Nintendo Switch 2 Won’t Have System-Wide Achievements, Unsurprisingly
In what might be one of the most unsurprising revelations regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, the console will not have a system-wide achievement system, similar to the systems found on the Xbox, Steam, or PlayStation. Achievements are a popular feature among players, which let them pursue in-game goals and challenges. An achievement system has been long-requested for Nintendo’s consoles, but it looks like that isn’t happening with the Switch 2.
In an interview with Polygon, Nintendo of America executive Bill Trinen gave a pretty firm answer regarding a system-wide achievement system: “Nope.” There will, however, be an opportunity for developers to include their own achievement system for individual games. But as far as collecting achievements and comparing accomplishments with friends directly on the Nintendo Switch 2, it doesn’t seem like there is much interest from Nintendo, at least not enough to fully commit to a system-wide feature.
Individual Games Can Still Have Their Own Achievements
Some Switch 2 Games Will Have Unique Achievements
It will be up to developers if they want to include an in-game achievement system, and we do know of a couple of games that will use a unique achievement system (albeit in a strange way). The Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will feature achievements in an update to the Nintendo Switch App, called Zelda Notes. This achievement system is exclusively on the mobile app and only available in the controversially priced Switch 2 updates of the games.
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Other games have used their own achievement systems in the past on the Switch, such as the 124 challenges in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which gave various in-game rewards. Ubisoft has also made use of in-game achievements for its games in the past for Switch through Ubisoft Connect. It remains to be seen how many titles will offer their own “achievement” system, but there weren’t a ton of games on the original Switch that offered that feature.
Our Take: Achievements Aren’t A Necessity But They’re Fun
It’s A Popular Feature
While achievements aren’t typically deal-breakers for most players, the absence of an achievement system for another console generation will still be disappointing for a lot of people. Nintendo appears to be emulating and also breaking away from its competition at the same time. The Switch 2 will feature voice chat via GameChat, which has been a staple of Xbox and PlayStation for several console generations at this point, and the Zelda Notes feature for the Zelda games means Nintendo is at least dabbling with achievements but isn’t committing to it this generation.
More features and ways to enjoy a game is rarely, if ever, a bad thing, and given how popular the achievement systems are on other consoles and PC, it is a bit surprising that Nintendo won’t commit to a system-wide equivalent of its competition’s systems. This news is disappointing, for sure, but maybe we will see more Nintendo Switch 2 games have their own in-game achievements than we saw with the original Switch.
Source: Polygon
