Uncovering the Truth: Why a Total Nintendo Switch Revamp Was Always Unlikely

The Switch 2: A Safe Bet for a Turbulent Gaming Landscape
The Switch 2 was finally announced, and while it’s great to see Nintendo moving on to something new after the near eight-year lifespan of the original Switch, some were hoping for a more radical change, similar to the Wii. But for those who haven’t been paying attention to Nintendo’s trajectory over the last few years, that’s not the case.
Lessons from the Past
Before the Switch 2 was officially unveiled, I was surprised to see a handful of articles expressing disappointment in the face of CES leaks featuring a design mock-up from manufacturer Genki. One article even went as far as to describe the design as "utterly un-Nintendo." I, on the other hand, think that if this was the Nintendo of 10 years ago, then yeah, it would have been unusual to see the company put forth a console that doesn’t shake things up too much. But the present-day Nintendo is in a different place than it was back then.
There are two key reasons why Nintendo has played it safe with the Switch’s follow-up, and I think it’s the right decision.
All Eggs in One Hybrid Basket
From the late 80s to the early 2010s, Nintendo operated on a two-pronged approach where its consoles were concerned – a console for home use on your TV and a lesser-powered portable device for playing games on the go. This setup gave Nintendo more room for experimentation, not just in having multiple opportunities for success, but also in needing to clearly differentiate the home console from the portable one, and to convey to gamers why it was worth owning both.
For example, the Nintendo DS featured two screens, one of which was a touchscreen and required a stylus to interact with, creating a unique gameplay loop that was very different from the very accessible motion control-led gameplay of the Nintendo Wii.
When the Nintendo Switch came out, the company effectively ended this approach altogether, deciding to merge the two concepts into one device that could be used both at home and on the go. While this is great from a consumer perspective, it puts a lot more pressure on that singular console to succeed.
**The Implications of Nintendo Switch Online**
When it became clear that the Nintendo Switch wouldn’t be using the same ‘Virtual Console’ storefront from the Wii and Wii U, I, and many others, were up in arms. In the time since the console’s launch, we’ve had the Nintendo Switch Online service come into effect, showing a rare instance of Nintendo embracing modernity.
Just like Sony and Microsoft before it, Nintendo has hopped on the subscription model bandwagon where users pay a monthly or annual fee for access to online play and retro titles, while a more expensive ‘Expansion Pack’ tier grants access to even more classic games and a handful of downloadable content.

While Nintendo Switch Online is, admittedly, a lot cheaper than PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, it’s still a decent revenue stream for Nintendo, and one with the potential for more content to be added, alongside the inevitable price rises that we’ve come to expect from these digital services. To keep it going however, consistency is key, and while it might have been fun to imagine a new Nintendo Switch with dual screens, it would have been at odds with how one currently accesses the NSO service.
I like the idea that I know exactly what I’m getting with the Switch 2. Its predecessor has been a Godsend whenever I’ve been traveling, and I’m looking forward to having a more feature-packed version of that experience. While it’s sad that Nintendo’s most off-the-wall days are probably behind it, I can’t blame the company for wanting to do whatever it can to weather the current (and very turbulent) economic storm.