Topic: Nintendo Switch 2

@Banjo- Yeah, I hope they reveal the new Asus/Xbox handheld soon. And 2027 seems too far, but if the rumoured handheld is native...that would be big. And yeah, we can't dismiss the work MS has been doing with Windows. I was truly impressed with the Rog Ally. Not perfect by any means, but on the right path.

I'm still waiting to see how accounts will work on the Switch 2 - I guess there's some kind of explanation on the web, but haven't really look for it. For example, I don't know if you can have your Switch and your Switch 2 with the same account, same library, etc.

But right now I'm pretty much covered with the Xbox Series X/Rog Ally combo and a Switch/Switch 2 (eventually).

BTW, I only opened my Steam account because of Killer7 - as of now, the remastered version of that game is only available on Valve's platform.

@HarmanSmith That's a good question, if you can use the same account and games on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 at the same time or if you have to migrate your account and say goodbye to your games on Switch.

These two Hookshot articles compile information and rumours about the next-gen Xbox (2027) Xbox handheld (2027) and the Asus Xbox handheld (2025).

https://www.purexbox.com/guides/next-xbox-console-everything-...

https://www.purexbox.com/guides/xbox-handheld-everything-we-k...

@Banjo-
Cyberpunk is 40 fps in performance mode on Switch 2.

That’s pretty awesome for a handheld.

@rallydefault I agree with that, my friend.

@Banjo- Yeah, I was thinking about that. If it is goinna be simple as in Xbox - log in into your account and boom, your whole library is there to download on any compatible device. I guess it will be something like that...but you never know!

@rallydefault
Especially since 40fps is where VRR becomes viable on Switch 2 per Cyberpunk representative at the hands on event in New York. And I know from Steamdeck that 40fps is a pretty noticeable difference from 30fps. It feels closer to 60fps even though it's nominally closer to 30fps. It really is a sweet spot. I never in a million years expected the next Nintendo hybrid to have a 120hz refresh rate with VRR that makes 40fps viable.

It sounds like VRR won't be of any use at 30fps because dips below 30fps go into the 20fps range, and VRR simply doesn't work for that. But at 40fps the dips would be in the 30-39 range, for which the Switch 2's VRR can work.

Meaning not only do we get fluid motion that feels closer to 60fps, VRR helps eliminate the perception of any frame drops that do occur.

Switch 2 is such a cool system man. It really is. I suspect 3rd party games will start being built with Switch 2 as the lowest common denominator to prevent the otherwise inevitable issue of bespoke PS5/XSX games struggling to scale down enough. And while the PC handheld market in totality is only 6 million units (half of which are likely enthusiasts with 2 different models), its still that much more reason to target Switch 2 and scale up, as it almost guarantees SteamDeck profiles on PC graphics settings will also run properly.

This is good for Switch. It's good for Steamdeck. It's good for PC handhelds and PC in general. We're actually very likely to see an alignment of Switch 2 and PC handhelds forming a bloc with considerable influence on game development that benefits everyone. Even when Steamdeck 2 releases with enough power to brute force through limitations, more efficient and power-conscious PC ports will help performance and battery life. So it'll still benefit.

@JaxonH
It’s a wicked cool system, for sure. I’m becoming more hyped by the day, actually - I just want to hear when pre orders are gonna finally open up here!

Question for anyone in countries where preorders have already gone live: How difficult has it been to get? I'm just curious cause I've never preordered a console before, and I'm curious to know what I should be expecting.

Some Hogwarts Legacy Switch 2 vs SteamDeck comparisons:

@Bigmanfan
Gotta stay plugged in. Follow a Twitter account or two that posts when preorders go live. I got a UK preorder in for importing to the US on my own, just randomly refreshing sites until it came back in stock.

I made a post here informing people it was available but 5 min later it was sold out.

They did say they had an incredible amount of stock for launch though and are striving to ensure they can meet demand.

@JaxonH Some of those shots look better on Deck, others on Switch 2. Pretty comparable overall!

@IceClimbers
The Deck version is the full PC version so it does have some details not present on Switch 2 and more characters on screen in certain instances. But the Switch 2 version has less jagged edges, is a sharper image, and has better lighting and colors.

But ya, once you reach PS4 level of graphics, give or take, differences start becoming rather negligible. PS5 had to sell itself based on load times from the SSD because they knew the graphical leap was no longer enough. Diminishing returns- we've been predicting this moment for years in these forums.

It works to our favor though. Now that a console market dedicated handheld has finally reached that power threshold, the concessions required for portable versions are going to be pretty slim. Performance will be the last differentiator as Switch 2 will almost certainly need to run AAA 3rd party games at 30-40fps rather than 60fps.

But with VRR + 40fps, even the perceived performance delta starts melting away.

@JaxonH The fact you can barely tell a difference between the Switch 2 version and Steam Deck version of the game is insane to me. The only thing that stuck out to me was the lighting, with the Switch 2 lighting being a bit more vibrant from the looks of it.

I mean... FF 7 remake was 30 fps on PS4 and on PS5 you have an option between good 30 FPS and non-perfect 60 FPS. The game looked great on PS4 so hopefully it will on Switch 2 also.

People shouldn't have to buy two seperate consoles to play Mario and Final Fantasy, so Switch 2 is filling a great niche.

The Nintendo website says after upgrading to a Switch 2 version you can still play the original version on the Switch 1 so I think the answer is you can definitely play on both for almost all Switch 1 games (e.g. the ones with cloud save). It will likely be the same as playing a OG Switch and a Stitch Lite at the same time, requiring 1 device to have an internet connection if you want to play at the exact same time.

@FishyS
Nor should they have to buy 2 consoles and 2 copies of a game to play on the TV and portably. Which is why the hybrid concept has led Switch to become the best selling console of all time- at worst it lands a hop, skip and jump away from the record.

But Switch 2 is really going to see that vision fully realized now that the gaming experience will be extremely comparable to power platforms- even in handheld mode.

I maintain the PS4 is one of the all time greats. What a system that was. It was the last power console to see a huge generational leap in graphics (just as Switch 2 will be the last handheld to see a huge generational leap in graphics). PS4 reached that threshold where diminishing returns start having a significant impact, and games suddenly looked really good in the PS4 era. Even today, more than a decade later, games barely look any different.

That's what we have to look forward to. It's so good for us. Handheld gaming has essentially caught up to console gaming.

@JaxonH I did put myself on the notification list on Nintendo’s website. At least it gives me a preorder option no matter what I decide.

@JaxonH Any specific accounts you'd recommend following? I don't really know much about this myself, I don't use social media much in general.

@Bigmanfan
Wario64 is one Id recommend. There are others though if you run a search and check reddit.

@Ryu_Niiyama
So did I. But for a minute there I was questioning whether Switch 2 would even release in the US June 5th. Sounds like it will now though. So I'm pretty sure I'll be securing a preorder from MyNintendo as well.

I was also worried price might jump $100 but that also seems to be unlikely at this point. Nintendo wouldn't look good at all raising price in the first place, but after the tariff pause? Ya, they'd be asking for backlash.

@IceClimbers Right. Digital Foundry's second Direct about Switch 2 says that Hogwarts Legacy on Switch 2 looks slightly worse than the (base) PS4 version and compare some screenshots and video. The frame rate is 30 fps, but a bit choppy on Switch 2, despite the VRR screen.

Two other interesting things they discuss is how exaggerated the 10x power difference claim between Switch 1 and 2 is, and how taxing DLSS is, especially on relatively weak hardware like Switch 2. Overall, two very interesting videos analysing the hardware and games. 😊

@Banjo- Yeah, Hogwarts Legacy looks slightly worse but also sharper overall due to the newer hardware in the system.

And then you get FFVII running pretty much indentically to PS4 except with some of the additions the PS5 added included like better lighting.

So at this point, the apples to apples comparisons are largely useless, because all the layman sees is "looks like PS4 therefore bad" when what tech heads see is "you can't compare raw computational power anymore, and this is more modern hardware so it'll do some things better".

But that's the nature of the beast now. It's not how much power you have, it's what you choose to spend it on and what modern features a system offers over its competition.

DLSS and raytracing are there as options should a developer fit them into their game. Others won't because they want to use the power on other stuff instead. It's a choice.

But we at least know DLSS is being used for one thing.....and it's background removal on the camera.