Finally, there is a new Nintendo Switch model. Except… this is not what fans want.
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In classic Nintendo fashion, the release of a new model of its flagship game console is not a big deal. On a random Tuesday, descending unceremoniously without warning, Nintendo Switch OLED model It will be released on the same day as Metroid Fear on October 8th and will cost $350.
Although the Internet is full of rumors and speculation, including multiple leaks from the factory about the new Switch model with an OLED display, this is not the Switch Pro that is widely discussed. In fact, it is an updated version of the main Switch, with a better display, stand and base-nothing more.
It is so similar to the original Switch that it is still compatible with its base, in fact (a good thing)-but the biggest change is the screen. Now it’s OLED, which is the favorite format of many people on the first-generation PS Vita. It will be clearer and better-looking in handheld mode-this should pose a real challenge to Switch Lite as the best choice for mobile games.
Its bracket is wider and more adjustable, fixing one of the most undeniable nonsense elements in the original Switch. It has 64GB of internal storage space, improved onboard audio, and its new docking station design adds a LAN port, so you can truly enjoy wired online games without delay. These are big changes!
Do you know what it does not include? 4K playback, even docking. The OLED screen used for handheld playback is still a 720p display. This is largely because under the hood, this machine is the same: it has no additional computing power, no additional RAM, and no major technological changes beyond the ones listed above. As you know, it is a Switch, just…adjusted. This is plastic surgery. plastic surgery. shallow.
Many people have been complaining that this is not a 4K-enabled Switch Pro that is rumored on social media. I see. But listen to it: Switch doesn’t really need 4K. unnecessary.
One thing about Nintendo’s first-party library (which dominates the platform) is that it scales well and often looks good even when you plug in a 1080p monitor. Obviously, this is also painful-anyone who has ever simulated Wii U games knows how good Nintendo games look when you put more energy into them and render them at a higher native resolution- But this is not a real disappointment here.
The real killer is that the Switch OLED version is a more expensive variant of a machine with the same power…when the game has pushed the hardware to its limit.
The first game I thought of was Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity-a great game, but the biggest disaster is not the narrative in the title, but the frame rate. But, okay-those are Wushuang games, and they all run very badly. But then I thought about, for example, Xenoblade 2, whose sub-HD native resolution is constantly and painfully compelling, a nasty flaw in a wonderful version. If the Switch game is rendered at 1080p from the start, it won’t look so bad at 4K resolution on a large TV-but it is not. Usually, if they even reach 720p, you are lucky.
This is the version of Switch I really want. I admit that I do want an OLED screen-this will be a great boon for handheld games. But more important than some magical 4K upgrade solutions (which may be supported by Nvidia’s DLSS) or exclusive Switch Pro games, I’m more interested in getting more expensive and more powerful revisions, which will allow me to switch performance better.
Too many Switch games run poorly, despite how good they are when performance is set aside-although the revision will not solve this problem for millions of existing Switch users, it will at least provide some performance upgrade path issues , Such as the troublesome frame rate of the disaster era.
I am very excited about the OLED screen. I am happy to have extra storage space. If we can get rid of the pandemic blockade and travel again, the new bracket should be great. I really like the new smooth white appearance. But this machine is cruel to provide any performance improvement at a price of $50 higher than the cost of the Xbox Series S. This is not a perfect direct comparison, but for only $350, you can get an S series, a few months of Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and sync the controller to your phone to play xCloud streaming games anytime, anywhere. Your phone may also have a better screen. It is a good thing that Nintendo has such a powerful exclusive first-party gaming suite, and cloud solutions are still a long way from becoming mainstream.
Basically, it feels like changing a little bit as much-but the wrong way, the customer gets dumped. Although I hope it proves wrong when I do it myself, it is certainly not a must-have upgrade at this stage-but new Switch buyers who plan to use handheld devices heavily may consider using it for OLED screens alone. As I said, what’s really disappointing is that this update did not touch the biggest problem of the Switch at all. Forget 4K-how about making the game work well? Maybe the next revision, eh?
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