Obsolescence is a funny thing in gaming. Even when new consoles use technology that redefines the ways that games are made, there’s some devices and games that just never go out of style. A GameCube is a precious thing for lovers of Super Smash Bros. Melee, even if the console is nearly twenty years old. After all these years, that game still remains popular, and the GameCube controller even has support on the Nintendo Switch after all these years. In the wide scope of gaming history, some things never go away. However, in the narrower scope of a couple years, it’s a different story. When something innovative makes its debut, it can turn the industry on its head.
Both Microsoft and Sony have tried to do something along those lines. Now that the PS5 and the Xbox Series X are out, there just isn’t any game console that’s anywhere near as fast as these devices, as they were designed to quash load times and boot games up in a flash. In the narrow scope of the current generation, that creates a problem for the Switch. As unique as the Switch may be, it’s been around for a few years now, and there’s lots of ways that it just can’t keep up with next-gen consoles.
To be sure, the Switch made some real waves when it debuted. Up until that point, handheld gaming and console gaming were practically different worlds. It was unimaginable that a console could perform both at home and on the go, but Nintendo delivered a clever and reliable modular device like none other. In that sense, the Switch still sets itself apart. There’s nothing like it when it comes to its physical design, but its problems in the face of PS5s and Xboxes come from its internal hardware.
These new consoles want to be the death of load times. While developers are making games with them in mind, the Switch will still need a minute to load up high caliber games. As games start releasing on all three of the major current consoles, the recurring inconvenience may make some players feel more inclined to get games for something other than the Switch. What’s more, now that the industry standard is changing, game developers may feel burdened by the Switch’s limitations. Studios trying to make ambitious projects with demanding amounts of content will get more out of the PS5’s power than the Switch’s older hardware. Altogether, that could mean less blockbuster games on the Switch and less players on the Switch overall.
It’s impossible for Nintendo to recall millions of Switches and magically upgrade them all to rival the new Xbox and PlayStation. The more logical thing is that Nintendo will release a new console that’s a little more traditional and powerful. Rumors about a Nintendo Switch Pro have been swirling for a long time now. Even if the rumors are true, though, the old Switch would suffer for it. It would mean Nintendo is likely to abandon the modular, portable spirit of the original Switch in exchange for a pure home console with better hardware.
It’s hard to say how Nintendo can give the Switch a leg up short of replacing it. Of course, if the Switch Pro is real, it won’t stop supporting the original Switch on the spot. However, for a lot of next-gen games, the Switch Pro is just going to be the more optimal choice for a lot of players. Nintendo has had a rough, quiet year, but hopefully that means it’s sitting on a lot of exciting exclusive games for next year. After all, lightning fast loading or not, the PS5 won’t be offer Breath of the Wild 2. If the Switch Pro doesn’t come out anytime soon, it’s probably such exclusive that Nintendo will lean on to keep the Switch in competition for the rest of its lifetime. Eventually, Nintendo will upgrade somehow. It’s only a matter of when.
The Nintendo Switch Pro is rumored to be in development.
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