Summary
Even without 4K graphics, the Switch continues to outsell the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. With the Switch, Nintendo designed aportable consolethat also thrives in living and gaming rooms. This was no easy feat, which is likely why the gaming giant has hesitated to develop a successor. Nevertheless, recent Switch 2 leaks indicate that Nintendo is finally ready to modernize its aging system.
While the Switch OLED bought Nintendo some time, it didn’t significantly enhance the console’s performance. If reports are accurate, the Switch 2 will address its predecessor’s deficiencies in graphical processing, storage, and controls. How exactly Nintendo accomplishes these objectives will determine how a new handheld compares to recentgaming consoles. After examining the proposed Switch 2 specs in detail, some unanswered questions remain that could impact its success.
Why is a Nintendo Switch 2 Needed?
The Switch defied critics for years, who claimed its specs weren’t competitive with Sony and Microsoft consoles. Many popular first-party Nintendo titles don’t match the visuals of recent Xbox Series X or PS5 games, but they run smoothly on the handheld console. However, recently, analysts have begun to see the first noticeableslowdown in Switch sales. It’s hardly panic time for Nintendo, and the console looks on track to match or eclipse the 154.02 million sales of the DS in the next year. Still, market saturation could finally be affecting Nintendo, where nearly every target consumer for the Switch already owns one.
Performance limitations have also increasingly become an obstacle for publishers. With its similarities to open-worldPokémongames,Palworldis one of the most requested PC and Xbox titles to become a Switch port. As it turns out, it’s not potential lawsuits keepingPalworldfrom the Switch; rather, developers are finding it difficult to achieve acceptable frame rates.
Palworldis hardly the only game that has struggled to transition smoothly to the Switch.Mortal Kombat 1is one of the most egregious examples, with the fighting game struggling with long load times and choppy framerates. Even Nintendo’sPokemon ScarletandPokemon Violethave suffered from choppy performance since their debut late in 2022. It’s no secret that the Switch’s processor and GPU prevent various games from launching on the console.
Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo’s newest system features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Improvements to visuals, audio, and connectivity make a strong impact on highly detailed gameplay and setup is extremely easy.
Nintendo released the Switch OLED in 2021 with a larger and more colorful display but didn’t update most of the console’s internal components. Another issue is that when docked, the Switch’s graphics look lackluster on modern4K TVs, especially with displays that have less-than-stellar upscaling.
It’s crucial to remember that the Switch is a hybrid handheld and home console. Mobile Xbox Series X and PS5 gamers can’t yet replicate a living room experience, despite cloud gaming on phones and the PlayStation Portal. Nevertheless, technical roadblocks in game development and indications of slowing sales create enough demand for a long-awaited Switch 2.
What Do We Know About the Switch 2?
Fortunately, therelease of the Switch 2is no longer hypothetical. In May, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the new console would surface before the end of Japan’s next fiscal year. That would lead to a potential debut around March 2025, despite some Switch 2 leaks indicating a Holiday 2024 release date. Furukawa stated that Nintendo hoped to stockpile an ample console supply to avoid the past shortages plaguing the Switch and other consoles. The slightly later release window would also give developers more time to create a compelling launch lineup.
Other than a commitment to release a new system, Nintendo has provided little information about the Switch 2 specs. Instead, we are forced to consult analysts and other sources reporting Switch 2 leaks about the system’s capabilities. When third parties are producing new chips and components, it’s difficult to keep this information under wraps. These leaks have shared consistent information that gives gamers a clearer picture of what to expect.
Among the highlights is a belief that theSwitch 2 will have a larger 8-inch LEDscreen rather than the 7-inch OLED display used by the most recent Switch. To improve framerates and better compete with Sony and Xbox consoles, the next Nintendo console could employ NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling. These changes and features may help keep the Switch 2’s price reasonable, but buyers should still expect to pay in the neighborhood of $400. There is also a strong belief that the Switch 2 will still embrace physical cartridges and work with older Switch titles.
The question then becomes whether these potential Switch 2 specs are enough to please developers and gamers. Or does Nintendo need to do more to convince buyers to upgrade to a new console?
Switch 2 Graphics
The Switch 2 is expected to ship with a dock, which makes it more imperative that its visuals look respectable on 4K displays. At the same time, it will also remain a handheld console, where having a higher than 1080p display has minimal benefits. One debate about the upcoming Switch 2 revolves around its screen, where there are arguments for both 720p and 1080p resolutions. While it’s easier to entice gamers to upgrade with an improved display, the difference between these settings can impact battery life. If the Switch 2 offers backward compatibility, Nintendo must also make older titles look presentable at 1080p.
Asus ROG Ally
The Asus ROG Ally is the ultimate handheld system for PC gamers. Relying on the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the ROG Ally can handle any game thrown at it. The 7-inch 1080p Full HD display with FreeSync Premium on the system provides gamers with a crystal clear and smooth gaming experience. The advantage of the ROG Ally is that it can run most Windows-compatible games and is compatible with Xbox Game Pass titles. It also comes with 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally also features an ergonomic design that makes gaming for long periods enjoyable.
On smaller screens, there are diminished benefits to gaming at higher resolutions. Still, at 7 inches, some gamers prefer the ROG Ally’s 1080p display to the 720p Steam Deck, with the Switch 2 reportedly using an even larger 8-inch screen. Like the rumored new Switch, the PlayStation Portal also sports a 1080p screen, though its capabilities are limited to streaming games from PS5 consoles. What maximum refresh rates are possible without screen tearing is also critical.
Considering its newer handheld competition and the first Switch’s long shelf life, Nintendo should settle on a 1080p screen. That said, the issues of rendering native 720p titles need to be addressed, as well as ensuring excessive power draws don’t dramatically affect battery life.
Of course, whatever processor the Switch 2 relies on will have a huge impact on its graphical capabilities. Many reports indicate that Switch 2 will run on the T239, an eight-core mobile processor, which would mean a noticeable jump in performance over Switch’s custom Tegra CPU. The T239 also boasts a larger memory bus and supports Ampere architecture found on manyNVIDIA GPUs. Consequently, the new console will reportedly share some features with RTX 30 series cards, including some form of DLSS.
The T239 would seem to be a wise choice for a handheld console commonly used with TVs. It’s reasonably power efficient but also capable of producing higher quality graphics that are appreciated on larger screens. In fact, with the T239, the Switch 2 specs would enable it to match the performance of the PS4 with the added benefit of recent NVIDIA features.
Storage and Wireless Connectivity
Another aspect of the Switch that needs modernization is its storage capabilities. The OLED model doubled the original console’s capacity to 64 GB, but most gamers still need to rely onmicroSDHC cards to expand the Switch’s storage. Not built with the era of downloading digital games in mind, the ability to use physical cartridges also reduced the need for excessive storage space. Nintendo and Switch 2 must adapt to how consumers now purchase and play games.
Fortunately, Nintendo seems ready to adapt to the times, and Switch 2 leaks indicate that the new console could have 256 GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage. This would allow gamers to store more purchases from the Nintendo eShop and install games that are likely larger than previous generation titles. Also, the UFS 3.1 standard would hopefully eliminate the slow loading times that sometimes plague the first Switch.
For comparison, the Steam OLED has variations with 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB of storage. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Ally utilizes a 512 GBM.2 NVMe SSD, which aids in loading some titles that demand 100 GB or more of space. For the Switch 2, 256 GB seems more than reasonable, especially if cartridges help with storage requirements.
The potential of larger downloads on a handheld necessitates sufficient wireless capabilities. Sadly, despite supporting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, Wi-Fi speeds on the Switch are often disappointing. Part of the reason for the lackluster performance could be the older console’s processor and memory bottlenecking transfer speeds. What Wi-Fi chip the Switch 2 will have is unknown, but boosted specs are needed to reduce the frustration of downloading games. Needless to say, the Switch 2 should include Bluetooth connectivity without the PlayStation Portal’s compatibility limitations onwireless earbuds.
Switch 2 Joy-Cons
Nintendo faced a difficult proposition when designing the original Joy-Cons. These compact controllers attach to the sides of the Switch, but they slide out when the console is docked and connected to TVs. The joysticks also have rumble effects and sensors for motion control capabilities. While versatile, the defaultSwitch controllershave limitations in durability and ergonomics.
Analog stick drift is an issue with the Joy-Cons and many PlayStation and Xbox controllers. Over time, as the components in and around the joysticks wear down, they become prone to inaccurate inputs. Manufacturers have embracedHall Effect sensorsto solve the problem where magnets and electrical currents detect and measure movement. With less friction among physical components, controllers last longer before developing problems.
Another sad fact about the Joy-Cons is they aren’t particularly form-fitting, especially for larger hands. It’s unclear if the Switch 2 controls will be more ergonomically friendly, but Switch 2 leaks give a glimpse into how they might work. The current controllers can be a bit fiddly to attach and detach sliding along rails, but theSwitch 2 Joy-Cons reportedly connect with magnets. Also, the new Joy-Cons can actually detach on demand since the magnets themselves operate using electrical current.
GameSir X4 Aileron Bluetooth Mobile Gaming Controller for Android with Hall Effect Joysticks
If you’re looking for a reliable controller for mobile gaming that allows you to customize buttons and more, then the GameSir X4 controller should be on your radar. You get a stylishly designed controller that supports wireless charging and phone cookers plus it comes with swappable buttons. Its buttons relay quick and precise commands to the in-game characters, giving you the upper edge in intense months. It also supports cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass.
When looking to improve the Switch 2 Joy-Cons, Nintendo only needs to consider how innovative mobile controllers have become. Like the Joy-Cons, theGameSir X4 Aileronhas two components connected to each side of a smartphone. Responsive microswitch face buttons produce satisfying clicks and enable gamers to remain competitive during intense FPS action. Also, the X4 Aileron includes Hall Effect analog sticks to match many competing mobile and full-sized controllers.
Besides advancements in analog sticks and buttons, the X4 Aileron is contoured to the shape of hands. Many mobile controllers have a durable construction that can withstand the abuse of travel. The same controllers often serve as standalone Bluetooth devices that provide a better gaming experience on larger screens.
To keep costs down, Nintendo likely won’t be able to replicate all the advantages of modern controllers. Even so, they can prevent constantly having to replace the Switch 2’s joy-cons and make them more comfortable to hold.
What the Switch 2 Needs to Find Success
As successful as the Nintendo Switch is, the allure of the aging console has recently begun to fade. The time seems right for a successor that can compete with the enhanced visuals, storage capabilities, and controls of current-gen systems. With Switch 2 leaks coming regularly, Nintendo has solid plans for meeting these objectives. Still, some details are vague, and the manufacturer’s decisions could impact how quickly Switch owners upgrade.
Along with enhanced graphical capabilities, the Switch 2 can marginally improve its visuals with an 8-inch 1080p screen. More challenging, when docked, the console has to look more like a modern gaming system on large 4K TVs. Improved upscaling and support for DLSS can help make lower-resolution graphics appear crisper on modern displays.
Since the popularity of digital gaming quickly tests the limits of smaller drives, storage is also a concern for a new Switch. The rumored 256 GB capacity of the Switch 2 should meet this challenge, along with continued support for affordable microSD cards. Faster wireless connectivity is also necessary, so downloads from the Nintendo eShop are a more attractive alternative to cartridges.
Finally, there is definite room for improvement on the Switch’s joy-cons. Leaked Switch 2 specs reveal that Nintendo is moving toward magnetically attached controllers with Hall Effect analog sticks. These revamped Joy-Cons may have an advantage over some Xbox andPS5 controllersthat suffer from stick drift.
It’s important to keep expectations in check with the Switch 2 since it likely won’t rival the power of the Xbox Series X or PS5. Regardless, the rumored improvements on the handheld console should lead to a promising new era for Nintendo gamers.
FAQ
Q: What year will Nintendo Switch end?
Nintendo has stated that the company will support the original Switch with new games until at least March 2025. That coincides with the rumored Switch 2 release date, but Switch owners will likely be able to use their consoles for many years to come.
Q: Is the Switch OLED more powerful?
While the Switch OLED has a larger 7-inch display, there aren’t any differences in processing power or graphical capabilities. The lack of substantial performance upgrades adds to the need for the Switch 2. However, the Switch OLED offers a few other improvements, including double the storage and a dock with an ethernet port.
Q: What age group is Nintendo Switch for?
Contributing to the Switch’s success, the console supports games appropriate for all age groups. Many Switch titles feature cartoonish visuals that appeal to young gamers, but franchises like Mario and Zelda have a rapid fanbase spanning decades.
