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[Mythoclast]

Probably since the N64 or GameCube, Nintendo has released considerably weaker consoles than its competitors, Sony and Microsoft. One can argue that give their release cycles and hardware approaches, they are not even competitors anymore. Doing their own thing has worked considerably well for them for the last 10-15 years.

They pioneered the hybrid handheld/home console system. But more recently, Steam Decks and other handheld PCs have shown up, offering considerably more power and the ability to install pretty much any software you can install on a regular PC. Now even phones are catching up being able to offer console-level AAA experiences.

Nintendo is Nintendo and they will always have Mario, Zelda and Pokémon, and those will always sell a ton.
But with the rumored Switch 2 having allegedly similar performance to a PS4, when phones and other handhelds can already do that, and this is not even the beginning of the generation, I'm concerned that Nintendo will have to just rely again on first party software to thrive. The difference this generation being that they have significantly more competition from handheld PCs and phones.

Hope they've got something up their sleeves instead of just a slightly more beefed up Switch that is already outdated on release.

 

[Paulistano]

Another gimmick...

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Mario...as an octopus.

I accept payment in Bitcoin and free lunches.

 

[killatopak]

Switch 2 seems to run on a lower res screen and definitely not higher than 1080p. With DLSS, that doesn’t seem to be out of reach.

Recent news also tell that Series S is the main platform for Xbox. I think if Switch can at least compete with Series S in terms of CPU and RAM, Nintendo can easily get most 3rd party ports unlike Switch.

Switch 2 is prime for retaining their success barring huge errors.

 

[German Hops]

Nintendo s strength are in their IPs.
The tech will always take a back seat.

 

[kiphalfton]

Mario...as an octopus.

I accept payment in Bitcoin and free lunches.

Mario jumped the shark... and then became the shark.

 

[ultrazilla]

I think Nintendo realizes that if they want to keep up the excellent third party support they're gonna have to come with a more powerful home console to keep up with the likes of the PS5/Xbox Series along with "Pro" variants of those consoles as well.

DLSS and upgradeable docks for the "docked version" and upgradeable screens for the portable version.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

They're making record profits and don't need armchair QBs telling them how to run their business. Switch 2 just needs to be a bit more powerful than Switch and keep its hybrid design while putting out Nintendo games and third party titles.

 

[T4keD0wN]

Hmmm, they could add a button or two. They dont really need to.

 

[diffusionx]

As long as Nintendo makes games like Splatoon, TOTK, Mario Kart, Super Mario Wonder, etc., they will be alright.

 

[Naked Lunch]

ummm...its Nintendo.
Their actual games take a dump on most of the entire industry - and there are simply no imitators or alternatives for the games they make best.
Innovation will matter very little.

 

[Days like these...]

TL;Dr but no it won't.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Switch is a console mainly, not really a handheld.

 

[hinch7]

Nintendo could keep selling old arse hardware with little uplift in performance and they'd still do well. Just look at NS sales, its still flying off shelves 6 years after launch on an ancient custom Tegra X1 from 2015.

Their machines sell on the basis of their IP and high quality standards set by them. It doesn't matter if x machine is more powerful or has more features.

 

[GoldenEye98]

Handheld PC's in particular are going to be problematic for Nintendo going forward imo. These things are going to be continually released with advanced specs, access to the vast PC game catalogue AND able to do emulation. So even the first party exclusivity is not safe.

 

[Vandole]

Probably since the N64 or GameCube, Nintendo has released considerably weaker consoles than its competitors, Sony and Microsoft.

I'm sorry this first sentence is bothering me so much. I can't tell if you meant to say after the N64 and GameCube they made weaker consoles, or you're actually suggesting the N64 and GameCube were weaker than their competitors.

 

[VideoGameEnjoyer]

Having inferior hardware and getting by on their first party is Nintendos modus operandi.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Handheld PCs and phones going forward will have to be very innovative to keep up with Switch 2

 

[K' Dash]

The only thing Nintendo needs is their IPs.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Switch 2 needs to keep up the momentum that Switch has. Nintendo cannot afford another Wii U fiasco, especially since we know Microsoft's goal is to quietly acquire a significant amount of Nintendo shares and pressure them financially to complete a hostile takeover. If Nintendo values their independence, they cannot fuck up on Switch 2.

 

[Tams]

Read this seven years ago. Read this twelve years ago. Read this twenty years ago (Nokia Ngage).

Guess who's still around with their own console? Nintendo.

It's because they understand what fun actually is, as they are, you know, a toy company.

 

[tr1p1ex]

PHones were a thing in 2017 as well. And anyone copying NIntendo ~5 years later is going to have a faster product. It would be weird if Steam Deck had slower silicon for more money 5 years later.

I don't think anything changes. They have to make something that causes people to open their wallets. I think they do exist and survive and thrive mostly on 1st party titles. That's what separates them from the rest. That won't change. Those titles open wallets. And from there other titles are sold including 3rd party titles.

And they'll do more with the hardware than just improve the speeds and feeds. This gen maybe not enough credit goes to the versatility of the joycons. 2 mini simple gamepads for 2 people. Or wiimote controllers for 1 or 2 people. A traditional game controller for 1. Or just the controls for the handheld.

 

[Woopah]

I don't think they necessarily need to be innovative, but they'll want to have a power boost to reduce their third party advantage that there competitors (PS5 and XBS) currently have.

Handheld PCs are far too niche for Nintendo to worry about them just yet.

 

[Kikorin]

The most powerful console on earth will still not have Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, etc...

 

[diffusionx]

Handheld PC's in particular are going to be problematic for Nintendo going forward imo. These things are going to be continually released with advanced specs, access to the vast PC game catalogue AND able to do emulation. So even the first party exclusivity is not safe.

The Steam Deck has sold maybe 3-4 million units since it came out, and that is by far the most popular of those devices, the rest are basically irrelevant, and the Switch has sold about 10x that. This is not something Nintendo has to worry about.

 

[Fake]

Hell yeah. Who cares about Nintendo IPs...

 

[TransTrender]

Nah I'm sure Nintendo is losing out on all the hot gatcha trash cash on 'handheld PCs and phones' but for the 200 million everyone else they're doing just fine.

KYS

Take another pull retard

 

[Tams]

The Steam Deck has sold maybe 3-4 million units since it came out, and that is by far the most popular of those devices, the rest are basically irrelevant, and the Switch has sold about 10x that. This is not something Nintendo has to worry about.

Not to mention it and almost all over the other handheld PCs are behemoths compared to a Switch, let alone a Switch Lite. And have perhaps half the battery life.

 

[Fbh]

Disagree.
Switch 2 has Nintendo games which are a BIG selling point, and if as rumoured it's around Ps4 performance level (+DLSS) it's probably going to take a while before it can be emulated on desktop PC's, not to mention portable PC's. It's probably also going to have a better pick up and play experience as well as an easier transition from handheld to TV play than most alternatives, which is going to be appealing to casual audiences.
Regular gaming on the $1000 new iphone, while impressive for the size and power consumption, still seem pretty crappy, and I don't think most people will want to do any normal gaming (not shitty F2P games designed for mobile) on their phones.

People also massively exaggerate how popular these portable PC's are.
Steamdeck is said to break the 3 million sold barrier by the end of 2023, after 2 years on the market. Switch is STILL selling more than that in a few months even after already having sold 120+ million units

 

[Astral Dog]

Its always been the same thing with Nintendo, of course they need to be innovative to thrive.

But Steam Deck and handheld PCs are copycats without big exclusive launches that serve a different audience , the market will know the difference .

simply having more powerful hardware, doesn't make a thing a 'Nintendo' they did lost their unique feature in the market but the others have a long way to go before becoming Switch replacements

 

[zeldaring]

Hell yeah. Who cares about Nintendo IPs...

apparently they care about a nintendo handheld then a home consoles because those flopped like 3 times,

 

[Fake]

apparently they care about a nintendo handheld then a home consoles because those flopped like 3 times,

That was sarcasm...

 

[TransTrender]

apparently they care about a nintendo handheld then a home consoles because those flopped like 3 times,

 

[ReBurn]

Counterpoint: Nobody cares about how powerful Nintendo hardware is and your phone won't have physical buttons or Nintendo's console games.

People who care about power buy PC's. People who care about Nintendo buy Nintendo.

 

[TransTrender]

Counterpoint: Nobody cares about how powerful Nintendo hardware is and your phone won't have physical buttons or Nintendo's console games.

People who care about power buy PC's. People who care about Nintendo buy Nintendo.

I like good games.
That's why Phil Spencer Microsoft Xbox wants to take them out of the equation.

 

[Woopah]

Hell yeah. Who cares about Nintendo IPs...

apparently they care about a nintendo handheld then a home consoles because those flopped like 3 times,

I think this is a very important point.

Yes people care about Nintendo IP, but if that big IP is not published regularly, or there's a lack of appealing games released between those major releases, your system won't build momentum.

 

[ReBurn]

I like good games.
That's why Phil Spencer Microsoft Xbox wants to take them out of the equation.

He's leaving them on PC, so that's something.

 

[belmarduk]

Nah
Mario and Zelda are bigger than ever.
The console will be a success because it has Nintendo games.

 

[GoldenEye98]

The Steam Deck has sold maybe 3-4 million units since it came out, and that is by far the most popular of those devices, the rest are basically irrelevant, and the Switch has sold about 10x that. This is not something Nintendo has to worry about.

The Steam Deck released what like a year and a half ago? Switch virtually had no competition up until then and had already sold ~100M units.

Very few consumers who purchased a Switch even had the choice.

Switch 2 will probably do well but consumers will actually have some options this time.

 

[tr1p1ex]

The Steam Deck has sold maybe 3-4 million units since it came out, and that is by far the most popular of those devices, the rest are basically irrelevant, and the Switch has sold about 10x that. This is not something Nintendo has to worry about.

yeah except Switch has sold a little more than 10X 3-4mn units. Try 30x.

Nevermind I think got this wrong. You're talking Switch sales since SD came out. 10x is in the ball park.

 

[Astral Dog]

unlike op i have a feeling Switch players won't look at Nintendo's PlayStation 4 graphics and get this reaction

but we will see

 

[JayK47]

Two screens? 3D? two screens with 3D?

 

[diffusionx]

The Steam Deck released what like a year and a half ago? Switch virtually had no competition up until then and had already sold ~100M units.

Very few consumers who purchased a Switch even had the choice.

Switch 2 will probably do well but consumers will actually have some options this time.

Well, in the timeframe since the SD came out, people have had the choice, and 90%+ chose the Switch.

These are niche devices. They're cool, I have a Steam Deck, but they're not serious competition to Nintendo.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

It won't have to worry about Steam Deck as it's pretty weak and overpriced.
Other hybrids are higher in price and PC is a different market.

 

[tr1p1ex]

The Steam Deck released what like a year and a half ago? Switch virtually had no competition up until then and had already sold ~100M units.

Very few consumers who purchased a Switch even had the choice.

Switch 2 will probably do well but consumers will actually have some options this time.

Nah. I don't think there is much overlap.

I don't consider the SD an option to the Switch myself. I bought Switch for Nintendo. Not interested in trying to play pc games made for Windows on a different OS with different controls on a ~7" screen. But to each their own.

 

[Sleepwalker]

All it needs to be is be a handheld, with mario.

 

[The Alien]

It'll be half the cost and innovation as other handhelds and will sell double all of them combined.

 

[Macaron]

lmfao @ OP

Yes, its always been Nintendo's technical innovation that has made people customers. Cmon now.

 

[tr1p1ex]

Well, in the timeframe since the SD came out, people have had the choice, and 90%+ chose the Switch.

These are niche devices. They're cool, I have a Steam Deck, but they're not serious competition to Nintendo.

yeah and are they really choosing between the two.

I bet some never wanted the Switch.

And I bet some also have a Switch.

I don't know if there are many who are like well I either am going to get a Switch or a SD.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Nah, Nintendo can just make Mario, Pokemon and Zelda games forever and people will still buy them. I mean look at Pokemon, that game is an absolute turd yet it sold millions. Imagine if Sony made games with the same quality. It would be financially disastrous. No idea why Nintendo games always get a pass, I mean I know but I'll prolly get banned if I say it.