Nintendo Switch: Wii 2.0 or Vita 2.0?
The final gaming technology in the running this year is the Nintendo Switch. Whether it fails or succeeds, this console is going to be a hot topic throughout 2017. Nintendo’s hybrid proposal is marketed as the real successor to the Wii, which sold more than 100 million units. However, it is also reminiscent of PlayStation Vita’s original concept, a portable with a limp lineup. The key to Nintendo’s victory, once again, will depend on the general public.
Why did Wii have such a major reception? It proposed a new, revolutionary concept that convinced non-gamers to buy the console and genuinely enjoy its novelty. Nintendo Switch also offers not only one, but two innovative ways of playing: HD Rumble, which takes motion controls to the next level, and Tablet Mode, which will allow you to play console-quality games anywhere you want. These concepts can repeat the triumph of Wii, and the recent numbers support this idea.
Of course, we are not at the same moment in history, and there is no guarantee that people will get so invested in Nintendo Switch. There are some negative aspects that can potentially harm its debut, like the small launch line-up, the online pay service, or the lack of third party support. If Nintendo Switch does not start strong this March, it is really possible that the console won’t be able to gain momentum. It is not creating a new kind of market like virtual reality, nor is it taking a familiar step forward in power, like the PlayStation 4 Pro and Project Scorpio.
However, Nintendo will release some major exclusive games this year that promise to deliver: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odissey, Xenoblade 2, Splatoon 2… It is the exact opposite of Wii U’s first moments, which were severely lacking. Software quality is assured for a good chunk of 2017.
