It's Time To Lower Your Expectations For Nintendo Switch 2
Despite the lack of any official announcement, the Nintendo Switch 2 has had countless potential leaks and rumors circulating over its development. While most of these potential leaks turned out to be false or more akin to fan concepts than anything, 2025 might finally be the year that the highly anticipated console finally releases, given the rapid rise of reputable rumors. The new year has plenty of exciting potential for a new Nintendo console, but the lengthy wait has led player expectations to skyrocket into dangerously unachievable territory.
With the Switch OLED acting as a pseudo-successor to the Nintendo Switch after a four-year wait, the next console leap might even aim for a more transformative experience than an uninspired hardware upgrade. Even with Nintendo's track record of experimenting with new console gimmicks each generation, though, it's hard to imagine a new console style that could improve upon the Switch without losing some of its competitive edge. Regardless of which form the Switch 2 ends up taking, expectations have snowballed over the years to create unrealistic expectations from the monolithic gaming company.
Switch 2 Hardware Leaks Are Already Disappointing Fans - But Should They?
The Switch Was Never Intended As An All-In-One Powerhouse
While each of the countless Switch 2 leaks over the years should be taken with an equal grain of salt, the most recent one showing off a potential motherboard for the upcoming device has some promising potential. While the leak merely contained images rather than any solid component descriptions, the Switch 2is speculated to have technology from 2018 that's similar to but somewhat weaker than a PlayStation 4. While this news has caused excitement among many fans, others like CentroLeaks on X have expressed their disappointment at the lack of power for the handheld console.
Centro Leaks wasn't the only user upset over the news either, as many fans were frustrated over the idea that the Switch 2 will continue to lag further behind the modern performance standards of Xbox or PlayStation. While it's understandable to want more from Nintendo given the Switch's overwhelming popularity and massive amount of potential for high-quality games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey, the Switch was never meant to be an all-in-one gaming device.
Rather than achieving ground-breaking fidelity and performance, Nintendo games have long striven towards gameplay above anything else. From the DS and Wii onward, Nintendo has chosen to focus on unique points of appeal rather than graphical fidelity, with first-party games not requiring much more than the simple hardware specs offered by the family-focused consoles.
Nintendo Isn't Trying To Compete With Current-Gen Hardware
A Focus On Providing A Budget-Friendly Gaming Platform
There are already plenty of alternatives on the market for fans who want a triple-A gaming experience on the go, with the Steam Deck, ASUS Ally, Razer Edge, and numerous other competitors providing a wide variety of options to choose from. While the Switch 2 could still offer a significant performance improvement over its predecessor, it's still likely to disappoint many fans hoping for the power of a traditional console like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series S|X.
Given that nearly every leak so far has shown a similar concept to the Nintendo Switch with more accessory options, it's more likely the Switch 2 will focus on the addition of unique features rather than competitive hardware. Thankfully for fans, the comparatively lesser performance should be reflected in the price of the Switch 2, as it aims to be a more budget-friendly option compared to the higher ambition of more PC-style gaming handhelds.
Regardless of the Switch 2's technical performance, fans can expect plenty of exciting new titles to add to the Nintendo Hall of Fame, with a launch title campaign being the best way to unveil and generate excitement for the new console. With the increase in leaks possibly leading up to an announcement in early 2025, it's likely a safer bet to patiently wait until official information is revealed closer to the Nintendo Switch 2's inevitable release to avoid potential disappointment.
Source: ControLeaks/X

- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- March 3, 2017
- Hardware Versions
- Nintendo Switch
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $299.99
- Weight
- .71 lbs