Nintendo Switch 2

[Grindspine]

Nintendo has dropped a launch trailer for the Switch 2!


Linus Tech Tips has a pretty good breakdown of confirmed information and some speculation on additional details for the new console release.

[BLUEVOODU]

Awesome post @Grindspine  --> Linus Definitely had a great video. Pretty funny... Nintendo... shut up and take my money. 

I wonder how available these systems will be.  Also, interesting that it has the power of a Ps4 / Xbox One... These are 10 year old systems now.  I know Nintendo is not always on the leading edge of power, and the utilize what they have extremely well... creating some of the best games.  However, a little more power may not hurt.

Then again... they've thrived for a reason.

[CreepinDeth]

My wife managed to snag a Mario Kart bundle from Target. What a pain the butt that whole experience was.

I will say that it looks like Nintendo is starting to jump on the performance train a little bit. And of course, now that that has happened, prices have jumped.

At this point, it's clear that they want you to go fully digital now. "Physical" carts are mostly just now keys to play the digital version. Reports from Japan are saying nearly all of the 3rd party games are key cards. Not sure how I feel about that. It's great from a reselling stand-point, but it's only temporary. Eventually servers will get shut down.

And then there's tariffs on top of all of this. Going to see how things play out before I start building a library. This might just be a way to play Nintendo games for me and nothing more.

[retro junkie]

The "key-carts" kills any desire to have a Switch 2 for me. I like my physical games in my hands, complete. But I knew this was coming. Another thing, I have also had a very difficult time just trying to get into the Switch. It seemed such a step back in time to the days of the first GBA for me. There is so much about the features of the 3DS, or NEW 3DS, that I like and enjoy. And do we get a Switch 2 lite? The Switch lite is the only thing that pulled me into purchasing a Switch system.
And the price of admission is a big hindrance for someone like me on a fixed income. (like a kid with a paper route) One would have to weigh the pros and cons very seriously before pulling the trigger. The concern also is the price of the game plus the memory card needed to store your games doubles the empty spot in your wallet. Plus what parent is going to make the investment toward getting something like this for their child? They would have to be a hardcore gamer themselves. They would then understand the tech. What, you need a memory card too? Wait, you need to download the game also? Nintendo never relied on the parent being a gamer in the past. At least I don't think so. The price point really limits the marketing strategy, I would think. Who is the target gamer? Hardcore? Nintendo fanboy? The physical media (with the complete game) addicted crowd, like me, would shy away from this new idea of the digital world. But you are still tethered to a card, that if misplaced, no playing that game? That is downloaded to your console? Nintendo is going to need some killer games to push this thing and have any success. Of course that is just my opinion. I don't mean to be so negative. Nintendo needs a handheld that is a different console than the Switch which is budget priced. That would peak my interest. I miss those days................

edit: something else just popped into my head concerning the Switch 2,...................What is that odor?.....hmmm..... do I smell the Wii U here?

[Mai Valentine]

I'll eventually get a Switch 2. Nintendo still has a few franchises that you just can't get anywhere else. But I can't fit it in the budget currently. I have enough games from current consoles that I haven't finished to keep me going for a few years at least. 

[BLUEVOODU]

Hey @Mai Valentine !   Yeah... I will eventually get one as well.  Some factors right now are keeping me from purchasing stuff right now as well.  But also.... Good luck getting one... what the heck.  The purchasing bots really are killing it anymore.

I used to be able to get stuff before day 1 ... or at least on day 1.  I haven't been able to do that since the ps5.

[Mai Valentine]

From what I saw on launch, the Switch 2 shouldn't actually be that bad to get (at least until around Christmas when everything will be hard to get). We had 26 systems for launch at my store; 19 Mario Kart bundles and 7 of the regular. The bundle was more popular and sold out within three hours. The regular one took five hours. But that's at least 2 1/2 more hours than I expected (I thought we would sell our inventory the first 30 minutes).

I was tempted to get one but decided I'll wait until either there's a fun special edition or until Pokemon generation 10 comes out. I don't expect that until late 2026 though. By then more games will be out as well so it's a win win IMO.

[BLUEVOODU]

@Mai Valentine - That's pretty crazy! I can't believe they aren't flying faster off the shelves.

I've been seeing many restock notices, but haven't seen any local stock.  I've called around a few places... and keep getting the same answer "heh... nope." 

Have you witnessed many restocks?

[retro junkie]

Not sure if anyone around here would do this, but here is a warning not to use the MIG switch on the Switch 2.

The guy has a follow up video in which he had to go out and purchase another Switch 2.

[Grindspine]

He kept saying "unLinked". Did he lose his Zelda hero character? 

[retro junkie]

He kept saying "unLinked". Did he lose his Zelda hero character? 

I don't know, but what got me was that he immediately did this so close to when he purchased the unit.

[CreepinDeth]

I've had the Switch 2 now since the 10th. Didn't open it for a week, lol. Finally booted up Mario Kart last weekend and it was fun. It's Mario Kart, so not much new other than prettier tracks and being able to drive around the world. That part is actually really cool.

The HDR is as convoluted as a bunch of people have said. To get good, accurate HDR you need a TV that can do HGIG Dynamic Tone Mapping. Which not many LCD TVs do. It's mainly an OLED feature from what I've seen. I would've thought that a company like Nintendo would've actually gone and done this the right way but seems like they just slapped it on to have a bullet point on the box. (This only affects docked mode on a TV.)

Overall though I do like the feel of the console itself. It feels good in the hand in terms of texture and the size of the screen is nice for someone with not so great eyes like myself.

[BLUEVOODU]

He kept saying "unLinked". Did he lose his Zelda hero character? 

LOL booo @Grindspine

I don't know, but what got me was that he immediately did this so close to when he purchased the unit.

@retro junkie -- man... that SUCKS lol... I didn't watch his follow up video, but I take it that it was borked so bad that he couldn't wipe and get it working  Man... this is insane lol. 

I've had the Switch 2 now since the 10th. Didn't open it for a week, lol. Finally booted up Mario Kart last weekend and it was fun. It's Mario Kart, so not much new other than prettier tracks and being able to drive around the world. That part is actually really cool.

@CreepinDeth -- thank you for the review ... I'd love to get one of these in the next couple months.  So far, I haven't been able to score any of them... but due to some circumstances right now, I haven't really been trying hard either.  Hoping the LG C1 OLED will be good enough of HDR.  It is for everything else right now.  I haven't researched it yet