The Switch 2 Needs More Customization, Not Just Swappable Joy-Cons

With the Swap’s lifespan coming to an finish, it’s exceptional how a lot Nintendo obtained proper: an in depth library of high quality video games, the console’s versatility, and a company-best Professional controller. However software program and {hardware} customization is one space the place the Swap’s successor might make huge enhancements.

It’s Time for Themes to Return

One thing I preferred concerning the Nintendo Swap at launch was its no-nonsense strategy to consumer interface design. The intentional sparsity places the concentrate on the video games and will get you taking part in rapidly. Nintendo shouldn’t abandon this philosophy, however after almost eight years of calculated blandness, the console wants one thing extra to spark pleasure.

My eye is straight away drawn to the “Themes” choice within the Swap’s settings menu. Ever since its launch, it’s supplied solely two choices: Primary White and Primary Black. The framing of those colours as “fundamental” alongside an interface that’s clearly designed to accommodate extra choices left many followers hopelessly ready for the announcement of something extra, even simply easy shade variants. But this by no means got here to go.

This under-utilized menu is especially jarring for Swap house owners coming from the 3DS ecosystem, the place themes reigned supreme. There have been a whole lot of free and paid choices that overhauled your entire consumer interface all the way down to its icons and sound results. Discovering one that matches your character helped to make each particular person’s 3DS really feel uniquely theirs.

I nonetheless bask within the absurd Slowpoke theme that performed the dopey Pokémon’s reggae music because it struck a model-esque pose on a seashore. I’ll typically activate my 3DS simply to take a look at it.

In the meantime, my Swap’s interface appears to be like similar to that of each different Swap. The one sense of self-expression current is the video games I’ve lately performed, one thing each console interface does. Even new colours would go a good distance in making the Swap 2 really feel extra like a enjoyable zone than a utilitarian portal to enjoyable.

It is price noting that the Nintendo Swap On-line rewards program is completely set as much as provide themes alongside the present profile avatar customization. Perhaps they may even add a storefront for them on the mobile app! I’d fortunately pay cash for premium themes, too.

Nintendo Ought to Additionally Take into account UI Enhancements

There are different novel ways in which individuals might personalize their Swap 2 expertise past themes, a few of which additionally provide enhanced performance.

One addition I’d like to see is alternate dwelling display icons for video games. I’m positive all of us have that sport we play commonly that has an eye-sore of an icon, so offering extra choices would enable gamers to create a extra visibly pleasing presentation (and maybe one that matches their chosen theme).

The one trick right here can be getting third events to additionally provide up these alternate options, however I wager they’d be possible to take action if Nintendo led the cost.

One other function that might massively enhance how we use the Swap is the power to pin video games to the house display. This may imply the video games you commonly return to or don’t wish to overlook you personal (responsible as charged) don’t get pushed into the library part.

Alongside the identical strains, allow us to take the folders solely accessible throughout the library and pin these to the entrance web page. Whereas Nintendo could also be reluctant to create a menu inside a menu on the house display, the minor consumer expertise complication pales compared to how helpful it could be.

These are only a few concepts of options Nintendo might add to raised tailor the Swap 2 interface to particular person wants. Given how rudimentary the Swap dwelling menu at present is, there’s tons of room to broaden.

Extra Accessible and Inexpensive {Hardware} Customization

The primary avenue via which the Swap at present affords personalization are themed Professional Controllers, Pleasure-Cons, and restricted version Swap items and docks.

A few of these designs are stunning; I’m keen on the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Professional Controller and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Pleasure-Cons myself, in addition to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Swap. Nonetheless, they arrive at a excessive price for aesthetic selection. Nintendo ought to hold making these whereas additionally providing extra reasonably priced and fewer redundant bodily customization choices.

My thoughts instantly wanders to how Playdate creator Panic affords varied colours of magnetic instances for its unique crank-controlled handheld. They permit customers to decide on an accent that most accurately fits their style whereas additionally retaining their Playdate protected on the identical time.

May the Swap 2 provide an identical fashion of screen-protecting case when undocked? Nintendo might merely implement magnets and let third events make the instances and different associated equipment… which now has me considering Nintendo making a MagSafe-like ecosystem known as MarioSafe.

What about slipcovers for the dock that permit individuals spruce up their consoles with out having to purchase a brand new one? Even one thing like stickers designed to simply peel off of the dock’s plastic may very well be an enticing customization route. Whichever method Nintendo goes about it, {hardware} customization can be extraordinarily worthwhile because it’s what individuals will see of their lounge every single day and turns the Swap 2 dock into an ornamental accent.

What Customization Will Nintendo Truly Supply?

We’re speaking about Nintendo, so something’s doable. Heck, the corporate simply launched an alarm clock of all issues, so nothing is just too far-fetched.

Whereas the {hardware} customization I mentioned most likely quantities to little greater than a want checklist from a hopeful dreamer, I truly see the return of interface themes as extremely doable. Simply the truth that Nintendo arrange the Swap’s theme menu to be able to housing extra choices means I wouldn’t be stunned to see extra, even when we haven’t in any case these years.

My principle as to why the Swap by no means obtained extra themes is that it could merely have been too taxing on the console’s getting older {hardware}. The house display runs at 720p as-is, so layering extra visuals and audio on high of which may have brought on efficiency points. With the Swap 2, this most likely received’t be an issue anymore. Nintendo can be good to lastly make good on this frequent and profitable fan request.

It is also doable that Nintendo makes nearly no adjustments. An “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it” mentality would make sense for a corporation that’s blue shell shocked from flops that observe record-setting {hardware} releases. In different phrases, no one desires one other Wii U scenario. However I really feel like themes might solely assist differentiate the Swap 2 from the Swap, one thing extra necessary than ever when it’s all however assured that Nintendo retains the hybrid form-factor that’s now synonymous with their whole model identification.

Regardless, I’m excited to hear more about Nintendo’s next console, which the corporate mentioned will occur by the top of March 2025.