Nintendo Switch 2 Less Buzz and Issues with Other Game Makers Show a Rough Start
The big push for the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to be dying out fast, taken over by worries about slow sales, less interest from buyers, and a bad run of support from other game makers. The facts and how the market acts hint that the start of the console is not going well, making people question how long it will last and Nintendo's plan.
Slow Sales and the Fake Idea of Short Supply
Signs tell us demand is way down. Even though Japan's sale data is late due to a holiday, the last numbers show the worst week for the console. It's getting easier to find a Switch 2 in Japan, a change also seen in the U.S. since mid-July.
In the U.S., even with sales meant to hit 2 million, the truth is clear. Consoles now stay in stores for days, unlike the fast sellouts just weeks ago. With under 2.5 million units sold in a big market, demand seems filled. This worries everyone for a new console, more so when PS5 and Xbox keep high demand even with bigger sales numbers.
A Known Problem Other Game Makers Fall Short
The hope for strong third-party support for the Switch 2 is failing, a repeat of what happened with Switch 1. Recent big issues include:
- Madden: Started with many complaints about how it runs.
- Borderlands 2: Won't have split-screen play with friends.
- Call of Duty: After big talk from Microsoft, it now seems it won't hit the Switch 2 like other consoles.
These issues hurt the story that the Switch 2, as strong as a 2016 PS4 Pro, would change its ties with big game makers.
A Big Mix-Up Why the Switch 2 Is Not a Steam Deck
Both the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck are similar in price and form, but they are really different:
- System: The Steam Deck is an open PC. It runs PC games from a big, ready library without much change needed by the game maker. The Switch 2 is a closed system, needing a lot of work and money to move any game to it.
- Purpose: The Steam Deck does many things. The Switch 2 is just for gaming, under Nintendo's tight control.
- Value: A $450 Steam Deck is seen as a cheap way into PC gaming. A $450 Switch 2 is seen as a pricey single-use console.
Nintendo seems to use this mix-up in the market, pricing the Switch 2 to match handheld PCs while not making clear the big differences in value and openness. This has led to too-high hopes for third-party games.
It’s More About Bad Business, Not Just Bad Tech
In the end, other game makers think about money made, not just the tech. Moving a big game to the Switch 2 costs a lot. It means making a special version for buyers who often don't get such games. The work to move an Xbox game to the Switch 2 is much harder than adjusting a PC game to work on the Steam Deck.
As sales fall and consoles sit in stores, shops are likely to act first. Just as they have cut prices on Switch 1 games and gear to clear space, big deals and bundles for the Switch 2 might show up by Black Friday if this keeps up.
It’s not about online anger; the real issues with the Switch 2 come from Nintendo's own choices on price and how they set up in the market. By doing the same as with Switch 1 in a tougher, less new market, the company might see that this time, the magic might not happen.
