By Nelson Schneider - 06/08/25 at 03:44 PM CT
Nintendo just released the Switch 2. It’s such a mainstream commercial product release that the legacy media networks all deemed it worthy of mentioning during their evening World News broadcasts. Yet, as someone who cares about gaming more than most other topics, I just can’t get excited about this thing.
We all know the “Cons” list going against the Switch2: It’s $450 without a game. New first-party games are $80. Most physical third-party games are digital downloads tied to special key-cards. Nintendo opted out of adding Hall Effect joysticks to prevent a repeat of the infamous Joycon drift issue.
None of those would really be deal-breakers for me individually, or even when piled together. The thing that’s preventing me from exuding even a fragment of interest in the Switch 2 is the complete and utter lack of compelling game releases. It’s been proven as objectively as possible over the last decade-plus of Gaming Economics that buying multi-platform titles anywhere besides PC is a bad idea, so the mention of the Switch 2 getting as many ports as the original Switch (oh, gods… so many ports… TOO many ports!) is not something to be happy about. Most of these ports being key-card bound is an extra gut-punch for people who collect games on physical media out of a desire for preservation and “forever” access.
So with third-party multi-platform games removed from consideration, the Switch 2 is just like every other Nintendo console since the Gamecube: A device specifically for playing Nintendo’s first-party games. And within the Switch 2 launch window… there’s practically nothing. The Switch 2 is the first Nintendo console since the Virtual Boy to launch without a new ‘Super Mario’ or ‘Legend of Zelda’ game. Instead, Nintendo is trying to placate Switch 2 early adopters with oodles of remaster-ports of Switch 1 games, along with new entries in the ‘Mario Kart’ and ‘Donkey Kong’ franchises, neither of which looks particularly compelling to me… especially not $80-worth levels of compelling.
Combining the list of established Cons against the Switch 2, the lack of effort in first-party launch window releases, AND Nintendo’s recent threatening changes to their EULA, makes it less surprising that people who want a Switch 2 have, reportedly, been able to mosey into most retail stores and just buy one off the shelf. Nintendo’s decision to launch right at the beginning of the Summer Games Drought could have caused Switch 2 sales to shoot-off like a rocket, but for the fact that the brand-new device has a self-inflicted Game Drought of its own.
I’ve always said that no console is worth a purchase until there are at least 5 exclusive games for it on my personal wish list. Maybe once there’s a new 2D or 3D ‘Mario’ platformer, a NEW (non-ported) ‘Zelda’ game, and a couple more interesting titles, I’ll sit up and take notice. But as things stand, this is one of the most bland, lifeless, and overall ‘meh’ console launches in Nintendo’s storied history.
Comments
Chris Kavan - wrote on 06/10/25 at 06:30 PM CT
Nintendo is the last holdout of the exclusivity party - and since I haven't bought a Nintendo console since the Wii, I guess I'm over it. Honestly, I think my console days are over. Even if there is a new Playstation in the works I have no reason to buy it. Their exclusives will eventually hit PC (if they even have those down the road). If I get anything down the road it may be a Steamdeck but I'm in no rush.
Nick - wrote on 06/09/25 at 05:55 PM CT
For me yes, I also need more than Kart World and DK. I need a new Mario game, Zelda game, and Metroid Prime 4 before I'd consider buying. I'm also wondering if there will be a Switch 2 v2 of some sort much like the Switch 1 OLED.
