Shuhei Yoshida: 'I Think Nintendo is Losing Their Identity' With Switch 2 - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 15 April 2025 / 6,005 Views
Former President of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida in an interview with Easy Allies (via VideoGamesChronicle) discussed the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.
"To me it was a bit [of a] mixed message from Nintendo," Yoshida said. "In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something, [an] amazing new experience.
"But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K 120fps. They even had a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is 'we made things better,' and that's something other companies have been doing all the time."
Yoshida added, "Of course it's a more powerful Switch, so it's great if your gaming was only on Nintendo hardware, [and] it's the first time for you to be able to play amazing games like Elden Ring for the first time.
"But for us, the 'core' gamers who own multiple hardware and play games on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, the games they showed off, especially from third parties – in theory, it's amazing to have all these all-stars of industry games on Nintendo hardware – however, what they showed was like… 'ooh.'"
The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch on Thursday, June 5 for $449.99 USD / $629.99 CAD / £395.99 / €469.99 / 49,800 yen. A Mario Kart World Bundle will also be available for $499.99 USD / $699.99 / £429.99 / €509.99 / 53,980 yen.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Bluesky.
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You can't please everyone. If Nintendo would have made a completely different console with a strange gimmick, people would have also cried "Why can't you just make a better Switch?"...
I think Nintendo put lot in R&D to find out what people really want. And that's a better Switch! That mouse feature is at least something new. It's also questionable if the SNES offers an "amazing new experience" compared to the NES...
Or the Gamecube compared to the N64.
The gamecube itself was mundane but nintendo during that period was very fixated on unique peripherals. Especially so in japan which was continuing off of the late n64 period in japan.
Even the 3DS / 2DS released after de DS
Go compare the specs of the NES and SNES. That leap was gargantuan. Mode 7 alone was like voodoo, and DKC almost looks like a PS1 game. And let's not even get into the FX chip.
It's not comparable to what they're offering now (S1 to S2). It's pretty much just a Switch Pro.
To be fair, they did kind of skimp on the CPU of the SNES so they could invest more into the GPU and the sound chip and still keep it at a price that would compete with the Genesis and the TG16/PCEngine. Where there were deficits in performance, they figured they could make it up with additional chips in the cartridge, though very few games actually went that route.
And it's no more a "Switch Pro" than the PS5 is a "PS4 Pro Plus" or the Series X is a "Xbox One X Elite." It's solid improvement.
If you're going to lie, at least be consistent. The Switch to Switch 2 jump is considerably bigger than ps4 to ps5 and will end up way bigger than ps5 to ps6. Can't wait for you to say ps5 is a ps4 pro and ps6 is a ps5 pro.
Graphics plateaued a decade ago with the PS4. The PS6 is not going to be a revolution in graphics. Graphical improvements have been and will be incremental from here going forward meaning every new system will be just a refresh.
Higher resolution and higher and more stable frame rates is what those who invest in the Nintendo platform were looking for from Switch2 and they got it.
lol it's hard to imagine someone thinking the Switch 2 is a "Switch Pro". The most obvious thing that came out of the Switch 2 Direct was that Nintendo made sure to make a more powerful system than anyone was anticipating, to really make a big generational leap so they can for the first time in a couple decades get the graphically high end AAA third party games that last appeared on the Gamecube.
Switch to Switch 2 is the biggest gen leap in probably 20 years. Certainly larger than the last couple gens of PS/Xbox. Nintendo went from something slightly better than PS360 to something that looks perhaps slightly more powerful than a PS4 Pro. If Switch 2 is a Switch Pro, then PS5 is less than a PS4 Pro.
So if you want to lie and claim the Switch 2 is basically a Switch 1.5, then to be consistent we gotta call the PS4 Pro a PS4.1, the PS5 a PS4.3, and the PS5 Pro a PS4.5. Because the PS4 to PS5 Pro leap is around the same as the Sw to Sw2 leap.
Yeah sure Sw to Sw2 is less than the generational leaps from the 30 odd years ago, because there were much less diminishing returns back then. But compared to the generational leaps of the past couple gens, Switch 2 is easily the biggest.
The Switch 2 was what people wanted. Maybe not at the proposed price (though in the case of the hardware, it was unrealistic to expect a $300-350 price point), but it was what people were clamoring for.
This. Practically noone is really complaining about the hardware or the games themselves, all complains revolve around the price and Nintendo's business practices.
Nintendo could have mitigated this by offering some of its features as standard along with the cost of the console. Chat and cheap or free upgrades to past gen. Kinda like all the free upgrades PS5 had at the beginning and then eased into cheap upgrades. Charging for the welcome guide is kinda a bad faith move. Chat should be standard. No one charges for that. You guys are right people just wanted a better Switch but the business is betraying the system itself.
They do have free upgrades. Upgrades that don't have DLC included are $10, same price as the PS5.
The rest yeah, I agree.
Many Nintendo games are getting free res and performance updates and this list will continue to grow:
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-2/Nintendo-Switch-2-Free-game-updates-2786093.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo4-YqiUVMHvqh2ZlsHzsPRN-DSpbFnFv4BamAE4GqNjUwcmSgD
Games getting res and performance updates plus minor additional content are $10
Games getting res and performance updates plus substantial DLC are $20
Yeah I can't imagine anyone complaining about the hardware. Nintendo blew us away with how powerful the Switch 2 hardware is, I don't think anyone expected it to be so powerful. And they very clearly did it in order to get back the big AAA third party games that have been missing on Nintendo for 20 years, and judging by the third party games already announced, they clearly succeeded.
Gamers just wanted a better Switch, and of course with a generational leap in performance, and that's exactly what Nintendo provided, though the leap in performance was more like a gen-and-a-half leap compared to other systems these days!
And the basic reason is that it is hard to imagine what crazy new thing Nintendo could come up with that would be better than the Switch design. The Switch is already a handheld and TV system, has motion controls, has standard controls, has touch screen, and with the Switch 2 has mouse controls and top end performance. I think the only real question of doing something new was if they were gonna try to implement VR somehow, and it's good they didn't consider how niche VR is it would have just been a waste of money and made everything cost more.
The only aspect of their identity that Nintendo is losing with the Switch 2 is the fact that they've been the only affordable gaming system for the past couple decades. With Switch 2 they are clearly throwing that part of their identity away and trying to compete more directly with the consoles as a cutting edge graphics very expensive gaming ecosystem.
The problem of course is that being the affordable gaming option was a big part of Nintendo's identity, which is why Nintendo gamers are so pissed off and we're likely to see that hurt sales i a big way in the upcoming gen. But in every other aspect of their identity, namely putting out a great system and top notch games built around their huge stable of the most recognizable character brands in gaming, everything is looking like it always does.
Yoshida is cool and all, but I think so many seem to forget about
-SNES
-Game Boy Color
-Game Boy Advance
How did any of those shake things up? They were more or less good hardware and new games and that's about it from their predecessor.
Switch had a lot going for it with its concept and changing too much of that in a successor is as dangerous if not more so than a more powerful Switch with some new features.
People said the same thing with the Wii and DS when they first started leaning into the innovation hard core...
Nintendo found their niche and refining it... It's what they want, It's what the fans want
Switch 2 is just the most sensible thing to do. It basically guarantees it will be successful, though equally it basically guarantees it won't do as well as the original Switch.
Sometimes, Yoshida, is full of shit! Everybody likes him because he has a friendly and funny personality but he isn't a "professor" of the gaming industry! Honestly, as he was working for Sony for such a long time, within himself, he's still in their camp. So, naturally, he hoped Nintendo would make some stupid new gimmick-console because that would gurantee that Playstation will be again the dominant leader in the console industry.
NOBODY expected anything else from Switch 2 than a more powerful Switch! Such statements are just really dumb and not even true! As others pointed out, Nintendo made normal upgrades all the time NES-SNES, N64-GCN, GB-GBC-GBA, DS-3DS. I wouldn't really count Wii-Wii U as the Wii U wanted to be both: still a Wii but at the same time something completely new.
Well other than the software prices I like the Switch 2.
Even then... It's mostly just the old games with upgrades
Hopefully they bring back the ticket system that gives us 2 for a discount
Here's hoping.
The functionality present in the Switch and more so in the Switch 2 is open to innovative games. It have a lot of untapped potential still.
The Switch 2 is almost perfect. The only shitty thing about it is how expensive the games are which technically has nothing to do with the system itself.
In the end Nintendo is a company, and companies need to be profitable. I can understand them not wanting to take the risk of an all-new system with a new gimmick, the classic Nintendo Blue Ocean strategy, there is just so much risk with that, they could just as easily make another Wii U/Gamecube tier flop if they attempted it, as they could make a N64 tier middling success or Wii/Switch tier big success.
It would be one thing if Switch's success was bottled lightning like Wii's success, but I don't believe it was, the success of Switch is easily replicatable by just doing more of the same but better. Maybe not at the pricing they decided on though, I don't think they will be able to achieve more than maybe 70% of Switch's hardware and game unit sales at this pricing model they have decided on, $450 or more in USD equivalent in most countries with $80-90 games. But still, we are likely looking at more sales than they would get with a new Blue Ocean console.
We also don't need to have the wheel reinvented every 6-7 years. They can try new things within the framework of what already works. Xbox stumbled when Kinect became a hit on 360, and they decided to bet the farm on Kinect for Xbox One only to find out that the Kinect craze had slammed into a brick wall. Even when they backed down on integrating Kinect with the X1, the damage was done. The Series X|S isn't even compatible with Kinect.
I don't think that matters nearly as much since the Switch separates itself already by doubling as a handheld. With home consoles, it was necessary to differentiate themselves from the competition, who often held inherent hardware advantages. Nintendo handhelds didn't need to worry about that.
I think some of their previous home consoles that didn't forge a unique identity suffered from it, though, so it will be interesting to see if any of that touches the Switch 2. I remember walking past a mother and child at Walmart when the mom asked the kid if he wanted a Wii U for Christmas. He said no, because he already had a Wii. Nintendo's most important battle will be convincing casual gamers that the upgrade is worth the money.
Nah.
In a sense yes but it was the right move. In the time we are leaving right now, it was a smart move to play it safe.
Dumb take..
An improved Switch is what Nintendo customers wanted and that's what they got. If Nintendo didn't decide to be greedy assholes this would be another record breaking console for Nintendo.
No one cares about the whining from people who haven't bought a Nintendo product since the SNES. Sony has been giving people the same gamebox with better graphics for 30 years and no one batted an eye.
The only image they are losing is that they were one of the most affordable options out there. Nintendo was usually less expensive than the twins. Nowadays Microsoft is platform is financially the most accessible. Due to Nintendo never really having sales and having similar hardware prices and more expensive controllers.
Switch was a bit of a fluke, if the switch failed Nintendo would have disappeared, they came out with the perfect idea at the perfect time. Just look at what came before the switch, I can't even remember its name.
Reminds me of the cheap internet troll comment sony made about Nintendo when MS was buying activision-blizzard.
I think he's a bit off key here tbh for one the is a wild innovation in the mouse function in both JCs that also combines with motion controls secondly what they've done with NSW2 is no different than NES to SNES and even the portable side of things didn't stray too far from each other with DS being the main exception, building on prior foundations is also part of Nintendo's identity Switch and Switch 2 for one have a culmination of all their prior innovations from consoles to portables to even table top (VB).
He's right. But.....
I feel like Nintendo sort of put themselves in this corner that making Switch 2 was the only move they could do. I think we all knew this was what Nintendo was going to have to do before any news of the Switch 1 successor.
I just didn't expect Nintendo to show more of their greedy side then they already were lol
Ignoring the pricing I think the only real problem with the Switch being a "basic upgrade" is that it's a little late. This is what people wanted 1-2 years ago, but the drawn out process has deflated the hype quite a bit if we're being honest. Not that it didn't make sense to wait on some level, but if both systems are going to be coexisting it was a shame not to build directly from the hype the system had back in 2023. Also perhaps a hot take but I think the mouse functionality is a classic Nintendo gimmick being pushed too hard, it will be useful for some very specific games, but most of what we've seen would work as well or better with motion controls without requiring an underlay.
It probably wasn’t economically feasible to do the upgrade in 2023. Of course, Nintendo also didn’t bargain on someone trying to blow up the whole world’s economic order to please some disgruntled Alabamians who are still clinging to the 1950s, when Europe and Asia were still in post-war and post-colonial chaos. .
Not a fan of the Orange One myself but, the outcome of the election (popular vote) and the electoral college kinda expands beyond the Mason-Dixon line. And by kinda, I mean completely. This was not the result of a few angry southern people. He won handedly, and carried states all over the country. So if you want to blame people, you have to blame just about everyone.
Ignoring the pricing is ignoring the only thing anyone has a problem with. If this was $450(because people are okay with the current console price) and the games were $60, there would be no complaining from anyone outside of fringe internet who hate Nintendo for existing.
A much more reasonable stand for Nintendo is this,
- $400 for switch 2
- $60 for first part switch 1 games, and $70 for first party switch 2 games
- $5 for switch 2 game upgrade without additional content, and $10 with additional content
- Free switch manual game thing
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Pricing for all switch 2 accessories : simply $10 more than the equivalent switch 1 accessory
This way, Nintendo will ease people into a slightly more costly switch 2 platform. A $70 switch 2 game, in the existence of a $60 switch 1 version will not anger anyone.
That's pretty much what Nintendo is doing, with the exceptions that the hardware is better than expected and therefore justifies its price, and game upgrades without additional content being free. You are the first one to suggest that Nintendo should charge for them.
I don't think anyone sincerely cares about the tutorial game, so it really doesn't make a difference.
Nintendo does NONE of the above, and this is why I exactly created the list above.
Nintendo charges $80 for games, and allegedly $90 for physical titles. They charge $10 for switch 2 games with no additional content. They do charge for the tutorial game, and they bundle no game at all. Last but not least, they charge $450 for the console, never ever in Nintendo's history! No excuse justifies such exorbitant prices. Defending Ninty's ridiculous prices is not good for anyone, not for you either.
The console costing over $400 to manufacture per unit justifies a $450 price. Nintendo needs to make a profit. They can't just sell it at huge losses forever.
Nintendo could sell the Switch 2 at a loss and still make lots of profits. All three console makers sold hardware at a loss. They simply stopped doing so because they dont have to anymore. That's why the PS5 made Sony more money than all their other consoles combined.
You created the above list because you believed in speculation and lies.
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Mario Kart World is the only new $80 game, Donkey Kong Bananza costs $70. There's no price increase on physical versions in the USA. The price increase on physical games in Europe won't be charged by most retailers, because on Switch 1 they used to undercut the digital price by around €10; this means the physical price hike for Switch 2 games in Europe is bound to be offset by retailers and therefore physical versions will cost about the same as digital ones. One French retailer already offers pre-orders that undercut the MSRP by €20, making physical cheaper than digital.
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Mario Kart World happens to be available in a bundle with the Switch 2 console for $500, meaning that Switch 2's biggest game can be had for only an additional $50, so for anyone who wants MKW, they won't have to pay $80 for it. There's also no indication that Nintendo intends to keep this bundle in short supply, because pre-orders for the bundle outpace pre-orders for the standalone console.
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Upgrades for Switch 1 titles: There are three different kinds of them. Firstly, the free ones where only framerate and resolution gets bumped. Secondly, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom which both cost $10 more than on Switch 1, but come with additional content and features; NSO subscribers can download this upgrades for free and use them as long as they remain subscribed. Thirdly, Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land which both cost $80, but include an actual all-new expansion; on Switch 1, expansions costed $20-30 depending on the game, so tacking that onto $60 games gives you $80.
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Accessories cost $10 than their Switch 1 equivalent.
- Which leaves the tutorial game, the only thing you are right about.
A more reasonable stand for Nintendo have to be a weak Hardware at 60hz , without hdr and maybe at 720p. They choice another way, so lets see.
Even more reasonable stand would be to follow the route taken by pretty much all other console manufacturers, keeping the prices the same, but increasing the hardware technology reasonably. 8 years of technological change would easily justify a mere transition from 720p to 1080p if resolution were the only thing to change. Defending the exorbitant prices is a sign of the Stockholm syndrome.
I'm not being sarcastic or anything like that, what I'm saying is if Nintendo made a less premium console, without 120Hz, HDR, and maybe 720p with the SAME specs, maybe Nintendo could price the Switch 2 at $400.
Switch 2 aded integrated unique mouse controls that open the door for a lot of games that normally would have to be tailored for controller- to now come to the system simultaneously as PC. Yoshida is an idiot. If it weren't for Nintendo, we wouldn't have a lot of things, including the d-pad, analog sticks, motion controls- every single thing that Sony stole for their consoles. Switch was unique with the Hybrid nature, but Switch 2 ups the ante, and is exactly what consumers wanted.
Shu is not an idiot and this is a bad comment. The list of thing the Switch 2 stole goes out the door and around the corner and people got over it really fast because honestly, its about time. The Xbox and PS5 both support USB mouse tech and you are not going to find a situation where any 3rd party are limited on any console from adding this feature.
The bottom line is that his comment is idiotic. Switch 2 is a better Switch. So what? That's not losing their identity. They made something that is STILL unique- there is NO CONSOLE like the Switch. They improved a unique device that no one has copied. Nothing wrong with that!
