On October 20, 2016, Nintendo surprised the gaming and entertainment world by unveiling its new console, the Switch. The mission wasn’t easy, as the Japanese company was coming off the failure of the Wii U, and the industry conditions at the time raised more doubts than expectations. Today, it's easy to say "the rest is history," but we can't deny that we may be on the brink of a new announcement that could follow the same path.
8 years since the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch
Various posts on social media and forums have been recalling that it’s been 8 years since Nintendo showed the first official trailer for the Switch. The announcement confirmed rumors of what was then known as NX. The concept of combining TV and portable gaming from the Wii U was repeated but with a different approach. This time, there wasn’t a console and a separate portable device; instead, a tablet was the console itself, which could connect to a screen via a dock or be played portably with detachable controllers called Joy-Con, all in a simple "plug and play" process.
Time has certainly flown since that reveal, and while there’s a sense that something big is coming from Nintendo, many are hoping the same timeline of official announcement, detailed presentation, and release will repeat. Given the idea that Switch 2 will debut in 2025, fans think we could be just days or weeks away from the new console’s reveal. The Nintendo Switch was revealed on October 20, 2016, had its official presentation on January 13, 2017, and was launched on March 3 of that same year. It took just over four months to introduce the concept and put it on the market. We’re no longer in a time where consoles build expectations years in advance.
When will Switch 2 debut and who will it compete against?
With that said, the expectation is that Nintendo Switch 2 will be revealed before the end of 2024, but the industry and conditions have changed, and the Japanese company is being more cautious about the official presentation.
First, Switch 2 will face a market where it already has competitors in the high-quality portable gaming sector. Companies like Valve and Asus took note of the hybrid console’s success, and players now have options like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, MSI Claw, and Lenovo Legion Go, all with access to Steam libraries and official support for Xbox Game Pass.
On the other hand, Nintendo is facing a different economic environment than when it announced and launched the Switch. In recent years, the Japanese economy has been in crisis, and its stock market has become volatile, with billions of yen disappearing in minutes on a bad day. As a result, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda’s company is likely waiting for the best moment to announce Switch 2, as this will inevitably have a financial impact.
Nintendo is being more cautious with the Switch 2 reveal
In terms of the gaming proposal, rumors, reports, and alleged leaks suggest that Nintendo won't make a radical change in concept from one console to another this time. We’re living in an era where companies like Samsung and Apple play it safe, simply changing the number on their most successful devices. For Nintendo, it wouldn't be much different, as it's riskier to introduce an entirely new gaming concept, launch it, and start from scratch. The Switch is projected to become the best-selling console in history, surpassing the PS2, and they can't turn their back on a user base of over 150 million.
Finally, Nintendo’s trick to making the Switch successful was the constant release of high-quality games, at least its exclusives. However, times have also changed when it comes to game development, with budgets skyrocketing. According to recent reports, the industry crisis due to high production costs is hitting Japan (for example, with Bandai Namco), and some of Nintendo’s projects may need more time to ensure a strong launch lineup and first-year offering.
What do you think about all this?
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