It’s easy for the imagination to run wild when thinking about the possibilities of theNintendo Switch 2.Little has been revealed about Nintendo’s upcoming Switch successor, other than that it will allegedly be a more powerful version of the previous, wildly successful hybrid console.
Renewed power will undeniably be a boon for theNintendo Switch 2as it strives to compete with the likes of PlayStation and Xbox, but it’s not the end-all be-all. The ninth console generation has yielded a number of strong projects that make great use of newer hardware, though the past few years have been shrouded in a sense of disappointment as well, with many feeling that some of the best post-2020 games could be run smoothly on a last-gen system—and indeed, many of them do. All of this is to say that Nintendo doesn’t necessarily need to match its competitors' hardware capabilities to stay relevant, but certain console features are a different story.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Could Benefit from an Achievements Equivalent
Nintendo’s Leading Console Still Lacks an Achievements/Trophies System
The value of achievements and trophies in modern gamesis subjective, as many players could take or leave these digital accolades, while others tackle games with the express goal of getting the ever-elusive platinum. There are even obscure games that eke out a profit for the sole reason that they are easy to platinum. But wherever one falls on the spectrum, it’s hard to deny that it can be remarkably satisfying to check such boxes, immaterial as they may be to success in the actual games themselves.
Given the prominence of trophies and achievements following the seventh console generation, it’s a bit puzzling that Nintendo’s own consoles haven’t responded with their own internal milestone system. This is especially questionable since cross-platform games that are popular on the Switch, likeStardew Valley, have achievements on other platforms, forcing some players to choose between the portability of the Switch and the satisfying completionist tools that are achievements and trophies. With more high-fidelity games being notably downgraded for the Switch, the inability to earn these virtual rewards can serve as an additional strike against the console. In other words, if achievements and trophies are features that players care about, then the Switch is lacking an important feature, making it an inferior way to enjoy many third-party games.
Achievements are far from a console-specific trend, as major PC launchers like Steam and theEpic Games Store feature similar awards systems.
Adding Trophies/Achievements Could Make the Switch 2 a More Complete Platform
Aside from the noticeable dearth of power compared to its competition, one of the biggest marks against the Switch is its lack of modern features. Usually, these criticisms are leveled against things likethe Switch’s online ecosystem, which omits common-sense tools like voice chat, or against the console’s quality-of-life shortcomings, such as the ability to run minor apps like streaming services alongside games. Maybe no achievements isn’t as big a deal as the aforementioned issues, but they are part of the same, broader problem.
Nintendo views its consoles as gaming devices, not game-and-other-entertainment hubs like the PlayStation or Xbox. There’s nothing wrong with that. But when a not-insignificant portion of the gaming populace prioritizes something like trophies/achievements, which is directly related to the overall gaming experience, it begs asking why Nintendo doesn’t pull the trigger on its own, potentially branded, equivalent. And unlike something like voice chat or the running of concurrent programs, the Switch’s lower power doesn’t preclude something like achievements.More power on the Switch 2could lead to more advanced features, but Nintendo should dot its I’s first, joining Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in the silly, needless, but gratifying world of digital laurels.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.
