Should Nintendo stick to one hybrid console, or go back to separate console and handheld models?

I think they should continue with hybrid for now, even if I only ever play in docked mode. Prefer to have all their games in one place, and it's not like I'd expect them to make a powerful stand alone console anyways.

I do just wish they offered a more powerful dock. BotW was the only 30fps game I (re)played this year, not even a steady 30, and felt like crap lol. It's the main reason I won't give Astral Chain a go. Again, not expecting a powerhouse, just something that runs Nintendos own exclusives at a steady 60.

Anyways, ultimately don't care which way they go, as long as they keep making good games.

@ConanTheStoner: I'm just speculating, but I have a feeling Bayonetta 3 is being held back so it can be a launch title for the Switch Pro lol. And hopefully games like Astral Chain will get bumped up to 60fps on the Pro so you can play it. Wishful thinking I guess lol. Maybe Nintendo will let AC go multiplat one day, but from what I read, it sold pretty decent. At least a million copies.

@SolidGame_basic:

Oh yeah, I've learned to be patient lol. Pretty rare for a game to be locked to one machine these days. Even if Astral Chain never goes full multiplat (probably won't), I do expect it to end up on some newer Nintendo hardware at some point.

Go 3rd party.

Wouldn’t be too bothered either way but as of now I think I’d prefer that they stick with the hybrid approach.

Shit, that's the dream. But pretty sure Nintendo would weather multiple "failures" in a row before throwing in the towel.

Could see them being the last man standing in terms of dedicated gaming hardware/exclusives.

Sucks.

Wish they made a switch lite console that was only playable thru the tv for $199. Should be easy to make without a screen.

Yea, I hope Nintendo doesn't eff it up lol. I feel like the Switch Pro / Switch 2 has a lot of potential. Just look at smart phones today, they're so powerful. Really makes you wonder what they'll do.

I like having all of their games in one place. Keep the hybrid.

I don't really care. I'm not planning on buying their next system. They've released all their staple IPs with the exception of Metroid (announced), Star Fox and F-Zero on the Switch in HD. There's zero reason to buy their next system. My kids are covered for the rest of their childhood.

Hybrid is the best way for Nintendo going forward. The design still makes me want to purchase most multiplats on Switch over more powerful hardware because of it.

Since the dedicated (or pure) handheld gaming market is going the way of VHS, and mobile gaming is here to stay (like it or not), Nintendo will more likely try to replicate the success of its Switch hybrid console with successors that are also hybrid consoles. I also expect that older handheld titles would be remade on the Switch's successors so that younger gamers would be familar with them. I believe that would be the future for Nintendo as a hardware company.

Gimme hybrid all the way. I think they did well with the Switch, and sales kinda confirm that...

Don't mind hybrid, I just want more games.

I guess I am in the minority but I would prefer they continue the handheld line as well as make a more powerful console. The hybrid just handicaps the console portion of the device. I don't ever undock my Switch so portability doesn't matter to me.

I think it's a winner and I wish PlayStation had done the same

This.

What they have going is good, but is very flawed. When on the go, the system can be weak, its not important. But when docked, it must be on par with ps5/x. If they achieve this, it will be a good system. As is, what is even the point of the dock? Its a piece of plastic that rarely even gets the games to 1080p. Completely pointless.

Nintendo could stick with one console, but a couple different versions of it. I would buy a switch for example, if it was strictly a TV console. Remove the battery, the touchscreen, and some other features, put it into a box I could hook up to a display and play with a regular controller and I'd have bought it. But I don't give a damn about Joycons, I cannot look down for long enough periods of time to get any actual use out of it as a handheld, and I just end up paying for a bunch of features I just don't want or cannot use on top of having to spend extra to get a real controller as well.

Likewise, as a handheld it's considerably larger, heavier, and less portable than any of Nintendos previous handheld consoles. You cannot put even a Switch Lite inside a pocket like you could a GBA or DS.

Jack of all trades, but a master of none of them.

And let's be honest. Few people give a shit about the Switch's ability to be used as both. People buy it for the exclusive titles. They buy it because they want to play Mario, Zelda, and Smash.

There’s a legendary partnership coming in 2021 that’s gonna #changethegame

This place is gonna be shook. I can’t wait

Definitely continue with hybrid... Switch is a fantastic gaming system. The flexibility it gives is incredibly unique. They'd be crazy not to continue with it.

Definitely hybrid, I simply cannot imagine Nintendo ever going back to 2 platforms so whatever they do they'll most likely only stay with one.

I like the hybrid idea, but...

When there was a console and a handheld, Nintendo pumpued out great game after great game. When there was a draught for their console, there were still great handheld games coming out.

Now that we have a hybrid, you'd think Nintendo would pump out game after game on Switch instead, but no. They just made less games altogether instead, making Switch having droughts.

If having a console and a handheld would make Nintendo make more games again, I'd rather see them doing that.

Can you calm down? They're building a theme park. Leave them alone.

And why bother making new games (and dare i say a new franchise, imagine that) when you can rehash old shit from generation(s) ago, barely put any effort into it (emulation lmao) and still sell like this incredible system everyone must own. They're printing money from doing absolutely nothing. Pretty gangster if you ask me.

Nintendo are making new franchises. Not sure why so many ignores that and only focus on Mario and Zelda claiming they never do new franchises. They are also very good at making both Mario and Zelda not feeling like rehashes, but you need to play the games to know that. Was 3D Allstars lazy? Yes. Don't really give a shit though.

And yes, they're printing money from doing nothing now, and that scares the hell out of me. The Nintendo we have known and loved since the 80's might be actually dying now because of this.

They aren't going to compete with sony on Sony's terms any more, so they might as well continue what's working. The Switch is what I said the Wii U should have been from the first moment. Yes it's a bit underpowered, but that doesn't hurt the average Nintendo game, and the rise of the indie game due to downloads has meant the library hasn't suffered. So I say stay with it.

I am curious, what are those new franchises? I know there's that squid thingy that looks like it was made for teenage girls (can't even recall the name ffs) and what else? If i am missing some, which i might, they're most likely small titles and not system sellers. I want to see new and big, not obscure little games. Eternal Darkness? Where's a sequel to that? If they don't want to make a new franchise, at least make a sequel to it.

I think they need to offer more options. the hybrid setup has worked fine for now but the problem is all of their eggs are in one basket. what happens if the switch 2 fails? what do they have to fall back on? Nintendos approach to gaming can be quite risky and there needs to be a backup in case something like the wiiu happens again.

I think they should certainly offer a hybrid option going foward. A lot of people like the flexibility. i just dont think it should be the only thing they offer.

a more 1 platform/many devices would make them more robust. many of their games are suitable for both big screen long sessions and short sessions on small screens so let the user choose what they want to play on. if they want to play advance wars on a 50" 4K telly then let them (just make sure the UI scales properly).

Don't really care, i mean the last console i bought from them was the N64, have no need for anything they make.

@hardwenzen: Yeah, the new shit they make is usually not big hitters like Mario. Obviously. I could make a list, but would be wasted energy on someone who doesn't really care.

Agreed about Eternal Darkness. Just ignoring it like Nintendo does should be a crime. It's not the only awesome IP they're currently ignoring either. Very frustrating.

Separate.

I think the hybrid concept is something that makes Nintendo stand-out from the other companies that has practical and lasting appeal, and it's something I think they should stick with and improve upon.

Keep it hybrid so I don't have to buy so much stuff :P

@Litchie: "Now that we have a hybrid, you'd think Nintendo would pump out game after game on Switch instead, but no. They just made less games altogether instead, making Switch having droughts."

100% this. Nintendo has been so disappointing with the switch.

Keep it hybrid.

I used to be for Sony doing another portable, but I'm content with them moving on at this point. I'm more interested to see if they go all in on PSVR 2. I do hope that Nintendo tries to expand the scope of the next system by supporting 3rd party games with better hardware.

Hybrid, because I like not having to have two separate Nintendo devices with divided first party support. Right now I doubt their next big hardware upgrade that's coming has less to do with beefing up Switch but figuring out how to cut Nvidia loose, and how to update existing games to run off an AMD APIs. Maybe that's gonna be put on hold for now as Nintendo is battling some pretty big lawsuits in multiple territories regarding the Joy-Con drift, and them pretending everything is fine is so awful I wonder if the issue could be crippling to address.

They hit it out the park with Switch, nobody wants a dedicated Nintendo home console if its not gonna get 3rd party support or capable hardware

I don't see them going back, unless they get bored. They made a hybrid, and it has the success of both combined.

Hybrid’s the way to go in my eyes.

why do people keep talking about switch pro like its a thing? The switch JUST released back in 2017. Compare that to the xbox one and the ps4 which were out back in 2012 or so.

@blaznwiipspman1:

Not speculating either way on Switch Pro. But PS4 Pro came almost exactly 3 years after PS4. XBX came out 4 years after XBO.

Wouldn't be some crazy thing to see a Switch Pro next year.

I would argue not when it comes to games. Be it third party or first, their is a clear difference between 3DS developed titles and Switch where they De facto take into account the handheld nature.

Critics ignoring it, because Nintendo doesn't mean their isn't in reality, bullshit.

Mainly talking about shit awful UI.

Untrue. People do not buy Nintendo consoles for the gimmicks, they've never bought them for third party titles.. at least, not since the N64. People buy Nintendo consoles for the exclusives, period. Nintendo owns the majority of the most successful IPs of all time. People would buy a microwave if the next Mario and Zelda were to be released on it.

so we get a switch pro, then the real successor to the switch in 2024?

Your guess is as good as mine man. Could pan out like that.

All I'm saying is that Switch Pro speculation isn't unrealistic at this point.

Nintendo proved for 3 console generations that it can't support two consoles simultaneously. The Switch has seen more consistent releases than any console Nintendo has had since the Super Nintendo.

Whether it's a handheld hybrid or nixing handheld altogether, Nintendo needs to have one console to support.