Why Are People So Excited About the Nintendo Switch 2
If you’re up to date on video game news at all, you likely know that the Nintendo Switch 2 is on its way. There’s still a lot we don’t know about this console, but it seems like Nintendo fans everywhere are eagerly anticipating its arrival.
Why is it that there is so much hype around this new video game console? And is it justified?
The Excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2
People are talking about the Nintendo Switch 2 online and in person. Gaming journalists are broadly speculating about the types of games we might see in the near future. Economists and investors are offering their opinions about how many sales it might generate and how it might impact this entire generation of video game consoles. You can even buy a Nintendo Switch 2 case in anticipation of the console’s release.
It’s hard to use objective metrics to measure something like public excitement, but this is certainly some of the most fanfare we’ve ever seen from a video game console release. What explains this seemingly aberrant level of excitement and popularity?
Possible Explanations
There are several possible explanations here.
· General gaming news hype. First, although this excitement is certainly profound, it isn’t exactly norm breaking. Avid video gamers are constantly looking forward to the next amazing developments, including video game technologies and of course games themselves. Almost every time there’s a new video game console announced, there is a buzz of excitement, and if a new title emerges in a popular series, people begin speculating about it even if the game isn’t due out for several years. The truth is, the video game industry is one that is subject to excitement and hype, in part because of the pace of technological development and in part because of the most commonly targeted demographics. That said, because the Switch 2 is above other consoles in terms of anticipatory excitement, this can’t be the only explanatory factor.
· The popularity of the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch is the second-best selling video game console of all time. It has always benefited from both critical and audience acclaim. Although it wasn’t ever the most graphically powerful unit on the market, it was one of the most broadly appealing, offering both home and mobile gaming experiences in a single package. Many of the games for the Nintendo Switch were fundamentally disruptive, and others added cherished new chapters to long-standing popular series. Because the Nintendo Switch was such an abnormally popular console, it’s only natural for people to be excited about its successor.
· The gap between consoles. In previous video game console generations, the gap between new consoles was only a few years. But the original Switch was released in 2017, meaning it’s been nearly a decade since Nintendo has released a fundamentally new console. Nintendo fans and gamers more broadly are hungry for new and innovative content from one of their favorite publishers.
· Early rumors. Although the official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 is relatively recent, rumors have been swirling about this potential console for many years. Many fans eagerly anticipated a new version of the Switch with a similar concept and superior anatomy, and when the formal announcement confirmed this suspicion, audiences went crazy.
· Strict upgrades. There is still much we don’t know about this new Nintendo console, but early peeks have indicated that many of the new features are going to be strict upgrades over the original. The original Nintendo Switch still holds its own as a console, so the promise of even more advanced features is something for fans to salivate over. More comfortable controllers, higher resolution, and more advanced graphics processing are just a handful of the new features to enjoy.
· Backward compatibility. It seems as though the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to be backward compatible with both physical and digital games. Accordingly, people are going to be able to take advantage of their existing game libraries with this new, more advanced gaming experience. In some ways, it makes upgrading even more exciting.
· New games and opportunities. There are some juicy rumors about forthcoming games and apps for the new console, although there is little in the way of confirmed titles and release dates. Given Nintendo’s long history of industry prominence and audience satisfaction, it seems likely that this generation will open the door to some truly unique gaming experiences.
There are many good reasons why audiences are so excited about the Nintendo Switch 2 console, despite the fact that there are still so many unanswered questions. We may not know exactly how this console performs or when it’s going to be released yet, but we can reasonably assume that there will be substantial demand for it when it’s available.
