this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2025
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Analysts predict Switch 2 might struggle with attracting mainstream buyers for the same reason Wii U failed: "I can imagine 'normies' being a bit confused" (www.gamesradar.com)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Nintendo's Switch 2 reveal felt like a lightning bolt delivered straight from Zeus himself for everyone except, well, most people. In fact, since the console – which fans have spent years clamoring for – looks so much like its predecessor, some analysts predict it'll have trouble appealing to a general audience.

"I can imagine 'normies' being a bit confused," gaming industry consultant Serkan Toto tells GamesRadar+. "The device is bigger than the original Switch, but not comically large. The form factor, button layout, and overall design are very similar to Switch 1, so I can imagine issues arising when potential mainstream buyers look at the new device."

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (7 children)

Some analysts are morons. The reason the Wii U failed was because it wasn’t clear that it was a successor console, and not just a weird add-on.

People have been conditioned to understand numerical console increases for over two decades now thanks to the PlayStation.

Edit: As an aside, are there any console manufacturers besides Sony who have had sequential model numbers consistently? I’ve been mulling this under the last couple of hours and nothing comes to mind!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

The reason the Wii U failed wasn't because of its name. Sure, it didn't help the slightest but Nintendo's console iterations have struggled in the past because they hardly bring anything new. The Wii U brought literally just a gamepad (and stronger hardware, though marketing focused on the gamepad). Why pay so much for an incremental upgrade? The same fate nearly occured to the 3DS:

The Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan on February 26, 2011, and worldwide beginning the next month.[10][11] Less than six months after launch, Nintendo announced a significant price reduction from US$249.99 to US$169.99 amid disappointing launch sales.

After all, why pay money just for a 3D effect? Without continued support and selling at a loss, the 3DS would have bombed.

By the way, the Xbox One - despite its similary stupid name - never faced the same issues as the Wii U because people actually wanted it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

Windows 7 8 9(lol) 10 11

Mac OS 7 8 9 X 11 12 13 14 15

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If gamers can navigate Xbox -> Xbox 360 -> Xbox One -> Xbox X -> Xbox S, I think they can figure out Switch 2.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Heh, glad you mentioned Xbox - they’re a perfect example of consistent inconsistency! 🤣

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

Even if they don't buy consoles, it's how most thing works, phones are an obvious example. iPhone 14 comes after iPhone 13, but iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are just versions of 14.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can verify that. I am a video game fan, though don’t always follow everything that closely. I remember seeing Wii U for sale and not really understanding what it was. It seemed like just a Wii with a weird controller.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I had a coworker who was convinced that the whole thing was a scam. That it was just an upgraded Wii with a weird controller. So he went out and got a secondhand Wii U console. Just the console. Gave it to his kids for Xmas. Got mad when it didn't work. Eventually got a gamepad (and maybe the power brick? I don't remember if it's cross compatible) and ended up spending more than buying it new.

I'm pretty sure even he can follow Switch -> Switch 2.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

I find myself feeling bad for a lot of people's kids and the ones in this story are no exception.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

I can see people buying used without a dock and getting mad the old one won’t work. But then there’s usb-c so you can at least charge I for handheld;)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

People have been conditioned to understand numerical console increases for over two decades now thanks to the PlayStation.

And they even managed to do it while Microsoft counted to potato.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 day ago

Also the touch component and motion controls were something of a turnoff for adults who bought previous generations.