Nintendo Switch 2 must be the gaming world’s worst kept secret. Rumored, leaked, and half-announced for years, Nintendo have finally officially announced Switch 2. And yes, it’s called just that. Unusually, the reveal was shadow-dropped on YouTube with practically no fanfare and a stark lack of details. As I watched Switch 2 take shape in the trailer, I noticed that I just wasn’t that excited. Without key details such as the console’s specs, price and release date, we actually know very little more than that which was previously leaked. And, rather than just being a mild disappointment, I’d argue that Nintendo’s rushed approach risks stunting hype for the long-awaited console.
Switching It Up
In the video games industry, new console reveals tend to be kind of a big deal. There’s usually a teaser-laden build-up, plenty of bombast, and a smattering of tantalizing details. With Switch 2’s reveal, Nintendo has somehow managed to avoid all of these things. It’s certainly a bold strategy to officially reveal Switch 2 without any firm release date, specs or price.
In fairness, we did learn a few key titbits from the announcement. As predicted, Switch 2 is effectively a larger, more refined version of the original console. It will have a more substantial stand, larger Joy-Con controllers, and a bigger screen. Crucially, in my opinion, the reveal confirmed that most physical and digital Switch games will be backwards compatible. The exceptions are likely fringe cases.
Other than that, though? Practically nothing. We may have got a glimpse of a new Mario Kart, but the reveal didn’t confirm that. There was no word on how powerful Switch 2 will be, exactly how big that screen is, or what sort of peripherals we can expect. More importantly, we don’t even know its launch price or the release date. We’ll have to wait until April 2 to learn more, which still feels an awfully long way away at the moment.
It’s a Bold Strategy, Cotton
In fairness, I think Nintendo’s hand was forced with this reveal. Everything about it screams rush-out-an-announcement-because-the-leaks-are-getting-ridiculous. With so much half-information and rumors flying around, Nintendo probably decided to just officially announce something and get a proper reveal date in the calendar.
Perhaps it’ll pay off for ’em. After all, Nintendo has only continued to build a staunch fanbase through Switch’s lifetime, so there’ll be no shortage of folks lining up to buy Switch 2 on launch. What Nintendo can’t afford, however, is to spread the details so thinly, and convey them in such a disorganized manner, that many aren’t even aware of the console and its capabilities. Releasing a quick YouTube trailer and then holding a Nintendo Direct months later doesn’t seem like a way of doing that. Awareness for Switch 2 needs to transcend hardcore Nintendo, or the famous company may be disappointed in its launch reception.
Let’s not forget that Nintendo have a history of this. The company was riding high after the staggering success of Wii when it bungled the announcement of Wii U. Many were left confused whether it was a peripheral add-on to its predecessor, and many important details weren’t conveyed during the reveal.
To be clear, I’m not for one minute suggesting Switch 2 will flop like Wii U did. For one, Switch 2 is clearly just refining the original Switch, so it can’t go too far astray. But there’s no doubt that such an underwhelming reveal could jeopardize hype for the console. After all, hype accumulates with momentum, with people discussing price points, analysing details, sharing their opinions. For now, there’s precious little to debate about Switch 2. At least, not when it comes to the things most gamers really care about: how powerful it is, how much it costs, and when can we get our mitts on it.
