D'oh! I completely missed that bit, haha. I don't see what else it can be unless a forth console competitor is going to enter the arena!True, external partners are all over the place. The article itself isn't sure that it's Nintendo and basically infer based on the job title "Game Console Developer Tools Engineer". Not many Nvidia console partners involved in game development.
Nintendo customers are accustomed to not getting leading edge performance.
They've been trained for decades to lower their expectations.
All well and good, gameplay trumps graphics.
Nvidias ability to create a great API and development tools for the Switch and the upcoming Switch 2 far outweighs the shortcomings in performance Nvidia can offer Nintendo at a given price point and power envelope that the system will be constrained to. Im still convinced that the Switch 2 will be using the Orin NX SOC, and while the dominate mobile SOC manufactures could offer more performance at the same price point, Nvidia's ability to create an extremely friendly game development has encouraged a ton of developers to support the Switch. The inclusion of DLSS is a huge bonus as well. Nvidia continue to refine DLSS and by the time Switch launches, many of the blemishes currently in play will be ironed out. Nintendo recently spoke during an investors meeting about the importance of managing the transition from Switch to their next console, and with Zelda BoTW 2 coming 2023 Spring, it seems like the perfect time to release Switch 2. Cross gen is the norm now, so just because Switch 2 launches doesnt mean support for Switch stops. I also expect Switch 2 to launch at $399, so having the cheaper Switch models on the market for a few more years seems like a good idea.
At the end of the day the switch 2 needs to do something the switch 1 doesn't do for casual gamers to upgrade. If nintendo ports mario kart 8 from the wii u to the switch to the switch 2 will casual gamers care or just keep the switch with mario kart 8 ?
Maybe Nintendo will introduce yet another new gimmick. Complete with launch games that grab the attention of casual gamers, taking advantage of the new gimmick.
Switch was a console that able to transform as home and portable console. Maybe switch 2 will be....
I've no idea
We are in the third straight generation of nintendo gimmicks tho. Wii , Wii u , Switch.I would say Nintendo is more likely to stay on the same course with Switch 2 than introducing new gimmicks. Nintendo was able to take a risk with new gimmicks on their new home console since they had a portable market to fall back on just in case it fails, but Nintendo no longer has that luxury with Switch being their only console.
We are in the third straight generation of nintendo gimmicks tho. Wii , Wii u , Switch.
hybrid console with motion controls ? Seems gimmicky to me.I would say Switch is the least gimmicky console out of these three. Switch is a traditional game console, just in portable/home hybrid form.
hybrid console with motion controls ? Seems gimmicky to me.
I would say Nintendo is more likely to stay on the same course with Switch 2 than introducing new gimmicks. Nintendo was able to take a risk with new gimmicks on their new home console since they had a portable market to fall back on just in case it fails, but Nintendo no longer has that luxury with Switch being their only console.
Well maybe with less powerful chips, Switch 2 won't be as supply-constrained as Xbox Series X and PS5.
I think a new Switch would get tons of excitement based on the continuing hype for Switch in general.I agree one hundred percent. Nintendo always like to add unique features to its new consoles, but I do not see them moving on from the hybrid concept anytime soon. With Switch Nintendo has been able to hold onto their dominance in the portable market with no real competition now that Sony vacated that segment of the market. When Nintendo decided to try something completely new with the Wii, this was after three consecutive console generations selling less and less. Sony was so dominant during the PS2 era and with the additional competition from Microsoft, it made sense to try something completely different. We have seen Nintendo make incremental changes without starting from scratch. The GameBoy to the Gameboy Color was a very modest change, and then the GB Color to the GB Advance was pretty straight forward. DS to 3DS, additional features certainly, but didn't reinvent the wheel either.
Switch getting out of the gate with a strong start wasnt just because the hardware itself struck a chord with consumers, but also because the roll out of strong first party titles was consistent for the first year. This will be very important for the Switch 2. Having a new Mario Kart, 3D Mario, Zelda and Smash Bros in the first 12 months was critical. Not saying that it has to be that exact same lineup, but there needs to be a strong first year offering of Nintendos heavy hitters.
I think a new Switch would get tons of excitement based on the continuing hype for Switch in general.
This is also something that distinguishes it from the huge success of the Wii - that was very fad-based. Amazing sales, but by the last couple years, actual excitement surrounding the console by gamers was start to accumulate dust, whereas the Switch just keeps motoring on with no sign of slowing down.
Just look at the PS5. For a new generation, it's so far offered relatively little in terms of unique games, but because it's coming off the back of the PS4's driving success, demand for PS5 has still been through the roof.
Well maybe with less powerful chips, Switch 2 won't be as supply-constrained as Xbox Series X and PS5.
If this was any other company than Nintendo this might hold true, but because it's Nintendo it's irrelevant. Devs would support Switch even if it was literal potato because it's NintendoNvidia's ability to create an extremely friendly game development has encouraged a ton of developers to support the Switch.