Nintendo’s Swap 2 will arrive on June 5. It should price $449.99, and a bundle that features Mario Kart World (which is just in manufacturing by means of the autumn) will price $499.99, saving you $30 versus shopping for the sport individually.
However must you purchase the Swap 2?
In early 2024, after I first printed this text, many individuals puzzled whether or not it was nonetheless a clever selection to purchase a Swap, or if they need to simply anticipate the Swap 2 as a substitute. That was earlier than we knew as a lot as we do now. Nintendo’s April 2 Direct, in addition to Polygon’s personal Swap 2 hands-on impressions, shined gentle on practically the whole lot we had been interested in: particularly, how highly effective the Swap 2 might be, the methods during which it’s totally different from the unique Swap, how a lot it’ll price, and what video games we are able to count on to play on launch day (and past).
Contemplating the Swap 2’s excessive price, it’s clearly not for everyone. Priced between $199.99 and $349.99, the unique Swap mannequin — whether or not that be a Swap OLED, the common Swap, or the Swap Lite — would possibly nonetheless be the suitable match for some folks. With so many choices and a lot cash at stake, it’s as complicated as ever to determine what the suitable transfer is. Maybe we can assist you.
Picture: Nintendo through Polygon
Have you ever performed the Swap’s stellar recreation library?
If you happen to’re brand-new to the world of the Nintendo Swap, there are numerous good video games to atone for. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, its sequel Tears of the Kingdom, Metroid Dread, Tremendous Mario Odyssey, Hearth Emblem: Three Homes, Pikmin 4 — I may go on, however I’ll let our roundup of the very best Swap video games do this for me. You don’t want a Swap 2 to play a lot of the very best that the Swap has to supply.
It’s reassuring to know that almost all unique Swap video games — each digital and bodily — are suitable with the brand new console, and that a few of them will boast efficiency will increase due to the quicker {hardware}. (Nintendo is promoting Swap 2 Version upgrades of some unique Swap video games that include a large number of upgrades, however you gained’t have to pay for these upgrades to easily play the video games you personal.) If you happen to do select to purchase the brand new console, your whole video games will seemingly include you.
Whereas Nintendo has introduced launch dates for its first Swap 2-exclusive video games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, different upcoming Nintendo releases, like Metroid Prime 4: Past, are additionally coming to the unique Swap. Until you actually love Mario Kart, the amount of Swap 2 exclusives at the moment doesn’t utterly tip the scales in favor of the brand new console.
And but (that is dizzying, I do know), I don’t counsel that most individuals purchase a Swap at its full worth simply to catch up now. If you happen to discover one on a deal, that’s one other story. However in case you don’t need to anticipate a deal that will by no means come (or that is probably not nearly as good as we want for it to be), then you need to contemplate pre-ordering the brand new console or ready till extra unique video games are out to make the acquisition.
Picture: Nintendo
Do VRR, ALLM, 120 Hz imply something to you?
If that’s the case, you’ll need to anticipate the Swap 2. If not, you could be completely content material with the unique Swap.
The Swap 2 boasts surprisingly fashionable specs (no offense, Nintendo) with a display screen that’s able to working video games at as much as 120 frames per second in 1080p decision. Its Nvidia G-Sync show makes use of a expertise known as variable refresh charge (VRR) to adapt the display screen’s refresh charge to the GPU’s efficiency so that you just don’t discover display screen tearing. As for auto low-latency mode (ALLM), the Swap 2’s dock can robotically set off your TV’s low-latency gaming mode to make sure the absolute best visuals, and it could possibly play video games at as much as 4K.
The unique Swap… can’t do any of that. Its 720p display screen tops out at 60 frames per second, and plenty of video games make it obvious simply how lengthy within the tooth the unique {hardware} was changing into.
Then again, are you shopping for for somebody who doesn’t care about tech specs?
Does the Swap’s lackluster-at-times efficiency dampen the enjoyable you possibly can have with its video games? The reply will depend on who you ask. As for me? Probably not, coming from the man who fortunately explored Hyrule (in addition to above and under it in Tears of the Kingdom) and performed dozens of different video games with a smile from ear to ear. However once more, from a monetary perspective, shopping for a Swap OLED for $349.99 proper now — simply $100 lower than the Swap 2 — doesn’t make sense. Until Nintendo drops the worth of the unique Swap consoles (personally, I don’t count on Nintendo to slash costs in half, however wouldn’t that be good?), I’d contemplate shopping for the Swap 2.
That mentioned, the Swap OLED’s built-in display screen is healthier in a single main method in comparison with that of the Swap 2’s. As you might need gleaned from its title, the Swap OLED has an OLED display screen that makes video games look phenomenal. Whereas it runs at a decrease decision and refresh charge than the Swap 2, the brand new console’s LCD display screen will seemingly pale compared on the subject of presenting wealthy, correct colours and ideal blacks.
Do you’re keen on the GameCube?
Ah, Nintendo bought you there, proper the place it hurts. The corporate is introducing GameCube video games to the Nintendo Swap On-line + Growth Pack membership, however solely you probably have a Swap 2. Solely with the brand new console will you be capable of play The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, F-Zero GX, and extra coming sooner or later.