StarTopic Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (New Staff Post, Please read)

[YolkFolk]

It * Hidden text: cannot be quoted. *

What’s the source?

 

[MadMarvainy]

As contrarian as it sounds, I just want an actual console again. I've always found the handheld aspect of the switch clunky and awkward. It's great on the go, but when I'm home it remains firmly docked and I'm on my second playthrough of TOTK and I just keep thinking to myself, every time it's clipping or chugging during intense loads, just give us a stable frame rate. Maybe even make two versions of the next iteration. A beefier home console and a separate dock-able less powered version.

What does that have to do with the Switch being portable?

BoTW was a Wii U game that got ported to Switch, and the game had the same performance issues on Wii U.

 

[10k]

Please use Hide tags when discussing and replying to information in Hide tags.

I have no idea how.

 

[AshiodyneFX]

I don't know. the protocol is the same regardless of how much you're spending. build quality isn't exactly something one could measure when there's 50 billion other factors that play into how good a wireless signal is


a lot of commonly used bluetooth codecs are under license and Nintendo isn't going to spend for that if they don't have to. the new bluetooth version are supposed to improve latency at least, so maybe they'll get a new bt/wifi chip

AAC is open source

 

[Dakhil]

I have no idea how.

[ h i d e ]message[ / h i d e]

 

[10k]

[ h i d e ]message[ / h i d e]

 

[My Tulpa]

I can’t believe you’re still peddling this argument.

It would have been the case if we got a Pro 2-3 years ago but surely we’re looking at a proper next gen break? Of course, there will be some cross platform games but 99%? Not a chance and it won’t even be close to that in my view.

The goal with this hardware will be to sell as many units as they did the Switch and they won’t do that with 99% of their games on Switch 1 for years.

But there is no reason to not put every major Nintendo game on the current models for years. The new switch will be running a “Lite Switch” type rendering profile anyways.

Why does it make any less sense now than two years ago? I guess we will see, huh!

Do you think there is a possibility Nintendo will release this 4K Switch model and consider it a part of the Switch family of devices? Just a bit of a possibility?

 

[D36]

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[SmolSam]

I don't know why, but the name Super Nintendo Switch sounds pretty cool. I really hope that's the actual name of the Switch 2

 

[RennanNT]

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There is a button. On mobile, you click on the second ... button and in the second eye icon with a drop-down icon. Not sure how it is on PC, but is likely the last option before the undo.

It even has an option to hide from anyone who didn't reply on the thread even.

 

[My Tulpa]

I agree 99% of first party games being crossgen for 1 year is unlikely. The sports and party games will be crossgen, Metroid Prime 4, the Peach game,...

Why wouldn’t Switch Nintendo games released in 2025 also release on the 140 million consoles that will be out there?

I can’t think of any good reason why they wouldn’t.

Unless you are talking about some niche Nintendo game that wants to utilize the tensor cores for some unique AI gameplay rather than using it for what it’s designed to do…take a normal Switch game and use DLSS to output it at 4K at locked 60fps and push better graphical IQ.

Nothing else for 99% of Nintendo gaming will be fundamentally changed from the game design.

 

[AshiodyneFX]

 

[AshiodyneFX]

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[10k]

I don't know why, but the name Super Nintendo Switch sounds pretty cool. I really hope that's the actual name of the Switch 2

It’s Nintendo Switch Advance

 

[Νεφέλωμα]

Why wouldn’t Switch Nintendo games released in 2025 also release on the 140 million consoles that will be out there?

I can’t think of any good reason why they wouldn’t.

Unless you are talking about some niche Nintendo game that wants to utilize the tensor cores for some unique AI gameplay rather than using it for what it’s designed to do…take a normal Switch game and use DLSS to output it at 4K at locked 60fps and push better graphical IQ.

Nothing else for 99% of Nintendo gaming will be fundamentally changed from the game design.

To sell the new one.

 

[RennanNT]

Btw, the last button is a preview button, so everyone can test anything to their heart content, without actually posting the tests.

 

[D36]

There is a button. On mobile, you click on the second ... button and in the second eye icon with a drop-down icon. Not sure how it is on PC, but is likely the last option before the undo.

It even has an option to hide from anyone who didn't reply on the thread even.

 

[D36]

I don't know why, but the name Super Nintendo Switch sounds pretty cool. I really hope that's the actual name of the Switch 2

I think I prefer "Switch 2" for the sake of clarity. "Super Switch" is adequate, but it's still a little risky.

 

[grobla123]

99% is surely a big exaggeration? I'd still expect at least 1 or 2 big next gen exclusives (not cross gen) in the first year+, at the very least a few will be announced. Even PS5 had demon souls remake, and eventually Ratchet and Returnal, and Nintendo will probably want more exclusives 3 years in than that. I believe there will be a quite a looot of cross gen though. But no way will presentational grunt be the only difference between Switch and eventual Redrakted games. And not just AI, there will be speed, scale and scope that wouldn't be possible without ultra potato presentation or too much work to optimize on the old switch.

There is a part of me that would prefer if Ninty went with a home console again, mostly because it will either be either cheaper or more powerful, and I'm not getting much use out of handheld mode. But its not gonna happen, the handheld market is their bread and butter. And I'm happy enough with the switch format.

 

[D36]

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[My Tulpa]

To sell the new one.

Why does Nintendo care if you buy the 4K Switch vs the OLED Switch?

The services, the accounts, the library…it’s all shared. Nothing is changing. There is no motivation for Nintendo to focus on the Drake model in any special way different than they are now.

This isn’t the case of a gen breaking Xbox successor or a gen breaking PlayStation successor. Those console’s revenue rely primarily on AAA 3rd party gaming. And the engagement of that market is motivated by games utilizing newer and newer hardware to have better and better presentations. They are motivated in getting their userbase to move to the new system as quick as possible (so they can divert all services and development away from the last platform.)

This wouldn’t be a similar case to that.

I see nothing to suggest why this new hardware would require Nintendo to divert development or focus primarily on it. It’s actually designed to run the Switch games as they are currently developed and designed and to make them look/run much better

 

[SmolSam]

I think I prefer "Switch 2" for the sake of clarity. "Super Switch" is adequate, but it's still a little risky.

I know Nintendo will try to avoid another "Wii U" situation, but I think adding "Super" in the name makes it pretty clear that it's a better console than its predecessor, at least it's better than just an "U"

 

[TomNookYankees]

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[Νεφέλωμα]

Why does Nintendo care if you buy the 4K Switch vs the OLED Switch?

The services, the accounts, the library…it’s all shared. Nothing is changing. There is no motivation for Nintendo to focus on the Drake model in any special way different than they are now.

This isn’t the case of a gen breaking Xbox successor or a gen breaking PlayStation successor. Those console’s revenue rely primarily on AAA 3rd party gaming. And the engagement of that market is motivated by games utilizing newer and newer hardware to have better and better presentations. They are motivated in getting their userbase to move to the new system as quick as possible (so they can divert all services and development away from the last platform.)

This wouldn’t be a similar case to that.

I see nothing to suggest why this new hardware would require Nintendo to divert development or focus primarily on it. It’s actually designed to run the Switch games as they are currently developed and designed and to make them look/run much better

Consoles generations are not driven by graphics. They are driven by economic decissions that make sense to the company. Abandon old technology, adopt new technology (it may not reflect on graphics or even performance) and convince the people who already bought the previous console to buy another one at full price. The engagement of the matket is driven by games, period.

 

[Erika]

I know Nintendo will try to avoid another "Wii U" situation, but I think adding "Super" in the name makes it pretty clear that it's a better console than its predecessor, at least it's better than just an "U"

Yes. It is clear that “Super” is better than “U”.
But it is also clear that “2” is better than “Super”.

 

[My Tulpa]

99% is surely a big exaggeration? I'd still expect at least 1 or 2 big next gen exclusives (not cross gen) in the first year+, at the very least a few will be announced. Even PS5 had demon souls remake, and eventually Ratchet and Returnal, and Nintendo will probably want more exclusives 3 years in than that.

But why would Nintendo want that.

Sony is competing to be the main 3rd party gaming platform. Nintendo isn’t. Sony knows that the AAA multiplat gaming audience who care about bigger/better will buy the new hardware to do it. Sony is motivated to ensure the new hardware has a good selection of exclusives that the previous hardware didn’t to entice that market to choose their new platform than something else to play those games

Nintendo doesn’t have any motivation to ensure gamers looking for better graphics will choose Drake vs OLED. None.

Why would they care?

From what we know of the Drake SoC, I can’t think of any kind of game Nintendo could make, want to make, with it that couldn’t also have a version for the other 140 million consoles out there.

Of course, it will depend on how long the engagement of the current models are. But I expect it to be wayyyy longer than the ps4 engagement after the ps5 launched and the ps5 had “mostly” cross gen games for its first 3 years. I expect the Switch can last 5 years at least with engagement of these current models.

I believe there will be a quite a looot of cross gen though. But no way will presentational grunt be the only difference between Switch and eventual Redrakted games. And not just AI, there will be speed, scale and scope that wouldn't be possible without ultra potato presentation or too much work to optimize on the old switch.

We will see!

 

[LitKai]

I don't think they will even use "Switch" in the name. I like to call it Switch 2 but they will use a different name to make it clear that it is not another model but a new console.

Nintendo Swap

 

[Pacobob]

No

 

[karmitt]

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[D36]

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[ILikeFeet]

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I don't think this is realistic. tsmc has a lot of data on power consumption, as well as Nvidia having data and simulations on Ampere and Lovelace. even now, we see that Lovelace is very power efficient.

 

[SmolSam]

Yes. It is clear that “Super” is better than “U”.
But it is also clear that “2” is better than “Super”.

yeah, but Nintendo would never copy the way Sony names its consoles

 

[lemonfresh]

Honestly the more I hear of this and with the latest thread of the graphics being on par with last gen ps4/xb1 this sounds more and more like a switch pro rather than a true next gen console from nintendo. This just dawned on me today. And I feel like future games will run on base switch and it you want them slightly prettier and with more frames you get them on this new model Ala ps4 pro. But not a true next gen leap like ps4 to ps5

 

[D36]

yeah, but Nintendo would never copy the way Sony names its consoles

* Hidden text: cannot be quoted. *

I suppose that's the only real strike against the name. Though, I doubt it'll cause that much of a stink if Nintendo decides to go that route.

 

[AshiodyneFX]

Honestly the more I hear of this and with the latest thread of the graphics being on par with last gen ps4/xb1 this sounds more and more like a switch pro rather than a true next gen console from nintendo. This just dawned on me today. And I feel like future games will run on base switch and it you want them slightly prettier and with more frames you get them on this new model Ala ps4 pro. But not a true next gen leap like ps4 to ps5

Drake is at minimum a 6x leap over switch so it being a pro model is very much so impossible

 

[Νεφέλωμα]

Honestly the more I hear of this and with the latest thread of the graphics being on par with last gen ps4/xb1 this sounds more and more like a switch pro rather than a true next gen console from nintendo. This just dawned on me today. And I feel like future games will run on base switch and it you want them slightly prettier and with more frames you get them on this new model Ala ps4 pro. But not a true next gen leap like ps4 to ps5

I disagree. The jump from Switch to Switch 2 will be like the jump from PS3 to PS4 Pro

 

[D36]

I know before, there was a suggestion to name the successor "Nintendo Switch 2nd Generation", but I can't really jive with it. Maybe we can call it "Switch 2nd"? It sounds corny, but of Nintendo doesn't want to copy Sony, but also wants to communicate that this is the next step, this may be the second (heh) best thing.

All in favor, say "aye"!

 

[karmitt]

Honestly the more I hear of this and with the latest thread of the graphics being on par with last gen ps4/xb1 this sounds more and more like a switch pro rather than a true next gen console from nintendo. This just dawned on me today. And I feel like future games will run on base switch and it you want them slightly prettier and with more frames you get them on this new model Ala ps4 pro. But not a true next gen leap like ps4 to ps5

i don’t understand how you came to this conclusion. Like what were you expecting here? something closer to PS5 as a tiny handheld?

 

[eye0h]

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[lemonfresh]

Drake is at minimum a 6x leap over switch so it being a pro model is very much so impossible

So it's 6x more powerful yet its still rumored to be around ps4/xb1 In power, the og switch model was really weak then damn

 

[D36]

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[D36]

So it's 6x more powerful yet its still rumored to be around ps4/xb1 In power, the og switch model was really weak then damn

That's from Kotick, though. He's a CEO, not a developer or an engineer. Besides, there are nuances to the Switch 2nd's power that can be better explained by someone more tech savvy than I.

 

[AlexTheRecluse]

The storage aspect of switch 2 still puzzles me. Hearing that UE5 requires 500MB/s for asset streaming gives a good use case as to why.

I have no doubt that the internal storage will be able to run at those speeds, so that's not an issue, I do however doubt nintendo will provide more than 256GB of storage so other medium than internal will need to be used as game storage requirements grow.

With cartridges, I have no doubt Nintendo could get ROM storage running at those speeds if they wanted, so cost may be the only issue and it may be only certain games need those speeds so you have a special high speed cart for those instances. Don't see this as much of a barrier.

With regards external storage though, we have an issue. I could totally see UHS II Micro sd being used, they can hit 317MB/S which might be close enough, but still require files being swapped between internal and external storage which has two disadvantages. One, all the extra write cycles will reduce the life of both internal and external storage and two it's another extra level of management required for the software, defining what files are internal storage only.

The other big problem is that UHS II has barely been adopted and as such is in low supply and expensive, so getting hold of them at launch will be painful. There are alternatives in SD Express and UFS Card but they both practically appear to be dead standards. So no matter which option Nintendo goes for it will have to be the driving force for the adoption of that storage medium.

They could stick to standard SD but I think there could be a significant experience difference between internal and external.

Any of the solutions are all crap solutions.

Honestly this is my biggest concern with the new platform. Card storage is already a large issue, and file sizes will only continue to grow as asset fidelity increases. I really hate the trend of downloadable content for continuity purposes (as in once servers go offline in the future), so I really hope Nintendo has worked something out in this regard as the half-assed physical releases with download codes make me really upset as a consumer.

 

[ReddDreadtheLead]

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It’s a response to this:

Which didn’t really have anything to do with their tweet

 

[D36]

Honestly this is my biggest concern with the new platform. Card storage is already a large issue, and file sizes will only continue to grow as asset fidelity increases. I really hate the trend of downloadable content for continuity purposes (as in once servers go offline in the future), so I really hope Nintendo has worked something out in this regard as the half-assed physical releases with download codes make me really upset as a consumer.

I wonder if their compression capabilities extends to those carts, because that'd be really helpful for the future to come.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Honestly the more I hear of this and with the latest thread of the graphics being on par with last gen ps4/xb1 this sounds more and more like a switch pro rather than a true next gen console from nintendo. This just dawned on me today. And I feel like future games will run on base switch and it you want them slightly prettier and with more frames you get them on this new model Ala ps4 pro. But not a true next gen leap like ps4 to ps5

mobile limits a lot of what you can do. and do you really think a PS4 is a "switch pro"?

 

[AshiodyneFX]

So it's 6x more powerful yet its still rumored to be around ps4/xb1 In power, the og switch model was really weak then damn

"ps4 power" is honestly extremely meaningless,like that completely ignores all the HUGE jumps in GPU Features, CPU and how much you can do per computation and just focuses almost entirely on number of gpu computations per second, by this same logic switch docked in 2 PS3s btw, which switch very clealry far exceeds

 

[D36]

It’s a response to this:


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Which didn’t really have anything to do with their tweet

 

[AshiodyneFX]

It’s a response to this:


* Hidden text: cannot be quoted. *


Which didn’t really have anything to do with their tweet

 

[AlexTheRecluse]

I don't know why, but the name Super Nintendo Switch sounds pretty cool. I really hope that's the actual name of the Switch 2

I understand the desire for the Super Nintendo Switch, but I think Super Switch Entertainment System follows that naming convention more accurately. Super Switch, now you're playing with portable power!

Wonder what they're going to end up going with?