Another day, another Switch Pro rumor. This time, Bloomberg announced that an enhanced version of the handheld / console hybrid will be launched in time for the 2021 holiday season, including a 7-inch 720p OLED screen and 4K output in docked mode. Improving the screen’s switch is one thing, but we still have some hardware-related wishes we’d like to see with a Switch Pro.
What do you want to see improved with a potential Switch Pro model? Let us know in the comments below!
Improved power and performance
If the recent Bloomberg report is accurate and the Switch Pro can perform in 4K when docked, that’s fantastic. An OLED screen will also hold the images sharper in hand, but what about the power under the hood?
The Switch is far less powerful than even the latest generation of home consoles, and you have to sacrifice resolution, graphics and sometimes even performance when playing certain third-party games on Switch. The advantage (which was unintentional) of playing it on Switch is portability, but it’s a shock that Nintendo’s console is considered ‘the worst place to play’ by certain games like The Witcher 3 or Overwatch. I want it to be a competitor and not the last resort. – Lucy James, Senior Video Producer
Bring back the AR camera
Apart from that, the special integrated camera was one of the 3DS ‘most exciting features. Although it has the same basic functions of a camera so that you can take photos and share them, the 3DS camera can take photos in 3D and can read data designed for Augmented Reality – or AR. Given the growing growth of AR over the past decade and how Pokemon Go is one of the most popular games worldwide, it just seems fitting that Nintendo should give a camera with AR functionality once again with the new Switch.
As the Switch has become a favorite for gamers on the go, a new Switch with AR functionality could be a game changer, especially with AR advances. For the 3DS, the use of AR was limited to a few games, such as Pokedex 3D Pro and Kid Icarus: Uprising, which used specialized AR cards to unlock extra features. However, the 3DS also included a free game called Face Raiders, which allowed you to rotate photos from the camera and send them into a shooting game where you would shoot at balloons in your area. It was a creative use of technology. Given how the upgraded Switch will be a much more sophisticated device than the 3DS, there is potential for something exceptional when an AR camera returns. – Alessandro Fillari, editor
Nothing more. Joy-Con. Operation.
Look, it’s 2021. Joy-Con drift has been a problem since its launch, and it’s wild that it’s still a problem more than four years since the launch of the Switch, and even happens on the refreshed Switch model released in 2019. repair the fixed controller for free, but this is a problem we do not have to deal with. I want to fight bosses in my games, not the controller I use.
In any case, the Switch Pro can not start with these problems, and I hope they prioritize a solution. Well yes, I also want to feel more comfortable buying the limited edition Joy-Cons without worrying about future drive issues! – Lucy James, senior producer
New, improved joy cons with more options
The joy disadvantages need to change. For motion-controlled games, these are fantastic, but they still have so much room for improvement. As it stands now, the Joy-Cons are relatively flat and do not have a grip to rest on your palms, so it often becomes uncomfortable after a few hours. A slight redesign of the ergonomics of the Joy-Cons can do wonders for the controller – perhaps an extended grip reminiscent of the different ones out there.
On the other hand, the Joy-Con analog sticks are not ideal for playing games with shooting mechanics. And as much as I do not mind using controls for gyroscope targets, it is no substitute for the precision and control that the Pro Controller’s stick offers.
The lack of an official D-pad option for standard Switch owners was also a major pain point. I hope Nintendo launches a brand new Joy-Con model for the Switch Pro, which allows for Xbox Elite modular customization control levels, where you can plug in a standard D-pad and other handy parts to get the perfect layout create.
In so many words, I ask that Nintendo find a way to offer a prestigious version of the Switch Pro control experience to those who prefer to play in manual mode. The Pro Controller is rightly one of my favorite controllers of all time; it has a very balanced weight, and the most important thing is that it is ergonomic enough to be able to play continuously for a long time. So if Nintendo can make playing the Switch as comfortable as the Joy-Cons alone, then it’s going to be a dream. – Matt Espineli, editor
Better battery life
This one is really a problem, but I would like a better battery life in manual mode. One of the biggest complaints about the Switch when it was launched was the faulty battery, which was addressed with the updated model released in 2019. If the reports are accurate and the Switch Pro will be much more powerful, I hope not to step backwards when it comes to battery life. There’s nothing worse than being on a long car journey and just really climbing into your groove in Breath of the Wild or FFXII, just to sound the fatal low battery warning. I speak from experience. Okay, the only thing worse is to be the driver who can not play, but you know what I’m up to. – Lucy James, Senior Video Producer
Ethernet port on console, please
The Switch has no Ethernet ports to talk about, so if you want to harden the console, you will need to purchase a separate adapter. For a Switch Pro, Nintendo just needs to avoid this whole process and include a port.
It is preferably ideal to include the port on the console itself, which allows you to hardline regardless of whether you are docked or playing in the hand. An Ethernet port is especially a welcome addition to the many multiplayer-focused third-party games released since its launch for Switch, such as Rocket League and Apex Legends.
Many of these games support cross-gaming with their Xbox, PlayStation and PC counterparts, so the least Nintendo can do is ensure that Switch owners can have the same kind of stable online connection. Trying to play multiplayer games (especially shooters) over Wi-Fi is not ideal.
And beyond third-party games, Nintendo has some first-party games that will benefit from a hard-line connection, such as the upcoming Splatoon 3. Of course, the Switch’s whole shtick is that it can easily switch between a traditional console and handheld device, so another cord will tie it, but it’s a small price to pay for a smoother internet connection. – Jordan Ramée, co-editor
Built-in microphone for voice chat
Voice chat should be on the console. I do not have to download the Switch Online app to chat with my friends while we play a game. It would be nice if Nintendo added a built-in microphone to the Switch Pro to make it easier for those trying to play online. If it is anything, it could even be re-released into games, just like what we saw on DS and 3DS. Not that I want to go back to the era of game mechanics gimmicks that blow the microphone in, but imagine all the weird voice-related game ideas that Nintendo can bring up again if given the chance! – Lucy James, Senior Video Producer
Give us StreetPass (or something similar)
I already have, the best feature of the 3DS, and how I wanted it to go to the Switch. With a Switch Pro possibly on hand, Nintendo now has the chance to reintroduce the feature – or at least a spiritual successor to it. What StreetPass did well was twofold: it emphasized the portability of the 3DS system itself, and it created a social space that enhanced the feel of a community of Nintendo fans. There’s no reason the company can’t recreate both of those on the Switch – and also use that as an opportunity to launch new firmware on older models.
The switch is built around its portability. The whole point of the system is that it is not tied to one place, so we give the reason to take it out with us. The initial hip marketing pressure offered attractive 20-year-old rooftop parties with their switches, but the system itself does not encourage us to take it out. And although Nintendo (somewhat) The online service offering has expanded, but the system still does not have the feel of a shared community.
If anything, the successful success of the Switch is even more reason to set up a StreetPass system. The Switch surpassed lifelong 3DS sales in half the time on the market, so a feature that allows other users to ping passively will be much more useful and productive than ever before. There are a lot of Switch fans out there, Nintendo. Let’s meet them. – Steve Watts, co-editor
Bluetooth Headphone Support
I want to be able to use Bluetooth headphones without an adapter on the Switch Pro. I know the Switch can support up to eight Joy-Cons already, so it’s easy to see why headphone support didn’t make the cut. But we are in the era of wireless, a time of AirPods and wireless noise canceling headphones. So if I could just turn on my headphones and connect it automatically to my Switch without switching to an adapter, that would be great. – Lucy James, Senior Video Producer
Expand the classic games library
I would love to see changes to the Nintendo Switch Online library of classic games. While it’s fantastic that Nintendo has opened up the NES and SNES library for the Switch, it still holds a treasure trove of its titles for older systems. I know it’s not as simple as just transferring it; there is undoubtedly a lot of emulation work that needs to go on behind the scenes. But if we can expect butter specs on the Switch Pro, I hope the extra horsepower allows N64 and GameCube games to get to the service.
If more classic games were available, I would expect a price increase for Switch Online, but honestly, I would pay for it. I can never say no to that kind of nostalgia, especially as the years go by and these classic games and consoles become harder to access. – Lucy James, Senior Video Producer