This is what Furukawa said at the latest investors meeting,
Going forward, we aim to generate such demand among consumers as they feel like "I want to have my own Nintendo Switch console" through measures such as software offerings, not necessarily so that each person will have one, but so that each household will have multiple Nintendo Switch consoles
Goes in line with the 8.0 update, they want many Switches per household. Notice as well how he says it isn't for personal use but rather each family owning many Switches. I think they're imagining an scenario in which a family already owns a Switch, has a dock connected to their living room TV and they'll offer dockless bundles so that people can upgrade their Switch without the need of getting an extra dock, they'll then have two Switches, more joy-cons, might push sales for multiplayer/family games and so on. This way you reach both people who want to upgrade their Switch and those who mostly care about portability. Would be silly if I wanted a new Switch and had to get an extra dock I won't use.
I think the biggest hint of the revision so far is Labo VR as there is no use of docking features compared to previous kits like the Robot or Vehicle one, you get to enjoy the whole thing without the need of a TV, just the console and the joy-cons. Considering they'll likely promote Labo again for holidays just like they did last year it will be a great kit for those who got the dockless Switch.
Part of me thinks they're delaying Mario Maker 2 details as the game will release alongside one of the revisions, probably bundled with it.
As for exclusives regarding these two new models, I think the only case I can remember is Guitar Hero that wasn't playable with the DSi. All these New 3DS exclusive games only affected those who already owned the previous system, not new buyers. if you bought the latest 3DS model you got to play all of the games. In the case of these two new models we're talking of an scenario in which consumers will buy one of the latest Switch models and they won't be able to play some of the games released so far.
Again, it selling great currently without big game released this year so far and wihout any bundle, and with releasing of heavy hitters sales could be only better.
First of all, sorry for my late answer, was a bit busy these last days.
It's selling great but Nintendo at the latest investors meeting said they failed at trying to conveny the appeal of the Switch to new consumers. I think it would be silly to go into its third year without a price drop of any kind.
Saying that, with New Switch, Nintendo maybe dont want to make lower price point for main model/revision, its very possible they will make more attractive and more desirable product with same price point, I mean they done something similar with some 3DS versions. I dont think that New Switch will be 330 dollars or euros, probably will be same price point like current Switch model, while current Switch model will get little price point to $270/280 with bundled game until there are stocks.
Exactly, I also believe this new Switch will simply replace the current model, become the next standard model and will feel like a premium model just like the New 3DS was compared to the OG 3DS. That's why I really doubt they will let the Switch at 330 euros, that's its price in Europe or at least in my country (sometimes it gets to 310 but rarely), I can tell you that "3" in there really scares some parents off. If they keep the same price point as the current model then it means the New Switch will be more than 300 euros. By releasing a New Switch and a portable only model it means you're not giving consumers the option to buy a cheaper Switch. Is there a market for a handheld console? Not as big as a few years ago but sure there is. Are there parents who are getting a PS4 for their kids cause it's way cheaper than a Switch? Yes.
You are wrong, it would be part of Switch platform and Switch family offocurse, its similar like saying that 2DS is not part of 3DS family.
Wii and GC comparison or DS with GBA with OG Switch and Switch Mini/Pocket don't make any sense, Wii, GC, DS, GBA are all different platforms and we talking only about different platforms that had backward compatibility, I mean you couldnt play Wii games on GC, or DS games on GBA,
Switch Mini/Pocket would be handheld revision of current Switch not separate platform like examples you mentioned.
Actually the 2DS needed a change of name because it had no 3D and you could play all of the games at the time of its release, it's a totally different scenario. As I say above, it's a totally different case, if you bought a GameBoy Color you got to play all the games, if you got a New 3DS you could play all the games.
WSJ reported won't be a traditional handheld but also very different design compared to current model (you keep ignoring that part), and that could really be anything but definitely different compared to current Switch (with cut features offcourse). But they are offering something different, they offering full home console games on the go, also some of biggest games of generation like Zelda BotW, Odyssey or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, actually Nintendo was talking like they want that Switch be bridge between smartphone and console gaming.
Saying that, its not point only about casual/smartphone gamers, but also about ex 3DS owners, kids, core handheld players or generally handheld lovers.
I'm ignoring it because it doesn't exist, nowhere in the WSJ it says the cheaper model will have a "very different design", they quote one person who has played BOTH models saying we will be surprised with its shape. That doesn't mean it has to be a different design or form factor. The DS Lite was so thinner compared to the OG DS that it felt like a new console, it's amazing how Nintendo had released such a fat console just two years before. The Game Boy Micro was also surprising, but did anything change in it compared to the other models? Not really, it was still the same console.
99% of games are perfectly playable without motion controls and in full handheld mode, and thats only point that matters because we talking about only handled users that this revision is aiming for. Offcourse that you cant have full experience with low price point offer that will have cute features, if you want full experience than better buy more expansive regular Switch.
Even if it's a 1% of unplayable games the problem is that those games are the ones made for the audience the revision is supposedly made for. They won't release a console for families and kids in which you can't play Super Mario Party, Labo or Just Dance. As I said before, I believe thats where we disagree, I think the cheaper model is for casuals and kids.
2DS was cheap, and has cut features and did not support same games like New 3DS that replaced OG on market. but 2DS wasnt for family, 2DS was personal device, not fun for hole family with local multiplayer like current Switch is.
And those people bought Switch, again, Switch Mini/Pocket revision is for people that want Switch games in handheld mode at low price point but they dont care about TV play or Joy Cons.
The New 3DS released much later than the 2DS, it released in Japan in 2014 but there was no 2DS in Japan at the time. You could play all of the games at the time of its release and in the end all 3DS games became playable with the New 2DS. You can't compare, they're totally different situations.
They not retracting anyone, its like saying that with 2DS they restricted people who like 3D, SNES games or clamshell design,
people will choose revision that fits them more, you cant expect that you have diffrent kind of revisions and price points and that they all have all same capabilities and features, you need to realise that when come to Nintendo, they doing different kind versions and price points aimed at different kind parts of market, I mean there is reason why Nintendo had price point from $80 to $200 with 3DS family.
Current Switch or New Switch will be cheaper by time in any case and current Switch is perfect for family play, but Nintendo with Switch Mini/Pocket looking at low price offer for handheld users (including ex 3DS users that were only handheld players offcourse).
The 3D, SNES games or clamshell design didn't affect gameplay at all.
In any case, I guess we'll find out soon, I'll be getting this Switch Mini anyway and I think it's a great idea for those who simply want to play games like BOTW or MP4 on the go, but I feel like Nintendo may want to reach a bigger audience than that and it should offer something different than a traditional handheld experience if they want people to carry a Switch instead of a smartphone, I'm sure that whatever they release it'll be a great product.
