Is the Nintendo Switch worth buying, or should you wait for the Switch 2?

Even in its swan song era, the Nintendo Switch continues to find new players. It recently became the third best-selling console of all time, and players like my preschool-age nephew are representative of millions of new or recently converted core gamers who are simply having so much fun with the great games of the past seven years. to ensure that the Switch 2 actually launches in late 2024 or early 2025.

Obviously not everyone is like him and is completely oblivious to console release cycles. And with new clusters of Switch 2 rumors circulating every week, you might be wondering whether you should buy one of the Switch consoles on the shelves now (for you or as a gift for someone else) or wait for the new one, when it arises. launches. So should you buy the Switch or wait for the Switch 2? There isn’t one answer that fits all, so let’s explore a few scenarios below.

Have you played any Switch game library?

If not, get the Dang console right now. We only have a limited time on this precious planet, so don’t wait any longer and get carried away with the past six years of incredible games. We are at Nintendo’s whim to launch its next console (it is Real it takes time), but you can take control and play or gift great games while you wait.

Do you need the latest and greatest technology?

There is a part of me that understands this feeling. It would be a shame to buy a Switch now, but Nintendo will debut the new model in the coming months. Fortunately, the regular Switch is still a great way to experience games. With a few exceptions, most Nintendo-published games run great on the console, so try not to let FOMO get in the way of just playing the games. If it helps you decide, Nintendo often releases tentpole games for its newer console on the previous console, so you might not miss anything with the regular Switch.

Are you looking for great performance in a handheld?

Then you probably already know that the Switch won’t satisfy your craving for high-resolution graphics (not that the Steam Deck OLED and its contemporaries are perfect in this category either). I won’t defend the Switch too much; the graphics felt dated when the console launched in 2017.

Still, the best games have great art that more than makes up for the lack of power, and the Switch model that can help you get the most visual splendor out of stylized games like Splatoon3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomand much more is the $349.99 Enable OLED. It has largely the same components as the other models, but with a larger OLED screen. The OLED itself has the same 720p resolution as the LCD screen in both $299.99 Switch And $199.99 Switch Litebut everything looks better, from contrast to brightness and image quality.

Are you concerned about Nintendo’s backward compatibility?

It’s unclear if the Switch’s successor will work with all pre-existing Switch games, as Nintendo hasn’t shared anything about the rumored console yet. Naturally, we hope full backward compatibility with Switch games exists, thanks in part to the console’s massive success. It just makes sense that Nintendo would lean on the Switch’s incredible existing library to increase its value for long-time Switch fans, as well as new players looking to play a seemingly endless supply of games.

In terms of access to older titles, it’s possible that Nintendo will continue to offer a subscription plan that offers SNES, Game Boy, and other titles for a monthly fee. For more substantial remasters released on Switch, such as Mario vs. Donkey Kong And Metroid Prime remasteredhopefully they will remain available on the eShop for the Switch 2.

As for Switch accessories, I would imagine that many of them (other than those that fit based on the physical dimensions of the current Switch) should also work with the newer model. Things that connect to the console via USB-C or to the dock with USB-A would, I think, work fine with a future device.

There are some edge cases where it makes sense to wait before buying a Switch. For example, if you’ve been waiting for years for the Switch 2 so you can experience the Switch’s greatest hits with high-fidelity graphics, you might as well keep waiting.

Then there’s the crowd fed up with buying new Joy-Con controllers, some of which are prone to developing “Joy-Con drift,” a broken condition in which the analog sticks will move in one direction without any input. drift off. I understand your frustration, and I also hope that this won’t be an issue in the future, should Nintendo choose to iterate on the Joy-Con instead of replacing it completely. And what if the company surprises us all with an early 2024 launch?

If you’ve reached the end of this article and feel confident that you should just buy the regular Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED that are available now, I fully support this decision. Even though it will be technically outdated by the time Nintendo debuts the next Switch, it is still capable of playing some unforgettable games that you won’t be able to experience on any other console.