Nintendo’s OLED Switch is the right move, and not just for you

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“I need a TLDR,” a friend wrote to me a month ago. Should I wait to buy a Nintendo Switch?

It’s not a player, but even though I haven’t picked up a console in years, I’ve known an updated Switch is in the works. Wanting to get a birthday surprise for her boyfriend, she did some searching on Google and came across rumors about Nintendo’s best kept secrets. I told her the new model might be called Switch Pro, might support 4K and might be worth the wait.

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not like that. The new model does not support 4K resolution and is not called the Switch Pro. In fact, I do not know what it is called. OLED switch? Switch with OLED? Regardless, as the name suggests – whatever it is – its main improvement is the OLED display.

It’ll be 0.8 inches larger than the Switch’s regular 6.2-inch screen, with deeper blacks and better contrast. Other features promoted include an improved kickstand and “improved audio”. In other words, it is nothing but a generational leap. These modest improvements come with a modest price hike. The Switch Deluxe launches at $350 on October 8, just $50 more than the Non OLED Switch.

This seems fair, but the reaction online hasn’t been kind. This is because, like me, most people seem to expect more. The upgraded Nintendo Switch was first reported by Bloomberg about 11 months ago — long enough for fantasies to blossom and expectations soar.

And those inflated expectations are the problem here – not the new and slightly improved switch. If it was a surprise announcement, players would have faced the new version with “fair enough”. Just against hopes of major hardware improvements, and current owners’ desire for a good reason to upgrade, the reaction becomes “Nintendo destroyed everything again!”

Don’t get me wrong. If I had gotten my way, Nintendo would have announced the Switch Pro with 4K resolution, a new graphics chip and better battery life. I’ll also fix the constant drift issues with the controller’s Joy-Cons, and their lack of native Bluetooth support – which is absurd at this point. But with the Nintendo SWOLED, Nintendo isn’t trying to get the dollar. There are millions of people who are interested in 4K gaming, but there are billions who play games that don’t.

Nintendo after that second set.

Half life of the Nintendo Switch

The NintendOLED Switch makes sense for a number of reasons.

First, Nintendo hasn’t yet taken an interest in the Switch 2 or anything like a next-gen console. We’re in the middle of the Switch’s lifecycle, Doug Bowser, the humorous president of Nintendo America, told Polygon in December. As the Switch sold more units each year — 15 million in fiscal 2017, 17 million in 2018, 20 million in 2019, and 26 million in 2020 — Nintendo rightly sees it doesn’t need to do anything drastic with console hardware. . A gentle nudge, such as a larger, clearer view, should keep the money flowing.

This is the company’s business style. Remember 3DS XL, DS Lite and Game Boy Advance SP? Of course you do! They were wonderful. But don’t forget the 2DS, 2DS XL, DSi, DSi XL, backlit Game Boy Advance SP and Game Boy Advance Micro – which Nintendo released about a year after the original DS.

“Extend Lifespan with Iterative Models” isn’t catchy, but it’s the name of the game.

Like all of the refurbished models mentioned above, the OLED Switch has two goals. It caters to die-hard fans, numbering in the millions, who flock to buy any new console from Nintendo. Second, and most importantly, it provides an additional option for people who haven’t purchased a Switch yet.

The console has sold more than 84 million units since 2017, about 16 million shy of becoming Nintendo’s best-selling home console of all time. But the company isn’t ditching the barrel for more buys, as there are hundreds of millions of potential sales yet to materialize, and those are the ones Nintendo is attracting by adding to the Switch lineup. It’s a boost for those who have remained on the sidelines since 2017, or those who have rekindled their love of gaming during the pandemic. It’ll also help increase the hype for Metroid Dread, which launches on the same day, as well as Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Very disappointing with the new Nintendo Switch OLED specs and the lack of improvements. Does anyone know where I can pre-order?

– Goldie (@GoldGloveTV) July 6, 2021

I could be a fan here, but I’m pretty ready to grab an OLED Nintendo Switch. The current key is from launch day 2017. He’s beaten to death by all of the Super Smash Bros. mills. Ultimate. I don’t just want the white Joy-Cons, they launch the week of my birthday! pic.twitter.com/Zhrf1BkBJR

– Dan’s Nintendo Feed (@TheNintendoFeed) July 8, 2021

Over 3 Million YouTube Views Already for Switch OLED, 156K Likes, 91% Like Rate, #1 Likes All Day

Although this is not well received in the die-hard gaming community, there seems to be a lot of positive vibes and interest among the general public pic.twitter.com/VzxS9hzPsZ

– Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) July 7, 2021

The company’s calculations go as follows: Switch OLED + Metroid Dead x holiday sales multiplier = Merry Christmas for Nintendo. I think the math will come true.

Nintendo has always had access to technical prowess, which is why the Wii, DS, and 3DS have all been so successful. I suspect Nintendo will eventually create a 4K capable console when they can do so cheaply enough to sell for less than $400 – at which time Sony and Microsoft will already be in 8K.

It’s not a bad strategy. When my friend texted me for Switch advice — something she’s unlikely to do again — I decided not to wait to buy a newer, more powerful Switch.

“Do you have a 4K TV? Does he care about 4K graphics?” I asked. She replied, “We do.”

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