Sunday, December 15th 2024
Nintendo Switch Leak Tips LCD, Hall Effect Joysticks
With the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 all but a given, much has been said about the new handheld gaming console in leaks and rumors. Now, a new set of supposed leaks from Decky Wizard on X have caused a bit of consternation among the Switch community, given the seemingly random mix of upgrades and perceived downgrades coming to the next-gen Switch. Minor details include larger buttons, a redesigned dock, and three colorways at launch, however, details around the new display and controls are more significant. For starters, the leaks suggest that the Switch 2 will have larger buttons and Hall-effect joysticks, both of which would likely be a massive upgrade in the eyes of most gamers, however it also seems as though the Switch 2 will use an LCD, as opposed to an OLED display, for the base model.
It seems as though most Switch fans were expecting an OLED panel right out the gate, given the Nintendo Switch OLED has been available for quite some time, now. Hall-effect joysticks will also likely solve one of the community's biggest complaints about the Switch controls—that being stick drift—but Nintendo would have to also provide a calibration tool in the Switch software to correct for wear and tear on the joysticks. Larger buttons may also be a welcome change for most Switch gamers, since cramped controls are a fairly common criticism of the original Switch. In addition to the news of the physical and technical specifications, Decky Wizard also claims that the Switch 2 will be lighter than the Steam Deck and be launched as soon as January 2025. In a subsequent post, Decky Wizard uploaded leaked images of the new Switch 2, showing off not only a fresh looking chassis with smaller screen bezels and a new built-in kickstand design, but also the design of the new first-party dock and two new, larger Joycon release buttons on the backs of each Joycon.
Sources:
DeckyWizardYT onX, r/GamingLeaksandRumors on Reddit
It seems as though most Switch fans were expecting an OLED panel right out the gate, given the Nintendo Switch OLED has been available for quite some time, now. Hall-effect joysticks will also likely solve one of the community's biggest complaints about the Switch controls—that being stick drift—but Nintendo would have to also provide a calibration tool in the Switch software to correct for wear and tear on the joysticks. Larger buttons may also be a welcome change for most Switch gamers, since cramped controls are a fairly common criticism of the original Switch. In addition to the news of the physical and technical specifications, Decky Wizard also claims that the Switch 2 will be lighter than the Steam Deck and be launched as soon as January 2025. In a subsequent post, Decky Wizard uploaded leaked images of the new Switch 2, showing off not only a fresh looking chassis with smaller screen bezels and a new built-in kickstand design, but also the design of the new first-party dock and two new, larger Joycon release buttons on the backs of each Joycon.
23 Comments on Nintendo Switch Leak Tips LCD, Hall Effect Joysticks
i dont play other nintendo titles like mario, zelda
ive always bought nintendo consoles for pokemon :)
What I wonder now is if they'll be making the Switch 1 forwards compatible—albeit with a crappy graphics preset to make up for its '2016 android tablet' tier hardware.
It's all about giving the Nintendo junkies a reason to double dip and buy another console in 2-3yrs when they launch a refresh model with an OLED screen.
Just the usual cynical, cash grab tactics from Nintendo.
The advantage was better colours, brightness, pixel response time/clarity despite being low Hz.
I got 3 Sony controllers during the recent sales, two myself, and one my sisters partner got for me for Christmas, he tested it and had to return it, I had to return both the ones I purchased also drifting, I had to return one of the replacements as also drifted, but now I should have 3 PS5 controllers with no drift temporarily until they drift. To be honest I find it hard to see the difference between my switch OLED and my Steam Deck LCD. Its there if you look for it, but its not a wow this is amazing thing. The main difference is dark detail.
Also recently got a new TV, cheap hisense on offer, I suppose its relative to what you used to, but its a very clear upgrade over the old screen for contrast and blacks, but also not perfect, old TV was edge lit IPS, new one is back lit VA. Very pleased due to what I was used to, but I expect an OLED owner would consider it trash quality. :)
Regarding the switch 2 joycons, they should have made the buttons offset, that was a bigger issue for me compared to the size of the buttons, I brought Mobapad joycons which are offset and also hall effect sticks. Was using a wii u pro controller for ages with a USB adaptor, but now using a standard switch controller instead. (Nintendo sell cheaper controllers, they not well known but isnt the pro controller, a cheaper variant, first party). Yeah its clear cash grab tactics, everyone seems to do it now.
x.com/Wario64/status/1867675990677405973
btw OLED would drive prices up, including this in the poll would just make most people say “they don’t need it”, a lot of people don’t even know what it is. The last time Nintendo was about graphics and performance was in Nintendo 64 times perhaps, that’s how low care tech is for Nintendo since then. They care more about the games and whatnot, basically everything but the tech. The switch is very slow and outdated since a long long time and only now they gonna replace it with a relatively mild upgrade as well.
Edit: Hopefully it can run Switch 1 games with a higher framerate
If they had hall effec tjoysticks where drift wasnt an issue. Weird!
Nintendo sells older tech that is much cheaper, at near but slightly lower prices to the competition. They therefore make a profit on hardware unlike MS and Sony...and ideally invest that back into their first party games that basically move console sales. It's basically Nintendo aiming for a price point and profitability that has the OLED screen not as standard...and it'll probably be offered on a unit that has price parity with the other consoles as an upgrade, if not a mid-life refresh. The thing is, LCD panels are dirt cheap right now...so it's silly to not use something that delivers 90% of the performance for 50% of the price.
Me...I stopped engaging with Nintendo when I looked at 500+ pokemon, and the next game required I buy a console, open an account, transfer a limited amount of them a day to the online account daily, and then upload them to my new game by a limited amount daily. The previous generation allowed me about 6 a day to be transferred and "caught" per game. That was bad...but the online service was also hailed as a finite time. This meant that there was a ticking clock...and like my ancient gameboy games not connecting to the DS, Nintendo was gating things and forcing people to be an early adopter so they could control my experience...but they then allowed global trade, with people trading literally impossible things that were obvious hacks...because reasons.
Wouldn't be possible to do that kind of power for portable. Not in many years. But also as Nintendo has said it's still quite a lot more powerful than the current Switch, game development will take quite a bit more time and become costly.
DLLS should help further, I hope they target 1440p as maximum instead of 4k on too demanding titles. Switch 1 has some framerate issues, that's above all what I hope we don't have to experience.
that being said, I am interested in Switch 2... switch 1 was difficult for me to hold comfortably though, so we will see how this one fares. steam deck on the other hand, fits my hands perfectly.