2023-09-08 15:40:33
Nintendo’s next console seems, unsurprisingly, to be well and truly in development with a release in 2024 increasingly likely. While waiting to know more information about the console, we wanted to bring together our expectations and our analysis of what this console could offer.
La Nintendo Switch Oled // Source : Nintendo
Nintendo is preparing a new game console. More than six years after the launch of the Nintendo Switch, it makes sense for a console manufacturer to prepare the sequel. On September 7, 2023, we learned from several journalistic sources that Nintendo had started demonstrating its next console to developers at Gamescom.
The launch of the machine would be planned for 2024, but it is still shrouded in mystery. While waiting to learn more from Nintendo, here are our expectations regarding the new machine.
Design
The hybrid design of the Nintendo Switch has been a real success. Not only did the console sell very well, but by offering both a portable console and a home console, Nintendo made game development much easier. No more need to place teams creating a game on Nintendo 3DS while others work on a Wii U game: everyone could target the same and unique console, the Switch. We can therefore reasonably expect a console using the same concept, namely a Nintendo Switch 2.
The Nintendo Switch dock // Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
If the general concept of the console should be kept, Nintendo could still make changes. We can, for example, hope for a screen with thinner borders, and the same adjustable foot as on the Nintendo Switch Oled.
On the connectivity side, USB-C will obviously still be there, but this time, we hope that the console will be perfectly compatible with the standard, to really allow any dock to be compatible.
Our wish: keep the same philosophy and improve the finishes
Controller: new ideas?
As for the general design, we can expect Nintendo to keep the principle of Joy-cons. Moreover, we could even hope for compatibility of the Joy-cons of the Switch with the Switch 2 or the reverse. But this would only really be possible if both generations of controllers offer the same functions. However, Nintendo is known for always having good ideas to add to these controllers for ever more innovative games.
The Lenovo Legion Go // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid
The least we can say is that there is a lot to improve regarding the Joy-Con. First of all, Nintendo could finally integrate hall effect analog sticks, to put an end to the drift. We hope that the controllers will be more ergonomic, without losing their handling for the youngest.
Nintendo could easily add functions to its controllers. For example, take inspiration from the excellent adaptive triggers of the PS5’s DualSense, which offer force feedback and analog operation, or offer a touchpad like on the Steam Deck. Some manufacturers like Asus or Lenovo offer additional buttons on the back of the controller, but it’s hard to imagine Nintendo adding too much complexity. The brand is generally keen to offer games that are easy to access and our modern controllers are already riddled with buttons.
Our wish: sticks without drift, and a new idea for innovative games?
Screen: definition, frequency and Oled or LCD?
Since 2017, Oled screens have become widely available, particularly on mobile devices. It is increasingly rare to find a smartphone with an LCD screen. The best version of the Switch already offers an Oled screen, and it would therefore be surprising to see Nintendo regress on this point. However, this is what some rumors suggest.
Beyond the type of screen, we can wonder what its definition and display frequency will be. Many have criticized Nintendo’s choice to offer a 1280 x 720 pixel screen at 60 Hz on its Nintendo Switch. In 2024, it would be natural to expect improvements in this area. Competitors like the ROG Ally or the Lenovo Legion Go offer 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1600 pixels with frequencies rising to 144 Hz.
However, on the one hand, it is not Nintendo’s habit to race with technical characteristics. On the other hand, apart from the cost of the screen itself, an improvement in definition and frequency has a cost for autonomy and the graphics power necessary to monitor. We are therefore going to take the opposite approach to ambient noise and we hope instead that Nintendo will be reasonable.
Our wish: a 1920 x 1080 pixel Oled screen at 90 Hz? Even that might still be too demanding (it will probably be 60 Hz).
Power
Perhaps the biggest point of frustration for many gamers and developers regarding the Nintendo Switch is its computing power. With its Nvidia Tegra X1 chip from 2015 and its 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, the technical solution of the Switch is no longer up to date. Between 2015 and 2023, computing has evolved a lot, particularly the computing power of our mobile devices. We can therefore expect good developments on this point.
Realize, the Nintendo Switch chip shares the same Maxwell architecture as the Nvidia GeForce GTX 900 graphics cards. Since then, there has been the GTX 1000, RTX 2000, RTX 3000 and even RTX 4000 generation. Even admitting that the latter is too recent for Nintendo to be able to take advantage of it, the design of a console is done over a long time, the Japanese manufacturer should be able to benefit from an increase in computing power for equal consumption.
For Nintendo, the most important thing is undoubtedly to guarantee backward compatibility of the console with the games of the first Switch, and to maintain a certain ease of development for the studios. We therefore think that the manufacturer should extend its partnership with Nvidia. The latter could succeed in convincing Nintendo to integrate its best technologies such as DLSS or ray tracing hardware. Nintendo has even already demonstrated it during Gamescom.
DLSS would in particular take on its full meaning on a Nintendo Switch 2. This solution makes it possible to increase the definition of the image by going from 1280 x 720 pixels and being able to go up to 4 K 3840 x 2160 pixels with a cost relatively low on the consumption of the device. One could easily imagine that the Switch 2 could activate DLSS when placed in its dock, charging, and connected to a television. Enough to offer compatibility with 4K televisions, while maintaining a portable console that requires very little mobility. The Nintendo Switch dock is currently limited to a Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel stream, but offering a 4K compatible HDMI port would be very inexpensive for the company. Remember that nothing obliges a console displaying its operating system in 4K to offer games with native 4K image quality.
The power of the ARM SoC with Nvidia graphics chip is not the only parameter to take into account. On a daily basis, one of the points that has become painful with the Switch is undoubtedly the slowness of its storage and its RAM. The next generation consoles Xbox Series S and PS5 have found a solution with the integration of faster SSD storage.
We must keep in mind that Nintendo is not intended to enter into a power war with its competitors. On the other hand, the brand generally cares about the player experience. Loading times are not pleasant for anyone. So let’s hope that the Switch 2 will focus on faster storage.
Our expectations : a more modern, but still economical graphics chip, and more generous and faster storage.
Games and graphics updates?
Nintendo should end the year 2023 in style with Super Mario Wonder pour Nintendo Switch. But beyond its 2D blockbuster, the manufacturer has a rather empty roadmap ahead of it. It seems that the company no longer wishes to announce too early games whose release could no longer be done exclusively on the first Switch.
The new Mario elephant transformation in “Super Mario Wonder” // Source: Nintendo
Just like the transition from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, we can initially expect to see games straddling both generations of Nintendo Switch. There is still one title which is long overdue and which could serve as a showcase for the new console, it is Metroid Prime 4. Announced in 2017 for the launch of the first Switch, no images have yet been revealed. In 2019, the development of the game started from scratch and was entrusted to the developers of Retro Studio, the creators of the first Metroid Prime.
The game “Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” for Nintendo Switch // Source: Nintendo
Among other expectations, if we exclude the obvious new episode of Pokémon, we can reasonably expect in the console release window a new episode of Super Mario in 3D, it would be the first since Super Mario Odyssey in 2017, and a new episode of Super Mario Kart. Unless the manufacturer prefers to once again relaunch its Mario Kart 8 which has already covered two generations of consoles.
On this subject, it will be interesting to discover what Nintendo’s approach will be towards its catalog of games already in operation on Switch. For the latter, Nintendo had remastered many Wii U games since its portable console was not backwards compatible. If the Switch 2 is fully backwards compatible, will Nintendo bother to develop updates for its cult titles like The Legend of Zelda Tears of The Kingdom or Super Smash Bros Ultimate, in order to take advantage of the power of the new console? This is not the manufacturer’s habits, but it is the example given by Microsoft and Sony with their 9th generation consoles.
Finally there is the question of the adoption of this new console by other developers and publishers. With its renewed power, we should be entitled to ports of PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S games that had to be skipped on the Switch. On this subject, it is with this new generation that a certain Call of Duty could well land on the Nintendo console.
Our expectations (and dreams): Super Mario Odyssey 2, The Legend of Zelda : The Minish Cap Remake, Final Fantasy XIV (the editorial staff disengages from this last wish which rests entirely on the author of this article)
Nintendo services and ecosystem
The Nintendo Switch was also the generation where the manufacturer fully implemented its paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription. With its expansion pack, the company has even created a sort of Game Pass for the DLC. The launch of a new generation of console is generally an opportunity to integrate new features for the services.
Nintendo Switch Online subscription + Additional Pack // Source: Nintendo
Could Nintendo evolve its service to integrate more recent games like Sony is now doing with its PlayStation Plus Extra? We don’t believe it, but the manufacturer has also managed to surprise us in recent years. What would surprise us much less would be an increase in the price of the service. Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus were entitled to price increases, Nintendo would therefore have every legitimacy to follow its competitors and increase its turnover.
You could argue that the Nintendo Switch currently has the simplest operating system on the market and we hope that the Switch 2 will offer the same. On the other hand, we would like Nintendo to improve navigation in its eShop online store, in particular loading and lag.
Our expectations : more recent games in the Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
The price
The Nintendo Switch has always been marketed around 300 euros. Consoles at modest prices have always made Nintendo successful, like the Wii launched at 299 euros. When the manufacturer launches an overly expensive console, like the Wii U or the 3DS, it generally gets tripped up. This is also what should encourage the manufacturer to remain reasonable regarding the technical characteristics of the machine.
Despite this, it should also be noted that prices have soared in recent years. Microsoft and Sony have even increased the price of their consoles. It is therefore not excluded that the Nintendo Switch 2 will see its starting price set higher, but how much higher? It’s hard to imagine a price higher than 399 euros.
Our expectations : always 299 euros and no more than 399 euros.
And the name
We’ve talked about Nintendo Switch 2 throughout this article for the sake of simplicity, but we don’t really know what name Nintendo will come up with for its next console. Some may have fun imagining a Nintendo Switch U, but the brand was undoubtedly burned by this name. More original, the theory of a Super Nintendo Switch is making its way, in homage to the manufacturer’s second home console, the Super Nintendo.
Our expectations : Super Nintendo Switch.
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