*** Nintendo Switch ***

Kenai said:
A year away in what context?

Taking the Switch timeline as an example, it was 2 years from initial formal announcement that something was in development, when it was first described as the 'NX', to availability in stores.

Other than the obvious assumption that there must be something in development, they haven't yet acknowledged or announced any kind of new hardware yet I don't think?

I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if we see a Switch successor in stores before 2025.
Click to expand...
It will be a disaster if a new Switch isn't available before 2025. Hardware wise it's already a relic. My prediction is an announcement Q3 this year and a new Switch by Q2 next year. Digital Foundry are thinking something along those lines, too, going by insider rumours etc. I'm hoping that the delay in releasing a new device is just down to the turbulent economic issues post pandemic ; if Nintendo are struggling to fulfill backwards compatibility with current gen Switch games/cartridges that's going to be a huge blow. I can't see many people being happy to have to purchase their favourite games all over again. And yes, that happened going from the Wii U to Switch, but ownership of the former was minimal in comparison.
 
Last edited:
I don't see Nintendo being in any hurry. The current models and games are still selling really well and they have never been about raw power or the best most powerful hardware. They get by with good games and hardware that fun to play on.

Not to mention backwards compatibility was only really done from the GC to Wii and the Wii to Wii U.

I am still loving my Switch and play it daily, I'm in no hurry for a replacement.
 
xaldub said:
It will be a disaster if a new Switch isn't available before 2025. Hardware wise it's already a relic.
Click to expand...

Again, I'd ask a disaster in what context?

It's not selling quite as well as they perhaps expected and definitely on the decline but it's still comfortably bringing in huge sales numbers (pretty much competing with PS5 and XS combined for 2022 numbers) - we might not like it as gamers craving something new but we're hardly looking at a situation where Nintendo are staring down the barrel of irrelevance and ruin if they don't get something to market ASAP.
 
Not to mention the games in the pipeline that'll be coming out this year and are potential console sellers, would seem a bit odd to release them along side the announcement for a new console.

Good few years yet before there's a Switch 2 in my opinion, which is of course worth nothing! :p
 
Kenai said:
Again, I'd ask a disaster in what context?

It's not selling quite as well as they perhaps expected and definitely on the decline but it's still comfortably bringing in huge sales numbers (pretty much competing with PS5 and XS combined for 2022 numbers) - we might not like it as gamers craving something new but we're hardly looking at a situation where Nintendo are staring down the barrel of irrelevance and ruin if they don't get something to market ASAP.
Click to expand...

The Switch has sold spectacularly well over the course of it's lifetime, but things are slowing down now, and by quite a bit. The bigger issue is third party developers abandoning the platform as the hardware is just so far behind Xbox, PS and PC. Compare this to when the Switch first came out. Also, availability of Xbox and PS5 is now less of an issue, so easier for gamers to jump to those platforms if they crave newer, shinier titles. And then tbere is Steam Deck if people want a portable platform that can play most things.
 
Last edited:
xaldub said:
The Switch has sold spectacularly well over the course of it's lifetime, but things are slowing down now, and by quite a bit. The bigger issue is third party developers abandoning the platform as the hardware is just so far behind Xbox, PS and PC. Compare this to when the Switch first came out. Also, availability of Xbox and PS5 is now less of an issue, so easier for gamers to jump to those platforms if they crave newer. shinier titles.
Click to expand...

All indicators they ought to be thinking about a new release, sure, but I still can't understand where the idea is that it'll be a "disaster" for Nintendo if they've not brought new hardware to market within 18 months. Third party developer support doesn't seem a looming disaster if surveys like this are any indication - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2...n-making-switch-games-according-to-gdc-survey

Personally I think they'll be comfortable aiming for a Spring/Summer 2025 release, rather than rush themselves to market to try and hit Christmas 2024 sale periods.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fez
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom