Soapbox: Why I'm Breaking Up with Xbox for the Nintendo Switch 2
It's not me, It's you...
With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally in my hands - succeeding the original Switch’s impressive but overdue eight-year run - I’ve found myself at a crossroads. After decades of investing in and making Xbox my home, I have this gut feeling: by the end of 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 might just become my favourite go-to console.
Now this feeling isn’t just rooted in nostalgia or hype - it’s shaped by the changing landscape of the gaming world. Many long-time Xbox fans (myself included) are starting to feel a bit adrift, like we’ve lost a sense of belonging in Microsoft’s increasingly unpredictable ecosystem.
Nintendo, on the other hand, has always had this strange ability to stay true to its weird and wonderful self. Even when the Switch fell behind graphically, it delivered joy on a consistent basis - whether through Zelda’s breath-taking reinventions, excitement over a star in Mario Party, or the calming brilliance of something like Animal Crossing.
With the extra power of the Nintendo Switch 2, and without abandoning what made the original Switch so special in the first place, I can't help but feel drawn back.
So, let’s talk about why I'm stepping back from Xbox in favour of the Switch 2 in 2025.
Nintendo P-P-POWER!
I’ll admit I can be a shallow gamer. Flashy graphics, smooth frame rates, and as many pixels as my astigmatism can handle - I want the lot. And the Switch just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
The original Switch launched with a mediocre LCD screen: 720p handheld, 1080p docked. Not terrible, sure. And in 2017, it wasn’t a deal breaker - Microsoft and Sony were only just easing into higher resolutions. But the gap widened fast. As next-gen consoles embraced true 4K, the Switch started to feel woefully underpowered, especially for those getting used to high-fidelity gaming. Then came the boom in better performing handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Let’s be real - seeing Mario’s dumb little face in 4K isn’t a want. It’s a need.
Sure, Nintendo may be 4-5 years late with the Switch 2 (remember 2021, when we all expected a Switch Pro?), but we’re finally getting 60fps gaming on 4K TVs. My issue with the original Switch was never the games - it was the lack of spectacle. That failure to truly ‘wow’ next to its rivals. But now, in 2025, the Switch 2 delivers: 1080p on the go, 4K docked, 60fps on select titles. Heck, this thing runs Cyberpunk 2077 for crying out loud, and it runs it well.
The Switch 2 finally feels like the powerful, competitive console the original was always meant to be - jam-packed full of wow. And now, it unlocks an entire catalogue of games that just couldn’t run on the OG hardware. The possibilities? Genuinely exciting.
First-Party Exclusives, Well Duh!
One of the biggest reasons I think I’ll love the Switch 2 is, of course, access to Nintendo’s first-party exclusives. And, boy, do I love me some Nintendo. Mario, Zelda, Kirby - even Tom Nook’s capitalist agenda - you only get that on Nintendo consoles.
I’ve identified as an Xbox gamer since the original in 2001, so the pull of an exclusive stirs up some mixed feelings. Microsoft going multiplatform with its holy trinity - Forza, Gears, and presumably Halo (it’s only a matter of time) - has honestly hit me where it hurts. I’m a gamer first, and I’m fully behind more people experiencing those stories on new platforms.
First-party exclusivity is a double-edged sword. Good for my serotonin levels, bad for my wallet. But whether I agree with exclusivity or not, it’s exactly why I forked out for the Switch 2 - and why I’m drifting from Xbox. Over the past five days, I’ve been shield surfing through Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom - those extra frames keep catching me off guard - and scrambling to check my heart rate after winning my first Knockout Tour in Mario Kart World. I’m having the best time with enhanced versions of Switch 1 Zelda games and the brand-new Mario Kart too, only playable on Switch 2.
Everyone's Invited
One of the biggest reasons I’m drawn to the Switch 2 is third-party support - and the fact that the door’s wide open for proper AAA titles. We’ve already had a taste with Cyberpunk 2077, a game notorious for its rocky launch history, now running well on the new console. It’s just an appetiser for what’s coming, and I’m stoked.
The hardware upgrade will naturally attract more devs looking to port technically heavier games - of course it will. But that’s not what excites me most. What really gives me a jolly belly feeling is seeing Xbox and PlayStation more willing to work with Nintendo than with each other.
Nintendo’s always had something the other two don’t: a firm grip on the family-friendly market, and I think they understand that. This makes the Switch 2 a surprisingly ideal landing spot for Sony and Microsoft first-party games. Just look at LEGO Horizon Adventures - a Sony IP - launching on PlayStation, PC, and Switch… with no Xbox in sight. Why? Because, for the most part, Sony and Xbox offer the same experience, both in hardware and audience.
Am I basing Sony’s third-party plan on one LEGO game? Sure I am. Time will tell if their willingness to share IP with Nintendo changes as the hardware gap closes, but I’d bet we’ll see a few titles hit Switch 2 over time. Xbox, on the other hand, has essentially embraced third-party publishing. It’s already been three years since Microsoft signed a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms - so that’s almost guaranteed. But what’s stopping them from porting Sea of Thieves? Grounded? Halo? Hardware limitations? Not anymore.
"But what about the Switch 2? More than two-years after Microsoft and Nintendo entered into an agreement to bring Call of Duty to Switch, nothing has materialized. Sources close to the matter tell Kotaku that both sides are still working on it."
Either way, the Switch 2 might just be the only console with Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation games on it - and that excites me.
[source kotaku.com]
Let's Get Physical
In a world where access to our games (and movies) can be cut off by the platform that hosts them, physical ownership matters. We’ve already lost the 3DS Store, 360 Marketplace, and even live service games like Concord. Despite most of my purchases being on Xbox, my physical library’s mostly Nintendo’s cartridges and boxes.
Sony, arguably, hasn’t given me any reason to doubt its commitment to physical media. Meanwhile, Switch 2’s new Key Cartridges - empty shells that trigger digital downloads - miss the point entirely. Not ideal, but at least Nintendo’s still offering something tactile. Something we can taste - bitter. You can’t say that for Microsoft, who laid off their physical media department, and don’t seem fussed whether we have something in our hands come launch day.
Another personal shift away from Xbox (yes, I can see the pattern here) because there’s something magical about holding the games we connect with. I’m not saying Nintendo leads the pack on physical media, far from it. But despite the industry moving toward ease of access and flexibility for devs on the Switch 2, Nintendo still offers a physical experience I can get behind. For now, that’s good enough for me.
You've Played That Before
We’ve only had the Switch 2 for a few days, with some time to go before Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and The Duskbloods hit our next-gen handhelds. I’m biting at the bit to dive into the beefier Switch 2 games - and Mario Kart World is just one really fun start.
Sure, we’re still waiting on the new stuff, but Nintendo’s done a decent job upgrading its heavy hitters: Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, and a handful of Zelda titles. Then there’s Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom - two phenomenal Zelda games. Playing them at 60fps in handheld mode is something special.
Backwards compatibility at launch has been pretty darned sweet, and it’s got me itching to dig back into my Switch game case. I’m hopeful Nintendo and its publishers take the time to revisit original Switch titles with free (or even paid) upgrades for the new hardware.
And when the release schedule goes quiet? The Expansion Pack’s a solid nostalgia kick. For starters, I’ve never played Wind Waker, so yeah - I’m buzzing.
Before I Make The Switch 🥁
To round things up, there are areas I wish Nintendo - and the Switch 2 - pushed further, so here’s a few hopeful possibilities.
The Big 'C' Button
One of the biggest Switch 2 upgrades is the C button: a new addition to the right Joy-Con that launches Discord-like voice chat lobbies. It’s cool, and definitely welcome - but also the first time a console’s had a physical button tied to a paywalled service. If that button’s going to stare me down every time I pick up the Switch 2, I’d love to see instant messaging too. Sometimes you just want to ping a friend before jumping into a voice call, y’know?
I Need My Fix
I’m an absolute sucker for the sweet sound of an achievement pop - it’s a high I chase every time I sit down with a favourite game. I want to soak it all up, every inch, every second. Achievements and Trophies act as goalposts, extra challenges to chew on, and they’ve become a core part of how I play. It’s something I genuinely miss when I’m playing in the land of Nintendo.
The Switch 2 edition of Tears of the Kingdom adds support for Zelda Notes - a companion app with medals, something achievement-adjacent. Playing with Zelda Notes, tracking data, logging medals - it’s great, but it leaves me wanting more. Nintendo has the pieces in place, and this new console is the moment to bring it all together as a proper, system-wide feature.
Will I still play games on my Xbox? Sure I will. But I'm really happy with the Switch 2 so far and optimistic about the future of the console. I'd love to hear what you think of Nintendo's next-gen hardware. Is the Switch 2 worth it? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Craig Reid