Nintendo has officially unveiled the Switch 2—and fans across East Asia are riding a rollercoaster of excitement, confusion, and controversy. From Japan to China, forums have exploded with praise, sarcasm, frustration, and a surprising amount of memes. But this isn’t just your standard console launch buzz. The Switch 2, more than anything, exposes the delicate balance Nintendo walks between legacy and innovation, nostalgia and necessity.
At the heart of the backlash lies Nintendo’s decision to reintroduce region locking—specifically, for the cheaper Japanese version of the console. While the global version supports multiple languages and regions, the Japanese edition accepts only Japanese accounts and displays only Japanese menus. This move, aimed at preventing resellers from exploiting Japan’s weak yen, alienated Chinese fans who once relied on importing affordable Japanese units.
“锁区把8年来作为任豚的信仰败光咯。”
“Locked regions have destroyed 8 years of Nintendo fanboy faith.”
The backlash intensified with news that some physical cartridges no longer contain full game data, instead acting as activation keys for mandatory downloads. Though likely driven by cost-cutting and cartridge capacity limits, the move feels like a betrayal to collectors and those with unreliable internet.
DLSS Me Maybe?
But not all is doom and gloom. The Switch 2 offers real technical strides: 4K resolution while docked, HDR support, a custom Nvidia chip enabling DLSS-style upscaling, increased internal storage, and faster load times. These are significant upgrades over the original model and bring Nintendo closer to its technically superior competitors. However, the company’s understated rollout failed to highlight these strengths, leaving many fans focused on what’s missing instead of what’s new.
“唉，发布会开始前一堆人在那刷聪哥最后一场ns发布会，跨越时间的回应之类的给我感动坏了，结果看完只有愤怒”
“Sigh, before the event people were saying it was like Iwata’s final Direct across time. I was moved. Now I’m just angry.”
The new Pro Controller also reflects meaningful change. Featuring remappable rear buttons, a headphone jack, and a new ‘C’ button (rumored for in-game chat), it signals that Nintendo is taking cues from modern controller standards. While some fans welcomed the ergonomic flexibility, others were skeptical.
Stick Drift: The Sequel No One Wanted
One recurring concern is stick drift, a persistent flaw in the original Joy-Con and Pro Controller. Speculation that the Switch 2 adopts Hall effect sensors—which use magnetic fields to prevent drift—has sparked cautious optimism, but Nintendo has yet to confirm it.
「switchはJoyコンもProコンもスティックが脆かったからなぁ… 2は頼むぜ」
“Both Joy-Con and Pro-Con sticks were fragile on the Switch… I’m counting on you, Switch 2.”
And then, there’s the pricing controversy. The Japanese version is around $300, while overseas versions hover near $400. Though the gap reflects tax and packaging differences, many view it as unfair. Both Japanese and Chinese gamers vented their frustration at paying more for less content.
「どのハードもコントローラー1万になってしまった 高すぎるよ」
“All consoles now have 10,000 yen controllers. It’s too expensive.”“没有过硬的护航作、还有恶心人的海外版价格，连我个老任豚都不想买。”
“No strong launch titles, disgusting overseas pricing—even I, a hardcore Nintendo fan, don’t want it.”
Same Old Nintendo? Or Tactical Genius?
What’s missing in many online debates, however, is perspective. Compared to the chaotic launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the Switch 2 shows Nintendo’s consistent strategy: modest hardware uplift, strong exclusive titles, and innovative twists. Nintendo’s goal was never to match raw horsepower—it was to offer something distinct. The introduction of quality-of-life upgrades like DLSS-style scaling and potentially drift-free sticks aligns with that philosophy.
Still, even with all the criticism, Nintendo holds one unassailable trump card: its games. Mario, Zelda, Splatoon, and Pokémon aren’t going anywhere, and fans know it. However cynical the commentary, the reality is clear—millions will buy in anyway. Even those grumbling loudest know where they’ll be on launch day.
“反正肯定是要买的，骂不骂都一样…懒得骂了，你独占你牛逼，骂完了还是得掏钱。”
“Anyway, I’m definitely buying it. Doesn’t matter if I rant or not… You’ve got exclusives, you win. I can curse all I want, but I’ll still end up paying.”
The Switch 2 is not a disaster. It’s a contradiction: an upgrade that frustrates, a celebration that feels corporate, a next-gen console shackled by last-gen thinking. It promises more, yet reminds us how little some things change. For East Asian gamers who grew up on Nintendo magic, that dissonance cuts deep.
And yet, they’ll be there. We all will. Welcome to the Switch 2 era.
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