As one of the longest-running, most established names in the video game industry. Their last system, and one of their most popular, was the Nintendo Switch. It came out in 2017 and introduced some revolutionary new hardware in a console that can transition between being attached to the TV to being a handheld, portable device in seconds. This is built on the innovative motion controls introduced with the Wii in 2006, one of their previous hit consoles.
Nintendo has announced its next console: the Nintendo Switch 2. The name won’t win any awards for creativity but what the machine is capable of could! Details have been kept secret and lots of speculation from the fans has fueled rumours of what the next console will be able to do. In mid-January, Nintendo released its first launch trailer and the first official details about the console. Initially, it looks to simply be a ‘bigger and better’ version of the original Switch.
Halfway through the trailer, they tease some very exciting hardware innovations. The detachable controllers, known as joy-cons, are turned on their side and used like a computer mouse. Gamers will be very excited to see this as a mouse has traditionally only been tied with PC gaming. This will open up lots of new gameplay types for the Nintendo console.
But what is ESPECIALLY intriguing is that BOTH joy-cons appear to be used as mice in the clip. Has there ever been any type of software experience anywhere that uses two mice at the same time? Could this be a first? What type of new experiences could this open up?
There are a lot of parallel themes in the video game industry to other areas in the digital technology space: design, software development, hardware and innovation.
So let’s not limit ourselves to looking at video games as simply a leisure activity. We’ll find out more about the Switch 2 at the next Nintendo Direct event on April 2nd, but why not use the time in between to let our imaginations run wild with the possibilities and use the inspiration to influence other areas in technology and design.