Ex-PlayStation President on Nintendo Switch 2: 'Expected More, Got Just Enough'

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his candid thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal during an interview with Easy Allies. His reaction was less than enthusiastic, highlighting a perceived shift in Nintendo's approach.

Yoshida expressed that the Switch 2's reveal felt like a "mixed message" from Nintendo. He believes that Nintendo is traditionally known for creating innovative experiences by integrating hardware and game design to produce something entirely new. However, he views the Switch 2 as merely an enhanced version of the original Switch, with upgrades like a larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K capability, and 120 fps. He noted that the reveal even started with a hardware-focused presentation, a style more common among other platforms.

"To me, it was a bit mixed message from Nintendo. In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me, they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something that [is an] amazing new experience. But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 fps, they even have a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is, you know, 'We made things better'. And that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

Yoshida acknowledged that for gamers who exclusively use Nintendo hardware, the Switch 2 is a significant upgrade, allowing them to play titles like Elden Ring that were previously unavailable. However, he feels that for those who game on multiple platforms, the excitement is somewhat diminished.

"Publishers must have known that that show, last week, would be one of the most-watched shows this year. Millions and millions of people watched. It's amazing to announce and launch your new game, if you have a chance, but most of the games were ports from past generations. I don't know if this is Nintendo's direction or third parties' choice. But one game I reacted strongly [to] was Enter the Gungeon 2. That looks amazing. They did a great job announcing that there."

He also praised Drag x Drive for embodying the "very Nintendo" spirit and discussed the system's pricing, noting differences between Japan and other regions. Yoshida concluded with a sense of personal disappointment, feeling that the Switch 2 didn't live up to the expectations of a truly innovative Nintendo product.

"Anyway, with some of the things Nintendo is doing, with the camera or mouse controls, creating new experiences, that's great. But other than that, I was personally a bit disappointed, because they didn't disappoint everyone. Because everyone wanted that better Switch."

Despite his reservations, Yoshida acknowledged that the Switch 2 is a smart business move, likely crafted by talented designers. The system's safe approach might be the right strategy, but it leaves fans longing for Nintendo's more experimental side. Features like mouse controls hint at Nintendo's playful nature, but the overall reveal felt conservative.

The pricing of the Switch 2 in the U.S. remains undisclosed, with Nintendo halting North American pre-orders due to new tariffs announced on the same day as the system's reveal. With a global launch set for June 5, Nintendo has a tight deadline to resolve these issues before the Switch 2 hits the market.