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Honestly, it is hard to see the Switch as a console when it's newer hardware models only focus on the handheld side

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SilverX

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Jan 21, 2018
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The OG Switch came out in 2017 being touted as a hybrid console and it met that expectation. With the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X getting a lot of discussion at the time of it's release, it wasn't hard to think about what future Switch models would be. Namely a stronger, more capable Switch releasing down the line.

Here we are in the middle of 2021, more than four years after launch, and all we have seen is a purely handheld Switch (the Lite) with the OLED Switch coming in a few months bringing a bigger and better screen, and better audio to the Switch in handheld mode. If you count the ethernet port addition, then maybe you can say there is a small, tiny new addition for docked (console mode) players. But the only premium thing about this model (the OLED screen) is experienced purely in the handheld mode.

To me the Switch just feels like a handheld with a docking station allowing to play it on your TV. Anyone feel the same?
 
TheMoon

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the new model literally comes with a brand new dock for TV mode with a first for Nintendo overall: an ethernet port.

it's not focusing on the handheld side at all.
 
MysteryM

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Not me, I use it 100% docked, and treat it as a weaker console than the series x, and that's fine as Nintendo games generally run great.
 
gabegabe

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SilverX said:
To me the Switch just feels like a handheld with a docking station allowing to play it on your TV. Anyone feel the same?
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I don't know how to tell you this, but... yeah. It was always a handheld just with a dock to connect to your TV. That's why it was called a "hybrid" console.

And Nintendo isn't focusing only on handheld, the new model comes with a new dock with ethernet port. I just think that what people were expecting as a "Switch Pro" won't happen. A big change in hardware like that will come only when Nintendo releases a new gen.
 

Deleted member 9135

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It is strange that they're catering to handheld users with the Lite and now with this.

The ethernet port feature was a non-issue before. I have a $3 USB ethernet adapter that I've been using with zero problems.
 
Plinkerton

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How has it been close to five years since this thing was announced, and people are still arguing whether it's a handheld or a console?

I feel like I'm going insane here.
 

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I agree it's more of a handheld to me, but that's because of the games. A lot of them have massive UIs or are designed with short bursts of play in mind.
 
catboy

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TheMoon said:
the new model literally comes with a brand new dock for TV mode with a first for Nintendo overall: an ethernet port.

it's not focusing on the handheld side at all.
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it absolutely is focusing on the handheld side, there have been three revisions to the switch since 2017 and all three of them have had the handheld experience as the primary focus (mariko - longer battery life and 0 changes for docked experience, lite - portable only, oled - new screen)
 
Hippopuncher12

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I mean, yeah, that is what it is. As a docked only Switch person it does get annoying that they haven't really enhanced that experience yet, but it is what it is.
 
LumberPanda

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It's a handheld that has HDMI out. Nintendo bowed out of the console space and focused on where they have always been #1.

We're never getting PSP3/Vita2 for the same reason.
 
Serule

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I wish it felt more like a handheld! Too many games aren't optimized for the small screen (tiny fonts, UI).
 
Oregano

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How on earth did people manage before the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X existed?

The Switch is only 4 years old!
 
Decarb

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If having a TV out connection to your portable makes it a hybrid then sure, its a hybrid. Its like calling a laptop a hybrid because you can output to a monitor and on power it runs at higher clocks.
 
Psittacus

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What QoL features were you expecting to get added to it? It's a box that plugs into your TV
 
cowbanana

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So. it's like the Switch is a hybrid or something...

85%+ of my Switch play time is in handheld mode. I see it as a handheld I can play on my monitor if/when I feel like it. Nothing has changed.

SilverX said:
To me the Switch just feels like a handheld with a docking station allowing to play it on your TV. Anyone feel the same?
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Click to shrink...

That's because this is exactly what the Switch is.
 
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SilverX

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Randinva said:
So... you feel its a hybrid console.
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I feel its just a handheld with a dock. The console experience just is lacking with poor image quality on my TV for so many games and poor performance in lots of games. It feels best enjoyed, especially with the OLED model, as a handheld.

gabegabe said:
I don't know how to tell you this, but... yeah. It was always a handheld just with a dock to connect to your TV. That's why it was called a "hybrid" console.

And Nintendo isn't focusing only on handheld, the new model comes with a new dock with ethernet port. I just think that what people were expecting as a "Switch Pro" won't happen. A big change in hardware like that will come only when Nintendo releases a new gen.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

But an ethernet port is like a bare minimum update that is attached to the dock. Outside of a better connection the console experience is and has been the same for 4 and a half years now while they are improving the handheld experience with each new model
 
Kingpin Rogers

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Because it quite literally is not a console.

There's no hardware in the dock, it's a portable with the ability to play on a tv.
 
zombiejames

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I really wish Nintendo would release a console-only Switch. I have zero interest in handhelds, I don't need an OLED screen, split controllers, or anything like that. Just give me an affordable box I can plug into my TV to play Zelda on.
 
Tbm24

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Leaving a switch docked 100% of the time doesn't make it a console. Just a hybrid console you choose to ignore its other function.
 
fiendcode

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New upgrade is more handheld targeted (OLED, improved speakers) but built in ethernet means there is a docked only upgrade too plus the improved kickstand for tabletop mode. It's still very much a hybrid console in marketing and function, although I would've liked 4k output as an option (which the chipset can already do technically) and I think would've been an easy addition to sweeten the package for docked players.
 
TheMoon

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carlota xbox said:
it absolutely is focusing on the handheld side, there have been three revisions to the switch since 2017 and all three of them have had the handheld experience as the primary focus (mariko - longer battery life and 0 changes for docked experience, lite - portable only, oled - new screen)
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mariko was a simply revision done to circumvent those chipset exploits which had the benefit of better power consumption efficiency
lite was literally just a budget version designed to be only that
oled switch has several improvements for all aspects, the most easily marketable and noticeable are the ones for handheld play (updating the shoddy stand, the bigger screen). and yet, it's always presented and pushed as both. as it always has been. aside from the lite for the super obvious reason.

this is just another roundabout way for people to be mad there is no specs increase, it's getting super old
 
Jaded Alyx

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cw_sasuke said:
Yall saying anything at this point.
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Hahaha



zombiejames said:
I really wish Nintendo would release a console-only Switch. I have zero interest in handhelds, I don't need an OLED screen, split controllers, or anything like that. Just give me an affordable box I can plug into my TV to play Zelda on.
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How affordable is affordable? Because you could just ignore the screen and the split controllers etc and just use it as a box you plug into your TV right now.
 
Kalem

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It's a handheld with a convenient TV output, it never felt like an hybrid to me because that implies a lot more than just "TV output"
 
catboy

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TheMoon said:
mariko was a simply revision done to circumvent those chipset exploits which had the benefit of better power consumption efficiency
lite was literally just a budget version designed to be only that
oled switch has several improvements for all aspects, the most easily marketable and noticeable are the ones for handheld play (updating the shoddy stand, the bigger screen). and yet, it's always presented and pushed as both. as it always has been. aside from the lite for the super obvious reason.

this is just another roundabout way for people to be mad there is no specs increase, it's getting super old
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you don't have to be "mad" at nintendo to recognise that the switch's revisions have primarily focused on handheld play. you can even extend that to their accessories, the only one which really focuses on being docked is ring fit adventure.
 
NightShift

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Yeah, we should really stop calling it a hybrid. Nintendo clearly sees it as nothing but a handheld and it being about to output to a TV is nothing but a bullet point in a list of features.
 
Apopheniac

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SilverX said:
To me the Switch just feels like a handheld with a docking station allowing to play it on your TV.
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that's what it is, but there's plenty of people on Era that would never touch it if they considered it a handheld and not a "hybrid," which is where much of the confusion and consternation about it originates
 

Deleted member 9135

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TheMoon said:
this is just another roundabout way for people to be mad there is no specs increase, it's getting super old
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Reading Gamers Rise to defend a $37 billion dollar company for years on end across two forum platforms gets old too, I promise.

Valid criticism and disappointment doesn't take away from you settling and enjoying old tech.
 
We_care_a_lot

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DaleCooper said:
But it's literally a console that works perfectly with your TV.
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lol you wouldn't know it from all the complaining lately.

'nintendo first party games are unplayable shit' 'these upgrades are worthless' etc etc etc


virtually all the complaints about the system are tied to the fact that it's a portable. It might be a semantics argument but if people thought of the switch as a portable game console with TV out I feel like it would cause them less anguish
 
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Truly Gargantuan

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zombiejames said:
I really wish Nintendo would release a console-only Switch. I have zero interest in handhelds, I don't need an OLED screen, split controllers, or anything like that. Just give me an affordable box I can plug into my TV to play Zelda on.
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You can just buy the OG Switch and get pro controllers. Boom. Ya got what ya wanted.
 
808s & Villainy

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Except the newest model also has a built in ethernet port into the dock which is TV focused...

zombiejames said:
I really wish Nintendo would release a console-only Switch. I have zero interest in handhelds, I don't need an OLED screen, split controllers, or anything like that. Just give me an affordable box I can plug into my TV to play Zelda on.
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Nothing is preventing you from only using is as a console, but they're not going to release a stronger TV only version
 
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