GYGO Nintendo: Switch 2 is a Boring Name

Hey, all you Nintendo fans. I made a joke recently to the Sidequest team that my monthly GYGO is just an update on who Nintendo is currently suing. Not this month! It will come as no surprise that this month’s focus is the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo Announces the Switch 2

For the past many months, my news feeds have been inundated with “Switch 2 leaks,” none of which actually manifested. While of course there was plenty of misinformation, many claims were to be taken seriously. This happens every time a new console is in the works and I couldn’t give merit to any of them. To be honest, I even thought the idea of the next console being named Switch 2 was unrealistic. Seriously, what a boring name.

Nintendo hasn’t named sequential consoles in this manner before. In fact, let’s take a moment to look at Nintendo’s naming trends. Game Boy held fast as the handheld namesake for many generations, yet we never saw numerical naming. Instead, Nintendo used adjectives to denote a new system and distinguish the new console, such as the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, etc.

Additionally, take a look at what happened with the Wii U. I have a lot of love in my heart for the Wii U. The interface was flawless, and the gamepad was an amazing and innovative way to play. It had some fantastic games (which is why so many were remade for Switch), but it sold poorly. Why? Many believe it was because of the name. I can’t even count the amount of times I brought up the Wii U and people would ask, “What’s that?” People either would not know that it even existed or think that it was some kind of accessory for the Wii. I absolutely can get behind the theory that this console failed due to its name because I saw this in action.

The “2” in “Switch 2” insinuates that the new console is a new model; however, I’d argue that the system’s visual similarities and similar name could cause a similar issue to the Wii U, especially when considering the lack of any real information about hardware updates. I am hopeful that the next look we have at the Switch 2 will give consumers a solid reason to upgrade to this next generation in Nintendo gaming.

The video shows a bigger screen and bigger Joy-Cons that snap into the sides instead of sliding. I might be in the minority here, but I always play with my Switch docked. Still, there’s nothing wrong with a bigger screen. Primarily I don’t play handheld because the screen glare bothers me. I am hopeful that the new system addresses that problem. The new Joy-Cons snapping into place might mean that Nintendo has fixed both the problems with drift and the ribbon cables coming loose. I’m also stoked that the console is going to offer backwards compatibility, and I have my fingers crossed that pro controllers will work with it as well. All in all, there seems to be a lot to look forward to with this new console, even if the name is uninspiring.

In other news…

Nintendo has delayed the release of Alarmo (an interactive, motion-sensing, themed alarm clock) to the public due to inventory and production issues. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are able to snag one now via pre-order, but if you’re not a member you’ll have to wait until after February. An exact date has yet to be specified.

Nintendo and LEGO are uniting forces yet again to bring us a LEGO Game Boy. The video is very short, but displays a LEGO D-pad and the iconic Game Boy buttons. I’m a little nervous about the price point, though, since other LEGO+Nintendo collaborations have run the consumer hundreds of dollars.

Nintendo Switch Online members get new freebies from NES title Yoshi. Subscribers must open the game Yoshi via the NES app—no need to play it, just open the game. They will then be awarded 50 platinum points, which is enough to buy all of the recently-released Yoshi icons. I’ve been a Yoshi girlie all my life, and I’m loving my adorable new icon… though it was hard to get rid of Star Fox‘s Slippy, which I’ve had for years. The Yoshi icons (and this deal) will be available through February 3.

That’s all for this month, folks. I look forward to updating you on all things Nintendo Switch 2 in the coming months. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for some exciting game reveals at the next Nintendo Direct, which is scheduled for April 2!

Kamie Wootan

Kamie Wootan is a fiction writer and poet from Bozeman, Montana. She has a MLITT in Creative Writing from the University of Stirling. When Kamie isn’t writing, she is reading, playing a video game, hanging out with her amazing son, or working on her latest hobby.
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