Nintendo Switch: Difference between revisions
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The Nintendo Switch is a series of hybrid portable/home game consoles released by [[Nintendo]] since 2017 with the original Nintendo Switch. The most recent model in the series is the Nintendo Switch 2, which released in 2025. They generate revenue from | The Nintendo Switch is a series of hybrid portable/home game consoles released by [[Nintendo]] since 2017 with the original Nintendo Switch. The most recent model in the series is the Nintendo Switch 2, which released in 2025. They generate revenue from selling devices, games and [[Nintendo Switch Online]] subscriptions. The Nintendo Switch is the 3rd best-selling console of all time, competing with [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation]], [[Valve]]'s [[Steam Deck]], and other smaller gaming handhelds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dedicated Video Game Sales Units |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128024209/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
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===Joy-con drift=== | ===Joy-con drift=== | ||
On the original Nintendo Switch, Joy-con drift is a common issue that causes certain Joy-Con controllers to malfunction and register false inputs from the joysticks, often caused by a buildup of dust or other debris. 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113011857/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 |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> | On the original Nintendo Switch, Joy-con drift is a common issue that causes certain Joy-Con controllers to malfunction and register false inputs from the joysticks, often caused by a buildup of dust or other debris. 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260113011857/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 |archive-date=13 Jan 2026}}</ref> They also have continued to manufacture and sell Joy-Cons with the same faulty technology for the Nintendo Switch 2. A lawsuit against Nintendo for Joy-Con drift was issued, but the issues were not sufficiently addressed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Catherine |date=14 May 2024 |title=Years after lawsuits were filed against Nintendo for drifting Joy-Con controllers, 2 class action complaints are reportedly set to be dismissed |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/gaming-controllers/years-after-lawsuits-were-filed-against-nintendo-for-drifting-joy-con-controllers-2-class-action-complaints-are-reportedly-set-to-be-dismissed/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260221081500/https://www.gamesradar.com/hardware/gaming-controllers/years-after-lawsuits-were-filed-against-nintendo-for-drifting-joy-con-controllers-2-class-action-complaints-are-reportedly-set-to-be-dismissed/ |archive-date=21 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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===Vendor-specific dock pairing=== | ===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 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Lh9gnkF-Imo |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Non-vendor-approved | 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 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Lh9gnkF-Imo |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> Non-vendor-approved displays, docks and other USB devices 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 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251230005249/https://www.lttlabs.com/blog/2025/08/30/nintendo-switch-2-dock |archive-date=30 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||
===Can't update to the newest version of games via online download=== | ===Can't update to the newest version of games via online download=== | ||
The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 requires games to be updated in order to be launched, if a new version of the game was played on the system. This prevents users from downgrading to older versions of the game to play if, for example, the newest version is experiencing game breaking glitches that the original version doesn't. To bypass this, it is required to reset the entire system to factory settings, resulting in losing all saved progress on the system. Older consoles did not do this, though games generally blocked saves from being used on older versions via marking the save as being made with the newer version. | The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 requires games to be updated in order to be launched, if a new version of the game was played on the system. This prevents users from downgrading to older versions of the game to play if, for example, the newest version is experiencing game breaking glitches that the original version doesn't.{{Citation needed|reason=Personal account|date=25 Mar 2026}} To bypass this, it is required to reset the entire system to factory settings, resulting in losing all saved progress on the system. Older consoles did not do this, though games generally blocked saves from being used on older versions via marking the save as being made with the newer version.{{More citations needed}} | ||
This is a more severe problem with some games, as Nintendo does not keep the newest version of all games on their update servers, so some Game Card games may come with newer versions of the game than the online updater can update to. This results in the game being unplayable if switching to a digital version of the game or a Game Card version that doesn't have the newest version. The only way to bypass this without resetting the system is to use the update synchronization feature that requires two or more Nintendo Switch systems with the game installed, and one with the newest Game Card version installed, to transfer the newest version of the game to another system and then back to the system that needs the newest version to run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NintendoRevised |date=2024-09-04 |title=This issue *could* ruin Nintendo Switch collecting! Be aware!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2h6hzRN02o |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=h2h6hzRN02o |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NintendoRevised |date=2024-09-05 |title= | This is a more severe problem with some games, as Nintendo does not keep the newest version of all games on their update servers, so some Game Card games may come with newer versions of the game than the online updater can update to. This results in the game being unplayable if switching to a digital version of the game or a Game Card version that doesn't have the newest version. The only way to bypass this without resetting the system is to use the update synchronization feature that requires two or more Nintendo Switch systems with the game installed, and one with the newest Game Card version installed, to transfer the newest version of the game to another system and then back to the system that needs the newest version to run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NintendoRevised |date=2024-09-04 |title=This issue *could* ruin Nintendo Switch collecting! Be aware!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2h6hzRN02o |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=h2h6hzRN02o |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NintendoRevised |date=2024-09-05 |title= | ||
FOLLOW TO PREVIOUS VIDEO - This issue *could* ruin Nintendo Switch collecting! Be aware!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ntd5gwklM |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=49ntd5gwklM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | FOLLOW TO PREVIOUS VIDEO - This issue *could* ruin Nintendo Switch collecting! Be aware!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49ntd5gwklM |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=YouTube |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=49ntd5gwklM |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
===GameChat lock behind a subscription paywall (April 2026)=== | |||
Since April 1, 2026, GameChat, an application that can be launched by pressing a dedicated button in the Nintendo Switch 2, has been locked behind a [[paywall]]. This feature used to be free at first, and now in order to use it it is required to have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. <ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psa-youll-have-to-pay-for-switch-2s-gamechat-soon-and-its-not-worth-it/1100-6538665/</ref><ref>https://www.thegamer.com/switch-2-gamechat-paid-nso-april-1/</ref> | |||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||