The anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 is palpable, but its hefty $449.99 price tag and $79.99 games have me reconsidering my investment. My Nintendo Switch has seen little use since I got my hands on the Asus ROG Ally, and the issues I had with the original console seem even more pronounced in its successor, particularly in today's era of handheld gaming PCs.
Asus ROG Ally Is All I Need
As a lifelong handheld gamer, I've journeyed from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. There's nothing quite like the comfort of playing games from under a cozy blanket in my bed. I was even a staunch supporter of the PlayStation Vita, using it daily during my college train commute.
The Nintendo Switch was a revelation when it launched in 2017, and I was an early adopter. However, I primarily used it for exclusives. For games that felt right for handheld play, I reserved them for the Switch, unable to play them on my PC due to comfort issues. Yet, if those games were available for free on platforms like Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice, I felt guilty about repurchasing them on the Switch. The notoriously rare and shallow discounts on Switch games only compounded this issue, leading to a frustrating cycle of wanting to play games on a handheld but not wanting to spend extra money. Ultimately, I often ended up not playing the game at all.
The arrival of the Asus ROG Ally in 2023 changed everything. This handheld gaming PC, powered by Windows 11, opened up access to Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games, and more. Suddenly, I could enjoy those games I had shunned on PC from the comfort of my bed. Now, I'm diving into a wealth of indie games on my Ally and finally tackling my backlog. Without it, I would have missed out on gems like Celeste, Little Nightmares II, and Resident Evil Remake, which have become some of my all-time favorites without any additional cost. The Ally has become my go-to handheld and a significant money-saver.
Despite my enthusiasm for Nintendo games, the Switch 2 Direct left me uncertain about where the new console fits in my gaming life.
The Switch 2 Isn’t Alone Anymore
With a starting price of $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 enters a fiercely competitive market. It's priced near the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and even the PS5's $399 digital edition was initially cheaper. Over the past eight years, the original Switch's design has spurred a wave of competitors. The Steam Deck kicked things off in 2022, followed by devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Rumors suggest Xbox might be developing its own handheld. The Switch 2 is no longer unique, making it a less compelling purchase for those who already own a handheld gaming PC.
Handheld gaming PCs boast powerful hardware capable of running indie and third-party games seamlessly. With access to a vast library and all your existing games, they offer a comprehensive gaming solution. The technology is advancing rapidly, with the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme poised to enhance performance further. It won't be long before the Switch 2 is outclassed by these competitors.
For owners of handheld gaming PCs interested in Nintendo exclusives, the Switch 2's high entry cost and limited use make it a tough sell. If devices like the Asus ROG Ally can handle everything from third-party to indie titles, the Switch 2 becomes a one-trick pony for first-party games.
The high cost of exclusives, such as Mario Kart World at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bananza at $69.99, only adds to the pain. Given that Nintendo Switch games, especially first-party titles, rarely see significant discounts, the prospect of buying them is less exciting.
However, Nintendo's exclusives do offer immense value. The company has a storied history of producing some of the best games ever made, and many will find the Switch 2's lineup over the coming years justifies its price. Yet, for those of us with handheld gaming PCs, a bit more is needed to make the investment worthwhile.
Ultimately, the Nintendo Switch 2 may not be the right choice for everyone, particularly those already equipped with a handheld gaming PC. Devices like the Legion Go provide stellar performance and access to a vast library of indie and third-party games. My Asus ROG Ally fulfills everything I once needed from a Switch, and with its access to numerous storefronts, it's simply a better place to play games.
