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Despite a seemingly endless stream of hype for the Nintendo Switch 2's upcoming release, one key industry analyst has expressed worries about the new console, with key features that might dissuade buyers from forking out.
Having been rumored for years and subject to many frustrating leaks, Nintendo finally revealed the Switch's successor in January 2025, ending the excruciating wait for many gamers.
The Switch was a much needed return to form on the hardware front for Nintendo following the catastrophic release of the Wii U, yet one industry analyst has predicted that it's successor might provide the same flash in the pan success that's expected.
As reported by GameSpot, Joost Van Dreunen has outlined in an Aldora report that the backwards compatibility support and "relatively modest technical improvements" of the Switch 2 will likely lead to a "slower adoption curve" for the console.
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While Nintendo clearly think otherwise, having ramped up efforts to avoid stock issues in a 'genius plan', there is perhaps weight being Van Dreunen's claims.
While the allure of a more powerful machine will be more than enough to draw over many who have perhaps grown tired of the Switch's somewhat lacklustre performance, some might view the backwards compatibility of the new console as making it feel too similar.
Additionally, while there will definitely be performance enhancements - especially through the rumored inclusion of AI-powered upscaling software like Nvidia's DLSS technology - it won't be enough to convince some to make the jump, and will still likely fall behind the current lineup of PlayStation and Xbox consoles which themselves are approaching the end of their lifecycle.
Another key factor that could see sales initially underperform is the price, which while not officially confirmed by Nintendo at the moment is currently speculated to be between $400 and $500.
This would not only put it in direct competition with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, but also see it be between $100 and $200 more than the Switch's launch price, which could provide a roadblock for money conscious gamers.
There's still a lot that we don't yet know officially about the Switch 2 though, and hopefully we'll begin to learn more following the upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2.
The expected reveal of a new Mario Kart game will certainly get people excited - especially considering the re-release of Mario Kart 8 on Switch was the console's best-selling game by a considerable margin.
If one thing's guaranteed though it's that Nintendo have certainly learned their lesson when it comes to naming. Nobody will be confused about whether this is a follow up to the original Switch, which can't be said about the aforementioned Wii U.
