Does a game need to be “record-breaking”, or are there more sequels people would buy a console for?

Maybe there's a hole in this reasoning that I'm missing, but Switch didn't have GTA 5, and it was successful. So why would Switch 2 not survive by missing GTA 6?

Though Switch 2 and its games are notably more expensive, but I don't see how that translates to needing GTA 6 to survive.

No.

I watched that GTA VI trailer and I have zero interest in being around the people in that game. I don’t want to interact with them and I absolutely don’t want to play as them. So personally it isn’t going to mean much to me if Rockstar doesn’t bring it to the system.

Regarding sales, Nintendo has a pretty nice niche carved out for themselves with the hybrid console and even if it severely underperforms the Switch, I think the Switch 2 will still deliver a successful console gen for Nintendo. It’s really going to come down to Nintendo’s own first party efforts. They’ve already got what looks to be a very fun and impactful sequel to Mario Kart 8, which is the kind of thing they need to do. Follow ups in the 3D Mario, Animal Crossing, and Zelda series will be fundamental. And Pokémon seems to do what it does regardless of the amount of effort Game Freak puts into it.

The WiiU will never be a good comparison to the Switch, as it wasn’t a handheld and didn’t have the undeniable backbone of Nintendo’s handheld division. If Nintendo continues with the current form factor it would seem that 60-80 million is likely the floor, based on the historical data of Nintendo’s handhelds.

I mean, the first Switch got through fine without GTA 5 or any Call of Duty titles, so.....

GTA6 will be huge no doubt, but the idea that it will render every other game in existence and every system that doesn't have it meaningless and obsolete is ridiculous.

Plenty of people will skip GTA6 but buy the next Animal Crossing, the next Splatoon, etc.

There are all sorts of different gamers with a wide range of tastes and preferences, and some simply prefer Nintendo's games or playing on the go to dedicated home consoles or GTA.

Figurative speech.

I don't have a pony in this race. But anyone who thinks a game will sell more this gen, or dominate to GTA6's degree, well... stick around long enough and be proven wrong lol.

There is a reason publishers don't want to launch anywhere close to its window.

Plenty of reasons were given, therefore, no it's not needed for the Switch 2 possible success.

Honestly, you can just give a cursory look at the Switch 1 generation and make this easy realization yourself

I don't think the Switch 2 needs GTA VI to survive. I believe they'll do just fine without it. The Nintendo Switch didn't get GTA V, and yet the system sold over 150 million units.

Didn't have CoD either. As shocking as it may be to some, a single game doesn't make or break a console.