Imagine...

It's like mid-2024 and Nintendo announces a major Direct. We all think they are going to unveil the Switch 2, but instead, they reveal Nintendo Forever! A modular system to end Nintendo console generations. It's in the Switch design, but joycons, screen, chipset, and battery are all separate and modular.

Two launch model sets. One is comparable to just a Switch, basically a bit more powerful original model Switch (that's of course modular) but that can also play the new 'next-gen' games just with lower settings. $300 for the full set. Nintendo discontinues the Switch so that people can just move immediately over to this new modular Switch. Current Switch owners can just use their joycons on the new system so can update for like $250 to get the base model screen, chipset, and battery, and they can play next gen games on it as well, and with DLSS still get decent performance. The more premium model set comes with the same OLED screen as the Switch OLED, full generational chipset upgrade, and costs $400, or current switch owners again don't need to buy new joycons so they can get it for $350. They release higher capacity batteries gradually, a higher end screen once every like three years, and an upgraded chipset once every like three years. They release games that are intended to be performant on both the latest chipset and the previous chipset, so a chipset still lasts like six years, the newer games just have lower settings on the last chipset. The launch day near-Swicth-level basic model chipset therefore can play the first few years of next gen games.

Instead of buying a new $300-$400 system every gen, you can update just your chipset every 3 or 6 years or whatever for like $150. And if your battery, joycons, and screen are still good you don't need to buy new ones, but of course you can when you want to upgrade each one individually. They just mark the chipsets 1,2,3,etc as more powerful ones are released over the years so on games you can easily see which chipset each game has minimum compatibility with while being much less confusing than needing to understand computer specs like in the PC game market.

This way they help transition Switch owners to the future of Nintendo systems by blending the two gens together a little bit and allowing cheaper purchase cuz you can bring your old joycons to the next system, they get rid of needing to transition starting from zero each generation, they give consumers choice in when and which parts of the system they want to update over the years/decades, while maintaining a system of compatibility that is simpler than PC gaming.

Thoughts? comments? you hate it? you love it? it'll never happen? it would never work? it's perfect? Nintendo better do this? Pointless thread cuz we are obviously just getting a straight normal generational upgrade to the Switch? Discuss.

If it has b/c, I wouldnt mind it.

This is the perfect idea if the goal was for Nintendo to have another console sell under 20 million units

This seems like an attempt to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

The console market has gravitated towards the generation model for a reason. Not the only way you could do it, as PC gaming shows, but many people prefer the simplicity. Having a new console is better for marketing than a new chipset would be. And, boxing yourself in to the Switch's particular form factor and architecture for all eternity is in no way a good thing.

No , thanks
Give us Switch 2

I dont think Nintendo should do that, but Valve could with the Steam Deck.

This would be an absolute dream coming true

It will never happen of course. Average consumer don't understand shit about technology

Eh...I don't think it's a good idea.

The issue with this is that having to change out the screen or chipset would alienate the average consumer unless you could somehow make it super simple where they just pop in and out. But with a design like that I doubt the build quality would be very robust, which would be a terrible idea for a system meant to be used on the go. And if the consumer doesn't do it themselves then do they pay a fee for Nintendo to do it? Does Nintendo eat the cost of doing it for free whenever someone upgrades? Plus, if Nintendo is doing the upgrade then it would require mailing in your Switch and waiting to get it back, which costs both money and time.
It's a neat idea, but it seems very impractical especially since most people don't mind having generations.

Switch 2 with BC for $400 or less. It will sell.