Nintendo didn't reveal the $450 price of the Switch 2 in the direct stream this morning — it would make everyone stand out. After spending an hour hearing about how Switch 2 solves almost all of our original console problems, I saw the trailer for the exciting game Mario Karting WorldWhy do we need to destroy good resonance with the harsh reality of market economics? Instead, Nintendo reveals the price of the console in its lowest media communication: a simple press release.
My first reaction was shock. $450 for portable console? Same as PlayStation 5 Astro-Bot. Of course, Switch 2 is better than the original switch, but it may not have PS5-level hardware. The price increase is also surprising since the original switch was launched at $300 in 2017. Can you imagine we thought the $350 Switch OLED was too expensive?
Unfortunately, this is not 2017. NVIDIA's current GPUs are now sold for over $600, with the cost of almost every product rising, and large companies such as Nintendo have also had potential impacts on the Trump administration's long-standing threatening tariffs.
The $450 switch 2 is expensive, I don't deny it. But in the current economic landscape, I will call it too expensive without hesitation.
Consider it: Switch 2 is only $50 higher than the cheapest steam deck, portable PC gaming handheld handheld hardware is slower, has a smaller quality, a smaller (7-inch, 1280 x 800, 60Hz) screen, and a larger frame. Switch 2, meanwhile, is as thin as the original model, has a 7.9-inch 1080p screen that can be run to 120fps using HDR, and is powerful enough to play games at up to 4K/60fps when docked. Based on the games we've seen so far, the Switch 2's size seems surprising.
The Switch 2 also improves the controls with Joy-Con 2, which is now magnetically connected to the gaming console, has a larger simulation stick and can also function as a mouse in various services. Without using a small saw, you will not remove the controls of the steam deck. And I haven't seen handheld PC manufacturers offer removable controls that are as comfortable and easy to use as the original switch (which means you, Lenovo). Nintendo's original Joy-Con is far from perfect, but they did the job and I bet the company has learned enough to make the Joy-Con 2F better.
While you can technically dock other PC gaming handheld handsets, they don't see the Nintendo's performance upgrades claimed in Switch 2. The company said the company's new console can reach some titles at 4K/60fps due to additional fans in the dock. We don't know exactly what the Switch 2's capabilities are, so Nintendo may sell its features significantly. But given how the seamless dock of the first switch works (some performance upgrades are also provided here, without additional fans), it's also what I think Nintendo optimizes more than PC companies, who just just dipped their toes into a portable game.
Maybe I just wanted to justify my purchase (I just realized I might need a second switch 2 for my kids), but I wasn't too angry with the $450 Switch 2. If we see more $80 games, e.g. Mario Karting WorldWe should definitely be rioting in the streets, though.
