Nintendo Switch 2: Outdated Gimmick, Upgraded Price Tag?
Alright, let’s get right into it. Nintendo’s officially revealed the Switch 2, and honestly? I’ve got some serious gripes—and I know I’m not alone.
People were hyped. I mean, really hyped. The announcement back in January got everyone buzzing, then they teased a Nintendo Direct for April 2nd. Expectations were sky-high. A new era of Nintendo! Something fresh! Something bold!
And then… thud.
We got Mario Kart updates, some gameplay trailers, and what amounts to a “meh” presentation. No big reveal. No game-changing features. Just more of the same wrapped in a shinier (but not better) box. It felt like the kind of Direct you sleepwalk through while scrolling Twitter.
But here's the kicker that really grinds my gears: $450.
Four-hundred-and-fifty dollars... for a console that’s running on eight-year-old hardware. I’m sorry, but that's a bold ask for a machine still leaning on gimmicks that were novel back when fidget spinners were a thing.
Even Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser (yeah, still wild that his name is literally Bowser) came out and said the price "might be out of reach for some." You think? That’s nearly half a grand before we even touch the $70–$80 price tags slapped on first-party titles. And let’s be real, once third-party publishers see those price points fly, they’ll be itching to hit us with $90 “deluxe” editions faster than you can say “preorder bonus.”
Now Bowser tried to soften the blow by saying, “Hey, don’t worry—Switch 1 will still be supported.” Cool. That’s like selling me a rusty bike and telling me at least I can still walk. People don’t want to be stuck with the older model when the shiny new one is flashing in their face. They want next-gen—not last-gen with new box art.
Microsoft actually handled this whole situation better with their Xbox Series X and S approach. Give folks options. Let them choose their level of entry. Want the big boy? Get the X. Want something more affordable? Grab the S. Simple, smart, and you still feel like you're part of the current generation. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s strategy feels more like “take it or leave it.”
And let’s not gloss over this little gem—they didn’t even give us an OLED screen. The new Switch 2 screen is worse than the current OLED model! How is that even possible?! Imagine releasing a next-gen console that looks like a downgrade next to its predecessor. That’s Wii U energy right there—and we all remember how that turned out.
Bottom line: it feels lazy. Like Nintendo found a formula that worked in 2017 and said, “Meh, just run it back.” But the world has moved on. Gamers want performance. They want value. They want innovation—not dated tech with a bloated price tag.
So yeah, I’ve got kids begging for this thing, but at $450 plus crazy game prices and potential tariff hikes? Not happening. Not right away.
Nintendo, I love ya. I really do. But this feels less like “next-gen” and more like “next mistake.”
Plucky Final Thought™:
The only thing next-gen about the Switch 2 is the price tag. Everything else? Been there, played that.
