Introduction

The Nintendo Switch is still one of the coolest and most impressive modern-day consoles. While not the first hybrid console—others have tried and failed—it’s the one that truly nailed both home and portable gaming. There’s just something special about playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons in bed, then docking your console and continuing on the big screen. No wonder the Switch has sold over 152 million units worldwide.

So when the long-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced and pre-orders sold out instantly, it made sense. But as the title suggests, I’m not one of the early adopters. Have I had chances to buy one at the $450 retail price? Absolutely. But I didn’t—and here’s why I’m still holding off on the Switch 2 (at least for now), and maybe why some of you should too.

Reason 1: The Lack of Launch Games

As a gamer, I’ve learned that a console’s launch lineup can say a lot. The Wii U had one of the weakest launch libraries in recent memory, and while the Switch 2 offers backwards compatibility, the new games at launch just aren’t compelling enough for me.

Mario Kart World (an open-world take on the racing franchise) and enhanced ports of Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Cyberpunk 2077 are among the few. Most of these I already own in some form. Sure, July is promising new entries like Donkey Kong Bonanza, Shadow Labyrinth, and No Sleep for Kaname Date, but those aren’t here yet.

When the majority of launch games are ports or re-releases, I struggle to justify jumping in on day one. It’s just not enough to warrant a new console purchase for me.

Reason 2: Cool Console Design, But Nothing Incredible

I’ve owned both the original Switch and the OLED model. I skipped the Switch Lite because detachable Joy-Cons are a must for me. Design-wise, the Switch 2 looks nice: it has magnetic Joy-Cons, a larger screen, and a design reminiscent of the Steam Deck. But all of those features come with caveats.

The new screen is an LCD panel—not OLED—and while it still looks fine, it’s a step down in visual clarity and color vibrancy. The Joy-Con drift issue, which plagued the original, reportedly still exists. Nintendo promises replacements, but the issue shouldn’t still be happening in a next-gen device.

Aesthetically, it’s sleek but lacks personality. It feels like a “safe” design instead of an inspired evolution. At $450, it just doesn’t feel like a strong enough upgrade—especially considering what’s still working perfectly on my OLED model.

Final Reason: Game Prices Are Ridiculous

I understand inflation affects everything—from eggs to electronics—but game pricing for the Switch 2 is a tough pill to swallow. Standard pricing for new-gen titles is already creeping into the $70 range, but some Switch 2 games are launching at $80—and that’s hard to justify.

Mario Kart World at $80? No, thank you. I love Mario Kart and have played every iteration since the N64 days, but most reviewers agree: it’s okay, not groundbreaking. Even games like Cyberpunk 2077—which regularly drops below $30 on other platforms—are launching at $70 for Switch 2. I don’t mind paying premium for quality, but Nintendo’s pricing model feels exploitative in this case.

Conclusion

The Switch 2 is a good-looking console and is clearly performing well commercially, but I’m not rushing to get one. With limited launch titles, questionable hardware improvements, and inflated game prices, I simply don’t feel the need to upgrade right now.

Retail projections suggest availability will improve later this year. I’m okay waiting. My OLED Switch still works beautifully, and when the time—and the software library—is right, I’ll join in. But for now, I’m content to watch from the sidelines.

ーAaron