One thing’s clear. The Switch 2 is launching into a very complex environment. Just a look at today’s Nintendo Direct, or rather the comments scrolling on the side of the IGN feed over on YouTube. Someone wants a proper 3D Donkey Kong game. Someone else wants Waluigi in Smash. Someone wants Jet Set Radio – I promise that one was not me – someone else wants a full-blown sequel to Twilight Princess.
Actually, looking at the Nintendo Direct itself, you can see a bit of that complexity. You’ll be able to play Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2. Surely the kind of thing you might lead with, or at least put right near the start? Yes, sure, but then you’d bring up the uncomfortable reality of a world that already has the Steam Deck in it. Best bury this stuff a little, before it serves as a reminder that Nintendo’s no longer the only bunch out there that have the full video game experience you can enjoy while sat on the bus.
I registered all these thoughts watching today’s Direct, just as I registered the thoughts at certain moments that this really didn’t feel like a classic Nintendo console unveiling. Aren’t the other guys the ones who spend time talking about HDR visuals? Is it Nintendo to spend that much time talking about SD cards or the new fan? That third-party reel towards the end was one DoorDash namecheck away from being a Geoff Keighley production. Is Nintendo losing its nerve – or, with a console that is in so many ways so similar to its last console, did it just not have that much new to say right now?
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On balance, I don’t think that’s the case. I think the really big thing was up-front after the Mario Kart World reveal – in a way, it was a part of the Mario Kart World reveal, but we’ll get to that in a moment. It’s the C Button, which, yes, does sound like the kind of thing you say when you’re trying to swear in the presence of children. It’s what the C Button does. It’s chat. It’s audio and video chat. But it’s all done in a very Nintendo way.