Nintendo Switch: Difference between revisions
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==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
*User Freedom: - Content is locked behind a subscription wall ([[Nintendo Switch Online]]) - A recent privacy policy<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> change has reserved Nintendo the right to | *User Freedom: - Content is locked behind a subscription wall ([[Nintendo Switch Online]]) - A recent privacy policy<ref name="PrivacyPolicyMain">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Privacy Policy |url=https://accounts.nintendo.com/term/privacy_policy/US?lang=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Nintendo Accounts}}</ref> change has reserved Nintendo the right to remotely disable certain features of the console in the United States, up to and including rendering the device completely inoperable.<ref name="RunNGameYouTube">{{Cite web |last=Run N Game Entertainment |date=May 13, 2025 |title=Is Nintendo breaking the law? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOiD-lvaok |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=YouTube}}</ref> - The Switch 2 requires an internet connection in order to install a patch, which halted early adopters from playing on the system before launch.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Alleexxi |date=May 27, 2025 |title=The Nintendo Switch 2 is already in end users' hands. {{!}} Switch Locked behind Day 1 Patch |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527185423/https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kwv8go/the_nintendo_switch_2_is_already_in_end_users/ |archive-date=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 28, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> - Switch 2 consoles can ban users from accessing online services if tampering is detected, such as MIG Switch cartridges.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Scattered Brain |date=Jun 16, 2025 |title=Soo... Nintendo banned my Switch 2 (Don't try the MIG Switch!) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
*User Privacy: | *User Privacy: Nintendo has penalized Switch 2 owners for using the system in a way they do not see fit by remotely bricking their consoles | ||
*Business Model: Game sales, [[Nintendo Switch Online]] subscriptions | *Business Model: Game sales, [[Nintendo Switch Online]] subscriptions | ||
*Market Control: Competing against [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation]], [[Valve]]'s [[Steam Deck]],<!-- How I hope we NEVER need to make an article on that console... --> among other smaller gaming handhelds. | *Market Control: Competing against [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation]], [[Valve]]'s [[Steam Deck]],<!-- How I hope we NEVER need to make an article on that console... --> among other smaller gaming handhelds. | ||
*Joy-con Drift: On the Switch 1, Joy-con drift was an issue. Nintendo offered free repairs in certain territories, but not in all territories<ref>{{Cite news |last=TO@st |first=TO@st |title=Nintendo to Fix Drifting Joy-Cons in EEA, CH and UK Territories, Even Out of Warranty Units to Receive Free Repairs |url=https://www.techpowerup.com/306830/nintendo-to-fix-drifting-joy-cons-in-eea-ch-and-uk-territories-even-out-of-warranty-units-to-receive-free-repairs |access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref>. | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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Additionally, ''[[Nintendo]]'' has been attempting to bury footage collected by these early users covering this, using the antipiracy firm [[Web Capio|''Web Capio'']]'s assistance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=May 28, 2025 |title=After years of intense leaks, Nintendo’s got the Switch 2 launch on lockdown |url=https://www.polygon.com/nintendo/601984/switch-2-leaks-takedowns-antipiracy |access-date=May 29, 2025 |work=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Tweet from @ethangach |url=https://x.com/ethangach/status/1927467805680472150 |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=X (formerly [[Twitter]])}}</ref> | Additionally, ''[[Nintendo]]'' has been attempting to bury footage collected by these early users covering this, using the antipiracy firm [[Web Capio|''Web Capio'']]'s assistance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=May 28, 2025 |title=After years of intense leaks, Nintendo’s got the Switch 2 launch on lockdown |url=https://www.polygon.com/nintendo/601984/switch-2-leaks-takedowns-antipiracy |access-date=May 29, 2025 |work=Polygon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Tweet from @ethangach |url=https://x.com/ethangach/status/1927467805680472150 |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=X (formerly [[Twitter]])}}</ref> | ||
=== Bricking consoles post-launch (June 2025 - Now)<!-- Will move some of this to the main article FYI --> === | ===Bricking consoles post-launch (June 2025 - Now)<!-- Will move some of this to the main article FYI -->=== | ||
{{Main|Nintendo Switch bans}} | {{Main|Nintendo Switch bans}} | ||
Discovered by owners of the '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''', the console is capable of detecting when the console is being tampered with. Previous reports on ''GBATemp''<ref>{{Cite web |last=LagunaLoire88 |date=May 29, 2025 |title=Post from LagunaLoire88 |url=https://gbatemp.net/threads/best-practice-for-preserving-switch-2-exploitability.671473/page-3#post-10661329 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=GBATemp}}</ref> were seen as questionable from the community,{{Citation needed}} such as a voltage detection mechanism, however they did successfully predict that the ''MIG Switch cartridge'' can cause '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''' consoles to be incapable of accessing online services,<ref name=":3" /> including but not limited to the ''[[Nintendo]] eShop''. | Discovered by owners of the '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''', the console is capable of detecting when the console is being tampered with. Previous reports on ''GBATemp''<ref>{{Cite web |last=LagunaLoire88 |date=May 29, 2025 |title=Post from LagunaLoire88 |url=https://gbatemp.net/threads/best-practice-for-preserving-switch-2-exploitability.671473/page-3#post-10661329 |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=GBATemp}}</ref> were seen as questionable from the community,{{Citation needed}} such as a voltage detection mechanism, however they did successfully predict that the ''MIG Switch cartridge'' can cause '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''' consoles to be incapable of accessing online services,<ref name=":3" /> including but not limited to the ''[[Nintendo]] eShop''. | ||
[[File:Bricked Switch 2.png|thumb|A screenshot from a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s video by Scattered Brain], displaying his Switch 2 console being bricked]] | [[File:Bricked Switch 2.png|thumb|A screenshot from a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgYTA18_vo&t=656s video by Scattered Brain], displaying his Switch 2 console being bricked]] | ||
This has brought up concerns from the community<ref>{{Cite web |last=FritangaPlays |date=Jun 18, 2025 |title=Switch 2 Brick Situation JUST GOT WORSE Nintendo Screws Over ANOTHER User |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tk8ycQKWqo |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> as banned consoles will be incapable of playing a majority of physically released titles. A significant portion of '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''' software releases that are physical are only available via [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|''Game-Key Cards'']],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref> especially 3rd-party releases. These cards require access to the ''[[Nintendo]] eShop'' to be capable of installing the game, meaning consoles that are banned from online services from ''[[Nintendo]]'' are effectively incapable of playing most releases for the console.<ref name=":3" /> | This has brought up concerns from the community<ref>{{Cite web |last=FritangaPlays |date=Jun 18, 2025 |title=Switch 2 Brick Situation JUST GOT WORSE Nintendo Screws Over ANOTHER User |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tk8ycQKWqo |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> as banned consoles will be incapable of playing a majority of physically released titles. A significant portion of '''''Nintendo Switch 2''''' software releases that are physical are only available via [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card|''Game-Key Cards'']],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Jason |date=Jun 5, 2025 |title=Buying Physical? Watch Out For the Switch 2's Game-Key Cards |url=https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/nintendo-switch-2-game-cards-vs-game-key-cards-vs-downloads-whats-the-difference |access-date=Jun 18, 2025 |work=PC Mag}}</ref> especially 3rd-party releases. These cards require access to the ''[[Nintendo]] eShop'' to be capable of installing the game, meaning consoles that are banned from online services from ''[[Nintendo]]'' are effectively incapable of playing most releases for the console.<ref name=":3" /> | ||
===Requiring an online connection to set up Switch 2 consoles=== | ===Requiring an online connection to set up Switch 2 consoles=== | ||
As part of a measure to stop piracy, Nintendo requires that the console is connected online,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> however, roughly 21% of the US population (72 million) individuals in the US lack at least home broadband, meaning that these users cannot use the Switch 2 if they wished to purchase it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Researchers at Pew Research |date=Nov 13, 2024 |title=Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |work=Pew Research Center}}</ref> There are also concerns from consumers who live in sanctioned countries such as Russia,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=wirantoos |date=May 28, 2025 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 - leaked first boot! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kxeux6/nintendo_switch_2_leaked_first_boot/?embed_host_url=https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> as they may be unable to play the console in general, potentially risking a console ban,<ref name=":1" /> with the internet setup restrictions. | As part of a measure to stop piracy, Nintendo requires that the console is connected online,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> however, roughly 21% of the US population (72 million) individuals in the US lack at least home broadband, meaning that these users cannot use the Switch 2 if they wished to purchase it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Researchers at Pew Research |date=Nov 13, 2024 |title=Internet, Broadband Fact Sheet |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/internet-broadband/ |access-date=May 29, 2025 |work=Pew Research Center}}</ref> There are also concerns from consumers who live in sanctioned countries such as Russia,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=wirantoos |date=May 28, 2025 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 - leaked first boot! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1kxeux6/nintendo_switch_2_leaked_first_boot/?embed_host_url=https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe |access-date=May 29, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> as they may be unable to play the console in general, potentially risking a console ban,<ref name=":1" /> with the internet setup restrictions. | ||
=== Vendor-specific dock pairing === | |||
The Switch 2 handheld console has been observed to require Nintendo-specific protocol extensions to the USB protocol to connect to the charging dock or a video sink.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Linus Tech Tips |date=2025-08-30 |title=Nintendo's Greed could Change the Tech Industry |url=https://youtu.be/Lh9gnkF-Imo |access-date=2025-09-01 |website=YouTube}}</ref> Non-vendor-approved USB devices --- displays, docks --- might lack the ability to output the video stream from the Switch 2.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=N. |first=Lucas |date=2025-08-30 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 Dock USB-C Compatibility |url=https://www.lttlabs.com/blog/2025/08/30/nintendo-switch-2-dock |website=LTT Labs}}</ref> | |||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||
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*Pro Controller | *Pro Controller | ||
*Switch 2 Camera | *Switch 2 Camera | ||
*Switch 2 Dock | |||
=== Other === | ===Other=== | ||
* [[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card]] | *[[Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card]] | ||
==See also== | ==See also== |