It's easy to imagine when thinking about the possibilities Nintendo Switch 2. Little has been revealed about the successor to the Nintendo Switch, other than it will apparently be a more powerful version of the previous wildly successful hybrid console.
The renewed power will undoubtedly be a boon for the Nintendo Switch 2 as it tries to compete with the PlayStation and Xbox, but it won't be the last thing. The 9th generation of consoles has delivered a number of strong projects that make great use of the newer hardware, though the past few years have also been shrouded in disappointment, and many feel that some of the best games post-2020 could run. become No problem on a last generation system – and indeed, many do. All of this is to say that Nintendo doesn't necessarily need to match the hardware capabilities of its competitors to stay relevant, but some of the console's features are a different story.
Nintendo Switch 2 could benefit from equivalent achievements
Nintendo's flagship console still lacks an achievement/trophy system
The value of achievements and rewards in modern games is subjective, as many players can take or leave these digital accolades, while others play games with the express goal of achieving the ever-elusive platinum. There are even obscure games that make a profit just because they go platinum easily. But wherever we fall on the spectrum, it's hard to deny that ticking such boxes can be very satisfying, even though they may be inconsequential to success in the actual games themselves.
Given the prominence of trophies and achievements since the 7th generation of consoles, it's a bit puzzling that Nintendo's own consoles haven't responded with their own built-in milestone system. This is especially questionable since cross-platform games are popular on the Switch Stardew Valleyhave achievements on other platforms, forcing some players to choose between Switch portability and the satisfying finishing tools that are achievements and trophies. With the significant reduction in high-quality games for the Switch, the inability to earn these virtual rewards could serve as an additional blow against the console. In other words, if achievements and trophies are the features that players care about, the Switch lacks an important feature that makes it a poor way to enjoy many third-party games.
Adding rewards/achievements would make the Switch 2 a more complete platform
Aside from the noticeable lack of power compared to the competition, one of the Switch's biggest drawbacks is its lack of modern features. Typically, these criticisms are leveled at things like the Switch's online ecosystem, which removes sensible tools like voice chat, or against the console's quality-of-life shortcomings, like the ability to run minor apps like streaming services alongside games. Perhaps no achievement is as important as the above, but they are part of the same broader problem.
Nintendo sees its consoles as gaming devices, not hubs for other games and entertainment like the PlayStation or Xbox. There is no problem. But when a not-so-significant portion of the gaming public prioritizes something like trophies/achievements that are directly tied to the overall gaming experience, it begs the question why Nintendo on its own, potentially the brand, isn't doing the equivalent. And unlike something like voice chat or running apps at the same time, the Switch's low power doesn't get in the way of things like achievements. More power on the Switch 2 could lead to more advanced features, but Nintendo should be my first stop and join the Xbox, PlayStation and PC in the silly, unnecessary, but enjoyable world of digital lore.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that was released in 2017 and has the ability to play in handheld mode or connect to a TV. The Switch Lite, a manual-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED update coming in 2021.
