Former PlayStation President on Nintendo Switch 2 Reveal: 'I Was a Bit Disappointed, Because They Didn't Disappoint Everyone'

In a recent interview with Easy Allies, former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida shared his candid thoughts on the reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2. His response was notably tempered, expressing a mix of admiration and disappointment.

Yoshida remarked, "To me, it was a bit mixed message from Nintendo. In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me, they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something that [is an] amazing new experience. But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K, 120 fps, they even have a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is, you know, 'We made things better'. And that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

He elaborated on the appeal of the Switch 2 for those who primarily game on Nintendo hardware, noting the ability to play games like Elden Ring that were previously unavailable on Nintendo platforms. However, he felt that for gamers who use other systems, the excitement was somewhat diminished.

Yoshida also commented on the reveal event itself, which drew millions of viewers. He observed that many of the showcased games were ports from previous generations, questioning whether this was Nintendo's direction or a choice made by third-party publishers. He singled out "Enter the Gungeon 2" for praise, calling it an exciting announcement.

Additionally, Yoshida highlighted "Drag x Drive" as a game that felt "very Nintendo," appreciating its unique approach. He touched on the system's pricing and the differences between Japan and the rest of the world, expressing some disappointment that the reveal didn't bring the surprise and innovation fans might have hoped for.

Despite his reservations, Yoshida acknowledged the Switch 2 as a solid business decision, crediting the technical enhancements to the work of talented designers. He noted that while the system might play it safe in some respects, elements like mouse controls show that Nintendo's playful and innovative spirit is still present.

As for pricing, Yoshida discussed it at length during the interview, but the actual cost of the Switch 2 in the U.S. remains undisclosed. Nintendo has paused North American pre-orders due to new tariffs announced on the same day as the system's reveal. With the global launch scheduled for June 5, Nintendo faces a tight deadline to resolve these issues before the Switch 2 hits the market.