It's easy to let your imagination run wild when thinking about possibilities. Nintendo Switch 2. Little is known about Nintendo's upcoming Switch sequel, other than that it will be a more powerful version of the previous hugely successful hybrid console.
The renewed power will certainly benefit the Nintendo Switch 2 as it strives to compete with rivals like PlayStation and Xbox, but that's not the whole story. The 9th generation of consoles brought out a number of powerful projects that took full advantage of the latest hardware, but the past few years have also been fraught with disappointment, with many thinking that the best games would be available in 2020 and beyond. It works well on the latest generation systems, in fact many systems do. All of this means that Nintendo doesn't necessarily have to match its competitors' hardware capabilities to stay relevant, but specific console features are a different story.
Nintendo Switch 2 could benefit from equal performance
Nintendo's main console still lacks an achievement/trophy system.
The value of achievements and trophies in modern games is subjective. That's because while many players can take these digital accolades or walk away, others always go into the game with the explicit goal of earning the elusive Platinum. There are even obscure games that make money simply because they are easy to go platinum. But no matter where you fall on the spectrum, it's hard to deny that checking those boxes can be very satisfying, even if it's not critical to the success of the actual game itself.
Given the dazzling array of trophies and achievements following the seventh console generation, it's somewhat baffling that Nintendo's own console hasn't responded with its own internal milestone system. Popular cross-platform games on Switch, e.g. stardew valleyEarning achievements on other platforms will force some players to choose between the portability of the Switch and the satisfying completionist tools that are achievements and trophies. As more high-quality games are noticeably downgraded for the Switch, not being able to earn these virtual rewards could act as a further offense to the console. That said, if achievements and trophies are the features players care about, the Switch lacks these important features, making it an inferior way to enjoy many third-party games.
Adding trophies/achievements could make Switch 2 a more complete platform.
Aside from its notable lack of power compared to its competitors, one of the Switch's best features is its lack of modern features. Typically, these criticisms are about the console's quality-of-life shortcomings, like the Switch's online ecosystem that omits common-sense tools like voice chat, or the ability to run minor apps like streaming services alongside games. While lack of performance may not be as big of a problem as the issues previously mentioned, it is part of the same, broader problem.
Nintendo considers its console to be a gaming device rather than a gaming and other entertainment hub like the PlayStation or Xbox. There's no problem with that. But when a not-insignificant portion of the gaming public prioritizes things like trophies/achievements that are directly tied to the overall gaming experience, they ask why Nintendo doesn't pull the trigger on a potentially branded equivalent of its own. And unlike voice chat or simultaneous program execution, the Switch's low power doesn't rule out things like achievements. Giving the Switch 2 more power could bring more advanced features, but Nintendo must first join Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in a world of silly, unnecessary, yet satisfying digital glory.
nintendo switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console released in 2017 that can be played in handheld mode or docked to a TV. It was followed by a portable-only model, the Switch Lite, in 2019, and an OLED refresh is scheduled to be released in 2021.
