Nintendo Is Going Against Its Own Legacy by Making Nintendo Switch 2

It looks like the time Nintendo Switch fans have been waiting for is drawing closer. A bunch of people have already started suggesting that Nintendo will reveal its new console very soon. Most importantly, the recent revelation by an analyst firm has suggested that this console would be an iteration of the first Switch instead of a revolution.

Now this is a curious statement: when has Nintendo ever shied away from revolutions? But this recent revelation might mean that Nintendo will actually change its ways. This might also mean that Nintendo would start taking its consoles in a far different direction than they did before.

Nintendo has always walked a path of innovation

Years ago, when Nintendo launched the NES, it was doing something unique and revolutionary. People were not so interested in buying a video game console, so Nintendo advertised it as a central entertainment piece for their living rooms. They also tried to sell it as a computer. Some things worked, others didn’t, but the console ended up being a massive success.

This was thanks to Nintendo’s perseverance and desire to sell video games. Years later, with the N64, Nintendo revolutionized the market once again.

N64: The start of 3D games

This console introduced 3D games to the industry. Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time became two of the most legendary video games ever made. People still remember these titles as something very special.

They were special too; they showed everyone what was possible when one goes about making their games 3D. The next revolution from Nintendo came with a console codenamed Revolution.

Nintendo Wii: When Nintendo taught gamers to move

They started development on the Nintendo Wii with that codename, a console with motion controls. Nintendo Wii launched with a control called Wiimote. These controllers used Wii’s sensor bar to allow players to control on-screen characters and objects using gestures.

This console turned out to be a massive success. It was so popular that others followed too; Sony’s Move and Xbox’s Kinect tried to improve on this formula. Yes, yet another time when Nintendo paved the way for something new in the industry.

Wii U: The Introduction to Remote Play

Nintendo followed its most successful console with a console that confused most of its fans. They did not market it correctly, but that did not mean the Wii U was a bad console. This was Nintendo’s first HD console, and it came with a very unique controller. It was a pad with a large screen and the rest of the controls on both sides.

Wii U allowed gamers to play games on the gamepad screen. Remote play was a central feature of this console. Nintendo once again brought an interesting new idea to gaming.

The Nintendo Switch is the culmination of everything Nintendo

After years of numerous hits and misses, Nintendo combined most of their ideas and gave their fans the Nintendo Switch; a console that did not give them remote play but allowed them to take the whole console with them. It also allowed gamers to connect it to a screen and play those games on their TV. It had detachable controllers and a gyro sensor for motion gaming.

And it worked too; everyone bought a Switch. It became one of the most successful video game consoles ever released, despite being a tad underpowered when compared to its rivals. It will be turning 7 this year, yet the console remains of the best handhelds.

Now, Nintendo might be changing its ways!

As the pattern shows, Nintendo has mostly followed up on its consoles with something drastically different. From a normal console to a motion-based console to a console with a very weird-looking gamepad. They have done everything, and that’s why when the time for a new console comes around, fans expect to see some ridiculous new ideas.

The Nintendo Switch itself was a unique idea; it set the gaming industry on fire in such a way that a bunch of similar consoles were born, like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. They have literally started a new category of devices here.

And that is why it seems pretty unusual when one hears that Nintendo will only launch merely an upgrade to its previous console. Not that an upgrade isn’t required, but going by their history, we can’t help but wonder why the break-in pattern.

Read More: What Does the New Steam Deck Oled Tell Us About Nintendo Switch 2 Possible Specs?

On the other hand, this makes sense, given how Nintendo has seen massive success with the Nintendo Switch. They would not want to change anything while the formula is working for them as it is. They would just make some hardware improvements and some changes to its internals; maybe they would redesign Joy-Cons, but that would be it.

There have been a couple of exceptions, though

While Nintendo has always been at the forefront of giving fans something new and innovative, there have been a couple of exceptions. For instance, they followed NES with SNES. They shifted from 8-bit visuals to 16-bit and introduced a massively improved controller.

Also, some would say the N64 and the GameCube were also not very different. Well, one look at their controllers would give them the answer they seek. Nintendo went from an unusual controller with one stick in the middle to a real controller that once again paved the way for a better controller design. The GameCube was much more powerful than the N64, and it had a controller with two analog sticks two hybrid analog triggers, and digital buttons.

For success and a stable fanbase, Nintendo is now set to walk the path Sony and Microsoft have walked for a very long time. They too simply launch new interactions with their previous devices, always more powerful and with some new accessories, but never a drastic new idea. It’s hard to imagine Nintendo losing if they do this. Fans are very eager for a new Switch; they would not care if it did not have some ridiculous new gimmick tied to it.

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