There are still plenty of reasons to pick up the Nintendo Switch if you haven’t already. You’ll love the Switch for these reasons. Because of its innovative format and stellar game lineup, the Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling console Nintendo’s ever made. Yet Nintendo hasn’t improved the Switch’s performance much since its release, while other consoles have updated hardware and improved features. That’s why you might be unsure in 2023 about buying a Switch.
1. Long-Term Support for the Switch
Switch is six years old now, which is pretty mature for a console. Five years after Nintendo’s previous consoles, the Wii and DS, the Wii U and 3DS replaced them, and eight years after Sony and Microsoft. Switch consoles aren’t coming out until 2023, so there’s no point buying one. Anyone looking to upgrade their Switch would be hard pressed to justify the OLED model’s screen and storage.
The Switch won’t go away anytime soon. Shuntaro Furukawa told investors during an investor Q/A in early 2022 that Nintendo aimed to build long-term relationships with customers. According to him, Nintendo’s current challenge is transitioning to the next generation of hardware, but it won’t happen anytime soon.
Maybe the next console will have backward compatibility; we don’t know yet. You can buy a Switch in 2023 with confidence since Nintendo isn’t abandoning it.
2. Share With Friends on the Switch
Nintendo Switch makes gaming fun for friends, and it’s the perfect console for that. It’s easy to play with a friend with the detachable Joy-Cons. Both the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) and the regular Switch console include detachable Joy-Cons. If you’re looking for a console where you can play with a buddy, don’t buy the Switch Lite.
You get two controllers for the price of one when you buy Joy-Cons. Its innovative controllers and a huge library of games make the Switch the go-to gaming console if you’re planning to play socially. You can also play the Switch anywhere because of the built-in stand and dock.
3. There’s No Better Portable Console Than the Switch Lite
Until now, the Switch has only been compared to Valve’s Steam Deck. Although both are powerful handhelds, the Switch still has the edge in portability. If you want ultimate portability, the Switch Lite is the answer. It’s smaller and lighter than the Steam Deck.
The Switch Lite has some flaws. The controllers can’t be detached, and HDMI input means you can’t connect it to your TV. There’s no performance reduction, but it’s $100 cheaper. Keep an eye out for games that don’t support handheld mode on the Switch. Switch Lite is still the best portable and affordable console.
Compared to the Switch Lite and the traditional Switch, the Steam Deck is about $200 more.
4. There Are Tons of Games on the Switch
No matter how easy it is to transport and how easy it is to play with friends, if its games aren’t entertaining, none of that matters. Gamers of all types will find plenty to play on the Switch. Nintendo and third-party publishers keep rolling out great Switch games. There are games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Overcooked for people who like the social aspect of the Switch. We recommend buying a high-quality Nintendo Switch controller if you want to play Doom 2016 or Dark Souls 3.
In addition to Nintendo exclusive games, the Switch is also the only way to play Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Kirby and The Forgotten Land, and other recent releases. You can also play games that aren’t Nintendo games on the Nintendo Switch, like Fortnite and Minecraft. There are new games coming out all the time, so if you buy a Switch in 2023, you’ll have a ton of choices.
5. Nintendo Switch Online Keeps Getting Better
With Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo shows how committed it is to the Switch. Even though it wasn’t that stellar at launch and had a lot of connectivity issues, it’s now a favorite among Switch owners. Playing couch games with friends on the Switch is awesome, but you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. You get access to NES and SNES games with your subscription, too, so it’s more than just online multiplayer.
Additionally, you can play N64 and Sega Genesis games with the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. There’s no need to mess around with emulators or buy retro consoles to play retro games. In addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Splatoon 2, the Expansion Pack has DLC for all three games.
The Switch might also get GBA games like it has NES, SNES, N64, Sega, and SNES games. Several Mario and Pokémon games are rumored for the GBA. In spite of some improvements, Nintendo Switch Online now has the potential to be a helpful tool for Switch owners.
Nintendo Switch Is Still a Worthwhile Buy In 2023
While the Nintendo Switch has its flaws, it’s still worth buying in 2023. Even though the OLED model was released in 2021, it lacked internal hardware improvements, indicating Nintendo doesn’t plan to make any upgrades soon.
While this is a significant downside, The Switch has a ton of games and continued first-party support, so it’s a worthy competitor. New games and DLCs are added constantly to Nintendo’s online platform. The Switch is also rumored to release GBA games, so you’ll have to get one to play your old favorites.
