The Nintendo Switch 2 is the hottest topic in gaming right now. After an impressive, jam-packed one-hour Nintendo Direct live stream that showcased the new console and many games coming to the catalog, fans are understandably excited. The new Nintendo Switch 2 is maintaining everything that made the original great, while adding new features that will only improve the gamer experience on their device. The games themselves look crisper, with graphics that may not compete with the Xbox or PlayStation, but certainly close the gap.
Developers have taken notice, and many high-performance titles will be coming to the Switch 2, including Elden Ring, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and Cyberpunk 2077, among others. When paired with so many Nintendo exclusive franchises such as Zelda, Mario, and Kirby, the Switch 2 is already gearing up to be one of the best consoles to date. The hype is legitimate.
Nintendo Reveals The Switch 2 Was Almost Something Else
The name, Nintendo Switch 2, makes the most sense and is the best way to market the system. The console is clearly a successor to the original Switch, and with the popularity of that device, leaning into the marketing makes a lot of sense. The name was rumored for a long time, and those in the gaming industry started referring to it as the Switch 2 well before the official system was even announced. However, Producer Kouichi Kawamoto revealed that the team had actually bounced a separate name around instead, as an homage to a classic.
Originally, the system was going to be called the Super Nintendo Switch, matching the name of some of the games that have come out (e.g., Super Mario Party Jamboree). The idea behind this naming convention was a nod to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System when it upgraded from the Nintendo Entertainment System. What was the reason they ultimately abandoned the concept? Yoshida claims the team felt the naming would make no sense, since the Switch 2 has backwards compatibility and the Super Nintendo did not.
Final Thoughts
The decision makes sense. It is clear that Nintendo wants to make a clear connection between the Switch and the Switch 2. I am not sure the backwards compatibility argument makes complete sense since “Super” just refers to an enhanced version, not a completely new system. However, Nintendo chose to stick with what makes the most logical sense, and that is respectable. For a company known for trying to constantly reinvent the wheel, it is nice to see they can also stay back in their wheel house and simply produce an improvement on a well loved system.
