Although there are no official details about the Switch 2 yet, I'm not as excited about the announcement as many of my fellow gamers. Rather, I'm still happy with the original key.
What do we know about 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 know that the new Switch console will be announced before the end of the current fiscal year, which is March 31, 2025. So, we'll get some official details in the next six months, leaving plenty of time to talk about it. Ramped up for a 2025 holiday release.
And everything you hear are just rumours. Last year, Nintendo reportedly showed some developers demos of the new system, with specifications similar to current PlayStation and Xbox demos. Online sleuths are paying close attention to the parts Nintendo is ordering, and speculate they 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 drops.
The game's ads don't help much either. While you may see some upcoming titles (like the new Pokémon games) talking about being on “Switch consoles,” that doesn't necessarily indicate a Switch 2 release date, given the presence of the Switch OLED and Switch Lite. They may not be a new generation of system, but they are still 'Switch consoles'.
Why will I still play My Switch in 2024?
When you're a busy adult like me, hearing all these unsubstantiated rumors about a new system isn't exciting when there are already plenty of games to play on the original Nintendo Switch, with new titles coming out every day.
My most anticipated title of 2024 was Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which was released in May, and I haven't finished it yet. Even if I did, I'm certainly spoiled for choice in a year where we've also seen releases like Ace Attorney Investments Collection, Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.
And these are just the games I would personally 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.
Seven years later, the release schedule hasn't slowed down one bit for the original Switch. In the past, one of the main reasons to buy a new video game console was because they had stopped releasing games for your current console, necessitating an upgrade if you wanted to keep up with the latest and greatest games.
But even competitors like PlayStation and Xbox haven't stopped releasing games for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In fact, that's why I haven't stopped playing my PS4 because, aside from a few exclusives like Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy XVI, every game I care about is still released for the older systems.
What would it take for me to be excited about Switch 2?
I'm not saying I'll never buy a Nintendo Switch 2. The original Switch is an eight-year-old system, and, like Nintendo, uses older hardware. I play games on my phone that feel just as good, if not better, than the Nintendo Switch. The new system could provide enough of a spec boost that would keep me away from the Pixel 7.
Even the Nintendo Switch OLED, released in late 2021, made some changes that really enhanced the Switch experience, suggesting there's plenty of room for growth for the system. The new screen was great, and I loved the little touches like the expanded kickstand. A whole new generation of Switch consoles could make even more design tweaks that might encourage me to start carrying a Nintendo system again.
Of course, what really matters to us all is what the Switch has to offer on the inside. Nintendo has never been a pioneer when it comes to graphics, preferring to focus on improving gameplay. But that doesn't mean it can't make Zelda and Mario look better.
Nowadays, when I want realistic graphics, I always gravitate towards my PlayStation, but it would be nice to be able to rely on my Switch instead.