We also see an extra button on the right side of the Joy-Con, below the Home button. While this is unlabeled in the teaser, we can see some form of function “C-key”, which Nintendo used in various forms in the N64 and GameCube in the past. It’s also worth noting that the thumb is focused on the left side of the Joy-Con thumbstick rotates – is this meant to highlight the thumb better for the new generation, perhaps incorporating Hall effect technology? Given the drift issues that plagued the original Switch, this would be a smart move on Nintendo’s part. Photo: Nintendo The biggest changes to the main console itself, beyond the increased physical size, are the addition of an extra USB-C port on top and a new U-shaped kickstand. While the former is a nice addition, opening up the potential to support more accessories, the latter seems a bit flimsy—better than the nub that supported the original Switch but less robust than the OLED Switch’s solid back panel kickstand. Speaking of the OLED Switch, and given the pure criticism of the chunky bezels shown in the Switch 2 reveal, the new console may return to an LCD panel. Again, this has been rumored for a while, but it would be hard not to see it as a step backwards. The best thing from what was revealed, is that Nintendo immediately confirmed backwards compatibility with existing Switch games, both physical and digital (albeit with some unspecified exceptions). This is fantastic news for gamers who have spent decades building their libraries, and another example of Nintendo’s quiet confidence and sense of continuity. If you’ve got 1.3 billion in software sales for an incredibly successful platform, why risk alienating those customers? Gamers love the Switch as it is now, the company’s main rivals are all copying it to a larger or smaller scale, and all signs point to “better but better” as an attractive selling point. It’s playing safe—but there’s no need to do anything else.
Nintendo Switch 2 Play Safely. That’s a Smart Choice
