Was Nintendo right to opt out of the graphics arms race?

[Soundwave]

Norion said:

Soundwave said:

Architecture does matter massively when you are talking about a 7+ year difference in architecture, I didn't think I had to spell that out specifically because I would think people would do their homework and know that GCN 2.0 (the PS4) is 7 years older than Ampere, but apparently I had to point that out as I guess that wasn't common knowledge or common sense? 

Of course there will be a large difference between Ampere and GCN 2.0 (PS4) ... like does that seriously need to be explained and dumbed down? Just like Ampere will be dwarfed by a GPU architecture from 2027 (7 years afterwards). That shouldn't even be a controversial statement at all, jeeezus. 

If you want to side track the discussion, y'know it's not terribly hard to find GCN 2.0 GPUs (PS4 class) ... go see if the configs of those AMD cards that are roughly in line with the PS4 (so like not cherry picking the highest config GCN 2.0 card) can run Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed Shadows and the like. Frankly I don't care, I don't even know why someone wanted to fall on their sword to defend the PS4's honor in a thread that isn't even about the PS4, lol. Like who cares. This topic isn't about the PS4. 

Why are you consistently conflating his claim that raw horsepower matters more than architecture with something else? Raw horsepower mattering more than architecture doesn't mean that architecture doesn't matter a ton over that length of time. Those are two completely different statements since raw horsepower mattering more and architecture being very important do not contradict each other at all and thus can obviously be simultaneously true.

His response was specifically focused on your claim that architecture matters more than raw horsepower so as I said if you think he's wrong about raw horsepower mattering more you should actually back up your claim instead of arguing against something he didn't say there.

If you're going to coflate a PS4 with a Switch 2, then yes, you bet your ass architecture matters massively. It's a 7 year gap, I shouldn't have to hold someone's hand and explain to them how that is a significant difference, that should just be a matter of fact statement. Raw specs of the PS4, Switch 2 don't matter that much when you are dealing with a massive architecture difference. But whatever that's how it goes. 

I knew when the actual data leaks from Nvidia were coming out 1536 CUDA cores and Ampere based with even some Lovelace features, 12GB RAM, was going to be a system that plays way more than just PS4 tier games. If that's what Nintendo was going for they wouldn't have chose that chip as it would be ridiculous overkill and I said as much here. 

I said looking at those leaks, this hardware would likely be a game changer especially for Japanese developers as they'd now have a Switch console that can run even PS5 games reasonably well and they'd now have to make a decision on bringing their main console IP to the Switch 2.

What do we know today? Square-Enix committed their mainline FF7 Remake series to Switch 2 including FF7 Rebirth (PS5 only title) AND even their next mainline FF game which is FF7 Remake Part III. Resident Evil 9, the new one is on Switch 2. Now we get data leaks that even Monster Hunter Wilds is coming, which I also said would happen.

That's not just random, I looked at the specs objectively and could see this coming a mile away while other posters were doing their best to spread a bunch of FUD, doomerism in every Switch 2 topic.