Eight years after the first model, Nintendo has unveiled the Switch 2, the most popular portable console among video game enthusiasts. There was great anticipation of discovering what was new in the second generation, but the changes had less of an impact than was hoped. Also, the judgement (provisional, pending testing of the console) is affected by the price increase. But let’s proceed with the order and first see the technical innovations.
What it’s like
The new 7.9-inch LCD display is larger than before and very bright, with 4K support and a variable refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The Joy-Con are good at attaching and detaching quickly and easily, but they can also be used as vertical controllers. With the latter connected, the console measures 166 x 272 x 13.9 mm, for a total weight of 534 grams, which drops to 401 grams when the Joy-Cons are detached. The memory is 256GB, expandable up to 2TB with compatible microSD Express cards, to be purchased separately.
In addition to the integrated microphone and speakers, there are 2 USB Type-C ports, with the one on the bottom useful for connecting to the base, while the port on the top is for connecting accessories. Both can be used to recharge the device, which takes about 3 hours to fully charge and has an autonomy that varies from 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the titles played and the type of use.
The strong point: videogames
Raising the enjoyment of Nintendo lovers is Mario Kart World, which, from what was shown during the presentation, seems to be an excellent game. It was as fun as it was chaotic and surprising, with 24 participants. Considering that it is the successor to Switch’s best-selling game, it must be an excellent video game. The first impression confirmed this, thanks to the fluid and responsive gameplay.
Donkey Kong Bananza is also very good, bringing Nintendo’s gorilla back into vogue with a fun title that seems destined to win over old and new gaming lovers alike.
It lacks a killer app
Strange but true, together with a series of positive elements that trace the path of a new direction taken by Nintendo, which seems intent on being more of a premium company that looks to a certain type of audience, is the lack of a novelty capable of emerging over the rest. That killer app that similar consoles usually guarantee, especially if they arrive many years after the last model. And here we are talking about a special case, because the Switch has sold more than 150 million units. Doing better won’t be easy.
Price increases
Part of what’s cooling the enthusiasm for this new product is its price because Nintendo has chosen different figures for different markets. When it is launched on 5 June, Switch 2 will cost 469.99 euros, or 509.99 euros bundled with Mario Kart World. This price is similar to what is expected for the United States (449.99 dollars) but far from that in Japan, set at 49,980 yen, corresponding to 306 euros.
To make matters worse is the cost of video games because you’ll need 90 euros for the physical edition of Mario Kart World, while the digital one will cost 80 euros (10 euros less in the respective editions for Donkey Kong Bananza). This is a considerable increase compared to the 60 euros expected for Switch games.
Considering that Nintendo has chosen not to include the Switch 2 Welcome Tour in the package sold with the console, available separately for 10 dollars, it’s clear that the Japanese company has decided to change its approach and way of interacting with its customers.
