Nintendo Switch 2: Five Things We Want to See on Nintendo's Next System
We don't know what's next for Nintendo, but we've got some requests.
Portability
Our first pick is portability. It might seem like a no-brainer, but the ability to switch between handheld and console gaming is one of the best things Nintendo has ever done. After years of releasing two different systems, Nintendo Switch combined portable and couch gaming in a way that totally changed the face of the video game industry. Switch has led to a portable gaming renaissance, as companies like Analogue and Valve have released their own portable platforms over the last seven years. There are also rumors that Sony has plans to release a Vita successor, and that Microsoft is planning some kind of portable. That's all because of Switch's success, and it would be criminal not to continue focusing on portability, while allowing players to enjoy games on their TV screen. Every Switch user has a different preference, and that's a big reason why the system has been so successful.
Thankfully, everything that's been revealed so far suggests Switch 2 will continue on the path Nintendo established with the current system.
Better Graphics and Performance
Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom have proven that Nintendo Switch games can still look great, but it's becoming increasingly harder for the system to handle a lot of games that release on PlayStation and Xbox. Graphics aren't everything, but a more powerful Switch would open up the number of games that could be released by third-party publishers. Games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order could finally be released, and the system could get native versions of titles like Resident Evil 2 instead of cloud versions. No one expects the next Switch to have abilities on par with PS5, but it would be nice to see a graphic upgrade that allows for fewer compromises.
Big Exclusives
Nintendo has supported Switch with a steady stream of first-party games, and that all started with the system's first year on the market. In 2017, games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario Odyssey served as a statement about what players could expect to see throughout the system's lifespan. It's important for Nintendo to do that once again with Switch 2, starting off the first year with a stream of major first-party games. It's unlikely we'll see a new Zelda so soon after Tears of the Kingdom, but franchises like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart will be due for new installments, and it would be nice to see some dormant series return, like Star Fox or Donkey Kong Country.
There's been some concern that Nintendo won't be able to follow up Switch with another big success, but getting new entries in some of Nintendo's biggest series would help to start things out on the right foot. If Nintendo puts out a steady stream of exclusives, it could help to convince current Switch users that it's time to upgrade.
Backwards Compatibility
The Nintendo Switch library is one of the best that any console has ever had. In addition to Nintendo's own exclusives, the system can play major games from publishers like Capcom, Square Enix, Konami, and more. While some publishers think it would be lucrative to start over from scratch, it would win over a lot more current Switch owners to make all of those games backwards compatible. Switch also has a lot of users that are passionate about physical game cartridges, so making both physical and digital games backwards compatible should remain a priority.
Quick Resume
If there's one thing that's really frustrating about Nintendo Switch, it's the fact that users can't have more than one game or app open at the same time. Sometimes players want to jump quickly into the Hulu app without having to save and quit games like Pikmin 4. Xbox Series X has offered this in a big way with Quick Resume, allowing users to quickly jump back and forth between games and apps. That option is a real game changer, and it would be awesome to see Nintendo swipe it for Switch 2.
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With no word yet on when Nintendo Switch 2 will actually release, fans will have to continue to speculate about what the future will bring. Are you excited for Nintendo's next console? What do you most want to see? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!
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