While the Nintendo Switch not new, buying one may be a smarter decision than trying to buy one PS5 or Xbox Series X right now. Getting the latest generation PlayStation or Xbox is admittedly difficult to do. But even if you have the opportunity, you may want to reconsider.
Spending your money on monitoring the console of your choice seems quite obvious. But what do you really want from a new console? I would say that some of the best things about using a new console are not really present on the new PlayStation or Xbox.
Nintendo Switch: What I Love
For example, take the game library. Most of the games you can play on PS5 and X Series are the same games you can currently play on PS4 and Xbox One. Plus, the handful of platform exclusives may not be as inspiring to you. Meanwhile, on Switch, there are more than three years of releases to explore.
The variety of games available is a credit to Nintendo. Naturally, your thoughts may gravitate towards Mario, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, Legend of Zelda and so on. These high-quality franchises are good reasons to buy a Nintendo console. However, you will also find an amazing number of great third party games on the Switch. Highlights include Doom and The Witcher 3, as well as one of the best independent game libraries outside the PC. All of the next generation exclusives on the PS5 and Xbox Series X are big-budget deals, and many of them are remakes or sequels. I wouldn’t blame you if those lineups left you indifferent.
While it is good to pursue higher frame rates and more beautiful graphics, they do not guarantee that you will enjoy the game.
In terms of hardware, the Switch also has some important advantages. Of course, compare the TFLOPs and the maximum output resolution and laugh at the poor GPU inside the switch. But while it is good to pursue higher frame rates and more beautiful graphics, they do not guarantee that you will enjoy the game. And if graphics are your priority, then you’d better look at a gaming PC instead of a console.
Then there is the fact that the Switch’s less powerful hardware allows it to be portable: easily its standout feature. I never would have thought of that before I bought my own switch, but having access to a fully equipped console anywhere is a luxury that cannot be overstated. Even if you are in a block right now to prevent the spread of you-know-what, having the freedom to play somewhere outside my table helps to prevent the mental divide between work and family life from collapsing.
You also have the versatile Joy-Cons to try. These controllers have built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes, but they still work similarly to a traditional gamepad. You can still play normally, but also experience less traditional motion control experiences. You won’t need extra peripherals, like an expensive one VR headset. I think Joy-Cons are more comfortable to use than a normal gamepad, since you can use the two halves separately, with your arms relaxed at your sides. This may not be a common way of playing, but it is certainly how I like to use them.
Nintendo Switch: what I don’t love
However, let’s be honest about where the Switch is hopelessly weak. Multiplayer and online functionality are, to put it bluntly, a mess. Some games require Nintendo’s Switch Online subscription service for online multiplayer, but others allow you to play over the Internet for free. To activate voice chat, you need to use an application on your smartphone – a device that already does enough without having to be a gaming peripheral as well. It doesn’t bother me, as I am a lone player most of the time. But going to a Switch is probably a bad idea if you’re a dedicated player of Call of Duty, Fortnite or something.
In defense of Nintendo, the Switch is probably the best console for local multiplayer, considering that the Joy-Cons can be used as two separate gamepads. Up to eight switches with four players each can also work together in the same space. Want a second controller for your Xbox or PS5? That will cost another $ 70. And good luck bringing together enough monitors and consoles in a space for a 32-person local PS5 / Series X multiplayer session without hiring a community room.
The Switch’s internal storage is smaller and slower than what you get with Sony and Microsoft consoles. You get 825 GB of SSD space on the PS5 and a 1 TB SSD on the Xbox. The Switch has only 32 GB of memory. However, Switch games generally take up less space thanks to lower graphics fidelity. And if you run out of space, at least you can expand the Switch’s memory easily with any microSD card. Compare and contrast with the expensive proprietary SSD drives you’ll need to add more space to your Xbox or PS5.
I think even the most dedicated PlayStation or Xbox fan has some good reason to make the switch to a Switch, even after the next big wave of PS5 and X Series inventory arrives. Okay, your decision depends on why you like to play. If you like graphical fidelity, robust multiplayer or a dedicated fan of an exclusive franchise, you may not want a Switch. But if different types of games – and access to them outside of your living room – appeal to you more, perhaps you should consider Nintendo’s hybrid console instead of the newest machines from Microsoft and Sony.