Nintendo Is Losing Its Identity With Switch 2, According to Yoshida

Shuhei Yoshida, a former Sony executive, has made headlines with his comments about the Switch 2. Speaking to Easy Allies, Yoshida stated that Nintendo has moved away from the concept of creating “new experiences” by thinking about hardware and game design together. According to him, the Switch 2 remains a model that only improves the existing one, even though it is equipped with features such as a larger screen, powerful processor and higher resolution.

Is the Switch 2 Just Better?

Yoshida describes Nintendo’s message as “mixed”. According to him, the Switch 2, although it comes with many new features in terms of hardware, is basically nothing more than a “better Switch”. In the interview, he stated that features such as 4K, 120fps support and an enlarged screen, as well as the fact that the introduction was started by a hardware engineer, show that Nintendo is starting to resemble other platforms. Yoshida argued that this contradicts Nintendo’s traditional “innovative identity”.

Yoshida also says that for players who only use Nintendo consoles, the hardware parity of the Switch 2 with other systems may be welcomed. However, he says that for passionate gamers who own more than one platform, the third-party games shown in the introduction are not very impressive. With these comments, Yoshida implies that although the Switch 2 excites some groups of gamers, it may not be enough to make a difference in the sector.

As stated in the source, Nintendo has taken similar steps in the past in the transitions from Game Boy to Game Boy Advance or from DS to 3DS. This shows that the company is not progressing entirely with innovation, but also with gradual upgrades from time to time. Features such as GameChat and mouse support brought by the Switch 2 are considered as small innovations that can differentiate this new model from other platforms.

Yoshida’s statements have started a new discussion on Nintendo’s long-standing “innovation” image. Even before the Switch 2 has been officially introduced, such criticisms also reveal how high the expectations are. There has been no response from Nintendo regarding these comments.

Read More: Half-Life 3 Comment Came From Inside Valve