The internet has been awash with rumors about the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2, a console that, as its temporary name suggests, will directly follow the lead of its wildly successful 2017 predecessor. While not much is known about the Switch 2, there’s reason to believe that Nintendo is looking to make it more of an iterative improvement over the original, rather than a revolutionary leap like the one observed between the GameCube and the Wii, for instance.
This can only be a good thing, as Nintendo indisputably struck gold with the Switch, which catapulted the company back to the top of the console market after the underwhelming sales of the Wii U. While gaming audiences are, by and large, taken with the hybrid console, it’s not without its shortcomings, chief among them being underpowered hardware that bars the device from running many of the industry’s leading AAA releases. Nintendo is likely looking to remedy these major technical shortcomings with the Switch 2, and raw processing power shouldn’t be the only problem area targeted.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Have Its Own Spin On ‘Performance Mode’
The Switch 2’s Recent Performance Rumors
According to Nash Weedle, a leaker on Twitter with a strong track record, the Nintendo Switch 2 will include an option to extend battery life in handheld mode, likely at the cost of visual fidelity or graphical performance. As with any leak or rumor, this ought to be taken with some salt, but such a move by Nintendo, however unprecedented, makes quite a bit of sense.
Longer Battery Life Is Something the Nintendo Switch Desperately Needs
The Switch’s primary selling point is its nature as a hybrid console: it can be played traditionally, on a TV, or on a compact handheld display. It was an ingenious design choice by Nintendo, one whose effects will probably not truly be understood for several years yet, after other companies follow the Switch’s form factor. But this central design conceit is somewhat held back by lackluster battery life, which the Switch 2 ought to improve.
With graphically demanding games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it’s not uncommon for the Switch to only hold out for 3-4 hours in handheld mode before shutting down—a major downside for those who use the Switch without a TV. For this demographic, a modest drop in visual quality or some other feature could be a worthwhile price to pay for a significantly longer-lasting battery. But what’s interesting about this rumored setting isn’t just the benefit it could have for players, but how it measures up to similar features offered by competitor consoles.
The Switch 2’s Rumored ‘Performance Mode’ Would Prioritize Longer Gaming, Not FPS
Console gamers are more than aware of Performance Modes on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but such options typically aim to improve framerate rather than battery performance. Of course, this is due to the very nature of these devices being non-handhelds, but it’s interesting to contrast these sorts of settings with what’s been rumored for the Switch 2; the Switch 2, based on Nash Weedle’s leak, looks to be doubling down on overall player experience and quality-of-life, rather than overwhelming technical prowess showcased by spectacular visuals and performance.
It’s interesting, perhaps, but not surprising. Though the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be a technical upgrade over its predecessor, it will likely not strive for the same level of power as something like the PS5, as it has been quite some time since Nintendo prioritized things like FPS, resolution, VRAM, et cetera. This can be disappointing at times, but if it means doubling down on features like battery life, which arguably have a greater impact on general enjoyment, then it seems like an effective and on-brand decision.
Nintendo Switch
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Weight
- .88 lbs
- Storage
- 32 GB
- Display
- 6.2-inch LCD Screen / 1280 x 720
- Battery
- Approximately 4.5 – 9 hours