Jubenhimer
Member
The successor to Nintendo Switch is looming closer and closer, with a formal reveal set for this fiscal year. Rumored impressions of the device are said to be impressive, with more powerful hardware and DLSS technology, creating pseudo-PS5 visuals in the palm of your hand.
That being said, this is Nintendo we're talking about. It's obviously not going to be just a Switch with extra horse power. The company has always prided itself on creating a unique feel and experience with each new generation of hardware, IE a gimmick. So I think it could be fun to spit-ball some ideas for what kind of unique features or novelties that Switch 2 could probably employ.
* Lightning-quick loading speeds - If there's one feature for Switch 2 that I believe is going to be the central gimmick the whole system is built around and marketed on, it's the rumored loading system. According to last year's rumored Gamescom demo, Nintendo used a special build of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to showcase this feature, which reportedly has "non-existent load times". I think Nintendo looks at current gen consoles and is thinking "SSDs? Pssh, we can do better than that" and created their own proprietary loading architecture that could potentially be even faster. I think Nintendo wants to return to the instantaneous loading of systems like the Nintendo 64, with Switch 2, and the whole console will be built on loading games, levels, and content fast, and allowing users to jump in and play their games as quickly as possible.
* IR pointers on new magnetic Joy-Con - One new distinctive feature was recently rumored. Switch 2's new Joy-Con controllers are not only larger, but are supposedly ditching the rail-based connection of its predecessors, in favor of a new magnet-based connection. But I think there's also going to be a new feature as well. The addition of a two small IR cameras on top beside the shoulder buttons. I believe Nvidia has a bunch of camera APIs in its hardware, which could mean these dual cameras can track the light from the TV/Switch 2 screen and it's position, allowing for the precision 3D pointing of the Wii Remote, without the need for separate sensor bar. These can also essentially succeed the IR Motion Camera on the original Switch Joy-Con for backwards compatibility, or other applications.
* Local Wireless streaming - Here's one idea that could be fun. A feature that essentially combines the Download Play app on DS/3DS, with the streaming system used by the Wii U GamePad and Wii U console. Simply put, in compatible games, Switch 2 can wirelessly stream a version/mode of the game to other nearby Switch 2 devices, with only one copy of a game. The benefit of this over Download Play is that all the processing is done on the host console, while the receiving consoles don't have to download any data, allowing them to access a more complete experience without taking up anything on system RAM.
So these are some potential "gimmicks" if you will, that Switch 2 could feature.
That being said, this is Nintendo we're talking about. It's obviously not going to be just a Switch with extra horse power. The company has always prided itself on creating a unique feel and experience with each new generation of hardware, IE a gimmick. So I think it could be fun to spit-ball some ideas for what kind of unique features or novelties that Switch 2 could probably employ.
* Lightning-quick loading speeds - If there's one feature for Switch 2 that I believe is going to be the central gimmick the whole system is built around and marketed on, it's the rumored loading system. According to last year's rumored Gamescom demo, Nintendo used a special build of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to showcase this feature, which reportedly has "non-existent load times". I think Nintendo looks at current gen consoles and is thinking "SSDs? Pssh, we can do better than that" and created their own proprietary loading architecture that could potentially be even faster. I think Nintendo wants to return to the instantaneous loading of systems like the Nintendo 64, with Switch 2, and the whole console will be built on loading games, levels, and content fast, and allowing users to jump in and play their games as quickly as possible.
* IR pointers on new magnetic Joy-Con - One new distinctive feature was recently rumored. Switch 2's new Joy-Con controllers are not only larger, but are supposedly ditching the rail-based connection of its predecessors, in favor of a new magnet-based connection. But I think there's also going to be a new feature as well. The addition of a two small IR cameras on top beside the shoulder buttons. I believe Nvidia has a bunch of camera APIs in its hardware, which could mean these dual cameras can track the light from the TV/Switch 2 screen and it's position, allowing for the precision 3D pointing of the Wii Remote, without the need for separate sensor bar. These can also essentially succeed the IR Motion Camera on the original Switch Joy-Con for backwards compatibility, or other applications.
* Local Wireless streaming - Here's one idea that could be fun. A feature that essentially combines the Download Play app on DS/3DS, with the streaming system used by the Wii U GamePad and Wii U console. Simply put, in compatible games, Switch 2 can wirelessly stream a version/mode of the game to other nearby Switch 2 devices, with only one copy of a game. The benefit of this over Download Play is that all the processing is done on the host console, while the receiving consoles don't have to download any data, allowing them to access a more complete experience without taking up anything on system RAM.
So these are some potential "gimmicks" if you will, that Switch 2 could feature.
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