Analysts predict Switch 2 might struggle with attracting mainstream buyers for the same reason Wii U failed: "I can imagine 'normies' being a bit confused"
Analysts predict Switch 2 might struggle with attracting mainstream buyers for the same reason Wii U failed: "I can imagine 'normies' being a bit confused"
Oh, awesome, another portable handheld device!
Nintendo's Switch 2 reveal felt like a lightning bolt delivered straight from Zeus himself for everyone except, well, most people. In fact, since the console – which fans have spent years clamoring for – looks so much like its predecessor, some analysts predict it'll have trouble appealing to a general audience.
"I can imagine 'normies' being a bit confused," gaming industry consultant Serkan Toto tells GamesRadar+. "The device is bigger than the original Switch, but not comically large. The form factor, button layout, and overall design are very similar to Switch 1, so I can imagine issues arising when potential mainstream buyers look at the new device."
Some analysts are morons. The reason the Wii U failed was because it wasn’t clear that it was a successor console, and not just a weird add-on.
People have been conditioned to understand numerical console increases for over two decades now thanks to the PlayStation.
Edit: As an aside, are there any console manufacturers besides Sony who have had sequential model numbers consistently? I’ve been mulling this under the last couple of hours and nothing comes to mind!
I can verify that. I am a video game fan, though don’t always follow everything that closely. I remember seeing Wii U for sale and not really understanding what it was. It seemed like just a Wii with a weird controller.
I had a coworker who was convinced that the whole thing was a scam. That it was just an upgraded Wii with a weird controller. So he went out and got a secondhand Wii U console. Just the console. Gave it to his kids for Xmas. Got mad when it didn't work. Eventually got a gamepad (and maybe the power brick? I don't remember if it's cross compatible) and ended up spending more than buying it new.
I'm pretty sure even he can follow Switch -> Switch 2.
Even if they don't buy consoles, it's how most thing works, phones are an obvious example. iPhone 14 comes after iPhone 13, but iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are just versions of 14.
If gamers can navigate Xbox -> Xbox 360 -> Xbox One -> Xbox X -> Xbox S, I think they can figure out Switch 2.
Heh, glad you mentioned Xbox - they’re a perfect example of consistent inconsistency! 🤣
People have been conditioned to understand numerical console increases for over two decades now thanks to the PlayStation.
And they even managed to do it while Microsoft counted to potato.
Windows 7 8 9(lol) 10 11
Mac OS 7 8 9 X 11 12 13 14 15
Also the touch component and motion controls were something of a turnoff for adults who bought previous generations.
The reason the Wii U failed wasn't because of its name. Sure, it didn't help the slightest but Nintendo's console iterations have struggled in the past because they hardly bring anything new. The Wii U brought literally just a gamepad (and stronger hardware, though marketing focused on the gamepad). Why pay so much for an incremental upgrade? The same fate nearly occured to the 3DS:
The Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan on February 26, 2011, and worldwide beginning the next month.[10][11] Less than six months after launch, Nintendo announced a significant price reduction from US$249.99 to US$169.99 amid disappointing launch sales.
After all, why pay money just for a 3D effect? Without continued support and selling at a loss, the 3DS would have bombed.
By the way, the Xbox One - despite its similarly stupid name - never faced the same issues as the Wii U because people actually wanted it.
If this was true the PlayStation 2, 3, 4 and 5 would have all failed.
The Apple IIe would never have caught on. Of course we all still use Windows 3.1 and do spreadsheets on Lotus 1-2-3 as we dont understand software generations either. /s
If parents weren’t confused by
Xbox Xbox 360 Xbox One Xbox Series S/X
Then the number 2 should be just fine.
I mean, they were. I have personally heard from people that couldn’t be bothered to understand the Xbox SKUs for the possibility of buying one because of how horribly Microsoft names things.
Yeah, I keep seeing articles like this, but a slightly different sized version of the same console isn't a radical idea. It baffles me, this isn't why the Wii U failed.
Of all the things you can say about the Switch 2's name, 'confusing' isn't one of them.
If "normies" are able to buy a Playstation 5 after having bought a PS4, 3, 2 and 1, Then I think Nintendo is going to be just fine.
The Wii had so many peripherals and used naming like "Wii blah" so often, that WiiU was viewed as an attachment and not a new console. The name Switch 2 is very clear. I don't think it's comparable at all.
Also, the Wii was a fad. Nintendo and others wildly overestimated how many people would come back and buy another console after buying a Wii. Turns out most of them were rotting in closets. The Wii U could have improved on the Wii in every possible way and it wouldn’t have done well.
This isn’t the case for the Switch. I don’t think the Switch 2 will do Switch numbers, those were very artificially boosted by the pandemic & the novelty of the form factor. However, I doubt Nintendo will have any trouble moving units.
Calling people "normies" as if Nintendo products and video games in general aren't mass market items.
Ick.
This was written by someone with a raging Nintendo hate-boner. I'm certain because I have my own Nintendo hate-boner and even I'm not that deluded.
I think people are familiar with numbers
Unlike Microsoft's Xbox division
Sales struggles may happen but not for the -title- reasons. I mean that's why it's called Switch 2 instead of Switch U, switch Pro or some other bullshit. Nintendo is very clear. It's the same, but next gen.
Here are this guy's other "predictions"
https://www.serkantoto.com/2025/01/10/global-game-business-2025/
Including stunning prognostications like this
Nintendo will not have enough consoles to sell Despite Nintendo’s pledge and best efforts, the new device will sell out very quickly and not be available for months in 2025. It will be even worse than 2017 when the Switch launched. Furthermore, the name will be Switch 2. I also expect deep price cuts for the original Switch in 2025.
Putting the "banal" in analyst.
🅱️analyst
I find these articles pretty funny and out of touch with every human being I know. I saw the media shit on the Switch 2, but it was exactly what I expected so I asked all my friends with a switch how they felt. Every single one plans on buying the new one at or near release. Many will be buying two so they can play with spouses or their kids. The tally for purchases in my small middle-aged friend group alone is over 50. Nintendo releases too many amazing exclusive games for us to ignore. I know I can turn to emulation, but I prefer to do that for older games that already made their profit so I can support the devs that make me happy.
I think Gen X parents and younger are familiar with how the newest edition of a computer is "better" than previous ones. I dont see this being an issue.
It also wasn't an issue with the GB and DS lines, and the Switch notoriously follows the handheld pattern quite closely, so I don't think this will be an issue.
What's there not to understand? It's a better version of the first one. Isn't this what console makers have been doing since the beginning of time? Wii U was weird with the screen on the controller and everything. None of that with Switch 2. Just more of what made it good in the first place.
Really?
"Normies?"
looks around for telltale signs that we've entered 4Chan. Like shit streaks on the walls.
Yeah, people really have a big problem understanding "I'll buy the latest, since it's the best, number is bigger" . Concepts like "ok, all previous stuff works but new stuff only works here". Such crazy concepts. The GBC was a flop because GB already existed.
This bozo thinks it's just gonna be a picture of the switch on the box instead of a huge mario kart graphic. Kids will ask for switch 2 and parents will buy switch 2. That's the beginning and end of the decision making on getting it. It's gonna be wildly sold out no matter how many Nintendo can get to retailers.
The Wii U also suffered from it's weak library of games, though. Yes, you could argue that was partially due to Nintendo pivoting away from it earlier due to the slow start which was, in part, caused by the confusion over the naming and marketing...but if Nintendo commits to the Switch 2 and releases more bangers from big franchises it will be a long-term success. The "gimmicks" of the Switch are the best assortion and implementation the company has ever delivered and it has an amazing library of games. There is no reason why the Switch 2 can't deliver in those same areas (it already will with the retention of motion controls and portability).
The reveal trailer has almost 20 million views BTW.
It's like the switch, but 2. I just don't understand it. /S
--
The only thing I don't actually understand are what appear to be the exact same sticks as my drifty joycons, and the $70+ price tags on Nintendo games. If Nintendo can aggressively slash game prices on sale and fix their hardware issues, I might buy it.
They are reportedly using hall effect sticks this time which cannot develop drift.
That's a welcome development!
Bullshit
The console will sell but not better than the switch 1, I think cause the world is in one crisis after the another and gaming is seen as a luxury by many. When they see is like the 1 but only has a 2 some would not jump over ship.
Gaming is a luxury but it is also an escape. Alcohol sells well in any economy. When the market goes up, you sell champagne to celebrate and when it goes down, you sell beer to forget. Nintendo is firmly positioned as "affordable gaming".
Don't want to go out and deal with other people? Stay inside and game.
Tired of kids screaming homophobic slurs at you in CoD? Now you know why Nintendo limits voice chat.
Can't afford to take your kids to Mario Land at Universal? Bring Mario Land into your living room (on the Switch 1).
When you see articles with "analysts say..." these days, it's often just a wordy rewrite of some guy's twitter post. Gotta be careful
Are there people that can afford stuff anymore?
I think the GB and DS Lineup was much more difficult.
I'm interested to see how it lands. My family have zero interest as they're happy with there switches, but as a techy person I'm really keen for the switch to get some much needed upgrades under the holds for the games progress sake. I suspect the first party launches that aren't available on OG switch will be the decoded for some.
Idiots. This isn't the Wii U, it'll be fine
If the graphics are a good enough upgrade I might pick one up. My current switch only gets used when a new Zelda game comes out (or I get nostalgic for some bowling)
I actually agree with the article, though I think it is premature. The Switch 2 trailer does nothing to attract normal people to buy the Switch 2. The trailer showed that the S2 is slightly larger, has a new JoyCon attachment, and implied that the graphics are better. None of that is a reason to throw away your Switch 1 and buy the Switch 2. Most people don't care about top of the line graphics and those that do know that a PC or PS5 Pro is the top of the line and a high end phone will beat the Switch 2 for portable power.
Normal people want to hear the story about what the system offers. The Wii sold video games that made you more active instead of less. The Switch offered the same gaming experience at home and on the go. Every generation of PlayStation sells on top end graphics in a plug-and-play box.
What will be the unique selling point of the Switch 2? Hopefully we will know after the April announcement.
If buyers can handle whatever X Box's naming convention is then I'm sure they can handle previous gaming console name plus one.
That's the neat part: they can't :^)
Gamestops during the Xbox Series launch were a mess, parents weren't sure which "Xbox" was the Xbox their kid wanted, and people ended up walking out of stores with Xbox One S boxes when they were asked for a Series S 🤣
To be fair, Microsoft's actively self-sabotaging marketing didn't help with their push to blend every model's identity together as "The Xbox" (even before last year's "This is an Xbox" campaign), so maybe it's not the fairest example lol
Xbox "Series" is the stupidest name for a mainstream game console since the WiiU. And the Xbox One is pretty dumb, too.
How do I look up games for the original Xbox? People used to call it the Xbox 1 when the 360 came out.
What about Xbox-exclusive games? Well, can't call them Xbox series anymore.
They cemented themselves as a permanent underdog after trying to keep up with Sony. It worked for the PS360 era, but it seems they've been getting lost ever since then.
People will probrally say "bigger number better" and blindly buy it even though it probrally wont offer much over the Switch 1.
I think with Nintendo's attack on emulators and stuff, I'm going to finally crack my OG switch (the unpatchable one) and rip all of my games and buy a Steamdeck, honestly. I heard emulation there is great, and I've already backed up all of the emulators since before they were taken down.
If the Switch 2 is backwards compatible and can play the OG switch games; then we know exactly WHY they started the crackdown - because likely the same methods as before will work just fine against the Switch 2 as well.
I won't pirate the games, but I don't think I'm gonna worry about my old switch being banned from their online network any longer either. Especially after they shut down the old DS network.
The Switch 2 is very likely to struggle, but this consultant's reasoning is dumb as fuck, and belittlies average gamers as 'normies'. His analysis of why it will struggle, and why the WiiU failed is off base. The average person doesn't look at the PS5 and PS4 and go "but why, they look the same.", they understand that its the updated version with imrpovements.
Nintendo is going to struggle due to:
- Handheld PC alternatives that outperform and have much larger game libraries for similar cost.
- Pissing off the emulation crowd
- Pissing off fans for fan project shutdowns
- Pissing off fans of Smash Bros Melee
- Joycon drift denial
- Stealing fan art.
- Failing to adapt to a rapidly changing gaming market.
- 500 other things.
If I were Nintendo, I'd be working quickly as possible to getting their virtual store available for Windows/Linux/Mac and developing a brand for the platform to feature games that reflected their consoles.
Those concerns are so super niche, I doubt they'll be a big problem for Nintendo. I know it may not seem that way, but handheld PCs are not a widespread product.
Yet. There is a ton of models coming out, some more shown army CES, and the SteamOS news shows the direction of what low end gaming laptops are going to become over the next 2-5 years.
As an indsutry insider, I there is lots of people discussing this and more studios and publishers starting to look into the cost/benefit analysis of getting Steamdeck Verified.
Bro like maybe 5 people care about anything you listed and 4 of them will still buy the switch 2
Yep. Hardly any of that registers as a blip on the mass market. People have been calling for Nintendo to give up on hardware and just make games for other platforms for decades. Then the DS line happened. And then the Wii. And then the Switch. Each one pushed the boundaries of what the gaming space could be, despite the spec nerds raging at the lack of horsepower.
Nintendo does a lot of shady shit, but once Sega exited the market they were the only true gaming company left in the console space. PlayStation? Xbox? Just a small part of larger corporate empires.
I'm fucking thrilled that Steam picked up on the hybrid format. Not everyone wants to screw around with maintaining a PC. I was in corporate IT for 25 years and want nothing to do with any of it anymore. Enormous PC game library, consolized experience, and a big push to Linux, all with the Deck? That's awesome from every angle. It's always good to have more options. And if they can sell a hundred million more units, Nintendo might start having a problem. Until then, I'm pretty sure they're just going to continue to print money.
Nintendo might struggle with a percentage of the hard-core gaming community for those reasons, but the general public does not care about (or is aware of) any of those things. Little Timmy and his parents have no fucking clue what a Yuzu is.
Your first point hit the mark, but boy did the rest drop off quick.