Now that theNintendo Switch 2has officially hit the market, players are eager to experience all it has to offer. However, with a limited selection of games available and prices higher than ever, choosing what to purchase can be a bit daunting. Despite being compared to the power of last-gen consoles,there’s still a chance that the Switch 2 may struggle to run several of its games.
After all, thousands of games are offered on the Switch, including games likePokémon Scarlet & Violetthat were exclusive to it, and it still struggles to run several of them without a significant drop in quality or performance issues. So, even though several games have made their Nintendo debut as part of this launch, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be able to meet your expectations, and unfortunately,the only way to know for sure is through demos.
Game Demos Are A Great Way To Test Out A New Console
With Demos, Players Can Find Out Exactly What A Console’s Limits Are
The Nintendo Switch 2 is undoubtedly more powerful than the original Switch, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s comparable to modern consoles. If anything, the Nintendo Switch and its successor are some of the most finicky consoles on the market when it comes to which games they can properly run. While you’re able to often buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X game and be relatively sure it will run the way it was intended to, the same cannot be said for the Nintendo Switch, and it’s too early to feel significantly more confident about the Switch 2.
Unfortunately,Switch ports often come down to a case-by-case basis, making the original console’s game library unpredictable. For example,Hogwarts Legacyis available on the Nintendo Switchand is more than playable, but the version that runs on that platform is still vastly different from what players experience on other platforms. Then you have a game likeOverwatch 2, which is riddled with lag and performance issues that make it nearly unplayable on the console, even though it’s offered there.
Simply being available on a platform does not necessarily mean that the platform can handle it. Thankfully, in the case ofOverwatch 2, it’s free to download. However, that’s a rare exception, and often, you’ll instead be dropping anywhere from $50 to $80 on something you can’t be sure will run properly. Since making everything free likeOverwatch 2is not an option, the best solution is game demos.Demos provide a way for players to test out what the Switch 2 is capable of without taking the monetary risk.
Games Can Be Too Expensive To Buy Without Trying Them Out
The Lack Of A Flexible Refund Policy Can Make Buying Games Risky Without A Demo
Now that game prices across every platform are seemingly on the rise, especially in the case of the Nintendo Switch 2,players are becoming more selective than ever about how to spend their money. Fortunately, when it comes to services like Steam, many games offer a free demo, and all games on Steam feature a limited refund period. While this is largely due to the fact that PC specs can vary so extensively, increasing the likelihood that players could buy something they can’t even boot up, it still encourages players to give games a chance that they otherwise might not.
Without the option to test games or refund them, it’s hard to be fully confident in a purchase that costs nearly 1/5 of what the console does. Ultimately, this then leaves the options of either risking the purchase anyway and being subsequently disappointed, or just not buying the game at all. For an indie title that’s under $20 or so, the risk might be worth the reward, but with games quickly approaching a near $100 price point each,a player might not buy a game at all if they can’t test it out beforehand, something that ends up being a negative outcome for everyone involved.
Switch 2 Would Be Better If I Could Trial More Games
The Opportunity To Test Games Would Likely Result In More Sales In The Long Run
With a large portion of the Nintendo Switch 2’s library at the moment being primarily made up of older games,most players aren’t just deciding whether to purchase these games, but instead whether to purchase them again. More than likely, players already haveCyberpunk 2077,Street Fighter 6, or some of the otherNintendo Switch 2 gameson other platforms at this point, which means they need to be given a good reason to justify dropping another $50 or so on the same game.
Virtual Game Cards could have slightly made up for a lack of demos if they had extended lending to friends, and not just shared Nintendo Account members. However, at the moment, they have too many limitations to be considered a suitable replacement.
Even after playingHogwarts Legacyon the PS5and wishing I had the convenience of enjoying it on my Switch, I still couldn’t bring myself to buy it simply because I suspected the drop in quality would ruin the overall experience for me. That being said,now that the Switch 2 offers an improved version, I’m more tempted to make the repeat purchase. Without a demo to let me try it, it’s still just hard to be sure if it’s worth it.
If Nintendo has no intention of adopting something likeSteam’s flexible refund policy,demos need to be more of a priority and actively encouraged. Although there is a chance players may not like a demo and the game could lose out on a sale, the odds are far more likely that a demo would convince players like me to make a purchase they otherwise wouldn’t. It’s exciting to explore the game library and see what’s out there, but theNintendo Switch 2needs to provide more opportunities for players to see what it can do without the added financial risks.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the successor to Nintendo Switch, scheduled for release in 2025. Confirmed as backwards compatible, it will play both physical and digital Nintendo Switch games. A full reveal is pencilled in for June 17, 2025.
