Critics Are Panicking For Nothing After Nintendo’s Controversial Decision With Switch 2

SUMMARY

• People are overreacting to the Nintendo Switch 2's rumored 8nm tech
• Have we forgotten Nintendo’s history of optimizing performance on older hardware?
• Besides, these are just leaks. Let's not jump to any conclusions yet.

Nintendo has found itself in the spotlight again as we get even more leaks about the Switch 2. This time, pictures of the upcoming handheld’s motherboard were leaked and people online had a lot of negative things to say about it. The recent leak revealed that its CPU would feature an 8nm architecture dated back to 2018.

Leaks remain leaks so let’s not speculate too far. | Image Credit: Nintendo

Fans online immediately began to criticize this choice saying that the dated tech wouldn’t work. But Nintendo’s track record suggests the company knows how to balance cost, performance, and user experience, and the Switch 2 is likely no exception.

People are really overreacting to the Nintendo Switch 2’s leaked specs

The 2018 argument is moot if you look at games from that year. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

It began when CentroLeaks posted images of what they claimed to be the Switch 2 motherboard, pointing to an Nvidia system-on-a-chip (SoC) manufactured using Samsung’s 8nm process. People immediately claimed that the use of 2018-era technology could result in poor performance and subpar battery life.

But this concern is largely speculative and isn’t even based on actual confirmed specs. Nintendo has consistently leveraged older hardware to produce standout consoles, from the Game Boy to the original Switch, which became one of the best-selling systems of all time despite its modest specifications. It’s safe to expect the same from the Switch 2.

Nintendo’s reliance on cost-effective hardware is nothing new. The company has prioritized affordability and innovation over raw power. People had similar complaints about the Switch’s 2017 hardware, yet it became one of the best-selling consoles of all time. Now we consider games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom some of the most beautiful games ever made.

"waah the switch 2 uses tech from 2018 the system is gonna be so bad" meanwhile this is what games from 2018 looked like pic.twitter.com/hZxmamvQFh

Modern games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn were built on 2018 hardware, yet they continue to impress with their graphical fidelity and performance. Nintendo is known for tailoring its games to its hardware and is unlikely to release a console incapable of running its flagship titles smoothly.

We might get more bangers like Tears of the Kingdom on the Switch 2

Pure performance has never been the company’s motto anyway. | Image Credit: Nintendo

Another aspect often overlooked is Nintendo’s audience. Unlike competitors like Sony and Microsoft which focus on raw power for gamers, Nintendo caters to a different demographic, including families and casual gamers. For many in this audience, gameplay and creativity precede resolution and frame rates. This has been a hallmark of Nintendo’s success, from the Game Boy to the Wii, and remains a strength today.

What has fueled the controversy is the claim that an older manufacturing node would handicap the Switch 2 compared to competitors like the Steam Deck or next-gen handhelds. But the leaked specs don’t support this claim. The Switch 2 is rumored to include 12GB of LPDDR5 memory, 256GB of storage, and features like Nvidia’s AI-assisted upscaling, akin to DLSS. So it’s still going to pack a punch.

Aside from hardware performance, the Switch 2 has other rumored upgrades to take note of. The new Joy-Cons will reportedly feature Hall Effect joystick technology as an upgrade to the massively common Joy-Con drift problem that seemingly every single owner of the Switch had.

What do you think the Switch 2’s actual performance will be? Let us know in the comments!

Written by Daniel Royte

Articles Published: 658

Daniel is a gamer through and through with a passion for gaming in his veins. His current adventures have taken him into the world of Elden Ring, Wuthering Waves, and Genshin Impact, amongst others.