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Despite all of the negative/critical takes, I think the switch 2 looks great. The hardware improvements look nice. The top usb-port is a great addition with the

Despite all of the negative/critical takes, I think the switch 2 looks great. The hardware improvements look nice. The top usb-port is a great addition with the kickstand, so you can actually charge while you play (this was a bust with switch 1). I think the camera is also good. I actually really look forward to playing mario games with my nieces. And for those who don't want it, it's no extra cost. 120fps and 1080p w/ upscaling to 4k look good but ambitious. I wonder how much AI is used. The fans inside the dock are a clever way to maintain performance. Also, I have a lot of friends who casually stream games in discord, so the chat/sharing functionality seems aptly timed.

jsheard 2y ago
> 120fps and 1080p w/ upscaling to 4k look good but ambitious. I wonder how much AI is used. Given the hardware architecture it's probably safe to assume it supports a variant of DLSS. When that big Nvidia leak happened a few years ago there were even references to the Switches NVN API in the DLSS code. Speaking of 120hz, it's going to be embarrassing if Apple keeps making new 60hz devices even after Nintendo's famously conservative hardware moves to 120hz.
- galleywest200 2y ago
  They are using AI, they have a patented process apparently: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/03/17/updated-switch-2-document-suddenly-confirms-nintendos-ai-plans/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/03/17/updat...
minimaxir 2y ago
> I wonder how much AI is used. The trailer for GameChat shows audio background noise removal and image segmentation with the camera. I suspect modern AI is used everywhere even outside of games. For games, DLSS and other upscaling techniques are widely used and accepted, despite gamers' anonimosity for generative AI.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
alabastervlog 2y ago
Despite giving no shits about the new features (possible durability improvements aside) this'd be a month-one purchase for me (availability allowing), but the price is... bad. I'd been counting on buying this this year, like, nearly sure I would be, it was my one planned splurge in a year of uncertainty and belt-tightening, and still would be if we got the Japanese-version pricing, but this is gonna be a no.
- johnnyanmac 2y ago
  Wouldn't be surprised at all if Nintendo was getting ahead of tarriffs. Would also explain the region locking coming back for Switch 2.
philistine 2y ago
> The top usb-port is a great addition I hate that port, because they removed the USB-A ports from the dock in favour of this. This means their flagship camera needs to be plugged in every time you dock. It's classic Nintendo ridiculousness of one step forward, two steps back.
- numpad0 2y ago
  The dock seem to have two USB-A to the left, outside of the cover. No way the camera can't be plugged in there... I hope. Or maybe they're not expecting the camera to be all that popular.
  - philistine 2y ago
    Well the camera is USB-C so you're going to need an adapter.
- tym0 2y ago
  I also thought they had removed USB-A ports given how the camera is plugged in but there's still there at 4:39 in this video: https://youtu.be/9flte56erE8?si=GtulVntN9yMQemiM&t=279 https://youtu.be/9flte56erE8?si=GtulVntN9yMQemiM&t=279
- someuser2345 2y ago
  Eh, it was bad when Apple removed USB-A ports, but here, I don't really care; I have never once used them in the all years I owned the Switch.
johnnyanmac 2y ago
Haven't heard much complaints about the hardware. Seems like a good iterative evolution. even the $450 price point was somewhat expected. As always, it's the software pricing that makes everything absurd. They jumped straight to $80 in a mere 2-3 years for them after Tears of the Kingdom's $70. And Mario Kart hits further beyond with $90. I wonder how that will fare in this economy. Will consumers still take upon that because Mario?
- j1elo 2y ago
  $90 if you buy it, $80 if you ~rent~ ehm I mean "acquire" a temporary digital license. my point being: due to the risks assumed (someone can click a button and rob the product from you), the rights lost (cannot exchange games with your cousin), and the general lack of consumer protections on digital rentals aka. licenses, I'm a firm believer that their price should be 20 to 50% of what a proper physical copy costs; starting from the fact that you cannot spend $80 on a game, enjoy it, then resell it for $60 or so as we all ought to be able to do in all cases no matter what.
  - renata 2y ago
    Nintendo is going to be doing digital game lending now so that's an interesting addition. I'll probably still buy physical since the first-party games hold their value so well.
  - jamesgeck0 2y ago
    Physical cartridges are just as temporary as digital copies; unfortunately. This is starting to be a big deal with the 3DS. Nintendo doesn't use ROM; the carts start degrading after a decade or two. The console tries to automatically correct any data integrity errors, but if you aren't using them on a semi-regular basis they'll eventually fail. The 3DS homebrew community has built some tools to attempt to recover failing carts, but for long term ownership your best bet is digital copies that can be backed up. Homebrew that enables dumping carts is also good, but who knows when that'll happen for new consoles.

jsheard 2y ago

> 120fps and 1080p w/ upscaling to 4k look good but ambitious. I wonder how much AI is used. Given the hardware architecture it's probably safe to assume it supports a variant of DLSS. When that big Nvidia leak happened a few years ago there were even references to the Switches NVN API in the DLSS code. Speaking of 120hz, it's going to be embarrassing if Apple keeps making new 60hz devices even after Nintendo's famously conservative hardware moves to 120hz.

galleywest200 2y ago
They are using AI, they have a patented process apparently: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/03/17/updated-switch-2-document-suddenly-confirms-nintendos-ai-plans/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2025/03/17/updat...

minimaxir 2y ago

> I wonder how much AI is used. The trailer for GameChat shows audio background noise removal and image segmentation with the camera. I suspect modern AI is used everywhere even outside of games. For games, DLSS and other upscaling techniques are widely used and accepted, despite gamers' anonimosity for generative AI.

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

alabastervlog 2y ago

Despite giving no shits about the new features (possible durability improvements aside) this'd be a month-one purchase for me (availability allowing), but the price is... bad. I'd been counting on buying this this year, like, nearly sure I would be, it was my one planned splurge in a year of uncertainty and belt-tightening, and still would be if we got the Japanese-version pricing, but this is gonna be a no.

johnnyanmac 2y ago
Wouldn't be surprised at all if Nintendo was getting ahead of tarriffs. Would also explain the region locking coming back for Switch 2.

philistine 2y ago

> The top usb-port is a great addition I hate that port, because they removed the USB-A ports from the dock in favour of this. This means their flagship camera needs to be plugged in every time you dock. It's classic Nintendo ridiculousness of one step forward, two steps back.

numpad0 2y ago
The dock seem to have two USB-A to the left, outside of the cover. No way the camera can't be plugged in there... I hope. Or maybe they're not expecting the camera to be all that popular.
- philistine 2y ago
  Well the camera is USB-C so you're going to need an adapter.
tym0 2y ago
I also thought they had removed USB-A ports given how the camera is plugged in but there's still there at 4:39 in this video: https://youtu.be/9flte56erE8?si=GtulVntN9yMQemiM&t=279 https://youtu.be/9flte56erE8?si=GtulVntN9yMQemiM&t=279
someuser2345 2y ago
Eh, it was bad when Apple removed USB-A ports, but here, I don't really care; I have never once used them in the all years I owned the Switch.

johnnyanmac 2y ago

Haven't heard much complaints about the hardware. Seems like a good iterative evolution. even the $450 price point was somewhat expected. As always, it's the software pricing that makes everything absurd. They jumped straight to $80 in a mere 2-3 years for them after Tears of the Kingdom's $70. And Mario Kart hits further beyond with $90. I wonder how that will fare in this economy. Will consumers still take upon that because Mario?

j1elo 2y ago
$90 if you buy it, $80 if you ~rent~ ehm I mean "acquire" a temporary digital license. my point being: due to the risks assumed (someone can click a button and rob the product from you), the rights lost (cannot exchange games with your cousin), and the general lack of consumer protections on digital rentals aka. licenses, I'm a firm believer that their price should be 20 to 50% of what a proper physical copy costs; starting from the fact that you cannot spend $80 on a game, enjoy it, then resell it for $60 or so as we all ought to be able to do in all cases no matter what.
- renata 2y ago
  Nintendo is going to be doing digital game lending now so that's an interesting addition. I'll probably still buy physical since the first-party games hold their value so well.
- jamesgeck0 2y ago
  Physical cartridges are just as temporary as digital copies; unfortunately. This is starting to be a big deal with the 3DS. Nintendo doesn't use ROM; the carts start degrading after a decade or two. The console tries to automatically correct any data integrity errors, but if you aren't using them on a semi-regular basis they'll eventually fail. The 3DS homebrew community has built some tools to attempt to recover failing carts, but for long term ownership your best bet is digital copies that can be backed up. Homebrew that enables dumping carts is also good, but who knows when that'll happen for new consoles.