Nintendo should revisit the clamshell design for Switch 2 Lite or a different model

Should Nintendo revisit the clamshell?

  • Total voters
    51
BennyBlanco

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
For the past few weeks I've been messing around with an Ayn Thor and it is incredibly good.

Just using modern tech in this form factor is amazing. Dual OLEDs. 6 inch top display. Nice touch screens. And it's actually pocketable unlike Switch 2.

IMG-3267.jpg


3DSXL for comparison.

It got me thinking about Switch 2's future iterations. They should really revisit the clamshell.

They have wisely not done anything with DS or 3DS on Switch because these games are dog shit 100% of the time on a single screen. But they have this giant library of absolute bangers just sitting there between DS and 3DS.

- Fatlus at their absolute peak. Trauma Center. Devil Survivor. Soul Hackers. Strange Journey. SMTIV. Radiant Historia. Etrian Odyssey series. Persona Q. Etc.
- actual good Pokemon games
- Link Between Worlds
- Rhythm Heaven
- Elite Beat
- Mario and Luigi RPGs
- good Mario Golf
- etc etc etc

We are now at the time when people are getting nostalgic for DS/ 3DS. There are a ton of Chinese Android handhelds coming next year with this form factor. The Android emulation scene for DS and 3DS has matured rapidly (but still not perfect). Azahar is great.

The games on 3DS upscale well and look far better on an OLED. Fitting the internals of a Switch 2 in a clamshell might be tough, idk but it seems doable. Even with the bigger 6 inch screen the Thor is easily pocketable and more portable than a Switch 2 or Steam Deck.

Nintendo loves selling old games and I think the market for selling 3DS and DS games would be at its peak now.
 
I m sure Nintendo does NOT want to break compatiblity with what it was able to create with SW1, so claimshell design wont come back (pains me to say that, but it is what it is... :-()
 
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The 3DS was the last 'real' portable gaming device.
Everything that has been released since has been a compromise with portability.

I want bigger screens, but foldable screen probably would not be anywhere near robust enough to survive.
Maybe wearable (glasses) screens will become more mainstream someday.
 
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Wouldn't mind a clamshell design for Switch 2 revision. The tech is there now as we can see with Ayn Thor and GPD Win Mini. It would be awesome to see Nintendo do something like this. I think it would go over well with their community.
 
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PauloRoberto said:
You mean as a clamsheel portable device?
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Clamshell didn't need a case. Just slide it into your jacket pocket or backback no problem.
The Switch I keep thinking I'm going to break it or scratch it whenever it's out of the zipper case I bought for it.

Wearable glasses with a screen would be nice I think. Just keep the device in your backpack and stream it too your face.
 
How would a clamshell work for a device that has a single display? Just cram all of the controls into a uncomfortable PSPgo type device?

I don't think a clamshell would be worthwhile for a SW2 Lite and I don't see Nintendo straying away from the Switch design anytime soon. A dual screen design would essentially kill third party games.
 
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Nah, not like they care to release DS/3DS games, they had a great set up with Wii Virtual Console but they saw the market didn't care as much as drip feeding them "free" games with subscriptions so I doubt they'll ever return to that model.

Maybe Switch 3 will be foldable on top of the switch hybrid aspect and that way could have some kind of comfortable dual screen esque setup so they can include some of the catalogue or new games that take some advantage of that stuff.
 
hououinkyouma00 said:
How would a clamshell work for a device that has a single display? Just cram all of the controls into a uncomfortable PSPgo type device?

I don't think a clamshell would be worthwhile for a SW2 Lite and I don't see Nintendo straying away from the Switch design anytime soon. A dual screen design would essentially kill third party games.
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Exactly.

First thought that came to mind was "but why".

It adds absolutely nothing, and only thing switch 2 lite would really need is better ergonomics (I mean it would need a lot, but that's at least doable).
 
Clamshell doesn't have to have multiple screens. Just flip the clam top over all the way to the back of the device. Would be nice if sticks could be magnetically removed and stored inside the device like how the Xbox elite controllers are magnetic. Would need a place inside the clamshell to store the sticks all nice and flat like a 3ds.
 
IDK, i dont really want them wasting time with a C-tier revision like the switch lite in the Switch2 line.

They'd be sacrificing something that is part of the switches identity as a machine just to re-emphasize portability which it already has nailed down. So losing the joy-con versatility for a flip-screen aint something id expect nintendo to do themselves. Nor would they give a shit about that device and its catalogue to make a "classic-console" of these days.

I'm happier to see teams just revive the ability to play that devices catalog on parody(parity?) hardware.
 
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One shitty screen is enough, I don't need two. Not convinced they can reduce the size of the Switch 2 that much anyway.
 
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sodstall said:
IDK, i dont really want them wasting time with a C-tier revision like the switch lite in the Switch2 line.

They'd be sacrificing something that is part of the switches identity as a machine just to re-emphasize portability which it already has nailed down. So losing the joy-con versatility for a flip-screen aint something id expect nintendo to do themselves. Nor would they give a shit about that device and its catalogue to make a "classic-console" of these days.

I'm happier to see teams just revive the ability to play that devices catalog on parody hardware.
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I mean, you don't think they'd do for Switch 2 what they already did for Switch (and 3DS with 2DS)? Makes even more sense for Switch 2 if they can open it up to a larger market, it probably would become more popular than Switch Lite managed to be if it's like 150 less rather than 100 this time.

Just speaking of the Lite aspect here, I said I don't think they'd do a clam shell with or without a second screen already.
 
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The DS and 3DS were great systems and while I did love them, I'm not sure if they need to come back to that sort of design. It would certainly be great for virtual console emulation of older titles, but other than that I don't think there would be any big need for it. Doesn't the switch already come with a touch screen as well?
 
I think a clamshell design for the lite model is the way to go, but the second screen isn't necessary, would just increase costs. Sure DS/3DS virtual console would be great but they won't want to have capabilities on the Lite that the others can't have.

Switch 1 Lite should have been a clamshell as well. As the handheld only model it should actually be pocketable, which the clamshell design gives you. It'd differentiate it more so it wouldn't just be, "switch but worse".
 
I just want a clamshell for how well it protects the screen. Doesn't need to have an extra screen, just be like GBA SP.

iCuUR02PE53qVOjg.jpg


Maybe add a trackpad there (and on the controller a la PS5) if they want to fill up the empty space.
 
The GBA SP is one of the most robust (and coolest) handhelds I have ever owned. Mine still works to this day, and I've been not kind to it over the years of (ab)use.
 
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