Nintendo’s consoles have always been go-to platforms for casual multiplayer and party games. Long-running first-party series like Mario Kart, Mario Party, and the various Mario sports titles are often some of the most popular casual multiplayer experiences around, and Nintendo’s consoles have often offered gimmicks that reinforce this casual-fun identity, such as the Wii’s motion controls or the Wii U’s GamePad. The Nintendo Switch 2 looks like it’ll continue this long-standing pattern.
Finally revealed after years of constant rumors, the Nintendo Switch 2 is about what fans expected it to be. To many, the Switch 2 looks essentially just like an improved version of the original Switch model, and if the rumored specs are accurate, then that’s pretty much true. But while it may not be a groundbreaking reinvention, the Nintendo Switch 2’s improvements look like they might finally offer a satisfying Super Smash Bros. Ultimate local multiplayer experience.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Finally Be The Perfect Casual Smash Bros. Multiplayer Platform
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Cons Are Much More Suited to Multiplayer Than The Switch 1’s
When the original Nintendo Switch was first announced, a major part of its marketing was the ability to turn a Joy-Con sideways and use it as a standalone controller. In theory, this meant that (for most games) Switch owners would always have at least two controllers at any time, allowing for casual multiplayer sessions just about anywhere.
But while that was great in theory, early adopters of the Nintendo Switch soon found a fatal flaw in the concept’s execution. Though they technically worked as advertised, the Nintendo Switch’s official Joy-Cons were pretty uncomfortable to hold for long durations, with the compact button layout being much too cramped for most adult hands.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Joy-Cons look much more suited to local multiplayer, however. Though the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons aren’t wider than the original model’s, they’re much longer, giving the buttons much more room to breathe. This is especially noticeable with the shoulder buttons on the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, which are no longer tiny, thin buttons hidden underneath an awkwardly raised line of plastic. This more comfortable button layout should make it much easier to play fighting games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The Nintendo Switch 2 also seems to be shipping with a new Joy-Con grip, though the only major difference appears to be new rails for the magnetic Joy-Cons.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Screen Size Makes It a Worthy Party Piece
Another key selling point that went hand-in-hand with the sideways Joy-Con concept was the notion that the original Nintendo Switch could technically be used for quick, casual local multiplayer sessions anywhere, with players being expected to huddle around the Switch’s screen. Of course, the original Nintendo Switch’s 6.2-inch screen wasn’t really big enough for any multiplayer games that involved a lot of on-screen action, such as the relatively chaotic Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
This is where the Nintendo Switch 2’s alleged 8-inch screen could come in and finally deliver the satisfying local multiplayer experience that Nintendo advertised so long ago. The Switch 2’s kickstand should also help to make local multiplayer sessions a bit more enjoyable, with it now stretching across the entire length of the console rather than just propping up one corner, hopefully making the console a bit more sturdy in a party setting.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for April 2, 2025.
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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2025