Why The Switch 2 Isn’t Clicking With Me

The Switch is the second-highest selling Nintendo console, but after the Switch 2 Direct, I’m not quite sure the Switch 2 will surpass, or even match those numbers. These may not be burning hot takes, but I have plenty of thoughts. 

Rumors of a “Switch Pro” were floating around as early as 2019, and some features were included in the Switch OLED model, though the visuals were the only significant change. Without a real hardware refresh, the Switch has really been showing its age over the years. A Switch 2 seemed almost inevitable, and since 2023, rumors and leaks only intensified. 

After a major data breach at Game Freak, the studio behind Pokemon, in October 2024 and Switch 2 unofficial mockups floating around, it almost seems like Nintendo’s hand was forced. On January 16 this year, there was a 2 and a half minute first look trailer, with the promise of an upcoming direct on April 2nd. 

All that background is to say, the Switch 2 has been a long time coming. Since the Switch 2 Direct a week ago, reactions have seemed mostly positive. Though for myself, even during the direct there wasn’t anything that blew me away. In the weeks since the direct, everything has only gotten more complicated. 

The Switch 2 seems to be caught in a Donald Trump-era tariff war, though with the recent 90-day pause, perhaps the way has cleared for it to safely launch June 2nd. North American pre-orders are currently unavailable, though the launch date remains unchanged. None of these factors are the Switch 2’s fault, but its pricing has certainly raised some eyebrows. 

At $450 USD ($629.99 CAD) the Switch 2 is similar to the price of a launch PS5. The games are also going to be $80 for digital and $90 for physical, which is both higher than the current industry standard, and the first time a premium has been added to physical games. 

I think the console price is generally fine, it seems like a fairly powerful system, though I have concerns about its battery life and the controllers still seem prone to analog stick drift. The price of the games though is a problem. My main issue is that Nintendo games never go on sale, and for the most part, I like having physical games. 

To me, it’s a bit of a fool’s errand to decide which games have earned their price tag. Game prices have been relatively stable, despite production costs for high-budget games ballooning over the years. There has been plenty of speculation about GTA 6 having an above standard cost, and if any game “deserves” a bit of a price increase, I think that game is a perfect contender. 

However, paying possibly $90 for the new Mario Kart World stings when Mario Kart 8 still costs $60, despite originally launching in 2014 for the Wii U. I can respect the idea that sales could “cheapen” your brand, but that makes the higher prices sting all the more. 

Stepping back and looking at this as a whole, it makes sense that the Switch 2 Direct featured only adults, because Nintendo no longer seems to be a family company. I’d say the Switch 2 marks a pivot into more of a lifestyle brand, like Apple, including the premium that comes with it. 

So, what about the games? To me, there’s nothing that exciting here. None of the announced Switch 2 exclusive games are must-buys, and none of the Switch 2 upgrades are for games that I really like. Nintendo first party games usually don’t do a ton for me, I don’t have a ton of gamer friends, so party-based stuff like Mario Kart I usually pass on. 

The one pleasant surprise for my tastes was a remaster of Bravely Default, a 3DS game. It may be exclusive to the Switch 2, but I’m not going to shell out to buy a copy of a game I already owned and played. To be fair, the original Switch didn’t have much on its launch roster for me either. 

Overall, I’m sure someone is excited for the Switch 2, and I’m happy for them. I’ll bet that eventually I’ll be excited for the Switch 2 once they announce an exclusive I’m really into, like a Smash Brothers or a Fire Emblem. For now though, it feels like a solid upgrade that not enough games I play will really make use of. 

How people adopt the Switch 2 could say a lot about where gaming is heading. If players are willing to buy into Nintendo’s new ecosystem despite the price tag, gaming may be solidifying as a luxury hobby. Or at least having a Nintendo Switch 2 and another console is going to be a lot less feasible. 

So, my lukewarm take is that the Switch 2 is probably fine, and maybe even great, eventually. I won’t be breaking down any doors to be a first adopter, but I can imagine there are some people who will get a lot out of a stronger Switch. There are plenty of pros, but there are also a lot more caveats than I would like. 

I think it all depends on your gaming habits and where the current Switch fits into your life. For me, PS5 is my main console, and my Switch doesn’t get played all that often. None of the new games are going to change that, and none of the new features are drawing me back to old games. For the foreseeable future, the Switch 2 is a nice upgrade that I just can’t justify.