Support NeoGAF

[Baemono]

I don't think the issue is the lack of dev kits - if they can get enough Switch 2 on shelves (and they have) they can get enough dev kits out. They are clearly holding them back.

Thread 'Digital Foundry: Lots of devs at Gamescom said they aren't able to get Switch 2 dev kits. There are even weird exclusions for some big AAA developers'

Aug 25, 2025

John: "Where I've spoken with plenty of developers where they were either told that their game.. they should just ship it on Switch 1 and rely on backwards compatibility. There's a lot of developers that are unable to get Switch 2 dev kits. We talked to a lot of devs at Gamescom this year and so many of them said the same things. They want to ship on Switch 2. They would love to do Switch 2 versions. They can't get the hardware. It's really difficult right now."

Oliver: "I don't really understand the strategy because like you said, even now...

• adamsapple
• Replies: 97
• Forum: Gaming Discussion

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

 

[BlackTron]

Not enough devkits

I don't think the issue is the lack of dev kits - if they can get enough Switch 2 on shelves (and they have) they can get enough dev kits out. They are clearly holding them back.

Exactly. There aren't enough kits, but I don't believe that's because they can't find enough lol, they aren't out there because they don't want them to be.

They are attached to the Switch 1 install base. They prefer third party games on Switch 1 where they can get more royalties, and don't want 2 eclipsing 1 too fast.

They want it to be a true successor and kind of a Pro system at the same time. Everything is very carefully measured to "allow" it success, but not too much, because it competes with their own darling.

 

[Baemono]

Exactly. There aren't enough kits, but I don't believe that's because they can't find enough lol, they aren't out there because they don't want them to be.

That's another topic. Like it is now known that there is not enough Switch 2 devkits, but on why the scarcity and why Nintendo is acting like that is another topic.

 

[AJUMP23]

It is all about the MARGINS.

 

[Astray]

I legit am confused about Nintendo still pushing Switch 1 and telling devs to write Switch 1 games.

They should be moving people onto Switch 2 as fast as possible. If you have a Switch 1, there's tons of shit to play, but if you have a Switch 1 and just want to see more on Switch 2, Nintendo isn't trying hard enough to give you that.

Switch 1 has over 130m buyers, it would be suicide if they only started focusing on whatever Switch 2 sells. Their strategy is going to be similar to what Sony did with the PS5.

Even Nintendo on its own is not launching a massive number of Switch 2 exclusives. Anything that can run on Switch 1 will be put on there, even if it has to go down to 15 fps at times.

Also obligatory victory lap because I called all of this ages ago:

I expect a lot of games to still drop on Switch 1.

Nintendo isn't about to drop over 140m install base! No one sane would.

Any 1P game that can run on Switch 1 will release on Switch 1.

Look, this is the 1st generation where Nintendo is building a real platform.

The aim of Switch 2 isn't to completely convert all Switch 1 users to Switch 2 asap (in fact it almost assuredly won't), it's to sell the Switch platform to users who didn't opt for Switch 1, and upsell a big portion (not all) of Switch 1 to Switch 2.

It's basically a similar MO to what Sony is doing with PS5.

I voted no for the exact issues that are facing PS5/Xbox Series rn: There are a lot of forever games rn, and a sizeable number of one-game people won't upgrade as long as fortnite etc works.

Also the fact that sales are still strong for Switch 1 means that cross-gen will be quite long for Switch 2, no sane dev is abandoning the Switch 1 audience as long as they can, including Nintendo itself.

 

[diffusionx]

Switch 1 has over 130m buyers, it would be suicide if they only started focusing on whatever Switch 2 sells. Their strategy is going to be similar to what Sony did with the PS5.

Even Nintendo on its own is not launching a massive number of Switch 2 exclusives. Anything that can run on Switch 1 will be put on there, even if it has to go down to 15 fps at times.

Also obligatory victory lap because I called all of this ages ago:

There is no shortage of Switch 1 stuff to play, and plenty to come out. I am not saying they should cancel Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 1 or whatever. But, you know, if a dev wants to make a Switch 2 game, they should encourage them to make a Switch 2 game. Their first goal now should not be to extract money from Switch 1 users, it should be to get those people onto Switch 2 as fast as reasonably possible.

If I was a dev I would be very frustrating because Switch 2 users are begging for content and they are missing out on a gold rush because Nintendo wants to sell more copies for their ancient hardware.

I don't think what Sony did with PS5 was a good decision, even if they theoretically sold a few more copies of this or that game, it also meant that PS5 owners were dissatisfied or were slower to get on the platform.

 

[Astray]

There is no shortage of Switch 1 stuff to play, and plenty to come out. I am not saying they should cancel Metroid Prime 4 on Switch 1 or whatever. But, you know, if a dev wants to make a Switch 2 game, they should encourage them to make a Switch 2 game. Their first goal now should not be to extract money from Switch 1 users, it should be to get those people onto Switch 2 as fast as reasonably possible.

Their goal is to keep Switch 1 players spending (and wring more money out of the hardcore types with Switch 2), the worst possible outcome for them is to let the Switch 1 die on the vine and allow Sony or Valve a free run at those consumers with their handheld devices when they want to/can upgrade.

Nintendo is building a platform now just like Sony, Valve and Microsoft are, we will see Switch 1 backcompat go to the Switch 3 at least imo.

 

[diffusionx]

Their goal is to keep Switch 1 players spending (and wring more money out of the hardcore types with Switch 2), the worst possible outcome for them is to let the Switch 1 die on the vine and allow Sony or Valve a free run at those consumers with their handheld devices when they want to/can upgrade.

Nintendo is building a platform now just like Sony, Valve and Microsoft are, we will see Switch 1 backcompat go to the Switch 3 at least imo.

The Swith 2 shouldn't be the "hardcore device", it should be the device. Like the system they focus on. Switch 1 users need not be sniped by Sony or Valve if Switch 1 users are moved onto the Switch 2. Wouldn't it be better to get those users onto Switch 2 before the Sony and Valve devices come out.

If a dev wants to make a Switch 1 game they should make a Switch 1 game. But Nintendo should also be making sure those devs are able to make Switch 2 games. They should be making more enhanced versions of their old games to encourage people to upgrade.

 

[Baemono]

Even Nintendo on its own is not launching a massive number of Switch 2 exclusives.

I mean they publish 1 Switch 2 game per month since release, so far:
- Mario Kart World
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Mario Party Jamboree TV
- Kibry Forgotten Land Star Crossed World

And Hyrule Warriors will come in November.

+ of course cross-platform games (Pokémon Legends Z-A, Metroid Prime 4, Mario Galaxy if you want to count them), the free updates, the Zelda remasters.

But yeah they don't want to kill the Swtich as they used to do with their previous systems, which is understandable

 

[Astray]

I mean they publish 1 Switch 2 game per month since release, so far:
- Mario Kart World
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Mario Party Jamboree TV
- Kibry Forgotten Land Star Crossed World

And Hyrule Warriors will come in November.

+ of course cross-platform games (Pokémon Legends Z-A, Metroid Prime 4, Mario Galaxy if you want to count them), the free updates, the Zelda remasters.

But yeah they don't want to kill the Swtich as they used to do with their previous systems, which is understandable

The 2 bolded games are DLC add-ons to existing Switch 1 games though.

I think the only thing that will accelerate Switch 2 migration for Nintendo is if their dev teams start to really struggle with doing what they want on Switch 1.

Until then Nintendo will go with Switch 1 releases as much as they can, they have shown that they are perfectly ok with dropping the settings and image quality to the absolute rock bottom as long as the game runs fine enough on the Switch 1 and the basic creative aim of the title is achieved.

The Swith 2 shouldn't be the "hardcore device", it should be the device. Like the system they focus on. Switch 1 users need not be sniped by Sony or Valve if Switch 1 users are moved onto the Switch 2. Wouldn't it be better to get those users onto Switch 2 before the Sony and Valve devices come out.

If a dev wants to make a Switch 1 game they should make a Switch 1 game. But Nintendo should also be making sure those devs are able to make Switch 2 games. They should be making more enhanced versions of their old games to encourage people to upgrade.

I do agree that they should make more dev kits available to 3rd parties and start giving them cartridge size options. But from their POV, too many games coming out in the launch window is not a good thing as a lot of those will be left on the wayside, better to focus on some tentpole 3P and push some 1P S2 exclusives into the mix. They are playing the very long game with this launch imo.

 

[diffusionx]

I do agree that they should make more dev kits available to 3rd parties and start giving them cartridge size options. But from their POV, too many games coming out in the launch window is not a good thing as a lot of those will be left on the wayside, better to focus on some tentpole 3P and push some 1P S2 exclusives into the mix. They are playing the very long game with this launch imo.

I think this is a mistake. For one thing, if you have a aSwitch 2, with rare exceptions of already hyped games (like UFO 50), you're probably not interested in anything Switch 1 related. For another, Switch 1 was greatly helped by the third parties quickly porting their games over to it in that first year. And devs want to get in on that right away.

 

[Scrawnton]

In the end, there are only so many consumers willing to buy full priced late ports. Lets revisit this when Octopather Traveller 0, DQ7R, and Monster Hunter Stories 3 come out.

 

[BlackTron]

That's another topic. Like it is now known that there is not enough Switch 2 devkits, but on why the scarcity and why Nintendo is acting like that is another topic.

In the past companies might actually have struggled to get enough kits together for all the developers early on, so when we say there "aren't enough" it feels like this more traditional scenario.