After months of speculation, the mystery surrounding the next-generation console from Nintendo has finally lifted. The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 boasts improved performance while maintaining its hybrid design. With enhanced capabilities, it is no longer just optimised for first-party titles, but can now handle more demanding third-party games as well. However, according to former Sony veteran Shuhei Yoshida, this evolution may have come at a cost of what made Nintendo unique in the first place.
In a recent interview with Easy Allies, Yoshida delivered a surprisingly critical take on the new direction for Nintendo. He suggested that Nintendo is straying from its roots, and that the company is losing its identity with the design of the Switch 2 and what’s under the hood.
Yoshida highlighted what historically set Nintendo apart from other console manufacturers: innovation. Over the years, Nintendo has consistently strived to deliver fresh and unique gameplay experiences, driven by both hardware and software creativity. This combination, Yoshida argued, has allowed Nintendo to be a standout in the industry.
However, with the Nintendo Switch 2, he feels that the spirit of innovation is lacking. He sees the new console as a more powerful version of the original Switch, with a larger screen, higher resolution, and smoother frame rates. These are improvements more commonly associated with platforms like PlayStation and Xbox, rather than the radical leaps Nintendo is known for. He even noted how the recent Nintendo Direct opened with a presentation from the hardware division, a move more typical of Sony and Microsoft.
Yoshida acknowledged that the increased power does allow the Switch 2 to run third-party games more effectively. However, he argued that for core gamers who already own multiple platforms, this isn’t enough to make the Switch 2 stand out. The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for release on June 5, and later in the year for Southeast Asia. It will come with several new features, including Joy-Cons that can function as a mouse, and an integrated voice and messaging ecosystem called GameChat, Nintendo’s answer to party chat.
