Now that January is over and all that financial planning and paying off tax bills is done and dusted, I was moving my miniscule cash savings around and the banking pot titled 'PS5 Pro' just got a rude awakening. Despite my T3 colleague recently finding a new love for his upgraded PlayStation 5, I've decided to reassign my buying power to what I think will be 2025's most important console instead.
I'm talking, but of course, about the Switch 2. Nintendo's incoming console sequel became official in the middle of a very busy January – just before, unrelated, I went to Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event – and since my feet have barely touched the ground since, I've not had tonnes of time to really think it over.
But then, with pre-orders live on ShopTo, I registered my interest – which you can do with a single penny of card authorisation.
What's tipped me over the edge already, despite Nintendo having not announced any of the official Switch 2 games? Well, I've just really loved playing original Switch titles throughout December and the late Christmas period – with Mario Party: Jamboree being a total (and joyous!) time sink.
Then Nintendo dropped the free demo of Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for the Switch and that was it – I was taken back to school-age times and it just reaffirmed my Nintendo love-in. I've played more games on the Switch than on any other platform – especially my Xbox Series X, which I thought could lure me away from the PS5, but which has remained unplugged for some time – which goes to show what Nintendo is getting right.
Sure, the Switch 2 isn't going to be a patch on the PlayStation 5 Pro's supercharged power and top-notch frame rates for games. But what the new Nintendo will certainly do is fix the choppy nature of some Switch titles – which is why I'm so glad it's backwards compatible – and bring a new level of graphical prowess to Nintendo's first-party titles.
Nintendo is staunchly protective of its IP, and rightly so – sometimes I wonder how some get away with it, mind, having recently stumbled upon Dubtendo (yes, classic Nintendo tunes 'bassified' in mega DJ sets) – as it's those precious games that create value. It's the number one reason I think the Switch 2 will be 2025's most important gaming release.
Sure, I do think there have been some wobbles with some releases: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was a major disappointment for me, with broken build mechanics that I just didn't find welcome in a game of that type. But then, out of nowhere, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was released, and that was one of my favourite games last year – beautifully nostalgic, yet very contemporary and complex at the same time.
So my major hope is that the Switch 2 will quickly capitalise on Nintendo's sheer excellence in game design and get to work releasing some unmissable titles. I'm convinced there'll be a new Mario title on day one – we'll find out come April – and it's worth the punt pushing my savings into Switch 2 pre-order up front. Especially as the suggestion is the new console will be 'affordable'. My only slight disappointment is the lack of an OLED panel... but I guess I'll have to buy a mid-generation upgrade come 2027!
