I recently had the opportunity to check out a hacked Nintendo Switch. This made me realize where Nintendo's current console is severely limited. In the article I show you my top 12 functions where the Switch failed in my opinion.
A comment from Robert Schanze: I really like my Switch and think it's the best Nintendo console. But even though it failed in the following 12 points for me, the Switch successor could improve on them – even if that's unlikely for some features because Nintendo is Nintendo.
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More games on the home screen
The Nintendo Switch shows a total of 4 games on the home screen. If you want a better overview, you have to tap the “All Software” symbol on the far right to display a vertical list of all games. How nice would it be if you could many more games on the home screen could see, for example two lines like this:
Real folders on the homescreen, not groups
Since the beginning of the Switch, I have wanted folders in which I can sort my games to tidy up my home screen. This has not been the case to this day. With the firmware update 14.0.0, Nintendo only allowed “groups” on the Switch. Even if websites reported “folders”, they are not. They are groups or rather filters. And these groups cannot be displayed on the home screen, but only separately above the “All Software” menu. This is more inconvenient than practical and feels like a crutch to proper folders to me. The following concept video from the “Tilmendomination” channel shows how easy it could be:
Emulation games directly on the home screen
With the “Nintendo Switch Online” (NSO) subscription service, you can also play old console games from the SNES, N64 or Gameboy. Unfortunately, these games are only displayed within the respective console app. It would be much nicer if I… Integrate specific console titles directly on my home screen could, as can be seen here:
Buy games from old Nintendo consoles directly
What I would also like: Old console titles from SNES, Gameboy Advance and Co. for 5 euros each to buy – without a monthly subscription. Just like it was done on the Wii with the Virtual Console. But Nintendo probably won't do that. Because the company simply earns more if you pay monthly instead of once. I understand the idea behind it. However, I will no longer be able to play the old classic games on the Switch if the subscription service is no longer available. In addition, not all of my favorite games from my childhood can be found there – such as “Illusion of Time”. You can see which games are available in the online subscription here:
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An Internet browser (I mean: really?)
One of the world's most popular consoles has no internet browser. I suspect Nintendo does not allow this to prevent security vulnerabilities in the Switch from being easily exploited via certain websites. But it could also be that Nintendo simply wants to see the console as a gaming console. But that doesn't change the fact that I would like to have a browser on devices with large displays in 2024. In addition, the browser functionality is already integrated into the Switch. Nintendo just needs to activate a suitable thumbnail image for the home screen:
Themes, Nintendo! MORE THEMES please!!
Almost every Switch looks the same on the screen. There are only two designs: “Light” or “Dark”. I find that pathetic. However, how nice it would be if everyone… Beautify the Switch with your favorite characters or themes could.
Nice screenshot management (with emphasis on “nice”!)
Copying screenshots from the Switch to the PC is relatively easy, but not particularly nice. In my opinion, a browser window that shows all screenshots of the Switch. I can then easily select which images I want to download to my PC with just a few clicks.
Start games without having to update
I still remember the time when you could just start games from the console, regardless of whether it was currently updated. For example, I like to play “Zelda: Tears of the Kingdrom” on the previous version 1.1.1 because the simple doubling glitch still works there, which saves me hours of grinding in the game. However, as soon as the console “knows” via the internet connection that updates for the game are available, I am prompted to install it before starting the game. Then I have to be careful not to click on “Download”. I find that very annoying. For some games, the Switch no longer offers the option to start the game without updates and I am forced to install them.
I can understand if Nintendo wants to “fix” games but please let me decidewhether I want my purchased games fixed at all or whether I play them with or without updates (at least for offline games without online multiplayer). There are also updates that make games worse. And yes: From this point on, I could only use the Switch in airplane mode for the game that should not receive updates, but then I would also no longer be able to buy eShop games and that is certainly not in Nintendo's interest.
More media and streaming players like Netflix and Co.
Call me newfangled, but when I hold a small portable computer called the Switch that can technically play games, videos and music, then I would also like to have access to these functions. The Switch only offers YouTube and Crunchyroll as video streaming apps. No Netflix, no Amazon Video – why not? Even if the battery didn't last long when streaming video, I would still at least like the option to do so. I would also like a VLC media player as a Switch app.
Streaming from and to the Switch
Sometimes the TV is busy and I can only switch to the Switch's own screen. Unfortunately, some games have such a small font that I feel like I have to use the switch's zoom function every 5 seconds to be able to read it. If I I can now quickly stream the Switch game to my laptop screen could, the problem would be solved. On the other hand, it would also be practical to stream PC games directly to the Switch from time to time. Nintendo will not allow the second scenario in particular, but I will still be able to stream… er… dream.
Save & restore game saves offline
The Nintendo Switch creates a Backup copy (of most) games only in the cloud if you have purchased the online subscription. But I would also like to be able to play my long-earned game saves without a monthly payment. BACKUP TO MY OWN SD CARD (at least for offline games). I can understand if Nintendo doesn't accept copying a game to another Switch, but it should be possible for the Switch to save its own game saves in encrypted form on the inserted SD card so that it can be restored if necessary. And yes: of course I could manipulate my progress in games and switch back to an earlier save game state. But here too, I am of the opinion that I would like to decide for myself how I deal with my save games.
12. More powerful game management
This is really a suggestion for improvement on a nitpicky level, but I would like to see on the Switch a list of all installed gameswhich I can manage efficiently. For example, I could mark several games at once in the list and then delete them all at once or copy them from the internal memory to the SD card – or vice versa. I could also use the list to back up or restore my save games, check the game data for errors or uninstall installed updates (see the point “Start games without the need for updates” above).
Conclusion: Why is the Switch so limited?
Dealing with a Nintendo Switch with homebrew software installed has shown what I miss about my regular Switch OLED: More freedom and more customization options.
I would like the old ones Console classic of my youth for the Switch and not just those that are offered to me for a short time in a subscription. I want direct access to these emulated games via the home screen and not have to navigate through nested menus. I want real ones Folder have where I can sort my games and no groups/filters. I want Videos, Music and the most common Streaming services play.I want a Web browser have.I want one Offline backup of my game saves have.I want mine Stream games to other devices can.I want the games too start without updates and not be reminded every time I do it.And most importantly, I want more themesto customize the Switch to my liking. Lots of cat pictures and stuff.
So why is the Switch so limited? Many of the features I want would also make the Switch more vulnerable to hacking and game piracy, for example. Additionally, hardware developers like to keep their customers in their own ecosystem to make even more money, so they artificially limit their products (other strong examples are Apple and Amazon).
Now I have the feeling that Nintendo is restricting its own console excessively for these (or other) reasons and generally wants to dictate too much about HOW you should use the Switch. In my experience, such approaches often have the opposite effect: For example, I only became interested in Switch homebrew when I noticed that the Switch no longer allowed some games to be started without the latest updates. The YouTuber “Lextorias” also made a similar observation using the example of piracy in his critical YouTube video researched (in English):
I think piracy does not necessarily arise from malice or because people want everything for free, but rather from a lack or inadequate official offers or services. And what if it were similar in this example? If Nintendo were to leave the Switch successor a little more freedom, the console will perhaps be even more successfulthan the company could have ever hoped for.