This morning, Nintendo announced more information about the Nintendo Switch Two, which is set to release on June 5. The Switch two is a long-awaited re-imagination of the original handheld gaming device released in 2017 and has been one of Nintendo’s best-selling consoles.
In an hour long Nintendo Direct, the name for usual Nintendo video announcements, the Switch 2 team unveiled the console’s added features including “game share” which allows users to play together locally on multiple systems, voice chat, more internal storage and higher resolution. They also announced new Switch Two-exclusive installments to the “Mario Kart” and “Donkey Kong” franchises.
Sammy Bovitz, a student-journalist from Annenberg Media’s Gaming and E-Sports desk, offered key insight into what this release means to the gaming industry and Switch lovers.
Bovitz said, “not only is it kind of the weight to a long, long wait, they’ve been teasing the system since 2023, but it’s also the successor, the follow up, a long way to sequel to one of the biggest things video games has ever, kind of seen.”
However, with the console retailing at nearly $500 and games costing about $70-$80 each, many Switch fans are disappointed with Nintendo.
Bovitz discussed the current climate surrounding the game. “The main two reactions that I’ve been hearing today about the switch to talking to everybody, reading everything, is two things. One, that price is scary and absurd and a lot. And two, I’m gonna open my wallet anyway,” he said.
And he’s clearly not wrong, Roy Gatz, a USC student and loyal Switch user, could hardly contain his excitement for the Switch two, despite the high price point. Gatz said “I was literally talking to my brother this morning about it, and we were like, unfortunately, we will pay whatever they tell us.”
Gatz, like many long time Switch users, can remember when they first bought the original console. While reminiscing on his history with the Nintendo Switch, Gatz said “I bought it at launch. I was an eighth grader, and I was very excited. And I’ve played the switch for many, many years. I’ve played many games on it.”
Bovitz explained that Nintendo relies on their brand recognition to continue pulling in customers. “All of these games, all this legacy definitely drives nostalgia, not just nostalgia for the old, old NES games, but new games,” he said. “Nintendo is definitely a nostalgic brand. They’re an iconic brand. They’re a very family friendly, accessible brand, and they’re they’ll always like to make sure that you are familiar and comfortable.”
Non-gamers, on the other hand, can’t fathom that anyone would pay for the new Switch. JD Black, a student and self-proclaimed non-gamer, seemed concerned that Nintendo is charging an extra $150. He said “does the new switch give you, like, free food and stuff like, what? What makes it so expensive.”
Despite these concerns, Bovitz assured that the new features, although sounding unsophisticated to those unfamiliar with gaming tech, shouldn’t be discounted, and they absolutely call for the higher price point.
Bovitz said “Nintendo has had trouble kind of keeping up with the rest of the industry, and has oftentimes intentionally stayed a little bit behind to make their consoles a little bit cheaper, a little bit more accessible, and to just focus on the games. And so [for] Nintendo the switch was a very powerful, very cool console, but it had technology that was more on par with 2010 than 2020 so the switch two is kind of Nintendo’s attempt to bring the console right in line with current conventions.”
Along with the release of the Switch two, Nintendo is day-one introducing the newest edition of its most prized game, Mario Kart, titled “Mario Kart world”. “Mario Kart world” will include an “open-world racing experience” that will allow users to race each other between interconnected tracks and worlds as opposed to the old design which limited users to racing just a single track at a time. This design is revolutionary for Mario Kart, which was released over thirty years ago and has had minimal changes in the sixteen editions released since. This is noteworthy, as Bovitz explained “Mario Kart will probably set the standard for how multiplayer games are designed and released over the course of the next few years.”
Gatz, the avid Switch user, like many Switch users, is particularly is drawn to the new console just to play Mario Kart. When asked if he was excited he wholeheartedly said “I am. I really am.”
Nintendo is bringing a lot to the table, and they’re expecting users to pay for it. Bovitz and Gatz both agree that being a Nintendo user is expensive, but for now they’re willing to keep paying the price for the games they love.
As to whether the Switch two will turn out to be a smash success, we’ll have to wait until June to find out. For now Nintendo loyalists are waiting in anticipation.