"Ex-PlayStation President's Take on Nintendo Switch 2: 'Expected More'"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal during an interview with Easy Allies. His reaction to the new console was notably reserved, expressing a sense of mixed feelings about Nintendo's latest offering.

Yoshida remarked, "To me, it was a bit mixed message from Nintendo. In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me, they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something that [is an] amazing new experience. But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 fps, they even have a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is, you know, 'We made things better'. And that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

He highlighted that for gamers who exclusively play on Nintendo hardware, the Switch 2 is a significant upgrade, enabling them to enjoy games like Elden Ring that were previously unavailable on the platform. However, for those with access to other gaming systems, the excitement is somewhat diminished.

Yoshida also critiqued the reveal event, noting that while it attracted millions of viewers, much of the showcased content consisted of ports from past generations. He expressed enthusiasm for "Enter the Gungeon 2," praising its announcement and potential. Additionally, he commended "Drag x Drive" for embodying what he considers to be the essence of Nintendo.

Discussing the system's pricing, Yoshida pointed out differences between Japan and other regions and expressed disappointment that the Switch 2 did not surprise or deviate from expectations in a significant way. He concluded, "Anyway, with some of the things Nintendo is doing, with the camera or mouse controls, creating new experiences, that's great. But other than that, I was personally a bit disappointed, because they didn't disappoint everyone. Because everyone wanted that better Switch."

Despite his reservations, Yoshida acknowledged the Switch 2 as a smart business move, with technical enhancements likely crafted by highly skilled designers. He recognized that while the console might play it safe, it still incorporates elements like mouse controls that reflect Nintendo's playful and innovative spirit.

As for the pricing of the Switch 2 in the U.S., details remain undisclosed. Nintendo has temporarily halted North American pre-orders due to new tariffs announced on the same day as the system's reveal. With a global launch scheduled for June 5, time is running out for Nintendo to finalize these details before the release.