Meet the newest entry to the #NintendoSwitch family! Nintendo Switch (OLED model) brings the versatility of the Nintendo Switch experience with a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, and more. Nintendo Switch (OLED model) releases on 10/8.https://t.co/zRpGxakJDn pic.twitter.com/Tsc55r35ay

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 6, 2021

For months leading up to the announcement, Nintendo kept tight-lipped regarding the new system despite a bevy of rumors suggesting its arrival was imminent. Many of those rumors suggested that Nintendo would reveal the model this past June at E3. When that didn’t happen, many fans feared that talks of what was then referred to as the “Switch Pro” were nothing but unfounded speculation.

Only days prior to the announcement at an investors meeting, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa refused to answer why the model hadn’t been announced at E3.

“Our company uses Nintendo Direct to inform our customers about individual products at the appropriate time,” Furukawa said according to Kotaku.

“To achieve that,” he continued, “we are constantly developing hardware, software, dedicated peripherals, etc., but we refrain from making comments on specific products still in development.”

Apparently, the new system was only days away from finishing its development when Furukawa made his statement. It is certainly understandable why the Switch OLED model took so long in that development process, given the many new features it has to offer.

The OLED model’s hardware has been completely upgraded: while the original Switch model has a 6.2 inch LCD screen with an output of 1080p when docked, Nintendo’s new model boasts an impressive 1920×1080 resolution with a maximum frame rate of 60 fps, according to Nintendo’s website. And then there’s the OLED screen. For those unfamiliar with tech jargon, OLED screens are some of the highest quality screens to date, outperforming  LCDs, LEDs, and CRTs. According to Tech Radar, “compared to competing display types, OLED TVs bring you better image quality (think blacker blacks and brighter whites), reduced power consumption, and much fast response times – that last point being a great addition for any console or gaming TV too.”

The Switch OLED model also features a wide adjustable stand for tabletop mode, a new dock with a wired LAN port, 64GB of storage, and enhanced audio for both its handheld and tabletop modes.

The OLED model’s October 8 release date makes the new Switch available to consumers just in time for the holiday season. Switch players will have a nice selection of new titles to play on the system as well. Coinciding with the systems launch day is the release of the highly anticipated Metroid Dread. For those lucky enough to score a system during 2021’s holiday season, the even more hotly anticipated Pokemon Legends: Arceus will be available for purchase shortly thereafter on January 28, 2022.

After the Nintendo Gamecube’s subpar performance relative to its competition, the company seemed to shift focus to a new approach for selling hardware and games. Instead of trying to have the best visuals or the latest franchises, they went for unique designs and embraced nostalgic re-releases of classic games. This is a trend that continues to this day. However, more recently, Nintendo has added a much more manipulative tactic to this overall strategy. The use of artificial scarcity to trigger consumers’ fear of missing out (FOMO).

Game consoles have always been a hot commodity. I don’t recall a time that has been more true than it is now. Yet, Nintendo’s production system seems to intentionally underproduce popular products specifically to limit their availability. Perhaps the long-running demand of the Nintendo Wii showed them how significant this interest could be. Now, nearly every product the company releases is in limited quantity and sells out numerous times despite the use of preorders and well-documented demand. Every scalper knows you just need to track down whatever the latest and greatest Nintendo product is and you can flip it for many times the retail price. This occurred with both the NES and SNES Classic Editions.

Today marks a new day in Nintendo’s effort to manipulate their fans. As of March 31st, 2021, you can no longer play the online Super Mario Bros. 35 game, and you can’t purchase a digital version of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Nintendo has also ceased production of the physical version of the latter. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light are also included in this expiration date. There is no logical reasoning for this move. The only conclusion I can come to is that it seems to have happened solely to generate hype and make consumers feel like they’ll be missing out if they don’t buy/play these games when they’re available. I’m positive that it has worked in many cases and managed to make what are essentially all re-released titles top sellers on a modern-day console.

The problem here is that this consumer manipulation will continue and grow. Given that it is already a product of a systemic process, I assume more games and products will be released on a limited basis and in limited quantities. The free press Nintendo received is worth its weight in gold. I’ve even seen several sensationalist articles with titles like “Nintendo is Killing Mario!” The only part that doesn’t make sense is that the company didn’t use that to shuffle in their next limited-run consumer manipulation scheme to convince their committed fans to re-buy more games from decades ago. I suppose they still have time to cash in on the manufactured fanfare though.

With the mediocrity of the first Nintendo Direct since 2019, it seems Nintendo is doubling down on the limited effort to make the most of its immensely popular console. The Nintendo Switch has sold nearly 80 million units and, despite having hardware nowhere near its competitors, it continues to be a difficult device to find in stores. The creation of the Nintendo Switch Lite augmented that slightly, even though the handheld version doesn’t seem as popular as the original with its existing handheld capabilities.

However, this success makes Nintendo’s minimal effort in improving the experience of the Switch seem even more ridiculous. In the nearly four years the console has been available, only basic improvements to the platform have been introduced, and often those are lackluster at best. For instance, the ability to copy screenshots and videos (which were also somehow a post-launch addition) was added late last year but is clunky at best. It involves scanning multiple QR codes, opening the image or video in a browser on your phone via an IP address through a wireless connection, and then saving it.

Of course, the media you create with the Switch isn’t exactly museum quality. Even though many games run at 1080p, all screenshots and videos are recorded at a compressed 720p. This can be, in part, associated with the limited power of the device, but it’s still a disappointment for someone like me who wants to edit and post them. Limited power is an issue that I think many have hoped would be addressed via a “Switch Pro” that has been rumored, but never confirmed.

The issues run deeper than something as isolated as media capture though. Online functionality has been a rough spot for Nintendo for as long as they’ve attempted it. Even though they’ve moved away from the annoyance of “friend codes,” the quality of the online experience is subpar. Despite moving to a paid online system, most Switch games still rely on peer-to-peer connections rather than having any dedicated servers. That means quality is heavily reliant on individual connections and bandwidth capabilities and it makes the experience worse for everyone.

Nintendo’s biggest problem with the Switch has been the drift problems on the joy cons. While I haven’t personally experienced this (yet) it is most likely because I use the pro controller as much as possible. The class-action lawsuit about this issue is a sign of how widespread it has become. The effort to create a slim portable control method for the unique design of the Switch has marred their successful history of unconventional-but-functional controller designs.

It’s also odd that, over the years, few cosmetic improvements to the Switch UI have taken place. There has been an option to set “themes” from launch, but no themes exist. These were a prominent and enjoyable feature for the Nintendo DS collection. The store on the device has also taken some time to even come to a baseline level of quality, but it’s still difficult to discover new games within it. Then, of course, there’s the fact that there’s no music for the store or any other part of the Switch. While that may only be a problem as a matter of personal preference, the Wii’s music in these areas is nothing short of iconic.

Yet, I see one of Nintendo’s biggest areas of neglect being the limited first-party titles. The Wii launched out of the gate with Wii Sports and it proved to be a universal system seller. It came with the console and was a perfect way to demonstrate the functionality of the controls. The closest comparable thing on the Switch was 1-2-Switch which was wildly overpriced and sparse in content. By this point in the lifetime of the Wii, we also had a second mainline Mario game, were on our way to a second Zelda game, and had Metroid Prime 3 and the whole collection ported to the console. The limited first-party releases for the Switch are split between new releases and re-releases. This includes the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which is a fairly poor showing for the 35th anniversary of that franchise. Also, how it wasn’t Wind Waker HD is beyond my comprehension.

I’m not sure why Nintendo is investing so little effort in pushing the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities. It may be as simple as looking at the fact that they’re still selling out without that effort. However, with the lull in notable games, people are starting to notice the blemishes. The Switch has succeeded on the backs of some great games and being a platform that embraced some wonderful indie experiences. Yet, if Nintendo wants it to be the next ubiquitous evergreen Wii, it needs to catch up and address as much of this as possible. Even if that means releasing a “Switch Pro.”

Recently, David Gibson, an investment adviser, attended Nintendo’s Q&A following their latest earnings report and delivered some information including the claim that the Switch was “barely in the middle” of its life cycle. Given that it was released just over three years ago, that would mean there are at least three years left before it’s replaced. What we don’t know, however, is when and how exactly that replacement process will occur.

The Nintendo Gamecube had a six-year lifespan from 2001 to 2007, but the success of the console was nowhere near that of its competitors. The PlayStation 2 dominated those years and beyond and of course is the top-selling console of all time. The followup to the GameCube, the Nintendo Wii, had much more success, making it sixth on that list with more than 100 million sales. With that success, the console still only lasted seven years until its successor, the Wii U, began production.

While the Wii U proved to be even less successful than the GameCube, it still lasted from 2012 to 2017 before the Switch came along. This seems to indicate that Nintendo has fairly rigid plans for the rollouts of their console hardware. If a console can sell practically eight times as many units as another from the company and only have a lifespan two years longer, the Switch’s outlook of 6 years doesn’t seem too outlandish.

Yet there’s another factor to consider here. The Switch also functions as a branch of Nintendo’s handheld department – especially with the Switch Lite in the mix. The Nintendo DS went seven years before the 3DS came along between 2004 and 2011. The 3DS continues with its full backward compatibility nine years later along with a wide variety of hardware variations on the market. The core design of the DS has essentially existed for sixteen years surpassing multiple other console generations.

The question here is whether Nintendo intends to highlight the Switch as the successor to the DS or keep it competing in the console wars a unique alternative (or addition) to the PlayStation and Xbox. Will they continue to innovate and power up the hardware as they have with each console generation, or will they iterate on the design with more refined improvements like the DS? Both have their pros and cons.

If in 2023 or beyond we get the successor to the Switch as a home console, it could build on the relatively limited power the Switch has to deliver higher fidelity and frame rate versions of favorites. It’s hard to conceive of what innovations Nintendo might attempt, but the company seems to strive for new creations like the Wii’s motion controls, the Wii U’s dual-screen based interface, and the Switch’s role as both handheld and console.

Yet, they could also choose to deliver a console that doubles down on the features of the Switch, like the 3DS. Increasing the power and capabilities of the system while also adding functionality like expanded motion controls or branching into VR.  It would allow them to expand further beyond the 3DS’s limited potential as a handheld and bring a wider variety of games to people on the go.  Giving players more options and backward compatibility with the Switch’s growing library of games could broaden the appeal of the console just like the 3DS.

Whatever the case is, Nintendo has more control over their future than ever before. Fans and newcomers alike are clamoring for more classic entries to franchises like Breath of the Wild 2, Metroid Prime 4, and potential re-released 3D Mario games. I’m sure by the time 2023 rolls around, Nintendo will have everything in place to do what it takes to continue their progress. Whether they can execute on that success is something historically few have been able to accurately predict.

What do you think Nintendo’s next move will before the Switch? Do you see it more like a home console, a handheld, or somewhere in between? Let us know in the comments!

After an enjoyable journey through the classic The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, I realized that it would be nice to revisit more of the games between A Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild – and what better way than on the Nintendo Switch. Link’s Awakening proves that remaking and re-releasing these titles can give a whole new generation a chance to appreciate timeless classics.

The most obvious choice and one I’ve long assumed would be on the console by now is Wind Waker. This release for the GameCube was met with a little apprehension when it was first released due to its unique cell-shaded appearance, but it quickly became a favorite for many fans of the series. It was remastered in HD for the Wii U, but the poor sales of that console didn’t leave much room for it to shine. Given how many Wii U games have already made their way to the Switch, this seems like an obvious choice and one I’d be picking up on release day.

Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask both received remasters on the 3DS. These impressive remasters were even better when considering the limitations of the 3DS’s display and I believe many people would be satisfied with these versions coming to the Switch. However, an HD remake of these titles that would take advantage of the Switch’s capabilities (relative to the 3DS) would again be a must-buy situation.

While Nintendo’s at it, Twilight Princess had a Wii U release and, though I don’t think I’d be as excited to get it, it would be right at home on the Switch. The other Zelda Wii release, Skyward Sword, may seem like a natural fit in this process, but I question how easy it would be to translate something so dependent on motion controls to a system with only minor motion control functionality. Much like games that relied on the two-screen functionality for the DS and Wii U, it may require a total rework of many mechanics to make this particular Zelda work.

I don’t believe that Nintendo, with its continued commitment to the DS and 3DS, would attempt to do any of the many handheld Zelda games on those systems. Yet Oracle of Seasons/Ages may not be out of the question. Given its similarity to Link’s Awakening, it wouldn’t be outlandish for them to take a page from past Zelda games and use the same engine to remake it. Though hopefully with improvements to that engine’s performance on the Switch.

Nintendo has been very “hit or miss” with its will to appease fans. It is, of course, impossible to make everyone happy, but some of their actions make it seem like they’re either blind or ignorant to public outcry. Just looking at the whole Waluigi situation in Smash, it’s hard to say they have a steady hand on the pulse of their fanbase. However, they are slowly building the library of Switch games out with the first-party games that made the company so popular. It may just be a matter of time before they decide they want to squeeze everyone’s wallets for the last bits of nostalgia-based revenue.

Just after the Super Mario Maker 2 Nintendo Direct, two deals were presented to the audience.  The first was a decent deal that allowed you to bundle a year of Nintendo Switch Online to your Super Mario Maker 2 preorder for an extra $10.  Nintendo hasn’t been shy about their efforts to try to get Nintendo Online on as many Switches as possible after it’s lackluster launch and subsequent poor performance in many games, so wasn’t much of a surprise.  What ended up catching many people off guard was the introduction of the Nintendo Switch Game Voucher system, which seemed uncharacteristic for a company that rarely lowers prices on first party games.  However, when you start digging into it, the deal really isn’t as good as they make it sound.

$20 in, $20 out

The first problem here is that the vouchers are only available if you have Nintendo Switch Online.  That, at its cheapest overall price for an individual, is $20 a year.  So, the $20 savings from the vouchers is already lost on that.  There is value, however, in that original $20 investment for online play, especially if you want to partake in the fun of Tetris 99 or some classic NES games (or play some laggy Smash online).  Even if you already have Nintendo Switch Online and have gotten value from that cost, that’s not the only issue with the price of this “deal.”

The Price is Wrong

On paper, the idea of spending $100 and getting $120 worth of games is great.  It’s the fulcrum upon which this entire scheme hinges. But, when you look at the details things start to seem much more unsteady.

First of all, the games that are currently eligible are limited to a certain pool.  Some of the games on this list are already $49.99 (Bayonetta and 1-2-Switch, as examples) which immediately strip away part of the discount.  The limitation of the list also allows them to exclude games where you might bundle season passes and doesn’t allow you to use any other deals or discounts in the process.  Then, of course, there’s the elephant in the room, the fact that many of these games have either had or currently have a discount on their physical version.

Digital Killed the Physical Star

Digital games have become the cornerstone of the gaming industry.  They dominate the PC market almost entirely.  Physical media drives are disappearing from PCs every day.  Yet on consoles, the market has stayed strong for a variety of reasons.  The strongest reason is that console gamers love to have the flexibility of trading in and selling their games.  This is a negative aspect for game publishers as every game sold from one player to another is a game for which they can’t sell another new copy.  Nintendo Switch Vouchers only allow you to purchase digital versions of these games.  With this, you’re not only losing your ability to sell or trade games, but you’re relegating yourself to filling up the system’s extremely limited storage space.  In fact, if you were to just get Breath of the Wild and Hyrule Warriors with these two vouchers (both of which are currently under $50 each from Walmart), you’ve already filled up 27 GB of your 32 GB internal storage.  When you stack an additional $20+ for another SD card on top of the $100 vouchers, you’re back to not getting much of a deal.

How to Make This a Deal

There are a couple of key things you need to do in order to make the Nintendo Switch Voucher system worthwhile.  The first is to have two games you want to preorder or buy release within the next year.  The vouchers expire in one year, so it’s important that they either be available to purchase or preorder (and on the list) within that time frame.  This will ensure you, at the very least, get $120 worth of games for that $100.  The second most important thing to do is to buy discounted Nintendo gift cards.  There are plenty of places online where these gift cards are 10% or even 20% off.  By taking advantage of that, you can essentially get two full price games (potentially) for $80.  At that price, the many problems with the system become less… problematic.

Sure, you’re still going to have to make sure you have your Nintendo Switch Online subscription going both when you purchase the vouchers and when you use them, but for a certain subset of people who are willing to put in a little bit more effort and have the available storage, this can work out well.  Considering I personally have sold two first party games I preordered for my switch (ARMS and Mario Tennis), I don’t think I’ll commit to many digital game preorders.  However, I may find myself working this system to my advantage if I find two games I know, for certain, I will want to keep in the near future.

All reports indicate that we’re going to get our first look at the net generation of video game consoles in 2019. Once that happens, a lot of gamers are going to have to decide which console to invest in.

How can each company capture the attention of the most gamers? That’s going to depend on a number of factors, but we ultimately think there are a few things each console manufacturer can do to win the upcoming war.

PlayStation 5

Find the Perfect Price Point

One of Sony’s greatest advantages in previous console wars has been the price of the PlayStation. Right from the start, Sony has generally emphasized undercutting the competition. It’s part of the reason why the PlayStation brand is so prominent and strong.

It’s hard to imagine Sony deviating from that strategy. The PS5 will likely be cheaper than the Xbox 2, but that might depend on something we’ll talk about later.

Don’t Rely on the Same Exclusives

Yes, the PlayStation 4 had some brilliant exclusives. Bloodborne, God of War, Spider-Man, Until Dawn…the list goes on. However, it’s important that Sony not catch a case of “sequel-itis.”

We expect to see sequels to some PS4 exclusives, but Sony needs to prove that they can continue to encourage the development of new and exciting properties. After all, their exclusive lineup isn’t quite a legendary as Nintendo’s.

Continue Supporting PlayStation Now

By the end of the next console generation, video game subscription services are going to be system sellers. It’s hard to imagine the path that leads us away from that future.

Quite frankly, PlayStation Now is just not on the same level as Xbox Game Pass in terms of price, features, support, and selection. It’s vital that Sony continues to grow and improve this service as we enter the PS5 era.

Xbox 2

Release Multiple Consoles

Microsoft is in a bit of a bind when it comes to pricing their next console. While it make sense to release a cheaper console, they’re also a company that has become known for emphasizing console power. Clearly, it’s difficult to release a more powerful console that’s also cheaper.

The solution seems to be to release multiple consoles at launch. Microsoft has done this before with the Xbox 360, and by taking this approach again, they can appeal to both their fans and a broader market.

Don’t Stop Buying Studios

Look, Microsoft’s war chest is absurd. We’re not saying they are going to give all that money to the Xbox team, but Microsoft can beat the competition through cash alone. That’s why they’ve purchased some exciting studios in recent weeks.

Microsoft needs to continue aggressively purchasing studios. They’re still slightly behind Sony in terms of big-name exclusive developers, and they’re way behind in terms of Japanese studio support. It’s not time to close that checkbook just yet.

Lean on Xbox Game Pass

Game Pass is quickly becoming essential. As an affordable subscription service that is technically sound and loaded with recent exclusives, it’s by far the most aggressive and impressive digital delivery program of its kind.

In the coming years, Microsoft needs to turn Game Pass into something that every Xbox owner will feel compelled to subscribe to. By doing so, they might just be able to change the game in terms of how console gamers access new titles.

Nintendo Switch

Leave No Franchise Behind

When Nintendo released a new Mario and Zelda in the Switch’s first year, they sent a message regarding their faith in the Switch and their desire to bring fans back. Now is not the time to deviate from the message.

We’ve already got a new Metroid, Pokemon, and Animal Crossing game on the horizon, but Nintendo needs to continue reviving and revisiting their biggest franchises. The biggest name on that list is probably F-Zero, but honestly, they need to wake up just about every dormant series.

Add More Classic Games to Nintendo Switch Online 

Nintendo has suggested that they’re not interested in releasing more classic consoles or a Virtual Console service for Switch. As such, people are starting to wonder how they’re going to (legally) get their classic game fix.

We think they ultimately decide to expand Nintendo Switch Online’s classic game selection beyond the limited roster of NES titles currently available. By adding more games from more consoles to the service, Nintendo could make it a must-have.

Keep Chasing Third-Party Games

Nintendo has done an excellent job when it comes to attracting third-party developers to the Switch. Diablo III, Dark Souls, Skyrim…we’re seeing a lot of games on the Switch that we wouldn’t have seen on previous Nintendo consoles.

Simply put, they need to keep chasing these games. Such titles have really helped fill in the months between major Nintendo releases and should continue to do so moving forward.