Is there any chance for a TV-only Switch 2?

RCU005

Member
It felt weird to me that Nintendo released the Switch lite as a portable-only mode, but it made sense that the portable part of the console was the most successful. This time, with technology like 4K upscaling, HDR, and Spatial Audio, it would make sense to release a TV-only version.

Do you think there would be enough demand for it?

To me, it feels like a waste to have a screen and all these features for portable gaming, when I don't use them.

A TV-only model + PRO Controller + HDMI 2.1 that's all I would want.
 

S0ULZB0URNE

Member
It felt weird to me that Nintendo released the Switch lite as a portable-only mode, but it made sense that the portable part of the console was the most successful. This time, with technology like 4K upscaling, HDR, and Spatial Audio, it would make sense to release a TV-only version.

Do you think there would be enough demand for it?

To me, it feels like a waste to have a screen and all these features for portable gaming, when I don't use them.

A TV-only model + PRO Controller + HDMI 2.1 that's all I would want.
I'd rather a console only version.
 
I doubt it will happen
No Way Cat GIF
 
Why not just buy the Switch 2 as is, and leave it docked?
Because people like spending money on Nintendo products and it's a chance for Nintendo to squeeze more money from most of the American user base.
Nobody wants the Switch in a dock when there's a slick looking TV console.
The reality is that the ship's already sailed and they're not going to do it now.
 
It’ll never happen because Nintendo has made it clear they don’t want to compete with consoles. They’ve found their niche (hybrid). Console only has too much overlap on the current market.

Plus someone who would buy a Switch TV (or whatever) will still buy a Switch 2. So all they would be doing is cannibalizing their sales.

You’ll see a Switch 2 Lite before you ever see a TV.
 

Robb

Gold Member
It’s Nintendo, so who knows?

if I had to guess, my answer would be ‘No’ though.

This is old data by this point, maybe there exist more recent stuff(?), but according to Nintendo less than 20 per cent of Switch owners play docked to the TV (for more than 80 per cent of their playtime).
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We did get a Switch Lite, but the statistic for handheld play is also much higher. And the Switch Lite is by far the worst selling SKU.
 
I think it's very unlikely.

Considering that there are still Yuzu builds around to play Switch games on PC with better visuals than anything the Switch 2 can do, your best bet is to wait and see if there will be a Switch 2 emulator and hooking up your PC to play on your TV.
 
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Jinzo Prime

Member
It felt weird to me that Nintendo released the Switch lite as a portable-only mode, but it made sense that the portable part of the console was the most successful. This time, with technology like 4K upscaling, HDR, and Spatial Audio, it would make sense to release a TV-only version.

Do you think there would be enough demand for it?

To me, it feels like a waste to have a screen and all these features for portable gaming, when I don't use them.

A TV-only model + PRO Controller + HDMI 2.1 that's all I would want.
I agree with you, I would love a stationary Switch 2 and was disappointed when we didn't see it at the event.

However, I can understand why Nintendo didn't go that route: how well would a Swich 2 non-portable stand in comparison to the PS5? The Astro Bot bundle PS5 DE is still $400; Switch 2 stationary would have to go under that to match its perceived value.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
I mean, they released a Switch Lite, which can't be docked.
This why in my opinion I find that system pointless. Why would I want take option away from me?

Sometimes I play games like Ace Attorney which I like to play in my bed before going to sleep, while games like Xenoblade I like to play it on my TV.
 

NeoIkaruGAF

Gold Member
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People have been shitting on the XSS since its specs were revealed. Now Nintendo introduces a system that’s more or less on par with XSS according to comparisons, and people want a living-room-only version of it? Please, GAF, please try to make some fucking sense sometimes.
 

64gigabyteram

Reverse groomer.
you can still buy it and then just play it docked till the end of time. There's way less people like you than there are people who want a portable only experience. It's already much better docked than Switch 1.

That being said this ultimately shows the failings of the "hybrid" model- for people who know what they want, 50% of the console is unnecessary. Its mainly indecisive fucks like me who benefit from "hybrids"
 

Hudo

Member
Doubtful. But if they do happen to make a TV-only variant, it will have the same specs as the hybrid model, otherwise the whole concept of the Switch wouldn't make sense anymore.
 

justiceiro

Marlboro: Other M
Considering how price is a point of contention this time, and that there is a shot of getting even more expensive on EUA, I bet there is a bigger chance this time.

However, I think it will probably ship joycons, to give you a option to use point stuff.
 

cireza

Member
Would it drive sales significant enough to justify putting in place a complete manufacturing process and supply chain ? Knowing that this means making lower quantities of this product, rather than making more of the same Switch 2, and benefiting of optimized processes and lower prices on components.

It is up to Nintendo to answer this question, but from a pure logistical point of view, you are better off optimizing one process and mass producing your only product, rather than dividing your effort on several products.
 
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Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
It felt weird to me that Nintendo released the Switch lite as a portable-only mode, but it made sense that the portable part of the console was the most successful. This time, with technology like 4K upscaling, HDR, and Spatial Audio, it would make sense to release a TV-only version.

Do you think there would be enough demand for it?

To me, it feels like a waste to have a screen and all these features for portable gaming, when I don't use them.

A TV-only model + PRO Controller + HDMI 2.1 that's all I would want.
I think the answer is likely going to be yes.

A lot of people are already using external GPU enclosures without the kind of explicit support something like Nintendo, Sony, or MS can build in a controlled console platform (less so for MS if they push the Windows PC unification push) to share resources.

Unless some true revolution happens, I think hybrids like Nintendo do will hit a power and battery wall which will make it really tough to meaningfully keep the docked mode close enough to what the rest of the industry uses to make porting easier.

Sony might try this strategy with PS6 and the new handheld. Very very very very strong emphasis on power efficient but strong CPU performance in the handheld and the next generation PSSR to allow the kind of sparse rendering the industry is betting on to flourish (native resolution being very very much lower than people would expect) and then when docked with PS6 (it remains to be seen if PS6 is going to be two systems that can join or a system with two parts… handheld mode and a docked version that fuses local GPU and CPU cores and memory in the dock with the resources in the fan cooled handheld… maybe Nintendo will get there first but dedicated PS handheld games are a non starter (it is either a handheld PC or a portable PS6).
 
Impossible. After two consecutive flops, they went out of that market for good. People seem to forget that Nintendo was really at existential risk not that long ago.
 

Mownoc

Member
I thought there was a chance they'd do a cheaper TV only switch during the generation but they never did, so no I don't think we'll see it with the Switch 2 either.
 

Great Auk

Member
It felt weird to me that Nintendo released the Switch lite as a portable-only mode, but it made sense that the portable part of the console was the most successful. This time, with technology like 4K upscaling, HDR, and Spatial Audio, it would make sense to release a TV-only version.

Do you think there would be enough demand for it?

To me, it feels like a waste to have a screen and all these features for portable gaming, when I don't use them.

A TV-only model + PRO Controller + HDMI 2.1 that's all I would want.

I get what you're saying, but can't you just leave it in the dock at all times then? Ypu wouldn't be saving much if they got rid of the screen and joycons if it still kept the same formfactor. A lot of the cost goes into making it compact.

It would have to be a totally new console and then they could make it even more powered since it wouldn't have to be portable. But then it wouldn't be a Switch.
 

diffusionx

Gold Member
Switch 1 answered that question, zero chance.

I really wish.

A TV-only Switch 2 with no screen and no Joycons included for $299 would be incredible IMO. Or include a Pro Controller instead of Joycons and sell it for $349.
You really think the screen is $150?
 
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diffusionx

Gold Member
No, I think the screen and a pair of Joycons are $150.

Nintendo is selling Switch 2 Joycon pairs for $90.
that's what they are selling it for, but Nintendo isn't going to give up that amount of revenue and fragment the userbase.

A TV only one if they did it (which, they won't), would be closer to $399 than $299.
 

DonkeyPunchJr

World’s Biggest Weeb
“Nintendo experts” swore they’d never make a non-3D 3DS or a portable-only Switch model yet look what happened.

Personally I think it’d be pretty cool to have a little Apple TV-sized Switch 2. Guess it depends on whether Nintendo sees the demand but I don’t think this is some ridiculous “un-Nintendo-like” idea.
 
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