Nintendo Switch 2 Direct April 2, 2025

[Kikki]

The cards are basically identical except, I think, that the Switch 2 cards are 'express', like the memory cards...they transfer information faster. I think that's all there is to it. Switch 2 games can probably only be read by the 2, even if the card fits into the 1. (Unlike the DS/3DS where they added that nub on the side so that you couldn't put a 3DS card all the way into a DS. I suspect that it may have been possible for the DS to run some 3DS games, though probably not very well. So they had to make sure you couldn't put the card in at all.)

I wonder if that means that if you put a 1 card that you already have (such as Breath of the Wild or Animal Crossing) into a 2, the 2 will have to install it along with an upgrade, to get it to run on 2 standards. Or will it run as it is, off the card, but just look and perform like an original Switch game? Or will a physical game not work at all? (I feel like they mentioned whether a physical cartridge from 1 would work in 2 or not, but I don't remember for sure.)

I wonder!

There's still a fair bit to wonder about, for a console whose full presentation we've already seen. Unless those details were in there and I didn't notice. (Entirely possible. I get very tired of tech talk very quickly.)

[S1lvergale]

Wasn't one of the things people were complaining about with the Switch 2 games that even if you bought physical copies, most of the data was stored online? It might because of that.

[Lady Retro]

Will there also a hand-held version made for NS2?

[Kikki]

There's no way to know, Lady Retro. The original Switch is already considered a handheld in itself, as the 2 probably is, as well...but most likely they'll create a smaller 'budget' version of the console like the Switch Lite that is missing some of the features of the larger version.

Nothing of the kind has been mentioned, yet. The Lite didn't come out for 2.5 years after the original switch, and I'd say it'd be one year minimum before it does for 2. But we don't know. My personal GUESS is that they'll come up with a budget version by holiday season 2026, about 1.5 years from now. But that's just a loose theory of mine.

[Kikki]

I can't resist. This thread will die soon anyway!

What do you think would make the IDEAL Switch 2 line-up? Forgetting everything else, like price and so on...what kind of a launch line-up do you think would make the Switch 2 a smashing success?

Personally, I think the S2 would sell like madness if it launched with certain first party exclusives. (Though you don't have to stick to those if you think some other game would seriously boost S2's sales. I personally just don't think that games people can get elsewhere will do all that much to encourage people to buy Switch 2.)

For one, Pokemon. Something mainline, more than any spin-off. I don't really like Pokemon, but there's no getting around that it's an absurd success, even though it rarely innovates and it doesn't keep up with the times in terms of graphics and performance. It severely underperforms (in performance, NOT in sales) when you consider how massive a franchise it is, because people will buy it no matter how bad the technical details are. Which is one reason why it'd be great to have it in a launch line-up. Mind you, a new one is coming soonish, within half a year...but I can't remember if Pokemon AZ is exclusive or if it can be played on OG Switch, too. If it can, that significantly lessens the appeal it adds to S2.

In addition to Pokemon, I think it could really use a mainline Mario. Donkey Kong Bananza looks so fun that even *I* am considering it, but it's still not Mario. A spin-off wouldn't quite cut it, either, imo, nor a port/remake. I don't play Mario (super not into platformers) but it's a major draw for Nintendo.

Now for slightly less obvious stuff. I think it could REALLY use a new Animal Crossing, to bring in the 'cozy' crowd, which is getting bigger all the time. New Horizons was a massive phenomena...thanks in no small part to Covid...but 47 million is nothing to overlook even with that padding the numbers a bit. It dramatically outsold Mario Odyssey. I guess the development requirements are heavier than a Mario game...maybe that's why AC always takes a back seat to the plumber. (*disgrunted*)

I also feel it could really use a new Ring Fit Adventure, to bring in those who like fitness/physical games. Ring Fit sold over 15 million as of 2023, which isn't small potatoes, and it's another group of people whose eye Nintendo should try to catch, imo.

I can't bring myself to add Legend of Zelda. Of course, it'd be great! But it's too soon after TotK and Echoes of Wisdom for me to not find it ridiculous that they could bring out another Zelda game this soon, other than ports. (I'm sick of ports.)

So to attract the story-driven crowd and RPG fans in place of LoZ, I'll say Xenoblade. A NEW one, not a port or new content for an old game.

Aaaand...I think I'll stop there. I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that pop into my head immediately as being system-sellers. Xenoblade only sells a few million (tragic, when it's SO good!)though it's getting more successful as time goes on...LoZ would be better by a long shot for selling consoles...but I just can't say LoZ, yet. Though even showing a peek at a new game they're working on would cook up some hype about the console it would be exclusive to.

Anyone else know of some games that would majorly plump-up sales?

[Anna_Lynn]

Happy NA pre-order day! Here's hoping Walmart doesn't randomly cancel my order weeks from now...
Now that I think about it, the Switch 2 launch line-up is a bit weak, but at least it's not a disaster of launch games like the 3DS was. It's unfortunate that most of the launch games are ports of games people have on steam, and they already simultaneously run in 4K 120FPS without needing to sacrifice resolution for framerate, and vice-versa. Somehow I own both a steam and switch copy of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, and I definitely don't need a third "2S" version for switch 2, lol. Zelda, I don't need. Braverly Default, already have the 3DS versions. Split Fiction, nobody irl to co-op with. Don't care about Street Fighter, don't care about Civ 7, not interested in Deltarune or Metroid. Maybe I'll get a physical version of Cyberpunk since I am interested, and definitely don't want a 64+gigabyte game downloaded into internal storage so early. It seems like those express SD's are both pricey and out of stock 24/7. Rune Factory has me a little worried, gameplay and graphics-wise, but I'm probably getting it anyways. Something about the art style and environment colors this time around just looks...off? It hurts to admit, but visually the colors look worse than RF5, and especially compared to the other 2 RF spinoffs; RFF and ToD from the Wii. It's giving ANB, but not in a good way.

I think Mario Kart World is a no-brainer for a launch title, since MK8 sold so well on Wii U and Switch; there's high demand for a new entry after 11 years. A launch-day Animal Crossing would have been nice as well, and knowing Nintendo, they're probably developing the next entry anyways, games just take longer to create nowadays. Hmm...maybe a better GCN classics line-up for launch?? Not that Wind-Waker, Soulcaliber, and F-Zero aren't beloved games, but I think sneaking in Animal Crossing GCN, Smash Bros Melee, or a GCN Mario Party would interest a wider audience. I would say Double Dash or Kirby as well, but Nintendo 100% wants to keep the fans focused on MKWorld and Kirby Air Riders/Forgotten Land DLC for now.

Can I just say, I'm really shocked that Tomodachi Life - Living the Dream is a 2026 game? I feel like that could of easily became a launch title for Switch 2 if they played their cards right with development time. Especially since the only date teased was the year itself, maybe they recently began development last year? At least it's set to release for both Switch 1 & 2, much like the new Pokémon and Metroid.

I guess I'll rapidfire other possible things Nintendo could've launched with:
● A 3 bundle HD remaster of New Super Mario Bros DS + Wii + 2 (isn't it Mario's 40th anniversary this year?? Feels so underwhelming compared to the 35th anniversary...)
● "Mario Maker 3" with joycon mouse support and mario wonder theme.
● Some sort of Pokémon remaster...idk I don't play Pokémon. Uhh...maybe a modern remake of black/white or x/y? Those are the only ones left without any remasters, yeah...?
● Some sort of fitness game, whether it be a new Ring Fit like Kikki mentioned, or maybe a Switch 2 Edition of Just Dance I guess. (especially with that camera Nintendo's marketing, surely it can track like the Kinect?)
● This would've been the perfect time to bundle TLoZ Twilight Princess HD + Wind Waker HD for $80 together, porting them from Wii U to Switch 2. Wind Waker being on GCN classics makes this obsolete though...

[Kikki]

I'm so sick of ports that no port (remastered or not) could possibly convince me to buy a S2 if I wasn't already intending to anyway. And TP has been ported so darned much, I'm sick of that game in particular, lol. Eh, some people will always want them, though, no matter how many times they've been ported before.

But yeah, I want NEW. No more coasting by on ports, please, Nintendo.

Anyway...Walmart.ca is already sold out of the Switch 2 pre-orders. 6 hours since they became available (they became so at midnight and I had a peek when I woke up just before 6) and they already can't be pre-ordered any more. Figures. Well, I was planning to go via Nintendo's own pre-orders anyway. Not that I know I'll get through on that, either.

Guess Switch 2 doesn't need a good launch line-up.

Unless those pre-orders on walmart.ca were snatched up by bots for scalpers, of course. There's supposed to be some measures in place against that, but...I dunno. Nintendo can check things like NSO memberships and playtime, but Walmart can't, so they can't have as many scalper barriers. One per household isn't really much of a barrier to bot-wielding scalpers.

The true death of scalpers would be if people would STOP BUYING FROM THEM.

I can proudly say I've never purchased anything from a scalper, at least.

[Bluie]

The only time I ever bought something from a scalper was my PS5 - BUT, it was at/below retail price because the box was absolutely destroyed. This was from the time where PS5s still weren't commonly found anywhere yet, and my PS4 was very close to giving up the ghost. Husband and I agreed that neither of us cared about the box + it was a local seller, and the rest is history. I wouldn't of purchased it otherwise.

I've been watching the Switch 2 Preorder madness from a distance today. I have zero desire to stay in a digital queue nor do I want to drive anywhere and try my luck (people have been lined up since YESTERDAY). I'll get one later. Hopefully before Pokemon Z-A, but I'm not going to lose my mind trying to find one.

[Anna_Lynn]

Ohh no...now I feel bad listing a bunch of remakes and ports in my list, lol! But I didn't really know what other games could go, maybe if Pokémon Z-A were a launch title instead of holiday release, but that extra development time makes it look more promising than what most have said about the previous Pokémon games for switch! Is Fire Emblem still popular? Idk how much of a system seller Fire Emblem would be, but it feels like a hot minute since I've noticed it in a Nintendo Direct. A new Xenoblade would have also been lovely, but yeah Nintendo just released a Definitive port of Wii U's Xenoblade X, so of course CEO-mindest-wise they're not going to distract sales for that remaster with a hypothetical new release.
DK Bananza looks set and ready for launch, Nintendo's just doing that thing where they hook those day 1 customers ONLY for Mario Kart, and nothing else. In a perfect world, Bananza could've 100% been a June 5th game. Also that M&L Brothership game maaaaybe could've waited to launch until Switch 2? I sort of forget it exists because it was sandwiched in-between other big games, like Mario Party Jamboree and Dragon Quest III HD. In terms of sales, I don't think Brothership was as much of a holiday seller as Nintendo hoped it would be...it's around 2mil sales currently, which is very low for a NEW spinoff Mario released on a popular console.

And mentioning the Switch 2 pre-orders, apparently some people online have mentioned that Walmart allowed them to buy more than one switch 2, because technically they are two "seperate" products in the system. So that's what I have seen people saying, they buy their one $449 normal Switch 2 and the site secures that order in. But the site then still allows them to pre-order a $499 Switch 2 + MKW bundle if they click it, since they're seperate listings in the company's inventory. It just seems a little messy to even allow that in general, since Nintendo and retailers were straightforward in the 1-per-customer rule. Not like that's been stopping others from snagging 2-4 pre-orders already from Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GameStop.

If you live with loved ones, family, or roomates, yeah then that makes sense to want more than one by launch. It's just that I get frustrated when the Nintendo content creators or youtubers feel the urge to tell their audiences that they're trying to buy multiple at launch. Like do you really need one for travel portability, one for docking in your living room, one for your wife, one for your son, one for a giveway, one to unscrew and take apart to observe the inner hardware, one to do a LCD screen burn-in test, one to do a scratch-test on the screen without a screen protector...its kind of tone-deaf

[Kikki]

If you think the ports you mentioned would be system-sellers, then you're justified in mentioning them, Anna_Lynn. I just don't happen to agree, since Switch already had so many ports that I was tired of them. Not that ports are bad in themselves, but I don't feel like many people will buy a new console just to play a port of something. People have been screaming for a Wind Waker port, so maaaaaybe some would buy if it had that. I'm not sure.

I want a Switch 2, but even if I can't get one by any other means, I still won't buy from a scalper. I'll wait a year rather than that. Even if a new Xenoblade, LoZ and Animal Crossing all come out before then. (And probably NONE of those will, in that time frame.) I MAY be able to get one via Nintendo's own pre-orders on May 8th. And it may be that stock won't be particularly limited once the physical product hits the shelves. So perhaps I'll be able to get one at or close to launch. But if I can't...oh well. I'll wait. There's nothing coming up this year exclusive to S2 that I need, and even if I did, I'd still wait. Scalpers need to vanish from the earth. Maybe lots of people don't feel that way, but I can only decide what I do, and I'm not giving a scalper so much as a nickel. (Cuz we don't have pennies in Canada any more.)

Well...seems like the price isn't stopping people, anyway. I guess Switch 2 doesn't need a good launch line-up.