Mobile Mavens: What are Nintendo Switch 2’s chances of success and is there an opportunity for mobile devs?

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Last week, we saw Nintendo share long-awaited details on the Switch 2. We got to see a host of new features alongside its official release date of June 5th and a price point of $449.99 (£395.99) for the standalone version.

While the Switch will look to build upon the original consoles’ success, will it be a more challenging feat given that the industry has embraced handheld gaming more thanks to competitors such as the Steam Deck?

And what role might President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs play in the Switch 2’s release? We reached out to our Mobile Mavens for their insights, expectations, and opinions on what impact the Switch 2 will have on the games industry.

I think the entire success outcomes for Nintendo depend upon current tariff wars and access to content.

Nintendo will not stop being one of the most successful game behemoths globally, and it will absolutely continue to perform on its home turf. But Nintendo finds itself in the middle of something gigantic and potentially catastrophic for the Switch 2.

Naturally, Nintendo will handle this with grace and competence. My general thoughts lie not with the Switch 2 but with the announcement of the Zelda movie franchise.

This is a bigger deal than the Switch 2. If the tariff issues right themselves, the Switch 2 will continue to do what the Switch does for players and studios. It will lead where the Xbox and PS follow – and even the Steam Deck – it will continue to be a difficult platform to port to for developers and an exciting device for consumers to get their hands on.

But the real story here is about how Nintendo’s Switch 2 becomes a gateway to IP.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated hardware releases of the decade. With over 139 million units sold globally as of early 2024, the original Switch proved that hybrid gaming isn’t just a gimmick – it’s a lifestyle shift.

If Nintendo nails backward compatibility and boosts performance – as leaks suggest – the Switch 2 will hit the ground sprinting. What excites me most is the rumoured DLSS support – that’s a game-changer for devs who want stunning visuals without the power drain.

Nintendo’s brand equity is unmatched and it resonates across generations. With the Switch 2 likely launching into a user base that’s already emotionally invested, it’s less about “if it will succeed” and more about how big the success will be.

From a growth strategy perspective, we could see a 30% to 40% faster adoption curve in the first year compared to the OG Switch, especially if priced under $400 and paired with a strong launch lineup.

The Switch platform appeals to mobile developers more than ever. The lines between mobile and console are blurring.

I had several campaigns to do for Steam and Nintendo with Rzain, and I had a blast. For mobile-first studios looking to scale revenue and expand IP reach, Switch offers a premium tier with longer session times, better monetisation potential – average revenue per user on Switch is ~3-5x higher than mobile – and a player base that loves indies and experimental mechanics. Plus, cross-platform tools like Unity and Unreal make porting smoother than ever.

That said, the bar for polish is higher, and success requires investment in QA and UX to match console player expectations. But for developers ready to level up? The Switch 2 could be a golden bridge from mobile to mainstream.

We’re entering an era where platform-native thinking needs to evolve. Switch 2 represents a sweet spot: portability, power, and premium gaming habits.

For growth strategists and developers alike, this isn’t just a new console – it’s a signal to think hybrid, to design boldly, and to bridge audiences. As someone who’s helped scale mobile titles globally, I see the Switch 2 as a massive opportunity to expand LTV while diversifying risk beyond ad-only models.

I can’t wait to see the first breakout hit from a mobile-first studio on the Switch 2 – it will happen. 

So, the original Switch has a warm place in my heart because it was the right device at the right time. It solved a specific need and did it well.

However, the format has had considerable competition from the likes of the Steam Deck, which I think up the stakes, and Nintendo has an unfortunate habit of major failures in their second iteration.

The Switch 2 will, I’m sure, do well among the Nintendo-loving community, but the question for me will be how well they resolve the online services support.  

This may be seen as a niche issue but the more limited scope for updatable games did make working with the Switch more complicated. I am excited to see that they talk about ‘Improved Online Services’ and even a Subscription service with exclusive content – but the proof will be in the implementation. 

As our reliance on Ad revenue has diminished over recent years, mobile developers need to build longer-term sustaining gameplay and some of those games could and should transfer across to a dedicated platform too. 

However, I am just not quite as excited about the Switch 2 currently as I want to be. I stopped using my Switch after getting a Steam Deck. The ability to access full PC games on the go was just too appealing, and I’m generally not as drawn to the Nintendo style.

The technical improvements are good, and the styling is fine, but with the price of games looking extremely high, especially in a time of the Trump Tariffs, it seems risky. 

In short, I’m not planning on buying one straight away, but I know my son will.

The device is what we expected – not a huge upgrade in terms of power, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from Nintendo. Most changes appear to be fairly minor quality-of-life improvements.

In terms of content, the focus is currently on remasters or ports of existing console titles with only a small number of platform exclusives or entirely new games, which could be underwhelming for some fans.

Given the huge success of the flagship Switch, the Switch 2 has a lot to live up to, but it will also be able to take advantage of the existing audience of 115m active Switch users.

In fact, the reach of Nintendo devices is currently unmatched, commanding a 42% share of the global active console installed base in 2024, and Ampere expects the Switch 2 to boost this to 49% – almost half of the market – by 2027.

Based on a June 5th launch date and the price point of $450 for the US version of the console, Ampere expects the Switch 2 to reach sales of just over 13m by the end of 2025, which means it will shift more consoles in the same time frame as its predecessor. 

We don’t currently expect the price point to impact early adoption, despite the concern around tariffs.

I think there is an opportunity for mobile developers to perhaps offer ‘upgraded’ versions of their titles on the Switch or Switch 2 – more fleshed-out, premium experiences of existing games. It has been done with titles like My Little Universe.

Although it’s likely that the monetisation models would have to be revised to exclude microtransactions or ads, this may also impact in-game progression or the way items, for example, are obtained. Also, because of changes to the structure of the game, cross-platform play may not be possible.

Games that require a controller – or offer a better experience with a controller – would be well-suited to the Switch, but I think without any sort of notable upgrade or quality-of-life changes, it may be difficult to engage Switch gamers with a pre-existing mobile title. So, there are some limitations and hurdles to consider!

All data quoted is Ampere Games.

It marks a big departure for Nintendo where they haven’t made a significant and high-risk leap between the generations, like cart to disc with N64 to GameCube, adding 3D from DS to 3DS, or going from motion to second screen with Wii to Wii U.

It feels more like a generation step that Sony or Microsoft would make.

With the pricing, I get the impression that they expect to sell through a lot more of the existing Switch SKUs in the next few years, so I have positioned this more like a Pro model than a true generation leap.

It’s all very safe.

I still expect it to be a success. It’s a Nintendo console it’ll have amazing first-party exclusives. But I think with the Steam Deck and similar PC handhelds, the market is way less blue than it was when the original Switch launched.

Also, with Switch 2 seeming more “grown up”, it’ll put it more in competition with whatever PlayStation are cooking up.

Nintendo platforms tend to have a lifecycle that is great for small or independent teams before they get flooded out with shovelware. There’s a sweet spot where there’s enough install base but not too much other content.

So for mobile devs with suitable content who can time it right, and avoid clashing with major first party releases, I’m sure it will do well as a supplementary income on existing products.

Nintendo is zigging when everyone else is zagging. Their focus is never to be the most technically advanced console – they are always looking at it from a Nintendo experience way and thinking about quirky things to do with its hardware. The latest example: the controller becoming a mouse but that requires a table. I’m curious about that use case as most people that like a mouse play PC games.

Some things have come late to the table, but it is good that it is integrated. Chat should be better than the other consoles, and a walled garden, which is good for kids.

The add-on camera? It’s a bit clunky as an approach, but I see why you wouldn’t integrate – most of the time you’d have a triple chin looking down at the screen when not on its base.

One thing that didn’t come up in the announcement but got leaked by Nvidia the following day is the AI-powered graphics – the first console with “AI inside”.

This looks like it will be used in a number of ways, as we have seen in some games already: AI-driven NPCs for more realistic player behaviour, and evolving environments in real-time. So that will be exciting to see in the upcoming titles.

It’s Nintendo, so I do think it has a strong chance of success – in the first year, definitely – with lots of fans out there. And it looks like it will be more conducive to third parties than Switch, which is great for the market.

We have also entered a period where people are looking for more multiplayer gaming and social play – and that is really a calling card for Nintendo.

Regarding the appeal to mobile developers. My first guess would be that they will be up against triple-A games, and while not competing directly with these games, they will have to deliver a higher quality experience, which means higher development costs as well.

And again, looking at the recent Newzoo report on time allocated – existing IPs are doing best – so that would seem to be the opportunity.

On the macro level, this will be a test on many fronts:

It’s the first console launch for a while: while the price point is high, I am sure all of the Nintendo fans will make it a success in year one, but it’s the beyond year one that counts – 150m units is a hard act to follow.

New game pricing – is aligned with inflation in gaming, but timing and consumer discretionary spending leave a big question mark.

Also, the $80 digital and $90 physical might be a problem for retailers, though it might be a moot point with the tariffs now.

Regarding the new tariffs for the US, was it baked in already to the new price point? We will have to see.