Think Nintendo will make a home-only Switch?

[Cozarkian]

Great vid from DigitalFoundry. Good examples of the present technology in use, and possible future upgrades.

Seeing the Minecraft example (appx. 3:30 and 8:30 in vid) it really got me thinking about this again though. The Switch runs Minecraft at a noticeably higher block distance view when docked vs portable... so it might make some sense to have a constantly-high-performing and small-sized Switch-compatible home console. If it were within 50-70% of the cost, I'd buy one without hesitation.

It is still wishful thinking. If nintendo decides to make a console only version it will probably cost more because it will be a more powerful system, perhaps with 4K.

 

[Blue_Max]

It is still wishful thinking. If nintendo decides to make a console only version it will probably cost more because it will be a more powerful system, perhaps with 4K.

...that seems a bit more of a stretch than my own idea! No way would compatible software go from a 720P Switch to a 4K console... even 1080P is a stretch!
You're talking a whole new console that would be compatible with Switch, but be something more on top of that.

...hey.... that's not bad either. Something backwards compatible, but have dedicated console-only software over and above that. Fun idea, but it makes more sense as a business model to have the critical element, software, as broadly used as possible.


...hey, it's all pipe-dreams either way. I just never realized how big the performance difference between plugged-in and mobile was!

 

[poofyhairguy]

I just never realized how big the performance difference between plugged-in and mobile was!

Yup. Bigger than the gap between the PS4 and the PS4 Pro.

 

[Cozarkian]

...that seems a bit more of a stretch than my own idea! No way would compatible software go from a 720P Switch to a 4K console... even 1080P is a stretch!
You're talking a whole new console that would be compatible with Switch, but be something more on top of that.

...hey.... that's not bad either. Something backwards compatible, but have dedicated console-only software over and above that. Fun idea, but it makes more sense as a business model to have the critical element, software, as broadly used as possible.


...hey, it's all pipe-dreams either way. I just never realized how big the performance difference between plugged-in and mobile was!

I thought it already does 1080p when docked? Hmm.... a quick google search indicates some games can do 1080p, while others (Zelda) are only 900p.

To refine my idea, maybe Nintendo could just make a Dock Pro that comes with a powerful video card in it and upgrades the current switch?

 

[Sonikku]

I thought it already does 1080p when docked? Hmm.... a quick google search indicates some games can do 1080p, while others (Zelda) are only 900p.

To refine my idea, maybe Nintendo could just make a Dock Pro that comes with a powerful video card in it and upgrades the current switch?

The thing is a cheap piece of plastic Nintendo wants $80 for separately. If it had a video card in it I could not even imagine what Nintendo would want for it!

 

[poofyhairguy]

The thing is a cheap piece of plastic Nintendo wants $80 for separately.

Actually the dock set is $90. I know that because I was ecstatic to be able to buy one for $75 (plus tax) recently. It is overpriced but it is cheaper than having a console for each of my tvs.

 

[Zenoth]

No. I'm 100% convinced that they won't.

However, I'm 99.99% convinced that they will 'follow suit' with the new mid-generation upgrade bandwagon and will eventually release some sort of a Nintendo Switch Pro / Plus / [insert gimmicky word]. And that one, I'm sure, will at the very least be "more powerful" in docked mode if anything (but most likely so in undocked / portable mode since that's the real incentive of the Switch). I'm also fairly convinced that if they do make such an upgraded Switch in 2 or 3 years from now that they'll also give it a redesigned dock. But time will tell.

 

[JujuFish]

However, I'm 99.99% convinced that they will 'follow suit' with the new mid-generation upgrade bandwagon

Nintendo wouldn't be following suit. They started the trend with the 'New' 3DS. Or perhaps even further back with the DS Lite or DSi.