It's easy for the imagination to run wild when thinking about the possibilities Nintendo Switch 2. Little has been revealed about the upcoming successor to the Nintendo Switch, other than it's supposed to be a more powerful version of the wildly successful previous hybrid console.
The renewed power will undoubtedly be a boon for the Nintendo Switch 2 as it strives to compete with the PlayStation and Xbox, but it's not the be-all and end-all. The ninth generation of consoles spawned a number of strong projects that make very good use of the newer hardware, although the last few years have also been shrouded in a sense of disappointment, with many feeling that some of the best games post -2020 could be run. smoothly on a high-end system – and indeed, many of them do. All of this means that Nintendo doesn't necessarily have to match the hardware capabilities of its competitors to stay relevant, but certain console features are a different story.
Nintendo Switch 2 could benefit from an achievement equivalent
Nintendo's main console still doesn't have an achievement/trophy system
The value of achievements and trophies in modern games is subjective, as many players may take or leave these digital awards, while others approach games with the express goal of obtaining the ever-elusive platinum. There are even obscure games that turn a profit for the sole reason that they are easy to platinum. But wherever they fall on the spectrum, it's hard to deny that it can be remarkably satisfying to tick such boxes, however immaterial they may be to success in actual games.
Given the importance of trophies and achievements following the seventh generation of consoles, it's a little puzzling that Nintendo's own consoles haven't responded with their own internal benchmark system. This is questionable especially since cross-platform games that are popular on the Switch, such as Stardew Valleyhave achievements on other platforms, forcing some players to choose between the Switch's portability and the satisfying completist tools that are achievements and trophies. With several high-fidelity games being significantly downgraded for the Switch, the inability to earn these virtual rewards may serve as an additional strike against the console. In other words, if achievements and trophies are features that gamers care about, then the Switch is missing an important feature that makes it an inferior way to enjoy many third-party games.
Adding trophies/achievements could make Switch 2 a more complete platform
Aside from the noticeable lack of power compared to its competition, one of the biggest marks against the Switch is its lack of modern features. Typically, these criticisms are leveled at things like the Switch's online ecosystem, which omits common sense tools like voice chat, or against the console's quality-of-life shortcomings, like the ability to run minor apps, such as streaming services alongside games. Perhaps neither achievement is as big a problem as the problems mentioned above, but they are part of the same larger problem.
Nintendo sees its consoles as gaming devices, not gaming and other entertainment hubs like the PlayStation or Xbox. There is nothing wrong with that. But when a not-insignificant portion of the gaming population prioritizes something like trophies/achievements that are directly tied to the overall gaming experience, one wonders why Nintendo doesn't pull the trigger on the potential brand equivalent themselves. And unlike something like voice chat or running competing programs, the Switch's lower power doesn't preclude something like achievements. More power on the Switch 2 could lead to more advanced features, but Nintendo should dot its first I, joining the Xbox, PlayStation and PC in the silly, pointless, but gratifying world of digital laurels.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console released in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or connected to a television. The Switch Lite, a portable-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh in 2021.
