What do we want from the next Nintendo Switch? | Team Talk

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While Nintendo hardware rumours are nothing new, the latest run of the rumour mill has brought the prospect of a new, more powerful Nintendo Switch or a new console altogether closer than ever before, with word that developers are being given dev kits – the technology used to develop games for the new system.

With our extensive knowledge of the industry (read: many wasted hours gaming over the years and decades), we’ve taken it upon ourselves to come up with the most important features and improvements Nintendo should bring to the table to ensure being a smash hit with audiences.

What would you like to see in a new Nintendo? More motion control? Less motion control? Something totally off the wall? Let us know in our Discord.

by Team PTC

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​@pass_controller

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Power | Chris Brand

Whilst Sony and Microsoft seemingly go head-to-head in the race for the most powerful console, Nintendo have sat out and merely watched the battle, surviving by cramming as much innovation into their little machines as possible. Well, I've had enough, Ninty, it's time to go big, or go home. Then get big and come back to impress us with your bigness and your big, sexy, hybrid console.

As I stand at six foot and four inches tall (which I believe is slightly above average, for you tiny people), everything is just too small. There is no Goldilocks Zone for me, all the beds are too small, the bowls of porridge are too small and the bears themselves are little more than a snack. I need things to be bigger. Everything has to be bigger. I'm a big man, with big hands, and I require big stuff.

A puny 64GB of storage space and the, barely noticeable, 7-inch screen of the OLED model won't cut it in 2024. However, some recent rumours suggest that the Switch 2 (ReSwitch maybe? Nintendo Switcheroo? I've not given it a lot of thought) could be packing an 8-inch screen and come with 512GB of internal storage. That is a significant jump, if it turns out to be true.

Though handheld gaming doesn't really interest me, many first-party Nintendo games do. Countless Mario, Zelda and even Pokémon titles are just waiting to be experienced and with the ability to migrate your account to the new console, it appears that backwards compatibility is a distinct possibility. I'm not going to dive straight in with a pre-order but if the price is attractive enough, I could be persuaded. Of course, I'll then need to think of another reason why I still haven't played Pokémon.

Communication | Liam Andrews

The thing I’d like to see most in any Switch successor (I’m backing Chris’ suggestion that it be called the Switcheroo) is better communication/audio capabilities.

The current setup, which includes using an app on your phone, is rubbish, and needs improving in the next console. This could be done by simply integrating the chat app into the new console so it’s easier to chat with friends and hear the game at the same time. I only tried the NSO app a couple of times, but it was unwieldy enough to put me off online multiplayer sessions on the Switch.

Another issue that needs remedying is the lack of a headphone jack on the Switch’s pro controller/Joy-Con cradle. Not only would one of these make it easier to chat with friends, but it would also give players the option of using headphones to listen to game audio when the console is docked (I’m just assuming the new machine will be a hybrid one), especially useful if you’re playing in a noisy environment or just wanted to better appreciate a top-tier soundtrack.

While I do also want improved performance capabilities and fancier visuals, these simple quality of life features are just as important.

Online | James PArry

Nintendo might still not be ready to face it, but the future, and, in fact, the present, is digital. While I don’t want to see physical media die out – the fact that the current Switch carts taste bad so kids don’t eat them is genius – Nintendo needs to put more effort in to bring their digital and online services up to even the basic standards everyone else smashed past years ago.

The eShop is a mess, which is difficult to navigate and clunky to use when you do find what you want. On top of that, it’s poorly curated, leading to tons of shovelware hiding some of the best gems on there.

At this point, Nintendo needs to recognise that both adults and youngsters use their consoles. You should be able to do everyday activities, like add and communicate with friends, easily as an adult and the proper safeguards in place to protect children trying to do the same. In short – we don’t need friend codes Nintendo, we’re all grown up now.

In terms of form factor, the current unit isn’t pocked-sized anyway, so either make it smaller and folded in half (but that feels like a step back to the 3DS days), or punch it up to small bag size, like a 16:9 iPad. Anything more than that is a waste.

The main thing I really want from Nintendo though, is for them to keep throwing in one or two random ideas which don’t make any sense just to see what works – that’s the beauty of a Nintendo console.

We’ll have to wait until at least 2024 to find out how many of our wishes came true.