The Nintendo Switch 2 Might Seem Unoriginal. After Trying It Out, I Can Say It’s 100% Nintendo

Nintendo is launching the Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday. Some are calling it the least innovative console in history. This might seem like an exaggerated claim, but it reflects a broader buzz about the role of Nintendo’s new console both within the industry and among consumers.

The original Nintendo Switch was revolutionary. While it essentially built on the Wii U concept, it successfully transformed that idea into a hybrid console, filling Nintendo’s coffers with more than 152 million units sold. It also set the stage for the popularity of similar devices.

Products such as the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go are undoubtedly inspired by the Switch. The first Nintendo Switch wasn’t just an innovation, but a true revolution in gaming. However, there’s a prevailing notion that Nintendo is synonymous with innovation in all its endeavors, which isn’t quite true when you look at its historical consoles.

In fact, the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the most logical step Nintendo could take.

100% Nintendo

Whatever you might think about the Switch 2, what truly resonates within the industry is its failure to innovate despite the expectation to do so. One of the most authoritative voices in the field, Shuhei Yoshida, has expressed this concern.

Yoshida was one of the original members of the PlayStation project, which emerged as a competitor to Nintendo following the fallout over the Nintendo PlayStation. He also served as the president of SIE Worldwide Studios, overseeing several studios, including indie developers now collaborating with PlayStation.

Yoshida has celebrated many successes and faced challenges throughout his career, including missteps. For instance, he initially overlooked the potential of Demon's Souls, the precursor to acclaimed franchises such as Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. Since his retirement, he has often shared his thoughts about the industry.

Regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, Yoshida believes that Nintendo has sacrificed innovation in favor of creating a more powerful console. In a recent podcast, he remarked, “Nintendo is losing [its] identity. For me, [Nintendo is] always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create an amazing experience.”

Essentially, Yoshida feels that Nintendo is now overly focused on increasing power. The only aspects he finds appealing are the Welcome Tour–a collection of mini-games that introduces users to the console–and The Duskbloods, the new title from the creators of Demon’s Souls.

However, it’s the opinions of Nintendo’s investors that the company should be most concerned about. During a shareholders’ meeting, one investor inquired whether the Switch 2 is merely a “bridge” console leading to a more innovative generation.

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa responded by confirming that the hardware is indeed more refined than the original Switch and that future innovations are being pursued in different directions.

The addition of Joy-Con controllers with mouse functionality is a noteworthy development, even though the new Switch isn’t the only one featuring this capability.

“Over the course of these eight years and counting, it has become necessary to increase hardware processing performance in order for software developers to realize one of Nintendo’s most valued tenets: offering new gameplay experiences. Thus, this time we decided to design the hardware with enhanced processing capability,” Furukawa said.

In other words, enhanced power will enable gameplay experiences that weren’t possible on the original Switch. Two of the initial games showcasing this are Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. Mario Kart World offers a vast open-world mode and accommodates up to 24 racers on the track, which would have been impossible before. Meanwhile, Donkey Kong Bananza impresses with its dramatic stage destruction.

Does Nintendo Consistently Innovate?

When it comes to games, I personally believe the company always brings something new to the table. Two recent examples are The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Wonder. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pushes the boundaries of freedom established in the first installment with an advanced physics engine. Meanwhile, Super Mario Wonder demonstrates that the 2D Super Mario formula remains fresh even after all these years.

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However, the situation is quite different concerning hardware innovation. In fact, the notion that Nintendo always innovates has only been evident on two occasions, when the company found it absolutely necessary.

The graph above illustrates a critical aspect for any company: its hardware sales. Video game consoles are where companies make most of their profits, creating a vicious cycle where more consoles sold lead to increased potential software sales.

The figures reveal that, excluding the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo has often let its creativity flourish only when its business faced challenges. After the NES, which was its first console, came the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This represented a significant generational leap from 8-bit to 16-bit technology, providing more processing power.

The transition from the SNES to the Nintendo 64 followed this trend. It introduced 3D gaming through the innovative inclusion of an analog stick on the controller, which became essential for controlling characters in a three-dimensional environment.

However, despite its advanced capabilities, the Nintendo 64 struggled in the market. The situation worsened with the release of the GameCube, which was an impressive graphical powerhouse. It was even more powerful than the PlayStation 2, which dominated that generation. Unfortunately, the GameCube sold poorly. Recognizing the need for a change, Nintendo launched the Nintendo Wii, under the code name “Nintendo Revolution.”

The Wii was a massive success and sold remarkably well. However, in its quest for innovation, Nintendo produced the Wii U. The console suffered from a poor name, ineffective marketing, and entered the market just as a new generation of consoles (Xbox One and PS4) was emerging. It ultimately fell short in terms of power.

Nintendo managed to stay afloat thanks to sales of the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, but the urgency for another revolution led to the arrival of the Nintendo Switch.

With 152 million consoles sold and counting, Nintendo can’t afford to take any chances with its hardware. The company has followed the successful strategies it used with the Super Nintendo and its portable consoles: focusing on more power, and better hardware. It’s also introduced a few new features, such as the Joy-Con with mouse mode.

Out of the seven home consoles launched by Nintendo so far, including the first Switch, only two have been truly revolutionary: the Wii and the Switch itself. As sales suggest, both of these advancements came out of sheer necessity. In fact, the Nintendo Switch OLED faced criticism for not being seen as revolutionary.

When it comes to handheld consoles, the DS was innovative due to its unique dual-screen gameplay. However, previous handhelds primarily focused on increasing power without introducing significant new features, which was effective at the time.

Nintendo has made some questionable decisions regarding the Switch 2, including unnecessarily limiting Nintendo Online features on the original Switch, pricing for games, and the controversial Game Key Card. However, it’s clear that the innovation in its games would be counterproductive if Nintendo attempted to completely reinvent the wheel after producing the second best-selling console in history.

Only time will tell if the Switch will eventually surpass the legendary PlayStation 2, which sold 160 million units.

Images | Nintendo | Xataka

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