Importance Score: 25 / 100 🔵
Nintendo Reveals Potential Alternate Name for Switch 2 Console
Following a recent Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, the company continues to release details regarding its upcoming console and its slate of future games. Subsequent news updates included interviews with key individuals involved in creating the $450 system, scheduled for a June release. These interviews unveiled that the next-generation hybrid gaming platform was not always designated Switch 2.
Considering a Different Moniker
In a newly released interview on Nintendo’s official webpage, Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto and Switch 2 director Takuhiro Dohta discussed the process of selecting the name for the anticipated console. They disclosed that “Super Nintendo Switch” was once a serious contender.
The “Super Nintendo Switch” Idea
“There were numerous name suggestions, and finalizing the ideal one was a challenge,” Kawamoto stated.
“We even deliberated on names such as ‘Super Nintendo Switch.’ However, the Super NES, which succeeded the NES, could not play NES titles. Given that the Switch 2 will be compatible with original Switch games, adopting the same naming pattern as Super NES felt inappropriate.”
Focus on the System, Not Just Specs
Kawamoto further clarified that Nintendo aims to shift the audience’s focus away from the console’s technical specifications, encouraging them to perceive it simply as “the latest system engineered by Nintendo.” He added that the company aspires for it to become the “new benchmark.”
Designed for Broad Appeal
“From the outset of development,” Dohta explained, “our goal for Switch 2 was to create a system accessible to a diverse range of gamers. This principle remains consistent from the original Switch to Switch 2. My aim was also to deliver an experience enjoyable for the widest possible player base, rather than solely catering to those seeking top-tier hardware performance.”
Simple Communication with the Name “Switch 2”
Dohta indicated that the “Switch 2” nomenclature is intended to “communicate directly” to consumers that it represents the newest and most advanced iteration of the Switch concept.
“We encountered significant hurdles because of the sheer volume of potential names,” Dohta admitted. “But ultimately, through extensive discussion and deliberation, we collectively decided that Nintendo Switch 2 was indeed the most suitable choice.”