"Ex-PlayStation President Disappointed with Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his candid thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal during an interview with Easy Allies. His reaction was not filled with the usual enthusiasm one might expect.

Yoshida expressed that the reveal felt like a "mixed message" from Nintendo, suggesting that the company might be straying from its unique identity. He elaborated, "For me, they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something that [is an] amazing new experience. But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 fps, they even have a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is, you know, 'We made things better'. And that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

While acknowledging that the Switch 2 offers exciting prospects for those who primarily game on Nintendo hardware—such as playing titles like Elden Ring—Yoshida noted that it might not be as thrilling for gamers with other platforms. He also pointed out that the reveal event, which garnered millions of viewers, primarily showcased ports from past generations rather than new, innovative titles. However, he singled out "Enter the Gungeon 2" for praise, calling it an impressive announcement.

Yoshida also commended "Drag x Drive" for embodying the "very Nintendo" spirit. He touched on the system's pricing, noting differences between Japan and the rest of the world, and expressed disappointment that the Switch 2 did not deliver the unexpected, saying, "Anyway, with some of the things Nintendo is doing, with the camera or mouse controls, creating new experiences, that's great. But other than that, I was personally a bit disappointed, because they didn't disappoint everyone. Because everyone wanted that better Switch."

Despite his reservations, Yoshida recognized the Switch 2 as a smart business move, crediting the technical enhancements to the skills of Nintendo's designers. He acknowledged the system's safer approach while highlighting features like mouse controls that showcase Nintendo's playful side.

The pricing of the Switch 2 in the U.S. remains undisclosed, as Nintendo paused North American pre-orders due to new tariffs announced the day of the system's reveal. With the global launch set for June 5, the clock is ticking for Nintendo to finalize these details.