A Thinker in Space

I’m dropping this article today just in case this console is announced tonight (though I find that unlikely). My release pace as been a bit more aggressive than normal, but mostly because I wanted to get these out before tonight! Looking forward to a great show.

The Nintendo Switch’s successor is now on the horizon – Nintendo has been quite quiet lately, and I can’t imagine it is for lack of content in production. The Switch has been on the market for 7 years now, so we are already 1 year longer than the lifespan of the 3DS. We have already learned that the new console will have backwards compatibility with the Switch, a huge boon for those of use looking greedily at Nintendo’s future console while having invested a significant amount of time and money into games for the Nintendo Switch. The knowledge that the next console will be fully compatible with the staggeringly large number of games I own is a huge comfort, and I am looking forward to its release!

This article is purely speculative, and I am planning on giving predictions for the console and a wishlist of things that I want, some just because they would be nice, and some because they would be an instant selling point to the console. I will also include some discussions about the new console and its games.

This will be a pretty hefty article, but was a ton of fun to put together! I am a huge Nintendo fan (despite some of their mistakes over the years), and can’t wait to dive into the new console when it releases!

Prediction: January Announcement

We’ll start with the basics – when will we be hearing about the new console? We first officially heard about its release in May 2024, but discussion has been brewing for years. With the announcement that Switch games would be compatible with the new hardware, it became clear that this successor will likely be more similar to the Wii U or the 3DS than a brand new innovation in the console expanse. That being said, there are plenty of surprises Nintendo could pull out upon the release announcement of the console! My prediction is that we will finally see a Nintendo Direct confirming the existence of the “Switch 2” as it has been dubbed by the community, and will officially announce the name and show a promotional video for the console, with specs and information to follow. I think it likely that the new console is going to be released in Q3 or Q4 of 2025!

Wishlist: $300-$350 price range

This is a pipe dream (no pun intended), but I would be so happy if the new console is only $300-$350, comparable to the original Switch’s pricing. However, I’m not naïve – I know that we are likely looking at a $400-$500 price range instead. If the pricing is this expensive, I hope that Nintendo delivers one heck of a quality product, because it is going to be hard to justify spending that much money since I already have a Switch OLED that I am quite satisfied with.

Prediction: Joy-Con Compatibility

I don’t think this is a far-fetched prediction – I think there is a very good chance that the current Joy-Con controllers will either be fully or partially compatible with the new console. I have a feeling that visually this new console will look similar to the original Switch, and that the Joy-Cons will have new features, but that old Joy-Cons will still be able to be attached to the mobile console. I hope it is a given that current Joy-Cons will at least be wirelessly usable.

Wishlist: Return of the Miis

This is another pipe dream, but I would love to see Miis return in a big way with this new generation. With the significant updates to the Mii creator in the rerelease of Miitopia for the Switch, we have seen the potential for another set of Mii-driven games, and in a landscape where many companies are pivoting away from avatars it is the perfect time to dip into that nostalgia and bring back one of the most beloved Nintendo institutions! The Wii and the Wii U had such excellent Mii systems that were entertaining (including, of course, the well-beloved Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort), and bringing Miis into the 3DS was a solid choice that continued to expound upon the mechanic. With Miis all but extinguished in the Switch generation, their presence (or lack thereof) was quite noticeable. Having a dedicated Mii creator and some software that interacts with these once more would be a great selling point to millions of people who loved the Miis on the Wii!

Discussion: A New IP?

This is something Nintendo could definitely use in their next generation. Nintendo has had a lack of original IPs on the Switch, mostly capitalizing on their previous IPs with some fantastic games/launches. We’ve had some top-notch Mario games including what stands as the definitive Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros, some of the most well-regarded Zelda entries of all time, solid Fire Emblem games, Splatoon 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and plenty others. Nintendo tends to hover in its safe zone – it has some consistently very-well-selling IPs, and most original games for the Switch were in these IPs. It is time for a new major franchise to be born!  

Wishlist: DS Games on Nintendo Online

This is a tough one. DS games are probably the trickiest games to port to the Switch due to the two-screen setup of the system. However, this would be the next handheld to bring to Online! Some games are functional without two screens, but most rely on the feature, and would require full remasters to function without it. Putting the two screens horizontally is functional, but not optimal, as the top screen is usually much more important than the bottom screen in this generation. The optimal way to accomplish this would be to have an officially licensed Flip Grip for the new Switch, and have the DS games playable in vertical mode, something that was not utilized nearly enough in this current generation.

Prediction: GameCube Games on Nintendo Online

This is not a reach – I would be quite surprised if this didn’t happen in this new era. The hardware is certainly capable of running GameCube already, and this would be a huge selling point for a new console. The era of GameCube is deeply beloved and has some significant classics (such as Smash Melee, various Mario Parties, classic Animal Crossing, and the like). It seems like a natural next step for the Nintendo Online subscription, likely exclusive to the raised price.

Wishlist: Full (or Majority) Pokémon Library Available on Switch 2

This is a reach. But it would be amazing to see the Pokémon library return to full playability on a console. We have never truly had this – every console was missing something. But the Switch is capable of playing GB/GBA games already, and if NDS compatibility is brought in (and, possibly, rereleases of 3DS games), we could finally get all of the Pokémon games present in one place. This would certainly soften the blow of Pokémon Bank’s eventual downfall and the loss of online features on the 3DS.

Prediction: Mostly a Performance/Graphical Overhaul

This one is pretty simple – I don’t think we’re going to get too much innovation here. I think we’re just going to get a Switch, but more technically advanced. It will look a bit different for sure to distinguish itself from its predecessor, but for the most part, I think we can expect just a new Nintendo Switch, with the same visual enhancement as say the New 3DS.

Wishlist: Tomodachi Life 2!

This has been on my wishlist for the entire lifespan of the Switch. Tomodachi Life is such a weird game, but it was a ton of fun, and used Miis incredibly effectively. I’d even take a port at this point – I just want Tomodachi Life accessible on Switch!! A full-fledged sequel would be huge though, using all of the lessons Nintendo has learned about game design in this era to create something truly special. If you have never heard of Tomodachi Life, that makes sense – it was a bit obscure. It was released for the 3DS, and utilized Miis in a way no other game had – it gave them personalities and lives. It was a bit of an odd sims-like, where your Miis moved into houses, and you spent time interacting with them, decorating their rooms, and doing a bunch of other nonsense. Miis could also get married and have children, which was a wild concept honestly, but resulted in a fascinating combination of the characteristics of two Miis in their child.

Discussion: Super Smash Bros – What’s Next?

Super Smash Bros is in a weird place right now. This is debatably one of the most beloved Nintendo IPs ever released, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was everything most fans wanted out of the game. Bringing in every fighter from Smash Bros history was a fantastic choice, and it resulted in one of the best-selling games on the console and in Nintendo history. So that begs the question: what is next? How do you sell a new Smash Bros game now, with Ultimate having done exactly what the title implies – creating the definitive Smash Bros experience? New innovation is needed in order to push this franchise to its next level, but I am not sure what innovation would not simply look like Ultimate, but worse. On the other side of the coin, the hype for Smash Bros has all but dried up. In order to capitalize on the franchise, they need to breathe new life into it. In that sense, Smash Bros is a walking contradiction. It remains an enjoyable classic at parties, but sales have grinded to a standstill.

For now, I think it unlikely that we will be seeing another new Smash Bros in this generation, unless they significantly revitalize the franchise. The hype of the next Smash character was a lot of fun, and there were new announcements frequently. That has since dried up, and recent Directs have struggled to keep hype afloat for the console and its releases. It would be nice for them to have something like the Smash Bros hype to build up the new console, but I don’t think it can be Smash again – it simply would not build up the same excitement it did before.

Wishlist: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

This is another game I’ve hoped for since the Switch’s release. The Switch has the motion controls of the Wii, the portability of the DS/Gameboy Advance, and the specs of a PS3, and because of this was a natural progression from the Wii U. It also means that releasing a Nintendo Switch Resort would be completely natural. We haven’t seen Wuhu Island in ages, and it is about time for it to make a return (spoilers for my next wishlist item!), and Wii Sports Resort was one of the best games released for the Wii. Having another one would be fantastic, and would definitely sell well. However, with this should come the return of the Miis! One of the drawbacks from Switch Sports was the lack of the Miis that were iconic in Wii Sports (and, of course, the lack of games). I logged a ton of time in Resort when it was released, and I would love to continue that with a new Resort release.

Prediction: PS4/Xbox One Equivalent Specs

This is pretty simple – I don’t think that we’re going to get anywhere close to the PS5 or Series X with this generation. I think we’ll be seeing a console capable of playing games released for the PS4/Xbox One generation that the Switch currently cannot handle, but I don’t think we’ll be pushing too far past that barrier with this next release. With this, I believe we will also get an influx of new ports to the Switch of games that cannot function on the current system but would be able to work on its successor.

Wishlist: Return to Wuhu Island

Bring back Wuhu Island! In Switch Sports Resort, in another Pilotwings, or in any other capacity. This was such a fun setting, and was very relaxing to explore. I would love to see it return – the Switch’s identity is a bit lacking, and bringing back iconic features and locations from the Wii era, where there was definitely an identity to the console, would be a welcome change.

Prediction: New Kirby Announced as Launch Title

I’d put money on this. A new Kirby announcement is inevitable, and I think we will get a new Kirby game at the very beginning of the Switch 2’s life cycle. I would not be surprised if it was either a continuation or a sequel to Forgotten Land as well!

Wishlist: Folders on Launch

PLEASE. This was about the most frustrating part of the Nintendo Switch’s release – it did not have folders!! Neither did the PS5. I am hoping that we will be able to organize our games from the get-go, especially because so many people have insanely large Switch libraries after 7 years of collecting. Having organization systems on any console is the bare minimum, and I hope they will learn from their previous release and do this right!

Prediction: A New Fire Emblem Soon After Release

This is a pretty simple prediction – we had two Fire Emblem games on the Switch, so I don’t think it’s a reach to guess that there will be another one released early into the Switch 2’s lifespan.

Wishlist: A New Fire Emblem in the Style of Three Houses

I personally haven’t gotten around to playing this yet. I want to, very badly. It is right up my alley, as I have always been a Tactical RPG lover ever since my days playing Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on the GBA, and FFTA2 for the Nintendo DS. I have fallen in love with the Disgaea games and their intense depth, but am frustrated by the amount of fanservice in them. It sounds like Three Houses is probably just what I need, and I should really just pick it up and play through it. This game was incredibly well regarded, and though Fire Emblem Engage also received solid reviews, Three Houses was unique, with a social aspect and a whole new system of gameplay that complemented the Fire Emblem formula brilliantly. A sequel or game with a similar vibe from the franchise would be an excellent early title for the Switch 2!

Prediction: Metroid Prime 4 as a Launch Title

I am pretty confident in this one. I think Metroid Prime 4 is likely going to release on the Switch 2. It might get a Switch release as well, but it is possible that the reason this has been continuously delayed is that they needed the hardware to catch up to the software. That being said, we have a release window of “2025” for this game, and the Switch 2 is likely going to arrive Q2 or Q3 of 2025, so I think these releases will line up pretty cleanly.

Discussion: Competition with the Steam Deck

This is a huge point of discussion – how in the world will the Switch 2 continue to sell out the market when you have the Steam Deck, which is fully capable of playing a significant amount of current AAA games? When the Switch released, the market was devoid of solid handhelds in general (except the 3DS, also developed by Nintendo). Its innovation as a hybrid handheld/wired console was a huge gamechanger in the industry, and many believe that the Steam Deck simply did that, but better. Nintendo has used innovation to sell consoles for years, producing some of the most unique devices out there (the DS/3DS, Wii, Wii U, and Switch all being major innovators in the field). But if they are just updating the hardware and releasing a more powerful console, won’t consumers just go and buy a Steam Deck?

I am sure this conversation has been constantly in the room when developing this console, and I wonder what their answer will be. At the very least, their draw will be what it has always been – high quality exclusives. Make games people want to play, keep them off other systems, and consumers will come. I believe this is why Nintendo has been making such a huge crackdown on Switch emulation and piracy – if it becomes mainstream to get cracked Switch roms onto an emulator on the Steam Deck, Nintendo loses their biggest bargaining chip. The competition is going to be interesting to see, and it will determine whether the sequel console sells massive quantities (like the 3DS) or is a monetary flop (like the Wii U).

Wishlist: A New 3D Rayman Game

I have a soft spot for Rayman, a more obscure IP that isn’t often discussed. Rayman started as a 2D platformer, and had a sequel during the era of PS1/N64 – a 3D platformer. This was one of my favorite games as a kid, and it got one sequel: Rayman 3. Later on, two successful Rayman side scrollers were released: Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, but a new 3D Rayman game would be fabulous (as well as ports of the previous two 3D games – Rayman 2 has still never gotten a next-gen release). The copium I am using to hold to the fact that it might happen this next generation is the surprise inclusion of Rayman in Mario vs. Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. Despite the fact that Rabbids originally came from the Rayman franchise, it was still surprising to see the man himself appear as a 3D avatar once again!

Prediction: Switch 2 Lite at Launch (or shortly afterward)

I think this is another sure thing, though it might be in 2026. I think a Switch 2 Lite (similar to the Switch Lite – cheaper and unable to be hooked up to HDMI) is absolutely going to happen this generation, and that it will show up much sooner than the Switch Lite in the previous generation.

Wishlist: Social Features Similar to the 3DS/Wii U

I think I’ve made it beyond obvious that I would love the Switch 2 to return to some of the great aspects to the 3DS/Wii era. One thing this era was known for was well-developed and thought-out social features. I would love to see some of these return!

Prediction: No New Animal Crossing for a While

I don’t think we’ll get an Animal Crossing for a few years, but I do think there will be one in the Switch 2’s lifespan. I think that A. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was too recent for a new release, but also that B. New Horizons was such a success that a new release is inevitable in the Switch 2’s generation. New Horizons filled a very particular niche, and I think Nintendo knows that – it sold so incredibly well because it was a point of comfort during a very difficult time of isolation. A new game in this franchise needs to hit at exactly the right time – it needs to be soon enough that the hype for New Horizons is still relatively fresh but late enough that nostalgia has started to kick in. We’re getting there, but we aren’t there yet.

Wishlist: A Pokémon Hub Game

Oh man, this is a big one for me. I love Pokémon. It’s one of my favorite franchises of all time, and I have played nearly every game out there. Except for any game released on the Switch. Eventually, I intend to do a full article about Pokémon and the problems with the franchise at the moment, but suffice it to say that current Pokémon landscape is in a pretty bad situation. GameFreak has proven themselves to be greedily focused on turning over games for a profit rather than making quality content, shown by how lazy and slapped together the last two main generations have been. Growing up, one of the best parts of the Pokémon franchise was the ability to transfer from one generation to another. Transfer has been possible all the way from GBA to 3DS, and each of these games has built off the previous. Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun had every main feature introduced from the Gameboy all the way up to the last 3DS release. Then, Nintendo made the mind-boggling decision to scrap this tradition and get rid of the National Dex, and started to slack off in their games. Unfortunately, these games continue to make money, promoting GameFreak’s greedy decision to keep pumping out games.

What we need is a new Hub Game. A new game where I can put all my Pokémon, preferably with at least Mega Evolutions, and a satisfying postgame to play and develop. If they release this, I will go back and play all of the Pokémon games I have missed, because now I will have somewhere to go, somewhere to call home. This would make my year, and would be an insta-purchase for me. However, due to the current trend I find it incredibly unlikely that it will be released.

Prediction: A Mid Pokémon Game with Half the Content of Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby

Aaaand this is what I think will headline the console. We might get another Legends game first, but the next generation will likely continue to be like the previous ones. Mid and disappointing.

Wishlist: Professor Layton Switch Collection

Professor Layton is getting his first new game in quite some time, and it’s about time for a collection of original Layton games! If you are unfamiliar, these games are mystery games where you play as Professor Layton and his pal Luke Triton. They are peppered with excellent writing/narrative, and each of them are solid. After our collection of Pheonix Wright games for Switch (different studio, but often seen hand in hand with Layton because of their gameplay aspects and the fact that they received a solid crossover game), I am hoping this collection will not be far behind.

Plug: Deku Deals

I figured that it would be worthwhile to use this article to plug Deku Deals, which is possibly the best sale tracker for any console I have ever used. Deku Deals tracks Switch games and other consoles through a wishlist feature, and sends emails when they are on sale below a certain threshold. If you are looking for a great way to track game sales, look no further. This one is fantastic.

Wishlist: Surprise Me! Feature

Xbox has this feature, where it can randomly choose a game for you to play! I would love an equivalent feature to it on the Switch – I have so many Switch games that sometimes it becomes overwhelming to decide what to play. Having the console randomly pick for me would be great for times when I want to check out a new game but can’t decide what to play!

Prediction: At Least a Year of Dual Releases

I believe that we are going to get dual releases for a while between the Switch and the Switch 2 – games will release for both consoles, optimized for Switch 2 but not exclusive. There will be some exclusives, sure, but I think this will be the exception early in the console’s lifespan.

Wishlist: New Phoenix Wright Game!

I am so ready for this! After the shocking trickle of announcements porting every single Pheonix Wright game ever made (including 3 that had never been localized in English) for Switch, I think it’s safe to assume that another Phoenix Wright game is coming soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is announced next year, and releases late 2024. This would be a day 1 pickup for me – I love this franchise and would be incredibly excited to try it out.

Prediction: VR Integration

VR is not something I am super into as far as console integration goes. I have a Quest 2, which I love (see my article on Walkabout Golf), but I need to be careful which games I play on VR. I am vulnerable to motion sickness, and these can get me woozy if I am not careful. All that being said, I think it’s not a stretch to guess that the new Switch 2 will have some kind of VR integration. So far, only PlayStation from the Big 3 has dove into the VR industry. This prediction is more of a reach, but I do think it very possible that there will be some kind of VR component to the new console as an add-on!

Wishlist: Themes!

I cannot for the life of me figure out why themes were never a part of the Nintendo Switch. The console is optimized for them, and these can make a ton of money with very little effort. Why in the world didn’t they capitalize on this market rife for exploitation?? It would be great to see themes return to the next console.

Prediction: Mario Kart as a Launch Title

This is one of my longshot predictions, mostly because of how specific it is. But I am somehow super confident about this – the Switch 2 will release with Mario Kart as a launch title. It will be a new Mario Kart game, and will rebrand itself as just “Mario Kart” instead of Mario Kart 9, similar to Forza Motorsport. It has been 10 years since Mario Kart 8 released, and though the huge dump of DLC tracks was an awesome addition, we are far overdue for a fresh take on Mario Kart (not including Tour). Even if my prediction is incorrect, I am sure we will see a new one within the next year or so.

Wishlist: A New Super Mario 3D Platformer!

I’ll end this insanely long list with a final wishlist item – a new Super Mario 3D Platformer in the realm of Odyssey, Galaxy, Sunshine, and 64. It would be awesome to see a new game, instead of Odyssey 2, which I have a suspicion we will receive. I am sure it will be great, but I would love to see something fresh, new, and exciting, reinventing the 3D platformer style. This would be great as an early title or launch title for the new console, and I hope to see this in an early Direct next year!! That would be an amazing way to build hype for the new console.

Final Thoughts

The Switch 2 is full of potential right now. It is tough to tell where the cards will fall, but as a constant fan of Nintendo, it is likely that they will take my money and that I will be a proud owner of a new Switch 2 early in its release cycle. I hope it will be a worthy follow-up to the Nintendo Switch, which is one of my favorite consoles of all time, and that the content released will breathe new life into the Nintendo franchise. What is on your Switch 2 wishlist? What are your predictions? Are there any here that you agree with or disagree with? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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