The “Weakest” Nintendo Switch Outclassed Sony And Microsoft’s Two Generations

In the domain of gaming, console wars have been raging since time immemorial. The competitors came and went, but the competition stayed. The current fighters are Microsoft and Sony, going head-to-head.

However, while we were busy cheering on these two giants butting heads, someone else swiftly stepped in and stole the crown of the “best console.” That’s right, the Nintendo Switch, called the weakest console and quickly dismissed as a lesser device proved to be better than two generations of Sony and Microsoft.

The Switch Shows It Was Never About Hardware

Whenever a discussion about two potential competing consoles begins, the starting point is always “Which one packs beefier hardware?” The software details, features, and miscellaneous benefits come later, the power is debated first. In fact, Xbox’s entire argument against PlayStation was better hardware strength.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Specs Comparison
by inxboxone

Thus, the Nintendo Switch, being extremely weak in processing power was always considered as “not worthy enough to compete in the war.” Forget the current PS5 generation, the Switch was much weaker than even the PS4, and that’s saying something. However, let me ask you this. Once you start playing, does hardware strength even matter?

Why do we get consoles? Of course, for the ease of playability and the exclusive games they offer. If the console is running the game I bought, do I care how many TFLOPs it packs? I’ll be too busy enjoying the game. And this is exactly what Nintendo Switch did much better than these two “warring rivals.” It was the weakest, no doubt, but it more than compensated for it by providing entertaining, innovative gems.

Bought a Switch after criticizing it. I’ve been playing Series X and PS5 and was always critical of the switch for its lack of performance. I’ve been playing Mario Odyssey for the last two days and I’m hooked. Almost forgot how magical Nintendo games are and I’m so happy for this purchase decision.
byu/Least-Experience-858 inSwitch

Quality, Versatility, And Consistency

Nintendo Switch didn’t have hardware strength at its side, so it was handicapped from the beginning. While others marketed photorealistic visuals and extreme graphical detail, Switch had to use some other strategy, something it could excel in.

What was the strategy, you ask? Why it was simply creative and innovative experiences full of quality, versatile, and unique games of many different genres, and most of all, a consistent supply of such gems, without falling victim to lengthy development times and releasing one big game a year and then total silence.

Why is no one able to copy the 'magic' of Nintendo's games?
byu/garbonzo607 ingamedesign

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, games bordering on reality and extreme detail can never beat creatively hilarious and mad fun adventures that let you run wild. While Microsoft and Sony chased photorealistic visuals, blockbuster-level effects, and explosive impact, Nintendo stuck to the tried and tested “creativity above anything.”

Xbox always had a lack of solid exclusives and impactful titles, but PS4 was much better in this regard. In fact, the PS4’s generation far surpasses whatever the hell Sony’s doing with the PS5. The lack of unique games not limited by the last gen on the PS5 is downright baffling. Yes, it has mindblowing visual fidelity and capabilities, but what use is that if I have to wait a year for the next game?

PS5 will go down as the first console in history to not have a single game.
byu/_yearoldonreddit invideogamedunkey

The Switch may have been the weakest, but with the amount of quality content it has provided its loyal followers, I must say I tip my hat in respect. This is how a console ought to be. Forget photorealistic visuals and hardware strength, it’s the quality and consistency of games that matter.

Nintendo Switch — The Supremacy Of Handheld Gaming

It’s because of these factors that the Nintendo Switch is the most successful console since probably the PS2. Its sales numbers and popularity are rapidly catching up to the PS2 even. Who knows it might even dethrone the best console of all time.

Regardless, it’s safe to say that Nintendo Switch will certainly go down in history.

Switch is less than 20 millions away from PS2's sales. How could they surpass 160 million sales?
byu/Low_Confidence2479 innintendo

There’s another reason why the Switch is so successful, and that’s the handheld model it decided to adopt. In fact, it was the other way around. It was the Switch that made handheld gaming so popular and desired, and the Steam Deck just multiplied that to infinity. Now, the joys of portable gaming are endless, and its demand insane. With Switch running quality games in the palm of your hand, what else do you want?

On the contrary, Sony did the most ridiculous of jobs with its worthless PS Portal. Who even needed a glorified streaming device for the PS5 when even a phone can do that? What we wanted was the PSP’s second coming, but Sony stuck us with this mess. Well done.

The PS Portal is e-waste. Buy these instead. They’re actual handhelds
byu/InvertedColours69420 inplaystation

A Lesson To Be Learned

There’s a good reason behind the Switch’s success, and it should serve as an indication for Sony and Microsoft to mend some of their strategies.

Accept it or not, exclusives are a must for any console. You can always go the timed-exclusives route, but their existence is mandatory. Xbox should never abandon this advantage, but unfortunately, it’s going ahead with it. And Sony? Sony just needs to allow some short, creative games to cover the development window of its big-budget AAAs. Astro Bot is a splendid step. I just hope we get to see these changes someday.