"Former PlayStation President's Mixed Feelings on Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal during an interview with Easy Allies. His reaction was notably reserved, expressing a sense of mixed feelings about the new console.

Yoshida commented, "To me, it was a bit of a mixed message from Nintendo. In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. 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."

He further elaborated on the appeal of the Switch 2 for those who primarily game on Nintendo hardware, noting that it allows them to play titles like Elden Ring, which were previously unavailable. However, for gamers familiar with other platforms, the excitement might be less pronounced. Yoshida pointed out that while the reveal attracted millions of viewers, the majority of games showcased were ports from past generations. He did, however, express enthusiasm for "Enter the Gungeon 2," praising its announcement.

Yoshida also commended "Drag x Drive" for embodying a "very Nintendo" vibe and discussed the system's pricing, noting differences between Japan and other regions. He concluded, "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."

Acknowledging the Switch 2 as a sound business decision driven by talented designers, Yoshida's overall sentiment reflects a common online sentiment: the system plays it safe, which might be a strategic move but can be disappointing for fans of Nintendo's unique and innovative approach. Despite this, features like mouse controls hint at Nintendo's playful developer nature.

Regarding pricing, Yoshida's discussion with Easy Allies touched on the topic, but the exact cost of the Switch 2 in the U.S. remains undisclosed. Nintendo has paused North American pre-orders due to new tariffs announced the same day as the system's reveal. With a global launch scheduled for June 5, Nintendo is under pressure to resolve these issues swiftly.