Hopes for the Nintendo Switch 2 — and your chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2 Bundle :)

6 min readApr 3, 2025

The Needle AIteam loves Nintendo’s philosphy, mission and execution :)

“Above all, video games are meant to just be one thing: Fun for everyone.” — Satoru Iwata

Nintendo Direct is airing on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 6 am PDT / 9 am EST, offering a closer look at the Nintendo Switch 2!

To celebrate this landmark moment in gaming history, we’re doing an online raffle (i.e. a giveaway) where you have a chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2.

We are giving away:

Two Nintendo Switch 2 bundles (a $750 value per bundle)
Each bundle includes a Nintendo Switch 2 console bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a new Pro Controller, a compatible Micro SD express memory card, and a game chat camera.
Five subscriptions to Needle AI Pro for one month (a $50 value per subscription)
One ticket to the DataCouncil.ai conference (a $2000 value)

Enter the Giveaway

We ❤ Nintendo
We love Nintendo’s design philosophy, often described as “lateral thinking with withered technology,” that prioritizes innovative gameplay mechanics, quality craftsmanship and pure joy over cutting-edge graphics… this is how Nintendo consistently punches above its weight class and outsells major competitors with less powerful (and cheaper) hardware. We can’t help but respect the work of Nintendo and their history.
*Prediction: The Nintendo Switch 2 will become the highest selling gaming console of all time.

What we hope to see with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2

Below are the improvements and updates we hope to see with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

*Note: we will update this article (or write a follow up post) after Nintendo Direct.

1. High resolution (1080p) hand held mode through AI Image Scaling

Nintendo published a patent (first posted by Mike Odyssey on X) showing that the Nintendo Switch 2 will use AI image upscaling (drools on laptop); the patent shows the journey of an image through a trained neural network, and the input and output resolutions — 540p to 1080p.

Nintendo stated that most original Switch games will be compatible on Switch 2. With AI image upscaling and improved hardware, original Switch games should look better (1080 p resolution on handheld) and have a higher average frame rate per second (FPS) on the Nintendo Switch 2.

2. Improved Integrated Voice Chat

Currently, Nintendo Switch voice chat in online play is facilitated through the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. Umm… that’s basically Discord :/

Competitors, Playstation and Xbox, have integrated voice chat across their online games.

It’s time for Nintendo to upgrade their chat experience to foster a sense of community and collaboration. Even better, if Nintendo can add video or make online chat feel more like couch co-op, that would be next level awesome. :)

3. Proximity Chat

Proximity chat occurs in online multiplayer when characters are near each other. It’s pure fun and can lead to hilarious moments. Check out this article where players wax nostalgically (if not poetically) over proximity chat.

4. Improved E-shop

The current Nintendo e-shop is clunky, slow and doesn’t even have the ability to add multiple games to the cart.

Nintendo is known for great design, quality and gameplay, so it is a surprise that the e-shop was overlooked.

The Playstation e-shop feels like swimming through a refreshing pool of clean water while the Nintendo e-shop feels like trudging through a smelly peat bog.

How to improve:
- Add multiple games in the cart functionality (I know, it’s crazy
- Better sorting functionality
- Moderation by Nintendo (i.e. don’t allow just any game titles in the e-store, prevent buggy ports, old asset flips, franchise ripoffs and AI art games that barely function).
- Allow players to rate games and sort by rating. Or, directly partner with Metacritic and display their rating for each game.

5. Bring back StreetPass… we can dream right?

It would be fun if the Nintendo Switch 2 had some way for players to connect and interact akin to Street Pass.

StreetPass was a Nintendo 3DS feature allowing passive communication between systems in close proximity, enabling users to share Mii avatars, game data, and more, offering a unique way to connect with other players.

In a world where people are becoming more disconnected (i.e. social media fatigue, an over abundance of online games where censorship runs rampant…) street pass was a breath of fresh air.

6. Make Mario Sports Great Again

Mario Sports was better over a decade ago on Gamecube and Wii than it is on Switch. Isn’t that weird?

In recent years, Mario Sports games have disappointed players and received low ratings. Mario Sports games feel like a money grab akin to another yearly NBA2K whatever title release. The games sell well even if they are a 6 or 7 out of 10.

Where is the loving attention to detail? Where is the content? Where is the couch co-op hilarity, where is the online competition?

How to improve:

Deeper single player mode with content. Include single player campaign content, unlockables, challenge modes, character progression stories, RPG esque character progression with stat points or equipment, etc.
Deeper online play with competitive leagues. Mario Sports online play that is good enough for streamers to stream.
If you don’t go deep into a standalone game like Mario Golf or Mario Tennis, then at least consider bundling 4–5 games together so players can get more value out of their puchase.

Check out this video on The Painful Decline of Mario Sports Games.

Most gamers agree that Mario Sports games more fun (better gameplay) than their more “professional” or “official” equivalents (i.e. FIFA, Madden, 2KWhatever, etc.). Mario Sports is only lacking in the ability to do fantasy sports simulation (i.e. putting yourself in the shoes of real life sports heroes) because Mario Sports characters are fictional.

When it comes to gameplay, story and content, Mario Sports sholdl annihilate all other sports games.

7. Virtual Reality (VR)

Just kidding! We were going to troll you with a paragraph or two about Nintendo VR, but we can’t keep up the farce beyond the title above.

Honestly, it’s refreshing that Nintendo has NOT jumped into the VR bandwagon yet.

Opinion: VR isn’t good enough yet. Why? Closing your eyes and using your imagination is a more powerful and “immersive” experience than VR. Also, many players still get sick when in VR for twenty minutes or more.

Nintendo should avoid VR until 2040… or longer…

8. New IP and Nintendo Exclusives

We’re hoping for the unveiling of a new game that is not part of an existential franchise and that has unique gameplay mechanics (think Splatoon or Arms).

We’re also hoping for the unveiling of Nintendo Exclusives in existing franchise. We’re hoping for: