Switch have.

 

[JujuFish]

The 3DS is the 12th highest selling console of all time, despite being the worst Nintendo handheld. It had poor sales to start because it was so expensive.

Nintendo handhelds sell. Always have.

 

[SteveGrabowski]

The 3DS is the 12th highest selling console of all time, despite being the worst Nintendo handheld. It had poor sales to start because it was so expensive.

Nintendo handhelds sell. Always have.

It's kind of what I'm arguing about the Switch 2. It's very likely to have a big bump in price (either $400 or $500 is rumored) and if it has the same kind of weak launch lineup as the 3DS I can see it struggling early on the same way the 3DS did. Also just like everyone had the DS when the 3DS launched, everyone has the OG Switch now so I don't see people falling all over themselves to get the Switch 2 until the first truly mindblowing game comes out. That slow start for the 3DS halved its sales vs the DS despite the 3DS eventually having a great lineup of games and it can happen again if Nintendo doesn't have a strong launch lineup.