Granted, Nintendo does know how to make their sub par hardware seem better than it is. But can you imagine what they could do with actual up to date hardware? Might not be as easy a sell at $400-500 though like PS/Xbox. So if they can keep sub $300 system it’s an easier sell as a secondary system to the others or pc.
what they could do with actual up to date hardware?
It’s honestly hard to tell, given their history. When they first got 3D hardware, their first attempts resulted in a literal revolution in game design, with Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time changing how 3D games would look and control from that point onwards.
Their first time getting access to HD hardware? They didn’t have the experience and tools to design HD assets, which delayed pretty much all internal projects and resulted in several drought periods that helped kill the Wii U.
So if the Switch 2 suddenly had much better hardware… Would Nintendo make the most beautiful game you’ve ever seen, or would they stumble around and ship yet another booster pack to Mario Kart 8 with barely improved graphics? Would they struggle with balancing realistic ray tracing with their cartoony look? Hard to tell.
Even between 3D and HD, the Wii was only a blowout success because the Gamecube flopped. They shrugged and re-released a hardware update with added gimmicks. Gimmicks are their bread and butter - Nintendo is a toy company. They call it a “blue ocean” strategy. They don’t want to compete. They want to be the only company that offers… blank.
Somehow that still means a tablet with buttons. Tablets are plentiful. Buttons aren’t witchcraft. But you’d think Nintendo had a patent on sticking the two together.
Granted, Nintendo does know how to make their sub par hardware seem better than it is. But can you imagine what they could do with actual up to date hardware? Might not be as easy a sell at $400-500 though like PS/Xbox. So if they can keep sub $300 system it’s an easier sell as a secondary system to the others or pc.
It’s honestly hard to tell, given their history. When they first got 3D hardware, their first attempts resulted in a literal revolution in game design, with Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time changing how 3D games would look and control from that point onwards.
Their first time getting access to HD hardware? They didn’t have the experience and tools to design HD assets, which delayed pretty much all internal projects and resulted in several drought periods that helped kill the Wii U.
So if the Switch 2 suddenly had much better hardware… Would Nintendo make the most beautiful game you’ve ever seen, or would they stumble around and ship yet another booster pack to Mario Kart 8 with barely improved graphics? Would they struggle with balancing realistic ray tracing with their cartoony look? Hard to tell.
Even between 3D and HD, the Wii was only a blowout success because the Gamecube flopped. They shrugged and re-released a hardware update with added gimmicks. Gimmicks are their bread and butter - Nintendo is a toy company. They call it a “blue ocean” strategy. They don’t want to compete. They want to be the only company that offers… blank.
Somehow that still means a tablet with buttons. Tablets are plentiful. Buttons aren’t witchcraft. But you’d think Nintendo had a patent on sticking the two together.
Hey, as someone who uses an emulator to play Switch games on my Mac, I’m all for their hardware being sub-par.