Summary
- Finding a Switch 2 can still be a frustrating exercise. I’m not willing to put up with that when I’ve got decent PC hardware to game on.
- There aren’t many native Switch 2 games, and many of the ones that are available are just ports. I’m waiting for a better selection.
- It might make more sense for me to upgrade my PC hardware first, given the benefits of the platform.
The Switch 2 has been a major success so far, to put it mildly. It’s Nintendo’s fastest-selling console ever, with generally positive reviews, even if there are legitimate complaints. Its display, for example, is prone to blurring at 60Hz, and can’t really deliver on promises of HDR (high dynamic range). You probably won’t care much about that though while you’re actually playing something like Mario Kart World or Cyberpunk 2077.
I’m staying out of the rush for a few reasons at this point. I may get a Switch 2 down the road, but I’d rather do it on my own terms.
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1
There aren’t that many (new) games for it yet
Play what you want, not just what’s out
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There’s plenty to play on the Switch 2, but mostly because the system is backwards-compatible with anything released for the Switch 1. Things get dicier if you want to play things made with the Switch 2 in mind — at the moment, most of the “new” games are just ports from other platforms, like Cyberpunk, Street Fighter 6, and Civilization VII. The only original Nintendo titles are Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.
There’s no sense buying a gaming device right away if it’s going to sit unused most of the time.
Effectively, there’s nothing on the Switch 2 I want to play that I can’t already play elsewhere. Waiting a while will dramatically expand my options — for instance adding Metroid Prime 4 into the mix (knock on wood). There’s no sense buying a gaming device right away if it’s going to sit unused most of the time, or if I’m going to be tempted to buy something mediocre just to have anything.
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2
I may want better PC hardware first
Outside of the walled garden
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I own the original Switch, but I’ve never played much on it beyond Tetris 99, Mario Maker 2, and Katamari Damacy Reroll. That’s for a couple of reasons, the first being that its catalog is limited for someone like me. If you’re only occasionally into Nintendo’s games, and don’t care for JRPGs or visual novels, there isn’t a lot to choose from. And practically speaking, building a Switch library can get expensive. Nintendo almost never discounts its own library, so even an eight-year-old release like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will cost you $60.
For the cost of what Nintendo asks for one game, I could potentially buy enough PC games to last a whole year.
Buying or upgrading a PC is of course expensive in its own right, well over the $450 asking price of a Switch 2. But once you’re done, you’ve got a device you can use for work and media streaming, not just gaming. And when it comes to games, you get access to a massive library spanning decades, often at a discount. For the cost of what Nintendo asks for one product, I could potentially buy enough PC games to last a whole year, assuming I’m not picky about how new they are.
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3
I’m content with what I have
Valve beat Nintendo to the punch
The best gift I ever received is the Steam Deck OLED my wife bought for my birthday. It may not be as powerful as the latest desktop PCs, or even the Switch 2 in some cases, but it’s often the best of both worlds — letting me access an ever-growing PC catalog with the play-anywhere convenience of a handheld console. I’m actually surprised at how well the Steam Deck holds up, performance-wise. Even Cyberpunk 2077 runs well and looks fantastic, as long as you’re not expecting details like ray tracing. The only game I’ve had trouble with so far is Control.
There’s no sense investing in another handheld yet when there’s untapped potential in the devices I do have.
Paired with my admittedly aging laptop, I’ve got enough to keep playing games before the dust on Switch 2 launch settles down. I feel like I should be getting more out of the devices I own, in fact. I’ve been missing out on a lot of PC titles, and there’s no sense investing in another handheld yet when there’s untapped potential. A good game is a good game regardless of what you’re playing it on.
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