Nintendo Switch 2 with TV

Is Nintendo Returning to Its Portable Roots with the Switch 2?

ByMollie Dominy

We’re going to talk about the Nintendo Switch 2—and how the Nintendo company might be going back to its roots when it comes to portable gaming systems.

Just the other day, someone posted a U.S. Patent Office application for a new electronic device that looks suspiciously familiar and from a certain company. What we can see in some of the images may give us an indication of what to expect from a possible second generation of the Nintendo Switch 2. So let’s break it down with just a couple of images. But all in all, this is speculation—not confirmed fact—so take it with a grain of salt.

Dual-Screen Nostalgia?

One notable drawing shows what looks like the new iteration of the Nintendo Switch 2—currently being called the “second screen.” It appears to be two devices in one. The screens are stacked on top of each other and connected by an internal mechanism, possibly magnets, that can seemingly be detached with the press of a button, if users so choose.

This harkens back to a time when Nintendo had its DS moments. Quite honestly, that’s what went through our minds when the image was first shown. From the image, you can see that there are two screens, as mentioned, but each screen has its own set of triggers and buttons for active gameplay—potentially allowing multiple users to play on one system.

Some gamers may worry about the buttons being too close together, but from the images shown, there’s a possibility they’ll be situated in such a way that it won’t impact gameplay—whether solo or co-op. It reminds gamers of the DS, especially with its unfolding function. The difference here is the inner component that can release the two screens from each other for individual use in a co-op play session.

Echoes of the Game Boy Era

So how does this honestly connect to the functionalities of Nintendo past?

We all remember how, with the Game Boy Color, you could battle friends in Pokémon games—as long as you had the right connections. If this new system comes to life, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to battle it out with your buddies without lag. However, in the age of high-speed internet, unless you’ve got a bad connection, latency generally isn’t a problem but there’s a chance that more can be learned in the future.

Again, this is speculation based on the images shown in the patent application. But what we can speculate is that the use case will include:

  • Single-screen mode for solo play
  • Dual-screen mode for multitasking gameplay (which honestly sounds pretty cool and reminds us of the DS—can we get the Professor Layton mystery game fans up in here?)
  • Split mode where two users can operate the separate devices wirelessly

If you remember correctly, the DS’s top portion was for viewing storylines and cutscenes, while the bottom part was for active gameplay. This new concept seems to echo that design philosophy.

What to Expect

Both devices will probably have all the bells and whistles that come with being a Nintendo Switch 2 device. So there shouldn’t be any difference between the two screens when it comes to quality, mechanical use, or functionality.

We’ve all been waiting for a little hint that Nintendo was working on a second generation of the Switch 2. With the launch of the current device, there have been some issues—namely overheating in extreme weather conditions and the pricing, which currently sits at $500.

But this new system is bringing back the nostalgia of the DS and Game Boy Color days. We’re excitedly waiting to see if any of this comes to fruition in the future.

 

Mollie is a site manager and article writer for Total Apex Gaming. She's loved playing and talking about games since she played her first game, Mortal Kombat, much to the dismay of those around her. She loves all forms of video games and uses her research skills to find out about every game she sees so that fangirling can commence

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