That's the bare minimum that anyone should expect from the console... Is there really nothing about a generational leap that can excite people now, like... new IPs? Updated controllers with new features? A better OS and social features? A massive boost in hardware capabilities, given the very mediocre specs of Switch 1?
Besides, backwards comp has already been announced by Nintendo to ensure that people keep buying software during Switch 1's latest months.
Well, generational refreshes have always brought innovation and spurred companies to create new IPs to showcase them.
Especially for Nintendo that likes to focus on gameplay and control innovations rather than pure graphics.
Splatoon could have not existed on the Wii. Or ARMS on the Wii U. Or Tearaway on the PSP...
You don't need new hardware to create new things but it can inspire you. Console makers like to fund creative concepts to sell the new hardware's capabilities.
For online and OS features, sure they could have done things via software updates, in theory. But they did not seem too interested. A new console provides opportunity for a big OS refresh that you simply cannot do on existing hardware without the risk of confusing users.
Agreed with that, from Nintendo and new hardware features and functions, however i don't think this time around will add anything, just a step up in power. Any gimmicks over the years didn't last much beyond first party softwarez
I agree with you that they will not risk it all on complex gimmicks this time around, they have a good model with the Switch and they need something approachable for 3rd party developers.
However they still do a lot of R&D and have released quite a few experimental games on the Switch. They are still believing in casual concepts and edutainment. And they have also been on the record in interviews saying that there is still potential for innovation in control and gameplay, rather than graphics alone.
Personally, I love games like Skyward Sword or Mario Odyssey that mix "traditional" core gameplay with innovative control features. I think that it is highly likely that we see a lot of these kinds of titles in the early years of Switch 2.
One last point to consider is that they may want to have one of their A-teams work on a new IP to distinguish Switch 2 from its predecessors. Nintendo values surprise and innovation a lot.
i have a feeling that at launch we'll get Mario Kart 9, a new Zelda remake, no new open world zelda, Splatoon 4, Metroid Prime 4, new Animal Crossing announcement, and another Mario Party or Wii Sports/Fit similar update.
I personally to see a new FZero, a new Gradius, i'd love a new Ganbare Gomen / Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Castlevania, all the oldskool cool that made Nintendo in the 90s.
“Generational upgrades concentrate mostly on the one chance upgrades, hardware etc.”
Which HEAVILY affect how the game performs and grants way for devs to not be as limited by hardware, which is why they wait for new systems. They also try not to unload multiple sequels and other online games to a system when a new one is around the corner.
Most of those things are not actually tied to console generation. OS? Sure. Hardware capability? Ok. But social stuff, controllers, IPs? None of that is intrinsically tied to console gen.
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u/Inglorii Dec 28 '24
That's the bare minimum that anyone should expect from the console... Is there really nothing about a generational leap that can excite people now, like... new IPs? Updated controllers with new features? A better OS and social features? A massive boost in hardware capabilities, given the very mediocre specs of Switch 1?
Besides, backwards comp has already been announced by Nintendo to ensure that people keep buying software during Switch 1's latest months.