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[cormack12]

Do they need just a stornger hybrid with their first party titles, or do they need to reinvent again, given that a lot of these titles might now be considered portable due to Stadia - while xCloud and PSNow support a premium local experience with hardware and aiming for a slightly reduced on-the-move streaming support option.

It's kinda weird that Xbox and Playstation have gone for a downscale option, and the Switch is more of an upscale model - where mobile/platform is the primary platform with the option to 'supercharge' the game while docked, compared to Sony and MS where the local option is the premium and the portable/mobile option the compromise (bearing in mind wifi/4/5G requirements).

I'm not even sure what's possible with mobile chipsets these days, are we talking about current tech being able to run CP2077 for example (without as many compromises as W3 on Switch?).

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Yes, but don't expect them to care until people stop buying 3DS' replacement.

 

[DonF]

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked, they HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now. Unless they offer another solution, like remote play or something. But the hybrid console/portable is here to stay.

Also, it makes sense to have at least a switch and a lite version of next gen console. That way they will streamline their development, no more division between console and portable (wii u and 3ds), but still having a "soft" division with a cheaper but portable only console.

 

[Jooxed]

Nah they are making bank doing what they are doing, the Switch is Nintendo’s final form. I don’t see them deviating from this for a while.

I expect them to just keep releasing more powerful switch iterations.

 

[Lionel Richie]

What is this recent obsession about Nintendo NEEDING to do this or that? They're doing very well right now, it's not like they need a new plan.

 

[Fbh]

I'm sure it will have some gimmick but I think they will do fine with a stronger hybrid.

I think by the time Switch 2 is ready to launch Stadia/Xcloud/PSNow will still be far from being the "standard" for gaming on the go and you also can't ignore the fact that Nintendo has some incredibly popular franchises which are tied to their system.

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked. They HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now. Unless they offer another solution, like remote play or something. But the hybrid console/portable is here to stay.

Yep. At most I can see them launching the Switch 2 from the start with 2 different models, a cheaper handheld only one and a more expensive hybrid one (or maybe just one handheld console and some sort of optional docking station + controller pack you can buy separately)

 

[Zog]

They HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now.

That's what I thought about Dual Screens.

 

[Geki-D]

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked. They HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now. Unless they offer another solution, like remote play or something. But the hybrid console/portable is here to stay.

I actually agree. But let us not forget that they already dropped the hybrid with the Lite.

But yeah, I think Nintendo sort of understand that the portable space is their home and the space they've always ruled, the Wii was a fluke because it grabbed main stream, non-gamer attention. Every other home console as of the N64 hasn't done well whereas all of their portables have dominated. It would be stupid of them to go back to the home console space.

If anything, if they can't stick to hybrid, they should go portable only rather than home console only.

 

[Ruben43cb]

I thought I read they were doing a more traditional console next. Was somewhere on n4g

 

[Vow of Silence]

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked. They HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now. Unless they offer another solution, like remote play or something. But the hybrid console/portable is here to stay.

Also, it makes sense to have at least a switch and a lite version of next gen console. That way they will streamline their development, no more division between console and portable (wii u and 3ds), but still having a "soft" division with a cheaper but portable only console.

Nintendo are never fucked. The Switch is masterful. It’s the Indy machine Vita could have been if it had the numbers and first/third party support. They will iterate on it to make it more powerful. Expect Cyberpunk 2077 Switch Edition.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

I don't think so. If their next system is close to PS4/XBO level in terms of capabilities, but handheld capable, then I think that would certainly satisfy a lot of people.

 

[sonomamashine]

I think 1/2 years into next gen, they will release theirs with an AMD RX 5500 variant + Ryzen, just to make it easier for Devs to port their games to Nintendo, it will also help expand their game library.

 

[DESTROYA]

Nah they are making bank doing what they are doing, the Switch is Nintendo’s final form. I don’t see them deviating from this for a while.

I expect them to just keep releasing more powerful switch iterations.

They are doing just fine with Switch sales, I’m guessing they had a good holiday sales season.

What is this recent obsession about Nintendo NEEDING to do this or that? They're doing very well right now, it's not like they need a new plan.

Exactly it’s not like Nintendo is in desperation mode and NEED to do anything but build on the success that they already have with the Switch.


A better answer to what? Streaming ......lol, not ready for prime time

 

[CrisPy2019]

If Nintendo stays in the arm Nvidia combo they will have a problem I think. If they go nextgen ryzen apu then that might be okay.

They could always have a low power hybrid switch and a stationary one and maybe again a portable only version. Nothing stops them.
The stationary one won't be limited by battery life or by form factor and thermals like a portable one.

Switch is first and foremost a portable. The whole thing is made to work as a portable. Design, thermals, power consumption. No matter if people say or believe it's a console first and portable second. Nothing in it's hardware points to console but everything points to handheld.

About the arm Nvidia thing. I don't believe that arm could compete CPU wise in the stationary console battle. I mean all the arm laptops are basically crap.

AMD apus can be scaled pretty good as far as I know.

So I guess their best chance would be going back to amd (they were the first anyway with the Cube) at least for the CPU but then having an amd apu kinda defaults to having an and GPU anyway.

My biggest worry tbh is the name.
WiiU was a fucking idiots move.

Just name it Switch 2020 or something. So people know it's still a switch. But the version of year 2020

And if it is supposed to be completely NOT Backwards compatible call it Switch2 because you would not have to add cryptic explanations on the game boxes that say stuff like back then "compatible with Nintendo 3Ds New3Ds and 2Ds" then anyway. Switch 2020 2025 2030 would remove the need for those compatibility explanations.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

I hope not, I adore the Switch for exactly what it is. Gimme a PS4/XB1 level of performance then Nintendo could slap a 'Switch 2' on the box, and I'll be there day 1 with another $300.

 

[CJY]

They need to increment the switch I think. There is no point in reinventing the wheel again. They have the switch perfectly positioned.
I would love to see a dedicated home console version of the next iteration though.

 

[Birdo]

Switch 3.

 

[Alexios]

Switch 2 and Nintendo Quest (VR) can be different enough to each other for them to be able to have two separate platforms again, if they feel the need to do that, without people demanding all their titles on either given the vastly different features and experiences they would offer. Switch is going to be up "against" the PS5 and Nextbox for quite some time though (I mean, we don't even have a real "new" Switch a la 3DS yet - the revision is hardly that and they don't even market it as a separate model, just replacing the old one altogether), Nintendo don't need to do the whole generations thing anywhere close to the others any more, Switch will be selling loads for a time yet, then they can do another platform when both Switch has slowed down too much and the next gen systems are no longer the cool new awesome things (revisions aside, they don't matter too much in that).

 

[Gargus]

They need to start with bringing back the Nintendo seal of quality. Then they need to expand their first party games beyond just re releasing the same old franchise's. They need to vastly expand on releasing older games instead of just a tiny handful once in a while. They need to back off of trying to sell gimmicks, toys and merchandising their brands and focus more on putting the games first instead of trying to fit the games around a system gimmick or a toy.

Nintendo has never really needed to put the console first because they had the games lined up. They need to go back to when the games and customer were their priorities.

 

[Silvawuff]

I have no idea what Nintendo is cooking up. What they need to do is tighten up their current online infrastructure and work on their hardware problems. They are doing right with the Switch though, I'm really enjoying mine and found myself playing it more than my PS4 currently.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

The hybrid/switch 2 will give nintendo some breathing room to figure out/work on their cloud based client

Imagine if its called “The SwitchU”

 

[Hawks Eclipse]

What is this recent obsession about Nintendo NEEDING to do this or that? They're doing very well right now, it's not like they need a new plan.

I'm guessing part of it is because of the recent Xbox reveal.

People who are more focused on 3rd party titles are going to wonder how Switch will cope with even more demanding software in the near future.

 

[odhiex]

An upgraded Switch would be nice, but no I don't think so. I don't think that Nintendo should compete with Sony, Microsoft, Google in power.

As long as developers can easily keep producing (or porting) games on it, that would be good enough. However as we had seen them as an innovative game company for decades, Nintendo might "do something new" to the Switch platform. I still don't know what it would be tho.

Could be new gimmicks or something revolutionary.

 

[Techies]

Stick to Switch gen2, remaster and sell older games on Playstation. (BOTW)
So release BOTW2 on Switch, remaster it and sell it a year or three later on another platform with enhanced graphics.

 

[Spukc]

All the need to make is a 3ds with a tv out

 

[Constant Flux]

Make a “Super Switch” and have it running graphics like the PS4/XB1 and I think that’s their best option at this point. I would be satisfied with that. Keep the Switch format for sure. They’ve got their niche, now keep it going.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

Make a “Super Switch” and have it running graphics like the PS4/XB1 and I think that’s their best option at this point. I would be satisfied with that. Keep the Switch format for sure. They’ve got their niche, now keep it going.

Dat gonna get warm.

 

[Daniel Thomas MacInnes]

Nintendo has a very successful console, a wide variety of popular franchise characters, and billions of dollars in cash reserves. They’re doing fine. They have the freedom to continue to follow their own path, regardless of what the industry is doing. They’re not going anywhere and they could care less what Sony or Microsoft is doing.

 

[Lionel Richie]

I'm guessing part of it is because of the recent Xbox reveal.

People who are more focused on 3rd party titles are going to wonder how Switch will cope with even more demanding software in the near future.

I doubt the people who bought a Switch to play mainly stuff like DOOM and The Witcher 3 are numerous enough to cause any concern. Like it has been with Nintendo consoles since the Gamecube, the 3rd party support you get is a bonus.

 

[cireza]

If their next console could be either a good handheld or a good home console, rather than a bad handheld and a bad home console, it would be a first step in the right direction.

 

[OutrageousFacts]

Nintendo is fine and will be fine. PS5 being more powerful is meaningless, the Switch already is vastly outclassed by PS4. People flock to the Switch because of its handheld attributes, and nothing can replace that.

That said, I firmly believe Nintendo will be first (between the traditional console manufacturers) to offer an affordable standalone-VR system. Basically Oculus Quest, except backed by Nintendo 1st-party games. Now that such a device can be offered for circa 300 bucks, it's within Nintendo's realm (earlier VE solutions were way too expensive to make sense for Nintendo's philosophy).
We'll see Ocarina of Time VR, remade for VR, and it'll be glorious.

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked.

Lol

 

[Hawks Eclipse]

I doubt the people who bought a Switch to play mainly stuff like DOOM and The Witcher 3 are numerous enough to cause any concern. Like it has been with Nintendo consoles since the Gamecube, the 3rd party support you get is a bonus.

Looking back I realize my wording wasn't good enough.

It doesn't have to be people who bought a Switch mainly to play third party stuff in a portable fashion. It also includes people who aren't content with just playing the first party games.

Nintendo does a great job at covering most bases but inevitably some itches will need to be scratched by third parties and indies.

Not to mention Nintendo doesn't go ham with releases so let's say you are into shooters and you restrict yourself to first party games, Splatoon 2 becomes your only option.

I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

 

[dGamerMonk]

Nintendo will always survive because their games and products outdo every other console in Japan. I can see them deviating somewhat, adding more innovations to the Switch's control but that's about it.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

Not like we need it but would be really nice to play games like Doom 2016 at higher FPS. Other than that I'm in no rush because they still need to figure out NSO because it still sucks ass.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Nintendo is fine and will be fine. PS5 being more powerful is meaningless, the Switch already is vastly outclassed by PS4. People flock to the Switch because of its handheld attributes, and nothing can replace that.

People flocked to the Switch because it was cheap and it had portable Zelduh/Smash/Pokerman.
Namebrand>Fanbase>quality>graphics

 

[OutrageousFacts]

People flocked to the Switch because it was cheap and it had portable Zelduh/Smash/Pokerman.
Namebrand>Fanbase>quality>graphics

The Switch being too expensive and stifling its sales potential is the only reason the Switch Lite was made. You're factually wrong.

 

[Malakhov]

The switch is awesome, a more powerful switch 2 is all I need from Nintendo.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

The Switch being too expensive and stifling its sales potential is the only reason the Switch Lite was made. You're factually wrong.

300 dollars is expensive? Kids carry 1000 phones ffs.

 

[OutrageousFacts]

300 dollars is expensive? Kids carry 1000 phones ffs.

I wasn't asking your opinion, but stating facts.

 

[DrDerekDrs]

They could keep releasing Switches forever and as long as no-one else is doing the same, they'd be fine I reckon. There are tons of games that I only want for Switch purely because it's portable and for me there's some games that just feel they should be on a handheld. Also it means I can play games in the same room as my kid and he doesn't get to see the horrible violence I'm indulging in.

 

[PocoJoe]

300 dollars is expensive? Kids carry 1000 phones ffs.

Regular rock for 300? Expensive
Bar of gold for 300? Cheap

Switch is expensive of what it is:

Non custom slow tegra x1, old tech even when it released

Low ram

Low flash

Cheap build quality

Low res cheap screen (barely ok, but shit vs vita oled or phones)


It still sells, but so does iphones. And both are expensive

Nintendo is greedier than ms/sony. Because they sell low end low quality hardware for premium price

Switch should cost 150-200€, not 300-350€.

Higher price would be fine if they would have used custom tech with more ram/flash.

Even 400€ phones from 2016 had similar/better specs(oneplus3 with 6gb of ram, 64gb flash, 1080p oled screen, fast SoC).

What I recall doubling the flash would have been like 5-15$ so they just cheaped out.

Switch just doesnt feel like +300€ product, it feels like cheap toy. Vita felt premium item and it were kind of expensive, but it had great specs and quality to Back it up.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

I wasn't asking your opinion, but stating facts.

In what planet? If something sells it can be sold at a premium and even then 300 dollars for a console hybrid isn't hurting all the people that buy other overpriced shit. On top of that the original console is still selling. The sales "stiffled" because there was no new zelda, mario or pokemon then. Look at the sales now anita. LOOK AT THE SALES NOW ANITA!

Regular rock for 300? Expensive
Bar of gold for 300? Cheap

Switch is expensive of what it is:

Non custom slow tegra x1, old tech even when it released

Low ram

Low flash

Cheap build quality

Low res cheap screen (barely ok, but shit vs vita oled or phones)


It still sells, but so does iphones. And both are expensive

Nintendo is greedier than ms/sony. Because they sell low end low quality hardware for premium price

Switch should cost 150-200€, not 300-350€.

Higher price would be fine if they would have used custom tech with more ram/flash.

Even 400€ phones from 2016 had similar/better specs(oneplus3 with 6gb of ram, 64gb flash, 1080p oled screen, fast SoC).

What I recall doubling the flash would have been like 5-15$ so they just cheaped out.

Switch just doesnt feel like +300€ product, it feels like cheap toy. Vita felt premium item and it were kind of expensive, but it had great specs and quality to Back it up.

The switch is overpriced for what it is the point is so is literally everything else. People pay for the brand alone more news at 11.

 

[Bogroll]

For me yes, I got my son one for Xmas and while it's great at what it does with its Mario games etc, when it's connected to the tv I'm like wow, how shit does that look. I know it's more powerful than 360ps3 but it belongs in that generation and even our launch Xb1 looks 2 to 3 generations ahead of it on the tv.
Saying that my son loves it.

 

[Psajdak]

They will make another gimmick potato, and put it in a box with picture of some random family faking smiles, and laughing - like they actually enjoy playing it.

 

[Orta]

Just give us a newer model with performance on par with a PS4 Pro and nobody should really complain, even if it is technically lagging behind the PS5 and whatever that new Xbox is called. 50-odd million owners of the current gen certainly don't seem to mid.

Honestly, who on earth would complain about a handheld being able to throw out content like this running at 60fps...

The main thing though is that age old problem, Nintendo needs the major franchises like RDR etc launching alongside other console versions.

 

[theclaw135]

It's in Nintendo's best interest to stay in the business of being affordable. 300 dollars up front is difficult enough for some of us. $60 games undermines the philosophy of opening up gaming to everyone.

Would it be so bad to have a 4G model? A hybrid unable to connect to the Internet on the move is one that doesn't fully embrace carrying the system everywhere.

 

[GymWolf]

Lol why? People will still buy their consoles, it's like pokemon, why change something cheap that sells like gangbusters??

 

[Ogbert]

I don’t think people have twigged that Nintendo aren’t in competition with Sony, Microsoft or PC.

The Switch crosses across all those markets. People who own those consoles pick up a Switch asa handheld and for Nintendo games.

Why on earth would they change?

 

[Mozza]

I strongly believe that nintendo is fucked. They HAVE to keep the hybrid console going. They CAN'T go back now. Unless they offer another solution, like remote play or something. But the hybrid console/portable is here to stay.

Also, it makes sense to have at least a switch and a lite version of next gen console. That way they will streamline their development, no more division between console and portable (wii u and 3ds), but still having a "soft" division with a cheaper but portable only console.

I hardly say they are fucked, Nintendo have not been in the same console space as Sony and Microsoft since the Gamecube days, and no wonder with those two companies in the space fighting for around 180 million consoles each generation , Nintendo have to go for the wider mass market customer, now this could mean changing track each and every generation as the casuals are far more fickle than the core, but I believe they have a very solid platform to build on with the Switch.

 

[Mozza]

I don’t think people have twigged that Nintendo aren’t in competition with Sony, Microsoft or PC.

The Switch crosses across all those markets. People who own those consoles pick up a Switch asa handheld and for Nintendo games.

Why on earth would they change?

Yes I do get surprised by this too, Nintendo have been out of that game for ages now.