switch 2 ramble

#1

so we have a dieshot for the switch 2 and it's gotten me thinking

i hate consoles, first thing. there is no genuine consumer-friendly reason for any devices to be locked down in 2025. if i buy electronics, i should be able to do what i want with them.

but i feel like the switch 2 goes a step further with this problem. so like, it's better hardware, obviously, compared to the switch 1, and it can play switch 1 games. the logical assumption is that it'll play switch 1 games better out of the box, maybe with a bump to resolution or ideally performance. right?

but no, they'd much rather nickel and dime you, and make you purchase the ability to play with higher framerates/resolution. the Zelda upgrades, app aside, literally only allow you to play with better performance, and i think pokemon legends Z-A is doing the same thing.

so with them having to "emulate" switch 1 games so they can run on the new chipset, perhaps they couldn't manage to get that working? the reason doesn't matter to me either way, though, it's still icky. if the hardware is better, my games should run better on it, end of discussion.

i wouldn't be getting a switch 2 eventually were it not for Sakurai making Kirby Air Riders god dammit sakurai why are you so cool

SuperStarKin · #2

Buying consoles is a thing of the past and honestly I wish more people would wake up to that. Locked down firmware, paid online multiplayer, and now PAYING for performance patches is crazy. I do remember seeing that some performance upgrades are free but enabling developers to charge for it is insane.

I really wish PC gaming became more accessible...

#3

SuperStarKin wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 9:45 am Buying consoles is a thing of the past and honestly I wish more people would wake up to that.

as long as people continue to buy the next iPhone, this is unfortunately a pipe dream

SuperStarKin wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 9:45 am I really wish PC gaming became more accessible...

steam deck is right there. it's more powerful than the switch, you can do anything you want with it, and it's only slightly more expensive than switch 2 (cheaper if refurbished).

it's very accessible currently. people just don't know or perhaps care. it also isn't where nintendo is selling the new DK game - they have insane power in the form of IP (hell, it's even working on me!)

hatkirby · #4

switch 1 games with DLC won't run better on switch 2 unless you pay for the DLC? that's deranged. what, do they impose an arbitrary frame rate limit on the game until you pay up? the fact that the console has better hardware should just naturally improve performance. this is apple iphone behavior.

#5

from what i can tell yeah. i might be misinterpreting it though

hatkirby · #6

I wouldn't put it past them; it's just very frustrating to hear. you've apparently got to win the lottery to even get a switch 2 anyway so it's like what's the point.

#7

yeah, part of why i'm getting one later on regardless

hatkirby · #8

The main reason I'd want to get an early one is because it's more likely to have an unpatchable bootrom exploit that you could use for jailbreaking. I've never actually used any custom software on my switch 1 but I feel safer knowing I could lol.

#9

hatkirby wrote: Mon May 12, 2025 1:06 pm The main reason I'd want to get an early one is because it's more likely to have an unpatchable bootrom exploit that you could use for jailbreaking.

we already know the bootrom is untrusted on switch 2 so you wouldn't get anywhere with that

#10

https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ninten ... us-tariffs

"Nintendo Switch 2 is priced relatively high compared to Nintendo Switch, so we recognize that there are corresponding challenges to early adoption," the Nintendo president explained. "That being said, Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible Nintendo Switch software, so there is continuity between the platforms. We are taking steps like bundling software with the hardware to accelerate adoption in the first fiscal year, aiming to get off to the same start we did with Nintendo Switch."

i don't think it'll be nearly as successful mostly because Switch 2 isn't really innovative in any way like the Switch 1 was. all of the new physical capabilities are things we've already seen in the handheld PC space, specifically in the Lenovo Legion Go; but ignoring that, this is really just iterating off what the Switch 1 already introduced. the only new features it adds is game chat, which seems worse than the free alternative in discord in basically every way; and gameshare, which is neat but won't ship hardware or honestly even games.

not to mention afaik it seems the more hardcore audience isn't really interested in the new Mario Kart. and i agree; MK8D with the dlc has more tracks than the new game ever will.

as for backwards compatibility, while it's nice for when people do eventually get a Switch 2, i don't think it's a very compelling selling point. why buy this expensive new handheld when i can already play the games i have on the handheld i already have? it doesn't make financial sense when there's barely any new interesting games to play at launch, especially right now.

we'll see what general audiences think but i'm pessimistic