An Xbox, PlayStation feature is long overdue for the Nintendo Switch 2

It's easy to let the imagination run wild when thinking about the possibilities Nintendo Switch 2. Little has been revealed about Nintendo's upcoming Switch successor, other than that it will reportedly be a more powerful version of the previous, wildly successful hybrid console.




The renewed power will undoubtedly be a boon for the Nintendo Switch 2 as it tries to compete with the likes of PlayStation and Xbox, but it's not the end-all-be-all. The ninth console generation has produced a number of strong projects that make great use of the new hardware, although the past few years have also been steeped in a sense of disappointment, with many feeling that some of the best games could be run after 2020. Last-gen systems work seamlessly – and in fact, many of them do. All of this is to say that Nintendo doesn't need to match the hardware capabilities of its competitors to stay relevant, but some console features are a different story.

The Nintendo Switch 2 could benefit from an achievement equivalent


Nintendo's flagship console still lacks an achievement/trophy system

The value of achievements and trophies in modern games is subjective, as many players can take or leave these digital accolades, while others tackle games with the clear goal of achieving the ever-elusive platinum. There are also obscure games that benefit for the sole reason that they are easy to platinum. But wherever one falls on the spectrum, it's hard to deny that checking such boxes can be remarkably satisfying, however impractical they may be for success in actual games.

Given the prominence of trophies and achievements since the seventh console generation, it's a bit surprising that Nintendo's own consoles haven't responded with their own internal milestone system. This is especially questionable since cross-platform games that are popular on the Switch, e.g Stardew ValleyOther platforms have achievements, forcing some players to choose between the portability of the Switch and the satisfying perfectionist tools with achievements and trophies. With more high-fidelity games being downgraded exclusively for the Switch, the inability to earn these virtual rewards could serve as an additional strike against the console. In other words, if achievements and trophies are features players care about, the Switch lacks an important feature, making it an inferior way to enjoy many third-party games.


Adding trophies/achievements could make the Switch 2 a more complete platform

Aside from the noticeable lack of power compared to its competition, the biggest mark against the Switch is its lack of modern features. Typically, these criticisms are leveled against things like the Switch's online ecosystem, which leaves out common sense tools like voice chat, or the console's quality-of-life shortcomings, like the ability to run small apps like streaming services alongside games. Maybe the accomplishments aren't as big a deal as the aforementioned issues, but they're part of the same, broader problem.


Nintendo sees its consoles as gaming devices, not game and other entertainment centers like PlayStation or Xbox. There is nothing wrong with that. But when a non-negligible portion of the gaming population prefers something like trophies/achievements, which are directly related to the overall gaming experience, it begs the question why Nintendo doesn't pull the trigger on its own, potentially branded, counterpart. And unlike something like voice chat or running concurrent programs, the Switch's lower power doesn't stop things like achievements. More power on the Switch 2 may bring more advanced features, but Nintendo should dot its I's first, joining Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, in the silly, unnecessary, but satisfying world of digital fame.

Nintendo Switch tag page cover art

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.

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