"Ex-PlayStation President: Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal Underwhelms"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his thoughts on the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, and his reaction was somewhat reserved. In an interview with Easy Allies, Yoshida expressed his views on the new console, highlighting a perceived shift in Nintendo's approach.

Yoshida noted that the Switch 2's reveal felt like a mixed message from Nintendo. He believes that Nintendo has traditionally been about creating innovative experiences by designing hardware and games in tandem. However, he sees the Switch 2 as simply an enhanced version of the original Switch, with a larger screen, a more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K capabilities, and 120 fps. He pointed out that even the presentation of the Switch 2 followed the format of other platforms, with a hardware specialist starting the stream.

"For me, they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something that [is an] amazing new experience," Yoshida remarked. "But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 fps, they even have a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is, you know, 'We made things better'. And that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

Yoshida acknowledged that for those who exclusively play on Nintendo hardware, the Switch 2 is a significant upgrade, offering access to games like Elden Ring that were previously unavailable. However, he felt that for gamers with access to other platforms, the excitement might be less pronounced.

He also commented on the reveal event itself, which drew millions of viewers. While many games showcased were ports from past generations, Yoshida was particularly impressed with "Enter the Gungeon 2," praising its announcement and presentation. He also lauded "Drag x Drive" for embodying the essence of Nintendo's unique approach to gaming.

Yoshida touched on the Switch 2's pricing, noting the differences between Japan and the rest of the world. He expressed a bit of disappointment, saying, "Anyway, with some of the things Nintendo is doing, with the camera or mouse controls, creating new experiences, that's great. But other than that, I was personally a bit disappointed, because they didn't disappoint everyone. Because everyone wanted that better Switch."

Despite his reservations, Yoshida recognized the Switch 2 as a smart business move, likely crafted by talented designers. He acknowledged the system's technical improvements but felt it played it safe in some aspects, potentially missing the innovative edge that Nintendo fans have come to expect. However, he noted that features like mouse controls hint at Nintendo's playful and creative spirit.

As the Switch 2 is set to launch globally on June 5, Yoshida's discussion also touched on pricing uncertainties in the U.S. due to new tariffs, which have led Nintendo to pause North American pre-orders. The company will need to resolve these issues swiftly to meet the upcoming launch date.