Around a hundred exclusives, more than 100 million units sold, thousands of games from hundreds of different developers and studios, and four different variants — these are just some of the numbers that the Nintendo Switch has managed to generate within its first few years of existence. After five years on the scene, let’s take a look at one of the most successful video game consoles that Nintendo has ever made.
I’d like to think that when Nintendo first announced the Switch back in 2017, the company was determined to get back up after the lackluster performance of the Nintendo Wii U. Sure, both consoles looked similar, they had a tablet-style controller format, but with the Switch, Nintendo gave us a device that could go beyond the living room, which is definitely one of the biggest selling points of the system.
Initial Launch
When Nintendo dropped the initial TV ads for the switch back in 2017, they showed us a game console that somewhat resembled the Wii U but was also more portable in nature. This was during a time when Nintendo faced a lot of criticism for the Wii U, and from a design standpoint, you really have to give them credit for sticking with a tablet-style controller.
Based on the ads alone, you either thought that (A) Nintendo basically rehashed its previous console and was doomed for another failure, or (B) this is the system that would leave a big mark on portable gaming as we know it. Suffice to say, I think that we ended up with the latter, thankfully.
From a design standpoint, the switch looked pretty modern as well — gone were the unconventional dual screens and folding design of the DS, and it looked like a modernized, slimmed-down version of the Wii U controller. Nintendo was pretty clear in letting us know that unlike the Wii U, this was something you could take out of your living room to pretty much anywhere you go.
Now personally, I loved everything about the switch when Nintendo first announced it because (1) we finally got a new Nintendo system, (2) it doubled as a handheld device, and (3) it looked pretty cool. I mean, this was a system that wouldn’t feel out of place along with the rest of your smartphones and tablets, and the model with the gray Joy-Cons looked really minimalist for a games console. I’d like to think that it symbolized the beginning of a new era for Nintendo.
Games
Let’s talk about the main highlight of the Nintendo Switch, which of course is the game library. Initially, we only got a handful of games for the system which I think is a natural part of the video game console life cycle, and some of those games weren’t even fully exclusive to the console — for example, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was also ported for the Wii U.
But as the years came by we got more and more games that made their way over to the console. We got great first party exclusives from Nintendo’s flagship IPs like Mario and Zelda and some fresh new titles, remasters and remakes, ports of multiplatform games, and even some titles from classic Nintendo systems, courtesy of the Nintendo Switch online service. Nintendo’s exclusives really stand out as the best games you can get on this platform. For the record, my most favourite game on the system is probably Breath of the Wild — I’ve been playing it on and off since 2018, and it never gets old for me.
Like I mentioned, we did get multiplatform games as well, but since the Switch is basically underpowered compared to other current gen consoles, it meant that certain video game ports ran into performance issues. While games like DOOM 2016 and Bioshock ran nicely on the system, other ports like the Witcher and XCOM 2 for example had certain drawbacks in terms of graphical fidelity and overall performance due to being scaled down versions of the original titles. This isn’t to say that they ran horribly, but it meant that if you really wanted to play these games on the go, you had to make some sacrifices.
Still, I think it’s safe to say that the Nintendo Switch has excelled in creating a strong selection of video game titles. As far as games go, I think it lives up to the expectations set by Nintendo’s previous consoles in terms of entertainment value.
Design & Variants
Let’s move on to hardware. Since 2017, Nintendo has sold us four different variants of the Switch. You had the original launch model of the console, the upgraded switch V2, the portable-only Switch Lite, and the new Switch OLED.
Now while these four devices were essentially the same system with the same general hardware specs and performance, I think that they each brought something unique to the table. The switch V2 offered better battery life than the original, the Switch Lite was a budget-friendly model and although it lacked the docking function of the Switch, it was mostly an affordable way to get into Nintendo’s massive library of games. And more recently, the switch OLED offered some nice design upgrades, but unfortunately it wasn’t the Pro model that a lot of people were hoping for.
With the exception of the V2, I did manage to own all three models, and I have to say that by far the switch OLED is my preferred model, with the Switch Lite coming in close. The display and design upgrades on the Switch OLED really addressed some of my earlier complaints about the original hardware like the flimsy air vents and the tiny kickstand, and the Switch Lite reminds me a lot of the original Gameboy Advance, especially with all the different colour styles that Nintendo has released for it.
Perhaps the only real complaint would be Joy-Con drift. At this point it’s been pretty well-documented, and it’s sad that we haven’t really seen a major controller design change from Nintendo. I did experience a bit of drift on my original Switch that would usually go away from time to time, but hundreds of other Switch owners haven’t been so fortunate. Again, it would’ve been great to see Nintendo provide a permanent hardware fix for this issue.
Future of Switch
So what lies ahead for the Switch? Well, Nintendo says that the console is only halfway through its lifecycle, and if we compare it to the longevity of the Nintendo 3DS it seems that it’s mostly on the same track, as far as Nintendo is concerned. Like I said in the intro, it’s sold more than a hundred million units worldwide, and Nintendo says that they will work towards keeping momentum for the console.
We’ve also seen some recent rumors based on leaked Nvidia information that points to the possibility of a Nintendo Switch Pro. If this is true then we’re bound to see some major hardware and performance upgrades for the console, but until then we’ll have to keep on waiting for an official confirmation from Nintendo.
The Switch is undoubtedly a successful product, both in terms of sales and versatility. It’s become one of my most favorite Nintendo systems alongside the DS, GBA and 3DS, and I’m pretty excited to see what Nintendo has in store for its future.
Let me know your thoughts on the Nintendo Switch. It’s certainly become one of my most favourite Nintendo systems alongside the DS, GBA and 3DS, and I’m pretty excited to see what Nintendo has in store for its future. We also have the full video of this article up on Team VRY.
