What to Expect From the Nintendo Switch 2

Believe it or not, the Nintendo Switch is nearing its fifth birthday. It’s been a wild run for Nintendo’s wildly successful console/handheld hybrid. Fans still love the device, but it’s starting to show its age, especially compared to the newest console offerings from Microsoft and Sony.

Will Nintendo take the wind out of the competition’s sails with a next-generation Switch? Or is this top name in gaming content letting the new Switch OLED compete in this cutthroat industry? We’ve kept our eyes peeled and ears to the ground — and this is what we know so far about a potential Switch 2 console.

During an investor call in February 2021, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa described the Switch as in the middle of its life. Customers should take this comment with a grain of salt, however.

Is it possible the Switch gets new releases and first-party support in 2024? Yes, but very unlikely. Remember, just because a system still gets the occasional game release — like Just Dance 2019 for the 12-year-old Wii — doesn’t mean that console is alive and thriving. By 2024, the successor to the Switch will be on the market, getting the bulk of Nintendo’s support and attention.

The seemingly tepid response to the Switch OLED should only bolster the argument that Nintendo needs a new device. Unfortunately, simply offering a larger, better-looking screen doesn’t cut it when the hardware shows its age. Consumers welcomed the better battery — as well as a few other quality of life features — but one can’t help but think that the Switch OLED came two years too late.

Seeing games run poorly with dated graphics only makes the contrast between the Switch and its rivals, the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X, that much more stark.

The Switch OLED is Nintendo’s attempt to bring in new fans. It’s a strategy that is working so far. That said, there’s just no substitute for a brand new device — and the Switch OLED marks a small step towards the next generation.

Nintendo’s reputation for daring new hardware is deserved. So one can’t help but wonder if something groundbreaking is on the way. It’s certainly possible the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t just a “Super Switch” but rather a whole new way to play games. This is an exciting idea, but one that is most likely fantasy and not reality.

Nintendo’s Switch has been too successful for the company to take any new chances with the next system. After the failure of the Wii U and the less than smashing success of the Gamecube, Nintendo would be wise to stick with what works.

So what’s the more likely Switch 2? The hybrid console/handheld design will definitely return since it’s the feature consumers overwhelmingly agreed was the reason to buy the system. An even better-looking OLED screen (or possibly one featuring Mini LED) is also a certainty.

The biggest question mark — as usual with Nintendo systems — concerns graphical horsepower. Never one to pour huge time, money, and resources into bleeding-edge graphics technology, Nintendo’s newest console has a unique advantage. With the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X already more than a year into their lives, Nintendo is well-positioned.

Being able to compete head-to-head with these devices from a technical perspective would be impossible now. But in two years? It’s not out of the realm of possibility for a 2023 Switch 2 release to rival competitors.

No matter when the Switch 2 makes its way into your home, protect it with an Upsie extended video game console warranty. Big box retailers offer overpriced warranties that barely cover the basics. In contrast, Upsie offers warranties that cost up to 70 percent less while still offering premium protection.

Upsie protects gaming consoles from accidental damage, early wear, manufacturing defects, and more. In addition, customers can make unlimited claims up to the purchase price of the device.