I won't bother you with stats for Steam accounts or concurrent users because it's absolutely massive. Like unbelievably huge, so I think it's fair to say that there's a market for this - absolutely no doubt in my mind.
Streaming is something that can be considered but the fact that Google Stadia fizzled out pretty quick, I literally know nobody who even signed up for that, so it could be an early indication of what people think about that. Sure, 5G may well end up taking care of all the issues that streaming had in the last couple of years but if Google couldn't sort it out, I'm not really sure who can.
I doubt Nintendo would jump on streaming because 1) It's too risky 2) Probably too expensive for them to implement & 3) Not Nintendo enough. So the fact that they've decided to launch an OLED version of an ageing piece of hardware like the Switch, tells me that the handheld market is worth milking from current users.
I see a 50/50 split on the point of Switch OLED. Obsessive fans will buy it but I'm not so sure about the casual user, who probably has a steam account. The Valve Deck suddenly seems like a very serious consideration if they're simply fed up with that lack of decent games and the choice on the Switch is pitiful in comparison to steam and any device that will let you play that on the move.
Hard to say at this point but Nintendo really need to up their game, if they really want to remain relevant in the handheld market because shots have been fired from Valve and it's suddenly invading what they probably thought was their market completely wrapped up. I'm not so sure now.
Remember, Nintendo ditched the console market because they simply couldn't compete with Sony or Microsoft in that hardware arena. Probably a smart move.
Steam Deck from Valve is here with superior specs in literally every way, so the question remains as to why anybody who currently owns a Switch, would want an OLED version?
@Seymour47: I would point out that the Valve Index, is one of the most innovative and solid VR headsets out there. In terms of quality and driving that particular technology forwards, it's at the top of the pile.
Valve, also happens to own the most profitable, secure and used software platform on the planet. It makes total sense for them to combine a portable PC and their Steam Library.
If Nintendo had something similar, they would have milked the shit out of it and there would have been no complaints whatsoever.
Selling this thing for 350 bucks with such ridiculously low specs and an OLED screen locked at 720p is tantamount to daylight robbery from Nintendo.
When you consider that Steam Deck base unit costs THE EXACT SAME amount but offers so much more in terms of power, features, modding capability and a massive library of games from day one.
Out of curiosity, is there anybody on these forums who absolutely must have the Switch OLED? Just curious.
The operative word being 'currently' Don't make it such a big deal.
When you consider the amount of games people currently own on their steam accounts or simply that vast amount of games available, this is an absolute no-brainer for your portable gaming. This is actually a really awesome piece of hardware.
@vfighter: Dude, you have a very narrow perspective on what this device will potentially do. This is a portable PC, linked directly to the biggest games library in existence - Steam.
Literally everyone on the planet has a steam account and that alone guarantees a massive interest & potential target audience.
On top of that, the capacity for modding is absolutely massive.
ecurl143's comments