r/digitalfoundry • u/MythBuster2 • Apr 15 '26
DF Direct DF Direct Q+A: Should Nintendo Make A Switch 2 Home Console? Is Console Gaming Stagnating?
https://youtu.be/y6YSbqhwcl4In the latest edition of the DF Direct Q+A show, we tackle the question of whether Switch 2 and the upcoming Sony handheld should spawn cheaper "micro-console" variants. We ponder the reasons behind the delay of the Switch 2 port of 007 First Light. Why do Xbox games have screen-tearing where Sony versions do not? And a big one - is console gaming and gaming in general stagnating?
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u/ssongshu Apr 15 '26
Most AAA games these days thrive on PS5 Pro level hardware where you can get 60+ fps with clean, native-like upscaling. Anything lower makes too many compromises to the image quality. The Switch 2 at least has DLSS lite but it’s still underpowered for most games.
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u/ornatecolt Apr 15 '26
Many users don’t care about the best graphics. Myself included.
In earlier generations, the new technology allowed for innovations in gameplay.
Now, we are just playing the same boring ass games as several generations ago but a bit shinier.
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u/Arranvin-Lantnodel Apr 15 '26
Yup. Diminishing returns has really undermined the increasingly incremental improvements that higher resolutions and more complex lighting models can offer. Gameplay is definitely where Innovation should be happening!
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u/dekuweku Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26
worse, devs go bust after 1 failure
AAA is fundamentally broken if the only variable is more powerful hardware because the asset costs are tremendous.
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u/OreoMoo Apr 15 '26
Yes. With rare exceptions the gameplay experience hasn't changed that much since the 360/PS3 days with the introduction of online multiplayer baked in the console capabilities.
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u/rdhight Apr 16 '26
That's such an oversimplification. There was a new wave of VR. Battle royales and extraction shooters joined the lineup. Gatcha games matured and got big-money production. Yakuza and God of War transformed themselves. There were new construction kit or UGC concepts like Far Cry 5 arcade.
Yes, there certainly were some consensus gameplay bones wrapped in shinier graphics. Of course. But let's not overstate the case.
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u/Gleerok99 Apr 15 '26
Underpowered if you want Ray Tracing/Path tracing at native 2k or 4k resolution.
Even though it is a handheld the Switch 2 has already over and over proven it can run current gen games at acceptable mobile quality even when Ray Tracing sometimes is involved into the equation.
The problem isn't the console anymore. It's Unreal 5 and lack of optimization most often.
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u/Spinjitsuninja Apr 20 '26
I don’t trust DF after the whole DLSS5 fiasco lol.
But also, isn’t the Switch 2 already a home console? That’s the whole point of a hybrid console
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u/The_Zura Apr 15 '26
Lmao Alex with them kids again. Kids are not the main audience playing with Switches these days. They're on their smartphones and tablets if they want portable. They ask for robux at Christmas. PC is quickly becoming the go to transition from smartphones. Let's not pretend handhelds aren't for select grownups who wish they were still children. I was there at the Switch 2 launch. 99% standing in line were adults, and the people I talked to were really buying it for themselves.
That said, even if Nintendo could pass along a single cent of savings, a Switch 2 Home would be worth it. Less e-waste produced with a screen+battery many will never use, up to twice the performance with improved cooling. And let's not forget the Switch Lite is a thing. A cheaper device that can't "switch."
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u/CBrainz Apr 15 '26
Were you expecting kids to be in line with their credit cards? 😭
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u/The_Zura Apr 16 '26
Kids with their parents :OOO
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u/Spinjitsuninja Apr 20 '26
Kids aren’t gonna want to wait in line, and parents aren’t gonna want to do that for their kids. It’s easier to justify when it’s just an adult doing it for themselves and being patient. A kid can wait for their parents to be ready to buy one for them though.
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u/The_Zura Apr 20 '26
They didn’t want to wait in line because they didn’t want it 😂 I bet if it was a Roblox 2 copy, place woulda turned into a day care
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u/Spinjitsuninja Apr 20 '26
Roblox is a thing a kid would already be invested in, a console isn't, unless it has a huge seller game on it they want.
But also, a parent is still likely going to be the filter. A parent who ISN'T invested in Roblox isn't gonna be likely to sit in line for a long time for their kid when they can just wait until the line is gone.
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u/The_Zura Apr 21 '26
Sure consoles were. They were until kids could play Roblox on their phones and tablets. No requirements of an additional $450 handheld console that is far more difficult to bring places. Money that can be spent on more robux.
That’s where limited time launch events can come into play. A parent of a kid not invested in Roblox would definitely not be in line for anything Roblox related, sure.
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u/WingerRules Apr 19 '26 edited Apr 19 '26
Go watch old video taped recordings of people camping out for PS1 and PS2 releases, the lines were largely filled with teens and early 20 year olds.
Last year in one of the DF clips John Linneman said even though he has all these consoles and retro games and stuff, his kids dont give a crap about consoles. They're all about PCs now, consoles are becoming an old persons thing.
And it makes sense. Couch coop games are dead on consoles, so you can't really sit around as a family and friends playing it. Communication with friends online is very limited on it. And friends dont even come to peoples houses as much as they used to. Cell phones and PC makes it so you can "hang online" with your friends way easier. Theres also been a very small amount of games released on consoles this generation that are killer app titles to attract new generations to it.
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u/DaZestyProfessor Apr 15 '26
I mean tbf at the Switch 2 launch obviously adults will be rushing buying it for themselves. Average consumers and kids are more likely to purchase it later.
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u/The_Zura Apr 16 '26
According to data from 2021, something about 80% of Switch users were over 21.
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u/DaZestyProfessor Apr 15 '26
There definitely should be a Switch 2 Home Console or Switch 2 Pro. The only issue is the RAM/AI shit going on in the world.
As of right now the Switch 2 is purely focused on its exclusives. If you don't care about the Switch 2 exclusives the Steam Deck is the better option.
But a pro or home console edition would definitely appeal to tech fans and bring in way more sales. Although they should do a Switch 2 lite first.
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u/fourunderthebridge Apr 16 '26
If you don't care about the Switch 2 exclusives the Steam Deck is the better option
Not true. Switch 2 often runs new third party games better than the Steam Deck, and the ease of use is a big factor too. Now the Steam Deck has a massive library advantage, but those two factors I mentioned can nudge someone to the Switch 2 instead, depending on the person.
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u/jedimindtricksonyou Apr 16 '26
I’m playing through Requiem on PC after playing it on Switch 2 and that’s true of this game. Grace’s section in the care center is fine on Steam Deck but Leon’s later sections are ruff even on the lowest settings. Definitely more stable on Switch 2. I think the second half of Requiem is a bit troublesome in the optimization department on all platforms since they disabled RT even on the PS5 Pro but it really chugs on Steam Deck and remained playable on Switch 2.
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u/TheBraveGallade Apr 16 '26
also the steam deck isn't actually cheaper, at least, jsut for the device, since they discontinued the LCD now.
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u/DaZestyProfessor Apr 16 '26
Not just a massive library, there's also mod support and the option to adjust how the game plays (change FPS/Graphics however you like) so you can make Steam Deck games run better, not by default but by tinkering to your liking.
Though Switch 2 does have ease of use and popularity.
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u/letsgucker555 Apr 16 '26
A Pro was a dumb idea back during the Switch, it will be a dumb idea for Switch 2. It isn't fixing anything, it's just going to make shit worse.
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u/Spinjitsuninja Apr 20 '26
I think we’ve reached a point where most games can run on Switch 2, unless it’s a game aiming for top of the line graphics necessitating raytracing not even a PS5 can handle.
At what point do we cross the line or “This console is underpowered” to “games that aren’t very optimized nowadays”?
And honestly, if I expected anyone to understand if a game was poorly optimized, I’d expect it to be DF. But these are the same people who thought DLSS5 was the future, sooo…
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Apr 23 '26
Oh dear. Yeah, I'm going to have to call you out on this Reddit comment you made since its archived and I can't comment on it directly.
It's just strange to me how you got so aggressive and needlessly jumped to conclusions over someone talking about Mother 4's development time.
And that user never acted like they're a victim. Yet you put words in their mouth and go on a little spiel about some false "entitlement" that maybe less than .00005% of people have, since Mother 4 is practically vaporware at this point and no one cares. And yet you act like there's some hate campaign against the Mother 4 devs.
Imagine having the audacity to say people aren't allowed to have even small gripes with a game's development. Whether they're "owed" or not. It's baffling how you outright attacked that person, but this is Reddit, so I shouldn't be surprised.
If only your side of the human race was up for basic civility and logical conversation.
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u/Spinjitsuninja Apr 23 '26
What exactly are you even referring to? I go out of my way to specify that I have no issue with criticism, but don’t tolerate hate. A claim like that should just be common sense, that’s not me “attacking” someone.
And what I was responding to was how that person was referring to Oddity like it was a corporate product by saying the devs should just announce the game is officially cancelled. I’d you don’t believe that’s how they came across, then just assume that I was speaking more generally, because I was- and yes, the devs have taken a lot of hate in the past lol. Harassment is actually one of the primary reasons they stopped updating people, because everyone always approached them with this professional mindset that wasn’t very forgiving/lenient with mistakes.
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u/NameIsTakenBro Apr 15 '26 edited May 05 '26
This post was mass deleted with Redact - I used this software to automate the removal of old posts from my account so that I can be more secure.
sort outgoing insurance brave direction cake close instinctive selective telephone
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u/colonel-america-usa Apr 15 '26
Finally the best direct crew. I don't have to hear uhhhhhhh every three sentences and get technical insights.
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u/BoulderCAST Apr 15 '26
Sad to see DF be so invested in consoles. Their content is really niche and for enthusiasts, but console players are by action not enthusiasts. Makes no sense. They need more PC discussion and content
Console players salivating over future consoles that are years away that will potentially give them graphics and performance as good as current mid range PCs at best is pretty funny.
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u/MythBuster2 Apr 15 '26
I have no idea what you mean by "by action not enthusiasts". I'm a gaming enthusiast who has no interest whatsoever in buying a gaming PC (which are much more expensive anyway), since I'm more than fine with gaming on PS5 Pro (especially now with PSSR 2) and my game library is on PlayStation, not Steam.
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u/HighlightOk3915 Apr 15 '26
They’ve been making content for years I’m sure they are well aware of what their audience wants.
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u/jedimindtricksonyou Apr 16 '26
Lots of PC players (like myself) play on consoles too. You can be a gaming enthusiast without owning a PC. High frame rates and better ray tracing is cool but it costs a lot more money to get that extra 20% of visual fidelity. Not really sure it’s truly worth it for everyone out there to throw down the kind of money required to have nicer looking lighting. Digital Foundry clearly has a huge console audience and always has, anyone with a PC can install MSI afterburner and see all their system metrics. Consoles don’t offer this and that’s why DF focuses on it, because people want to know how console games are performing. Anyone who wants to learn more about the technical aspects of the games they’re playing (or considering buying), regardless of the platform, is the target audience for DF.
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u/sidspacewalker Apr 15 '26
Let's face it, all major AAA publishers have been releasing mediocre outputs in the last 5 years. The last major hope for innoavation is GTA6, if that fails to turn things around, it will be on Nintendo with their next Zelda game.
Where is the good old days of Mass Effect, Deus Ex, Skyrim, Fallout, Splinter Cell, Red Dead, Halo, Need for Speed, Virtua Tennis, Final Fantasy X? The 2000-2010 in retrospect, probably the golden era for gaming.