• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Is Switch potentially becoming the main console for many now?

kyser73

Member
To clarify my point I don't necessarily mean affecting hardware sales, moreso how often people are playing games these days.

For many, playing massive games on a portable seems more compelling

Sony said their MAU hours are up YoY, MS the same, so based on that the answer to your question would be no.
 
The poster knows what's up.


I will literally buy any game on a handheld over a console (see Ys VIII, danganronpa v3, waiting on yooka laylee, summon knight 6)

Well yes. If all the games I wanted to play were coming on the Switch I'd buy one and it'd probably be my only console.


Unfortunately dat ain't the case. I think that for a majority of video gamers (well, those that aren't content gaming on their phones) the lack of games will limit the growth of Switch sales.

Asscreed, Destiny 2, Pro Evo Soccer and GTurismo ain't coming to Switch so it's not my console.

If they were...yeah, it would be.
 

Laieon

Member
Switch has become the system I want to do most of my gaming on. I haven't picked up anything during the Steam sale yet and a big reason for that is that a lot of the games on my wishlist have confirmed ports for Switch, and I'd rather play them on that. That's probably because it's shiny and new, but I definitely think at the very least the Switch will be my dedicated Indie system from now on.
 
I think what they mean is that there are only two games they care about on the system.

IMO that's fair, since that's how I see things too. What's the point of telling me that the platform has a bunch of games that I'm not interested in? I don't get any enjoyment out of owning a console with many games, I get enjoyment from playing many games that I enjoy playing.

To me, Switch has... Zelda, Mario Kart, and the future MHXX(I live in Asia), and that's good enough for me. There will be more game, such as Metroid Prime 4, and whatever in the future, but they are too far into the future for me to give two toss.
I mean, it's not fair. No one would think it's a valid statement if I said the PS4 only has 10 games even if I genuinely only care about 10 games on the system
 

spekkeh

Banned
I'm only speaking for what I've seen. A few anecdotes from this thread aren't really going to convince me this is definitely a trend, especially with counterexamples of people selling their Switches or who haven't touched it since Zelda. And again, to my other point, if it were true that swathes of gamers all over the world were dropping their PS4s to play on Switch over whatever vague timeframe we're talking about, it could be a natural result of the horrible Wii U drought at the end of its life cycle temporarily forcing Nintendo fans to turn to other systems to have something to play, only to come back to the Switch once it launched.
There's at least thirty people in this thread who said it. Almost half of the people who say they have a Switch. A few anecdotes fuck outta here with that bullshit. Now whether that constitutes many (it does) may be debatable over whether you think many only applies if it's a vast majority of Switch owners (it doesn't), but even if it's just 30-40% of Switch owners, that's a pretty remarkable thing for a Nintendo console. Probably hasn't been that high in a decade. That validates the OP. And drought on the Wii U? Both MK8 and BotW are available on the Wii U. More likely a lot of Switch owners didn't even have a Wii U.
 

ksamedi

Member
My perception of a main console is wanting all games I am interested in coming to that console, even if that is not always the case.

I love the PS4 and it has some great games., but I havent turned it on since I bought a Switch. When 2 games Im interested in come out in the same time period, I prefer to buy just one, and if they are on different consoles, I prefer my main console for the purchase. Because the Switch has been getting a steady stream of games im interested in, I dont feel the need to look into anything else, unless its really good. so even though the PS4 has a lot of good content coming up, so does the Switch. There is nothing wrong with maining the Switch and it definitly happened to me while I barey touched the WiiU.
 

Chauzu

Member
Lot of condescending tones towards Switch owners here. I'm a Switch only gamer and I can't help some people take their love for the machine a bit too far and some of you feel there are too many Switch threads or port begging or whatever. Personally I'm just happy to have a console tailoring perfectly to my life style and so far this year I have probably played more games than last two years combined. It feels like I've rediscovered gaming again, and all I really have to say about this is that it's less about Nintendo fanboyism and more about being offered a new way to play that speaks to me.
 

Usobuko

Banned
There's at least thirty people in this thread who said it. Almost half of the people who say they have a Switch. A few anecdotes fuck outta here with that bullshit. Now whether that constitutes many (it does) may be debatable over whether you think many only applies if it's a vast majority of Switch owners (it doesn't), but even if it's just 30-40% of Switch owners, that's a pretty remarkable thing for a Nintendo console. Probably hasn't been that high in a decade. That validates the OP. And drought on the Wii U? Both MK8 and BotW are available on the Wii U. More likely a lot of Switch owners didn't even have a Wii U.

Are we looking at Gaf population here or the general audience for console gaming?

For the former, Gaf is an extremely niche base that even a at best 30-40% switch owners were converted from elsewhere are miniscule to matter. And that's assuming they werent already converted being a handheld or / and Nintendo fans in the first place.

For the latter, the ipad/tablet/phones satisfied vast amount of your average person who wanted gaming on the go and various forms of entertainment, not to mention all other benefits a phone offers. And switch doesn't have AAA western third parties either to appeal to the console audience.

I don't see the trend tbh.
 

Dynheart

Banned
I do not have a main console. Considering I have about equal software between Sony and Nintendo, I pretty much bounce back and fourth on a whim. Maybe weekly. Maybe monthly. But I do not label a primary, or secondary, console. If I were forced to choose a secondary, it would be Microsoft's platform.

EDIT: With that said, I am currently playing ESO with my wife. So the PS4 is my primary, for the now. That will change entirely, for a stretch of 10 months, as I go to school. When that happens, the Switch will take over as my primary for gaming needs.
 

redcrayon

Member
For me when you say convenience of portables I associate it with ipad. You can watch Netflix, browse the web, social media and play games on it. It's interesting that you narrow it down to binary choices and compare convenience vs power and only for consoles. I think I can't comprehend how that can be a deciding factor for "many". I understand for some people that may be the case.
I did so because 'console' is in the thread title and the focus of discussion. I do all those things on my phone/tablet too (and read more than watch), but while it's even more convenient than a portable for broader multimedia use, I generally prefer to play games on a dedicated portable games console, no matter the manufacturer. That was my point, that you seemed to conflate anyone preferring portables with people who only play Nintendo games.
 

FinalAres

Member
I would like it to. But just as I finish my back catalogue and would consider browsing the Switch library, something major on PS4 comes out.

I am disappointed by the lack of virtual console, and slow release of games. Hopefully it'll be better next year.
 
I think it's becoming the main console for people who were already Nintendo fans. Otherwise I think it will remain the secondary console for many people. I don't think it will affect the sales of the PS4 or xbone at all.
 

Dimorphic

Member
For me it'll come down to third parties.

I can tell you right now that if ME:A was a Switch game I'd have been playing it there (it's the game I'm currently playing hence the relevance).
 
I might one of the rare few but actually sold my switch after a few months. Zelda didn't appeal to me unfortunately and the console is lacking quite a few features to be my main console. Will definitely revisit in a few years if it gets more appealing.
 

CEJames

Member
Why did you "fix" this? It changes nothing?

I'll take a shot at this. The change from "Switch" to "Switch Owners" implies that he's saying the Switch is just another device to play games. As interesting as it can be, some to most Switch Owners are blowing this thing out of proportion with all of these threads, saying it's changing everything and uprooting the competition at an accelerated pace...when it's really not. So far, most of these threads are based on anecdotal evidence which just continuously causes back-and-forth arguments.
 

spekkeh

Banned
Are we looking at Gaf population here or the general audience for console gaming?

For the former, Gaf is an extremely niche base that even a at best 30-40% switch owners were converted from elsewhere are miniscule to matter. And that's assuming they werent already converted being a handheld or / and Nintendo fans in the first place.

For the latter, the ipad/tablet/phones satisfied vast amount of your average person who wanted gaming on the go and various forms of entertainment, not to mention all other benefits a phone offers. And switch doesn't have AAA western third parties either to appeal to the console audience.

I don't see the trend tbh.
Of course we're not talking about the general console population. The general console population is some 200 million people, of which 4 have a Switch. Come on that doesn't make sense. We're talking about 4 million Switch owners

You do see a trend, you just choose to ignore it, because GAF according to you is not indicative of the general Switch owner. Instead you're judging the general Switch owner based on...prejudice and make believe. Certainly not arguments and data or you would have given them.
 

spekkeh

Banned
I'll take a shot at this. The change from "Switch" to "Switch Owners" implies that he's saying the Switch is just another device to play games. As interesting as it can be, some to most Switch Owners are blowing this thing out of proportion with all of these threads, saying it's changing everything and uprooting the competition at an accelerated pace...when it's really not. So far, most of these threads are based on anecdotal evidence which just continuously causes back-and-forth arguments.
I mean this thread is about Switch owners, here let me quote the very OP nobody apparently reads:

OP said:
But what's been even more bizarre is the frequent number of posters amongst here or elsewhere who have stopped gaming on PS4, Xbone, etc. and started played exclusively on Switch. Why could that be?
You can't play exclusively on the Switch if you don't own a Switch in the first place.

So no he was not implying anything reasonable, he was just projecting his own miserableness.
 

Radec

Member
I'll take a shot at this. The change from "Switch" to "Switch Owners" implies that he's saying the Switch is just another device to play games. As interesting as it can be, some to most Switch Owners are blowing this thing out of proportion with all of these threads, saying it's changing everything and uprooting the competition at an accelerated pace...when it's really not. So far, most of these threads are based on anecdotal evidence which just continuously causes back-and-forth arguments.

Yep.
 
Of course we're not talking about the general console population. The general console population is some 200 million people, of which 4 have a Switch. Come on that doesn't make sense. We're talking about 4 million Switch owners

You do see a trend, you just choose to ignore it, because GAF according to you is not indicative of the general Switch owner. Instead you're judging the general Switch owner based on...prejudice and make believe. Certainly not arguments and data or you would have given them.
What most people are doing is refusing to claim this is a trend that is actually happening to a sizeable portion of Switch owners with no proof other than abductors l anecdotes from a small, dedicated, non-representative sample of Switch owners.

The claims in the OP and your post have no data backing them, so it's logical to not assume they're true. Any data available does not support your/OP's claims.
 

Bronetta

Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Not for me. Im just waiting for Splatoon 2 to come out.

Until then its PS4 gaming most of the time.
 
For people like me who have no interest in ARMS or Splatoon 2, then the Switch has like 3 games, Zelda, MK8 and Mario Odyssey with Rabbids being a maybe.
 

spekkeh

Banned
What most people are doing is refusing to claim this is a trend that is actually happening to a sizeable portion of Switch owners with no proof other than abductors l anecdotes from a small, dedicated, non-representative sample of Switch owners.

The claims in the OP and your post have no data backing them, so it's logical to not assume they're true. Any data available does not support your/OP's claims.
Which data are you alluding to here?

Even if GAF is a non representative sample, which I fully agree on (though skewed just as much for having multiple consoles and sampling everything than skewed for preferential consoles... in fact in case of Switch I would argue more so), 30-40% in a skewed distribution still extrapolates to "many people". And definitely a trend.
 

TheTeacher

Neo Member
My only console actually. I know I'm missing out and I' itching to buy a PS4 for Horizon and rhe upcoming RDR2..

But, I barely have time to game. Full time job, looking to buy a house with my fiancé, reading a MA at Uni, and doing part-time photography leaves no room for excessive gaming. So my Switch is enough for now.

- 155 hours on Zelda
- 60 on Mario Kart
- 15 on ARMS.
 

bibs

Member
Switch is my primary machine as I only game on Nintendo consoles. Last gen my main console was the Wii U though I also had a 3DS for Pokemon.
 
Which data are you alluding to here?

Even if GAF is a non representative sample, which I fully agree on (though skewed just as much for having multiple consoles and sampling everything than skewed for preferential consoles... in fact in case of Switch I would argue more so), 30-40% in a skewed distribution still extrapolates to "many people". And definitely a trend.
Find some data that supports your claim that isn't a random smattering of forum posts. Something like declining MAU for PS4/XB1 that correlates to Switch sales (they're both increasing). Anything, really.

You're pulling a % out of thin air and pretending it's a trend based on feelings. I don't doubt that some people are doing what you and OP are claiming, but if it isn't a significant number it's not really noteworthy.
 

Gitaroo

Member
Still the system for Nintendo exclusive. Not interested in paying the same price and possibly more for a turd version of a game if they play a lot better elsewhere and that is if it even get any more third-party support a few years down the line. Portability means nothing to me especially when the system size is bare portable.
 

Estoc

Member
I mean, it's not fair. No one would think it's a valid statement if I said the PS4 only has 10 games even if I genuinely only care about 10 games on the system

On reading the poster you were originally replying to, I regret knighting for them...

Anyhow!

I don't think it's unfair, it shouldn't be anyone's job to promote a commercial product by a company they don't work for. If the topic is about listing how many game each console has, I can see it being unfair, but if it's about personal preference as it is now... I shouldn't have to keep track of how many game a console has regardless if they interest me or not, just in case that someone might take my forum post as the gospel and decide their purchase on that.

I think the problem with the saying that "console only has x game" is it's often used as a way to troll or rile people up, while adding very little to discussion: It's a personal preference, what's there to discuss? Though, again, in a topic as this, I guess it's on-topic.
 

spekkeh

Banned
Find some data that supports your claim that isn't a random smattering of forum posts. Something like declining MAU for PS4/XB1 that correlates to Switch sales (they're both increasing). Anything, really.

You're pulling a % out of thin air and pretending it's a trend based on feelings. I don't doubt that some people are doing what you and OP are claiming, but if it isn't a significant number it's not really noteworthy.


I'm not pulling anything out of thin air, it's right here in the thread. 30% of 4 million is 1.2 million. Even if you consider this sample extremely skewed (it probably is), if you decimate that number (and this is statistically impossibly cynical) 120,000 people is still a heck of a lot of people.

MAU doesn't say much unless you put it against extra number of consoles sold. That said I also haven't seen MAU numbers of the last two months. Only over the last FY when Switch wasn't out. Maybe given that you posit it as a counterargument you can provide these numbers?

A positive data point (and I already posted the stock market showing outsider interest in its prospects) could be this one:
https://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p/software/uk/latest/index_test.jsp&ct=110033

This is historically Nintendo's weakest European market where the Switch market is only has a very small percentage of PS4 and the XB1 market. Yet people spend more money on Switch games.
 

Usobuko

Banned
Of course we're not talking about the general console population. The general console population is some 200 million people, of which 4 have a Switch. Come on that doesn't make sense. We're talking about 4 million Switch owners

You do see a trend, you just choose to ignore it, because GAF according to you is not indicative of the general Switch owner. Instead you're judging the general Switch owner based on...prejudice and make believe. Certainly not arguments and data or you would have given them.

Why benefits do I get for choosing to ignore trends?

If anything, I'm going along with your actual make believe % and saying Gaf is too niche to based any trends on. Ghost Recon was the best selling game ytd and the ot page counts is far far lower than either something niche like Persona.

What arguments are you looking for that are quantifiable and qualitative?
 
Lot of condescending tones towards Switch owners here.

You get used to it.

Some of these people honestly can't even imagine that others might have different tastes and preferences. So when someone doesn't care much about the ps4, gods official gift to gamers, along with games like COD, GTA, Red Dead, The Last of Us and Infamous that must mean they're "not really a gamer" or "Not hardcore like me!" or some other similair bullshitery.
 
I'm not the one constructing a narrative. If (or OP) want to make claims, the onus is on you to back them up.

People buying games for one system doesn't mean they've abandoned others.

Extrapolating from any sample of this forum is meaningless, and you haven't done much to even prove the 40% you keep saying in the first place.

It's completely reasonable for people to doubt (or even mock) statements that have no proof to back them up.

Once again, some people will certainly use their Switch as their primary device. The same can be said of almost any console ever released. This thread asserts that a significant number of multi-console Switch owners will do so. I don't see any evidence proving that.
 

spekkeh

Banned
Why benefits do I get for choosing to ignore trends?

If anything, I'm going along with your actual make believe % and saying Gaf is too niche to based any trends on. Ghost Recon was the best selling game ytd and the ot page counts is far far lower than either something niche like Persona.

What arguments are you looking for that are quantifiable and qualitative?
Because apparently you want to ignore what's happening. Why is something you have to ask yourself.

If people posted the OT of Ghost Recon as an argument that there's a trend of people playing Ghost Recon, would you scoff at them too? It's pretty obvious. The OT is right there.
 

Mark1

Member
Guys. The whole point of this thread was to observe whether or not people had noticed a trend with Switch becoming a more primary console in comparison to previous attempts like Wii or Wii U to them.

Again the OP was made based on observations - if people were to back it up with more concrete evidential data then even better. There was none that could be found from me - but it's not an area of expertise that I'm strong with.

Please make the discussion amongst one another more pleasant.
 

spekkeh

Banned
I'm not the one constructing a narrative. If (or OP) want to make claims, the onus is on you to back them up.

People buying games for one system doesn't mean they've abandoned others.

Extrapolating from any sample of this forum is meaningless, and you haven't done much to even prove the 40% you keep saying in the first place.

It's completely reasonable for people to doubt (or even mock) statements that have no proof to back them up.

Once again, some people will certainly use their Switch as their primary device. The same can be said of almost any console ever released. This thread asserts that the majority (or even a significant number) of multi-console Switch owners will do so. I don't see any evidence proving that.
It doesn't assert the majority, it says literally "many people". This point by the OP has been corroborated by the thread. You are the one constructing a narrative here.
 
It doesn't assert the majority, it says literally "many people". This point by the OP has been corroborated by the thread. You are the one constructing a narrative here.
Edited my post to fix that. I see you've chosen to ignore the rest of my post because of that error (even though I allowed for the "many" bit in the parentheses). Regardless, I'd like to see where your % comes from.

A few posts in this thread isn't a noteworthy trend.
 

Fliesen

Member
It's definitely my "summer console" for now. I rather hang out at the pool playing indies on the Switch than play triple A releases on my PS4 pro.

I just finished Shantae - which was pretty good, and am playing the ... well ... decent Oceanhorn right now.

I value the Switch's "off-TV" aspect very much but also the fact that it's so easy to pick it up and put it away. PS4's suspend mode is neat and all, but i don't really feel like keeping my console suspended for days.

Very much looking forward to Mario+Rabbids.
 

UltimaKilo

Gold Member
I love the idea of the Switch. However, since I can't play the Witcher 3, Horizon, RE7, FFXV on the Switch, the PS4 continues to be my console of choice.

PSVR and the inclusion of 4K gaming has also made the PS4 even more attractive.

But because of the limited lineup on Switch, the 3DS is still my portable of choice. Next year will likely be a different story!

Are we looking at Gaf population here or the general audience for console gaming?

For the former, Gaf is an extremely niche base that even a at best 30-40% switch owners were converted from elsewhere are miniscule to matter. And that's assuming they werent already converted being a handheld or / and Nintendo fans in the first place.

For the latter, the ipad/tablet/phones satisfied vast amount of your average person who wanted gaming on the go and various forms of entertainment, not to mention all other benefits a phone offers. And switch doesn't have AAA western third parties either to appeal to the console audience.

I don't see the trend tbh.

I'm thinking here: those that say they haven't turned on their PS4 since the Switch launched: how long will the Switch keep their attention? Like you mentioned, they won't be able to play most of the best games on the Switch, unfortunately. I would love to play FFXV on my Switch, but it's just not going to happen.
 
I love the idea of the Switch. However, since I can't play the Witcher 3, Horizon, RE7, FFXV on the Switch, the PS4 continues to be my console of choice.

PSVR and the inclusion of 4K gaming has also made the PS4 even more attractive.

But because of the limited lineup on Switch, the 3DS is still my portable of choice. Next year will likely be a different story!



I'm thinking here: those that say they haven't turned on their PS4 since the Switch launched: how long will the Switch keep their attention? Like you mentioned, they won't be able to play most of the best games on the Switch, unfortunately. I would love to play FFXV on my Switch, but it's just not going to happen.

I'll play them elsewhere if they interest me? I played Nioh and Persona 5 on PS4. But if either of those titles had Switch or PC ports I'd play them in this order Switch > PC > PS4. Portability trumps graphical fidelity which trumps... I dunno. The PS4 doesn't really have a defining feature set for me beyond having some exclusives here and there. That lack of identity means it's a secondary console for me. Switch + PC fulfilling 99% of my needs.
 
When I was listing out games I want to purchase from now till the end of the year, a majority of that list was dedicated to Switch games. I was going to wait later in the year for Arms, but I've been on a Arms video kick so I'll probably get it later this week. I've got Splatoon 2, Mario + Rabbids, Fire Emblem Warriors, Pokken Tournament DX, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the Switch version of Sonic Mania on my list so far. Last week I put in for the Switch version of Indivisible as a backer reward, though that will come out in 2018.

Instead of giving up my PS4 to only play on the Switch, I look at it as though they are tremendous compliments to each other. PS4 had a significantly strong lineup for the first 6 months of this year. There are games I still need to catch up on from early 2017, not to mention the few late 2016 ones. Besides Crash Bandicoot and the new Wolfenstein game, if Switch wants to carry me through the rest of 2017, I am entirely fine with that.
 
Top Bottom