Nintendo Switch 2 Is Making A Great Xbox & PlayStation Feature Even Better
Nintendo Switch 2 buyers will be able to get a few benefits when they buy the console, and one of the most familiar is the support for performance boosts on original Switch games. Nintendo certainly isn’t the first to embrace this feature, which Sony and Microsoft have pushed with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S respectively. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 might be the most meaningful implementation yet.
The Nintendo Switch 2 was one of the major Nintendo Switch 2 Direct reveals alongside plenty of game announcements and other hardware details. Performance boosts for games on the original Switch might not have the same pizazz as the new Mario Kart, but the feature is a great addition that recalls what Xbox and PlayStation have to offer with some unique strengths in its own approach.
Nintendo Switch 2 Players Get Performance Boosts
Better Games Thanks To Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct revealed that the console makes many older Switch 1 games run much better, and these upgrades go far beyond just making the graphics sharper. The improvements make games look better, play smoother, and sometimes even add brand-new features. Nintendo isn’t just giving these games a small performance boost; it’s turning some into “Switch 2 Edition” versions that often come with big extra additions. For example, Super Mario Party Jamboree gets a new Jamboree TV expansion that uses the Switch 2’s updated Joy-Con 2 controllers.
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The Joy-Con 2 controllers now have mouse-like controls and a microphone and can even work with an optional USB-C camera, which may fix the issues with the original. This will add new minigames and online features. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond lets you use the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls and gives you different display options.
Some games are also getting major new content. Kirby and the Forgotten Land gets an expansion called Star-Crossed World, which adds a whole new story section. Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now work better with the Nintendo Switch app’s Zelda Notes feature, giving players more help and tips while playing. Not every game gets big new content, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A is an example of a title that will mostly just run smoother and look sharper without adding much extra.
Nintendo’s Upgrades Remind me of PlayStation & Xbox’s Features
Optimization & Game Boosts Had To Be Inspiration
The Nintendo Switch 2’s way of handling older games and making them better is similar to what Sony and Microsoft have done with their consoles but with some differences. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have ways to improve how older games run on their newer systems.
PS5 and Xbox categorize general performance improvements as “Game Boost” and “FPS Boost” respectively, which take advantage of the console’s strong hardware to make certain PS4 games run smoother or look sharper. While titles without active Boost support may still run better, the framerate and resolution cap will be the same as it was on Pro versions of the prior generation’s systems.
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The Xbox Series X has another layer of complication with the “Optimized for Series X/S,” which separates Series X/S versions of games from Xbox One releases and confirms the universally mandated support for both the less powerful Series S and more powerful X. These optimized games might have better graphics, faster load times, or higher frame rates. Xbox’s “Smart Delivery” system also makes upgrades from Xbox One versions more seamless than on PS5.
“Switch 2 Editions” are specifically upgraded versions of Switch games, which might look closer to PS5’s upgrade approach than Smart Delivery. With Nintendo’s biggest Switch 2 Edition releases, it’s not just improving performance. Major Switch 2 Editions showcased so far also add new things to the games, like extra story content and new ways to play (such as mouse controls using the Joy-Con).
More Games Should Get Upgrades
This Can’t Just Stop Here
Nintendo’s Switch 2 Edition program is a smart way to keep games relevant and improve the experience for players, because it gives some Switch 1 games upgrades. But this idea should be much bigger. Right now, only a few games are part of the program, even though there are many more Switch 1 games that could get the same treatment. Making this program larger would be great for both players and Nintendo.
In a developer interview on Nintendo‘s official website, Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta describes support for new features like GameChat while playing Switch 2 titles and established that Nintendo is looking to continually improve the backward compatibility experience. He mentions “making Switch games compatible with GameShare through free updates” and using the hardware power to run games “in higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate,” both of which sound promising for more wide-scale support of improved Switch 2 experiences.
However, it’s safe to say that Switch 2 is a system with new strengths in the sense that it adds value to Switch games that players already own. We’ll take advantage of those strengths in the future to further enhance the gameplay experience of Switch games. We believe there are many things we can do, such as making Switch games compatible with GameShare through free updates, as well as leveraging Switch 2’s processing power to enable games to run in higher resolution and with a smoother frame rate. — Takuhiro Dohta
Switch 2 Editions gives players a good reason to go back to games they love, especially with the new launch titles. New features, like the Jamboree TV mode in Super Mario Party Jamboree, don’t just add fresh content — they also take advantage of the Switch 2’s better hardware. This keeps older games fun and exciting instead of letting them feel outdated. This also gives players a strong reason to replay their favorites or try games they missed the first time.
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With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally getting its full launch lineup, it’s hard not to compare it to the original console given their similarities.
Nintendo also gains a lot from expanding the Switch 2 Edition program. When players stay interested in older games, Nintendo can keep making money, especially if players buy upgrade packs. Updating older games with new content and better performance brings back attention, increasing sales and attracting new fans. Making this program bigger also would also show that Nintendo cares about its older games, which helps build trust and loyalty with players.
Switch 2 Editions Likely Increase Sales of Switch 2
This Would Give Buyers More Reasons To Upgrade
Nintendo’s Switch 2 Editions program, along with its backward compatibility, is a smart sales strategy that uses nostalgia and the promise of better gameplay to appeal to a wide range of players. Letting people play their favorite Switch games with upgrades like improved graphics, extra features, and possibly new content gives existing Switch owners a strong reason to buy the new console. It has the potential to offer even more impressive benefits than PlayStation and Xbox’s approach, as more original Switch titles struggle with performance and resolution than what its competitors dealt with.
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Instead of Nintendo offering players the ability to play their old games on the new system, Nintendo is marketing these upgraded versions as real improvements. This shows off what the Switch 2 can do by making familiar games look and play better. This is a much better incentive to buy a new console than just to offer basic backward compatibility. By offering these improved versions, Nintendo is giving players a fresh way to experience games they already love, with better visuals and possibly new content.
Financially, this program should be a big win for a system that’s currently facing plenty of criticisms over prices. It encourages early buyers and people who might wait for a price drop to upgrade sooner, leading to strong early sales and steady long-term profits. It also attracts new players who might be unsure about buying a new system by offering them a library of well-known, highly-rated games with major improvements on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Sources: Nintendo
