I Expected the Switch 2 to Impress Me—Instead, I’m Holding My ROG Ally X Even Tighter

If you have been keeping up with ours upcoming live blog before Nintendo's major Switch 2 announcement , you may recall my input where I mentioned that I was looking forward to seeing if Nintendo could impress me with their new system enough to make me purchase one of their consoles for the first time since the GameCube.

With some time passed since the event, I must admit that Nintendo did not meet expectations. I was hoping for an impressive portable gaming device at a reasonable cost along with exclusive titles that could win me back over to Nintendo. Unfortunately, we didn’t get any of those things.

The hardware, as demonstrated by Nintendo, was fine I particularly appreciate the updated 7.9-inch display, which seems bigger and thus more suitable for gaming. This appears to be part of a promising development. PC gaming handhelds offering bigger display choices.

The 1080p resolution along with the 120Hz variable refresh rate support were significant pluses for me; nonetheless, I felt let down as the display utilized LCD technology rather than OLED. Optimistically speaking, I considered this choice could have been made to keep the console’s overall cost appealing. On the flip side, my inner skeptic assumes that this decision paves the way for a potential future release featuring an OLED model.

I equally appreciate the appearance of it. New Joy-Con controllers that connect using magnets (hopefully they’ll have the same satisfying pull that you get when you attach a MagSafe 3 charger to a MacBook), and being able to use them like mice means the Switch 2 It could serve as an excellent platform for underrepresented genres like real-time strategy games. However, you would need to have a flat surface nearby to utilize them similar to how you'd use a mouse, which somewhat undermines the portability aspect of the Switch 2.

I'm out, Nintendo. It seems you've lost my interest.

Following those initial highlights, my enthusiasm for the Switch 2 waned considerably though. With the introduction of the new C button, it seems Nintendo has acknowledged that social interaction through online chatting among friends is important, and the Switch Camera , which simply appears to be Nest Camera Isn’t that thrilling as well? The demo video appeared to indicate that the video streams have a low frame rate, resulting in somewhat choppy and off-putting content.

I was let down by the gameplay demo as well, particularly due to its subpar visuals which appeared decidedly outdated. Many argue that 'it’s Nintendo; raw processing power has never really mattered,' and this holds true for modern systems. However, historically speaking, this hasn't always been so—take the SNES and N64, for instance, they outperformed their rivals at the time.

Regardless, high-quality graphics aren't everything (I'm still largely fixated on the game). Balatro , which isn’t particularly innovative), provided there’s an appealing artistic style. However, if third-party games appear significantly inferior compared to those on rival systems, you must excel in other areas to convince people to choose your console.

One aspect is the presence of first-party exclusive games that can only be played on the console. Historically, Nintendo has been particularly adept at this, and by choosing not to release their titles for PCs, if you wish to experience a Mario or Zelda game, you must purchase a Nintendo system.

This week's announcement fell short because there wasn’t much content from first-party developers. As far as major reveals went, we got a new entry in the extensive Mario Kart series and a Kirby racing game—predictable stuff for fans of the character. Overall, I found myself less than impressed.

The price isn't right

A different approach to attract customers is offering a significantly lower price than competitors. Nintendo has successfully employed this strategy before, but it appears they have overlooked this aspect with the introduction of the Switch 2.

Priced at $449.99 / £395.99 / AU$699.95 upon release, this console comes with a hefty cost. Competing directly with Sony, this system is quite pricey. PS5 Now, it often sells for even lower prices, and Nintendo faces an issue as the Switch 2 has to compete not only with the PS5 but also. Xbox Series X , including PC gaming handheld devices like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X .

PC gaming handhelds constitute an expanding market segment, with numerous options available as corporations such as Valve, Asus, and Lenovo develop their respective devices. This provides consumers seeking portable gaming consoles with various choices right from the start.

This indicates that some portable devices available possess stronger hardware compared to the Switch 2, thus providing superior gaming experiences. Meanwhile, there are also less potent versions that come at a lower price point than the Switch 2.

I was equally stunned by the cost. Switch 2 games, With the upcoming Mario Kart game priced at $79.99 / £74.99, I've noticed some individuals speculating that Switch 2 titles might cost as much as $90.

This is incredibly pricey, which means that if I were to get a Switch 2, my collection of games would likely end up quite limited since I simply can't afford to keep buying games at this cost frequently.

Nintendo titles tend to maintain their price points persistently, often for many years following their launch. Therefore, I likely won't be able to purchase a new Switch 2 further into the console’s lifecycle and acquire older games at reduced costs.

In this aspect, PC gaming handhelds outshine the Switch 2. Generally, PC games cost less compared to their console counterparts. Additionally, since PCs operate on an open platform, numerous storefronts are available for purchasing games (like Steam, the Epic Games Store, or even Amazon). This diversity fosters greater competition among retailers, resulting in frequent discounts and promotions designed to attract players.

On the Switch 2, should you wish to purchase a digital game, your options are limited to buying directly from Nintendo. Consequently, you depend on them reducing their game prices, which isn't a common practice for the company.

During the Switch 2 event, I kept feeling incredibly grateful for owning an Asus ROG Ally X, as it provides a handy portable gaming setup coupled with outstanding performance and access to a vast selection of budget-friendly titles. What’s even better is that the games purchased for the Ally X can seamlessly be enjoyed on both my gaming PC and Steam Deck, eliminating the need for additional purchases—a significant advantage over the Switch 2 regarding cost-effectiveness.

Certainly, the one feature that the ROG Ally X cannot perform – just like any competing PC gaming handheld – is officially playing Nintendo titles.

The primary strength of the Switch 2 lies here, although I haven't found myself enthusiastic about the initial titles revealed yet. Should Nintendo release exceptional new entries for beloved franchises like Mario, Zelda, or Pokémon—or perhaps introduce an entirely fresh series—that captivate me enough to feel compelled to dive into them but require purchasing the updated system, they might just sway my opinion. For now though, I'm content keeping things as they are with my ROG Ally X, quite happily.