Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida recently shared his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 during an interview with Easy Allies. His reaction, however, wasn't exactly filled with enthusiasm.
When asked about the Switch 2 reveal, Yoshida offered a measured and thoughtful critique:
"To me, it was a bit of a mixed message from Nintendo. In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me, they have always been about creating new experiences—designing hardware and games together to create something amazing and unique. But the Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is essentially a better Switch, right? It has a larger screen, a more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K support, 120 fps capability, and even had a hardware executive opening the presentation like other platforms do. Because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole system is 'We made things better,' and that's something other companies have been doing all the time."
Yoshida continued by acknowledging that for exclusive Nintendo gamers, the Switch 2 offers a significant upgrade path—especially with titles like *Elden Ring* becoming available on the platform. However, he noted that for multi-platform players, the appeal might be less pronounced.
"Publishers must have known that that show last week would be one of the most-watched events this year. Millions and millions of people tuned in. It’s incredible exposure for launching a new game—if you have the chance. Yet, most of the games announced were ports from previous generations. I don’t know if that reflects Nintendo’s direction or third-party decisions. One title I really responded to was *Enter the Gungeon 2*. That looks fantastic. They did a great job announcing it."
He also expressed appreciation for certain titles like *Drag x Drive*, which he described as "very Nintendo", before touching on regional pricing differences and hardware costs. He concluded his main thoughts with a bittersweet reflection:
"Anyway, some of the things Nintendo is doing—like the camera integration or mouse controls—are helping create new experiences, which is great. But beyond that, I was personally a bit disappointed because they didn't really surprise us. Everyone wanted that better Switch."
Despite his reservations, Yoshida acknowledged that the Nintendo Switch 2 likely represents a smart business move, with technical upgrades crafted by skilled designers. The sentiment echoes a broader discussion within the gaming community—that while the Switch 2 may be a safe and logical evolution, it lacks the bold creativity fans have come to associate with Nintendo’s more eccentric legacy. Still, features like mouse support hint that Nintendo's quirky innovation spirit hasn't completely faded.
While Yoshida went into detail regarding pricing disparities across regions, the official U.S. price of the Nintendo Switch 2 remains unknown. Nintendo paused North American pre-orders following news of new tariffs introduced the very same day the console was announced. With a global launch date set for June 5, the pressure is on for Nintendo to finalize details ahead of release.
