I hope Nintendo doesn't repeat its biggest mistake with the Switch 2

TechGamingGaming ConsolesI hope Nintendo doesn’t repeat its biggest mistake with the Switch 2Is sticking with the Switch name going to be the right move?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Is sticking with the Switch name going to be the right move?

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NIntendo Switch on a table with popcorn

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It’s been over 7-and-a-half years sinceNintendo launched the original Switch console. I can hardly believe it’s been so long, but there have been a bunch of hardware launches since too – from theSwitch Liteto theSwitch OLEDupgrade. And some incredible, captivating games too, of course.

But in the wake of manySwitch 2 rumours, it’s seemingly time for Nintendo to drop its next-gen console to the world. I’m certainly ready for one this year. But it did get me thinking: I hope Nintendo doesn’t make a repeat of its biggest mistake – which, in my opinion, comes down to naming.

Image1of4(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo )

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(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo)(Image credit: Nintendo )

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo GameCube

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Wii

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Wii U

(Image credit: Nintendo )

Nintendo Switch OLED review

But Nintendo had a huge about-turn success when, in 2006, it revealed the original Wii to the world. A console that defied the odds and, after selling more than 101 million units worldwide, put Nintendo firmly on the map as a family favourite. It was a company doing things differently – and lifelong fans and newcomers alike, whether younger, older or families, were drawn to the Wii’s unique controls and first-party games.

But then it all went wrong. In 2012 the Wii U launched and, still to this day, I think it was Nintendo’s biggest mistake – not because it was actually a bad console, but because its name was confusing. Having pulled the less-gaming-savvy families on board en masse with the Wii, the Wii U, for many would-be buyers, simply sounded like an accessory for the original Wii in my opinion. It was a marketing failure – and a financial flop too.

So that’s got me wondering about the would-be Nintendo Switch 2. Is that name the right call? The various leaks online seem to point to a console that looks altogether similar to the original, and with earlier rumours ofthe Switch Pronever coming to light, is Nintendo running the risk of its next-gen hardware failing to reach its full audience potential?

Image1of2Alleged Nintendo Switch 2 hardware(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)

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Alleged Nintendo Switch 2 hardware(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)

Alleged Nintendo Switch 2 hardware(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)

Nintendo Switch 2 leak

(Image credit: MisterSheeple / Reddit)

Nintendo Switch 2 leak

Sure, it’s obvious to the whole world that Sony PlayStation’s sequential console numbering convention has been a great success for the gaming giant. Granted, there’s never been a ‘PlayStation U’ to disrupt things, Nintendo-style. So perhaps slapping a ‘2’ on the next Nintendo Switch’s box will be enough to convince the masses.

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I certainly hope so, because I think the Nintendo Switch has reached its limit – it’s a fantastic console that, like the Wii years before it, changed the world of gaming immeasurably. But we need new hardware and graphical potential to allow Nintendo’s forthcoming games to flourish in this day and age.

I’m sure a Switch 2 will absolutely deliver that – I’m just hoping its name choice is wise and the would-be buyers are equally as wise in understanding its position as a brand new platform.

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