Nintendo Switch 2

It has a new processor — manufactured by Nvidia — that delivers a noticeable leap in graphical fidelity compared to the original 

by CHRIS WELCH 

NINTENDO Co didn’t take any wild swings with the new Switch 2. The gaming console offers faster performance, improved graphics and a larger display, but considering the original came out in 2017, this isn’t a major departure from the previous model that some may have hoped for. 

Not that the core premise needed much changing. Like the original, the Switch 2 is a hybrid console that can be taken on the go and used in handheld mode, making it a godsend to commuters and frequent fliers. Or you can drop it into the included dock and lose track of time playing Cyberpunk 2077 on your TV at home. 

New gaming consoles from Nintendo, Microsoft Corp and Sony Group Corp are only released every few years. In this case, it’s been eight years since the Switch made its debut. (Nintendo introduced a higher-priced model with an OLED display in 2021.) 

That means hardware makers have a lot riding on each launch, and as Nintendo learned with the failed Wii U in 2012, missteps can be disastrous. So, this time the company is sticking to a proven formula. But for Nintendo fans, that means several more years of trying to maintain enthusiasm for a very familiar concept. 

The Business Case 

Consumers don’t seem to mind the similar design. The Switch 2 console is off to a record-breaking start: Nintendo sold over 3.5 million units in the first four days it was available. That frenetic pace establishes the Switch 2 as the fastest-selling gaming console in history, and it’s a sign that Nintendo’s conservative approach toward upgrading the original was still a desirable one for customers. 

That surge in early sales has come despite a significant price increase. Nintendo is charging US$450 (RM1,910) in the US, compared to US$300 for the first Switch. The system’s early momentum suggests consumers can tolerate the price hike — even with a thin lineup of launch titles led by Mario Kart World. (Donkey Kong Bonanza, the latest entry in another popular Nintendo franchise, will follow in July.) 

Indeed, the main dilemma right now is that there aren’t yet many Switch 2 games to play — especially if you’re not a Mario Kart fan — and the good ones cost between US$70 and US$80. Early buyers can jump into a vast library of backward-compatible Switch games, and there are some lesser-known gems for the new system like Fast Fusion, which is a steal at US$15. Nintendo’s Welcome Tour is a fun all-ages introduction to the console’s features, and it goes surprisingly deep for those eager to learn every tidbit about the hardware. But instead of bundling it with the Switch 2, Nintendo is strangely charging US$10 for this starter “game” and some people will inevitably skip it as a result. 

The Hardware 

By almost every measure, the Switch 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor, which feels more toy-like in comparison. Part of that is the console’s upsizing. Its 7.9-inch screen is much larger than the original Switch’s 6.2-inch display or the OLED variant’s 7-inch panel. And with a higher 1080p resolution, games optimised for the new console are sharper and more detailed. 

The Switch 2’s LCD display lacks the punchy colours and deep black levels offered on OLED panels, but its maximum refresh rate of 120 hertz allows for more fluid performance. And the inclusion of a feature called variable refresh rate means that the system and screen work in conjunction to smoothen out any stutters in gameplay, often making them imperceptible — at least in handheld mode. Additionally, the full-width kickstand lets you set the device at whatever viewing angle is most convenient. 

Cyberpunk 2077 is perhaps the best demonstration of how far developers are already pushing Nintendo’s latest hardware; it’s genuinely impressive to see such a visually demanding game running smoothly on this thin device. At times, the experience isn’t too different from what you’d get on more capable, home-bound consoles from Sony and Microsoft. 

Inside, the Switch 2 has a new processor — manufactured by Nvidia Corp — that delivers a noticeable leap in graphical fidelity compared to the original. The new chip uses artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance and upscale the Switch 2’s visuals, and it supports features like ray tracing, which produces more lifelike reflections and shadows in games. 

The Switch 2 also now supports high dynamic range, or HDR, for brighter highlights and richer colour when connected to modern TVs. (The Switch 2’s own display doesn’t shine bright enough to produce impactful HDR.) Another benefit of playing at home is that the Switch 2 can play games in 4K resolution when docked, a huge jump from the original’s 1080p ceiling. The advanced Nvidia chip plays a role here, but the dock also now contains a fan to keep things running cool. 

The quirkiest aspect of the new hardware is the way either Joy-Con controller can now behave as a wireless mouse, offering yet another control input method to game developers. The Joy-Cons also now attach to the main system magnetically instead of through a slide-on mechanism. 

Nintendo couldn’t have nailed this aspect of the hardware any better; the controllers detach with the simple press of a button, and the connection is sturdier. Gone are the wobble and flimsiness of the first-generation Joy-Cons. The controllers also have larger buttons and thumbsticks, leaving your hands feeling less cramped during portable play. (The built-in hand grips on Valve’s Steam Deck and other PC handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go S remain more ergonomic for marathon sessions.) 

You’ll also get better sound from the Switch 2’s speakers, but not due to improved components. As it turns out, Nintendo is actually reusing the same speakers from the OLED Switch but it’s found a smarter way of fitting them into the system, and the resulting audio is clearer and less shrill. 

Gameplay 

The Switch 2’s software is nearly identical to that of its predecessor, albeit with some colourful user interface (UI) flourishes thrown in. Transferring data from a first-gen Switch feels similar to upgrading your smartphone, and the freshness factor wears off in short order. But what remains exciting is how fast and performant the Switch 2 is. 

Nintendo’s eShop was notoriously laggy and slow on the original console, but it breezes right along on the new hardware. Loading times on games both old and new have been dramatically reduced. And titles that pushed the limits of the first Switch, with occasional frame rate drops to show for it, run smoothly on the US$450 machine. Many gamers consider 60 frames per second (fps) to be the benchmark for a truly responsive experience, but a large percentage of original Switch titles settled for 30 fps. This time, the outlook is more promising.

Nintendo is also pushing further into social features. A new C button on the right Joy-Con launches GameChat, the Switch 2’s destination for voice chats, video calls and screen sharing with friends when playing games together. Given Nintendo’s reputation for family-friendly game franchises, it won’t be surprising that there are extensive parental controls in place. In particular, users must approve other players before they can be reached via Game-Chat. It’s easy to jump into groups, and the console’s built-in microphone means you don’t need to wear a headset when chatting or sit close to your TV. Video streams of gameplay from friends can be choppy, but not so much that it detracts from the overall experience. 

The Catches 

Not everything about the console is a home run. For one, some games released for the original Switch can look less crisp on the new console in handheld mode. This is because they were designed for a lower 720p resolution and don’t scale so gracefully to a bigger 1080p screen. Developers will need to invest the time in new updates to get these older titles looking their best on Switch 2, and it’s unclear how many will bother doing so.

A more common hardware frustration is battery life — particularly when playing Switch 2 games. On a single charge, Nintendo estimates between two hours and 61⁄2 hours of gameplay — an enormous range. But titles like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can chew through the Switch 2’s battery in under three hours. This feels like a regression to the original Switch console before the company managed to extend battery life with subsequent hardware revisions. As it stands, the Switch 2 is unable to last a cross-country flight on its own. 

The Takeaway 

After the extraordinary success of the original Switch, Nintendo was always going to play it safe with the follow-up. There’s no denying that the Switch 2 feels more like an enlarged, enhanced version of the first console instead of some ambitious rethink. But considering how quickly it’s flying off shelves, it’s clear that a lot of people are content with the idea of a bigger, faster, better-engineered sequel. 

The Switch 2 is exactly that. There’s no rush for anyone to spend US$450 until more Nintendo-made games come along. And in the meantime, the original Switch isn’t going away anytime soon. But eight years after that console’s debut, early buyers of the Switch 2 will delight in the progress Nintendo has made. There’s still no other company on earth that’s better at guaranteed fun. — Bloomberg

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• This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition

The post Nintendo Switch 2 delivers bigger, smoother experience appeared first on The Malaysian Reserve.