The latest intelligence on the Nintendo Switch ’s heir , informally bear on to as the Nintendo Switch 2 , excite me . Unfortunately , it also demonstrates a major vault thatNintendo Switch 2will have to overwhelm .
While Nintendo has yet to go all out in terms ofexplaining what the Switch 2 is yet ( or if that ’s even its name ) , we did learn in the company ’s latest fiscal results that the cabinet will bebackward compatible with Nintendo Switch titles . That ’s a win for not just Switch 2 , but game preservation and the Nintendo Account system . Although backward compatibility is a last profits for Nintendo ’s next system , as it was for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S , it cue me that Nintendo must succeed where PlayStation and Xbox have struggled this generation .
Namely , Switch 2 needs to palpate like a neccaessary upgrade from the Nintendo Switch . PS4 to PS5 adoption has been slower than expected , likely because people have n’t feel the need to promote in ordination to relish the game they are play the most . While backward compatibility is a net goodness for the Switch 2 , I just hope that does n’t also stand for that Nintendo is relying on people mostly playing Switch 1 games on the new system .
sooner this year , PlayStation feature that it had 118 million monthly active substance abuser , but revealed that aroundhalf of those were still on PS4 . We ’re closely four old age into this new console generation , and it still seems like a circumstances of people have n’t found it necessary to make the ascent yet . That makes sentiency , as the most popular games likeFortniteand eachnew Call of Dutyare still on last - gen console .
New PS5 - only exclusives likeReturnal , Marvel ’s Spider - Man 2 , andAstro Bothave been enceinte , but retard to trickle out . Even several years in to the current propagation of console table gaming , it feel like the last generation never stop . That sentiment is only slowly starting to convert , now that more and more crowing third - party games , likeEA Sports College Football 25andGrand Theft Auto VI , are devolve last - gen consoles . Overall , I cerebrate that has hurt Xbox and PlayStation , and I ’m concern the same thing is fail to happen to Nintendo .
Nintendo has sell over 146 million Nintendo Switch consoles and 1.3 billion units worth of package on that chopine . People have massive Switch libraries of biz they adore and have sunk dozens , if not one C , of hours into . As such , it make sense that Nintendo does n’t want its player to completely leave all of that behind . Even if hoi polloi only bribe a plot or two for Switch 2 at release , they ’ll have a giant back catalog of titles to enjoy on it .
The thing is , there needs to be more than only a game or two exclusive to the new system to buy . Nintendo ca n’t operate third - party developer , but I ’m worry the Switch 2 will miss an individuality out of the gate if most of its launching exclusives and game released throughout its first year are cross - gen title also usable on Switch . TheSwitch 2needs an identicalness of its own , especially if it is truly a Switch 2 and not some sort of wildly different idea .
If Nintendo is n’t measured , it could potentially make the same mistakes PlayStation and Xbox made during their last console transitions . If people are go to drop one system for another , there needs to be an sizable , worthwhile ground to kick upstairs . Nintendo , gratefully , has the benefit of its first - party games likeMario Kart 8 Deluxe , Animal Crossing : New Horizons , andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatebeing as popular as third - company springy servicing games are on other platforms .
If Switch 2 can birth sole follow - ups to those games , or multiple title of respect with similar potential for being massive hits , within the first twelvemonth of the console ’s life cycle , masses will finger the need to raise . And if they do , Nintendo can have a smoother transition from one console table to another than both Sony and Microsoft did with their later gambling chopine . As we continue to learn more and more about whatever the Switch 2 end up being , this will stay on one of the biggest challenges for Nintendo to overcome .
