After months of waiting for official news, Nintendo has finally revealed the form factor of the Nintendo Switch 2, in a new video focussed on its sleekness, and improvements on its predecessor. The reality is Nintendo designed a smash hit console with the original Nintendo Switch, and in a time where the games industry needs more stability, it has taken a wise, well-trodden path in making small improvements for its next console.
While some have decried Nintendo for its perceived lack of innovation, in our opinion, what the Nintendo Switch 2 always needed to be was a more powerful, overall better Nintendo Switch. That said, there is plenty of room for improvement, and plenty of additional, new features we hope to see included with this console.
Here’s all the biggest features and improvements we hope to see in the Nintendo Switch 2.
Table of Contents
More power, more power!
This one seems like an obvious one, and rather than being a wishlist item, it feels like a necessity. The Nintendo Switch 2 can and should be much more powerful than its predecessor. We’re not talking a small leap. We need to see this console supporting modern 4K, with HDMI 2.1 compatibility.
For years now, Nintendo games have flagged behind in the good looks department, with the Nintendo Switch struggling to get good, crisp and smooth performance out of new games. While better graphics don’t mean a better game, they do illustrate more inviting, interesting worlds.
Better performance overall will allow Nintendo to craft more creative, innovative adventures, and remove any frustrations with lag and texture load-in.
Unfortunately, in the later years of the Nintendo Switch, some of the biggest titles for the console had major performance issues which stymied their excitement. Hopefully, that won’t be an issue for the Nintendo Switch 2 – and hopefully the console will be future-proofed with strong 4K support.
A better Nintendo eShop
In the last few weeks, conversations around the Nintendo eShop have been wildly negative, for good reason. One developer recently flagged a significant issue with copycat clones on the eShop that seemingly hadn’t been moderated before publication. Other critics pointed out the Nintendo eShop has always had a problem with moderation, as many fake and low quality titles have been allowed a platform there, filling up the eShop with poor experiences.
Nintendo should start fresh with the Nintendo Switch 2’s eShop, with a view for selecting the best titles for the console. Consistently exposing users to barebones puzzle hentai games when opening the eShop is really weird vibes, and if Nintendo aims to produce a quality experience for the Switch 2, it should look to curate an immaculate storefront that provides players with high quality, well-designed games to play.
Killer Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles
Image: Nintendo
Speaking of high quality, well-designed games, we hope to see many of these when Nintendo announces the launch titles for Nintendo Switch 2. Historically, the company has done very well in this regard, with an array of fantastic games typically available from the jump at console launch, and many more following these in the months after release. There’s no reason to think the Nintendo Switch 2 will be any different.
So far, we know we’ll be getting a new Mario Kart with the launch of the Nintendo Switch – more than likely, Mario Kart 9. But what else could be on the way?
In addition to a new Mario Kart, we could see currently-in-development games as launch titles for the Nintendo Switch 2: Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and more.
As for other picks, we would love to see something in the way of a new MySims, a new Animal Crossing, a nostalgia-fuelled Nintendogs return, a Super Mario Odyssey or Super Mario 3D World sequel, and any number of classic remasters. (Wind Waker HD, anyone?)
A customisable home menu
The home menu of the Nintendo Switch is pretty bland. Even going back one generation, that wasn’t the case for Nintendo. While using the 3DS, you could unlock a range of special customisation options for the console’s menu, including colourful backgrounds, badges, and stickers. While the whole thing could end up looking very busy, it was a fun way to personalise the console, and make it your own.
At the very least, we’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 arriving with new background options, beyond simple black and white. Let players add some cool cosmetics, colours, or stickers to the main menu! It would go a long way towards making the console feel different from its predecessor.
Improved Wi-Fi capability
Another must for the Nintendo Switch 2 is an improved Wi-Fi receiver. Speaking personally, there’s several rooms in my house where the Nintendo Switch 2 simply can’t pick up the Wi-Fi signal. That typically leads to drop out messages while playing games, and it’s a major annoyance.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a chance to include modern Wi-Fi hardware on the console. If it’s going to last for several years (or up to a decade) in the market, it should arrive with strong Wi-Fi.
Joy-Con drift addressed meaningfully
Image: Nintendo
Joy-Con drift was a plague on the original Nintendo Switch. It was awful. Using the Joy-Cons for long enough, and frequently enough, would consistently lead to them drifting, making player input much less precise. There was even a lawsuit about the quality of Nintendo‘s Joy-Cons, as a result.
Given patent filings of 2023, we could very well see the Nintendo Switch 2 house improved Joy-Cons with greater longevity – and it would certainly be a boon for the console. Fingers crossed on this front.
Impactful backward compatibility
Nintendo has already confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 will be backward compatible with OG Nintendo Switch games – but we hope there’s more to this system. In short, we’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 “enhance” these OG games, hopefully with some running smoother and better on the new console.
One of the biggest disappointments of the Nintendo Switch was the performance of late-stage Pokemon games, like Scarlet and Violet. We’d love to see the Nintendo Switch 2 being capable of salvaging these games, providing enhancements in some form – whether visual, performance-wise, or both. Nintendo games are fairly notable for feeling ageless, so it would make sense to keep the Switch’s library feeling fresh and modern for new audiences. Backward compatibility+ would help to realise that goal.
Learn more about the Nintendo Switch 2 with our helpful guides:
Leah J. Williams is a gaming and entertainment journalist who's spent years writing about the games industry, her love for The Sims 2 on Nintendo DS and every piece of weird history she knows.
You can find her tweeting @legenette most days.
