The Thursday letters page has mixed reviews for the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order system, as one reader decides to get a Meta Quest 3 instead of a Switch 2.
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Sliding scale
I do love a new console launch, even and especially all the controversy over prices and pre-orders And whether it's worthwhile to get right now. As for me, it comes down to considering a new PlayStation rather than primarily focusing on a Nintendo console. Well... there was the Wii U , however, due to the overall quality of the Switch 1 and the largely favorable Direct coverage, I'm determined to get a Switch 2 as soon as it launches.
Mario Kart World is clearly great and Donkey Kong Bananza It’s likely true as well, so I am confident it will prove worthwhile right from the beginning. Issues may arise later on, but this applies to every gaming system; taking such risks is inevitable.
I’m not going in with eyes close though. The price of the games is definitely a concern but the third party games aren’t necessarily going to be that expensive and, let’s face it, Nintendo games don’t come out that often. Or at least not ones that they’re likely to charge £75 for – they’re not even doing that with Donkey Kong.
I think Nintendo did make mistakes at the Direct and a big one was not saying how much the other games are. If they’d made it clear that things like Hyrule Warriors and Kirby: Air Riders are only £50 or so (they better be) then I think that would’ve helped to make things look a lot fairer. Strange to see such a veteran company make mistakes like that but, well, I already mentioned the Wii U.
Tosh
Robin from the poor
Although I wasn’t lucky enough to receive an invite from Nintendo directly, I have to admit that I am fully supportive of their approach to Switch 2 pre-orders, and I do hope that Sony and others follow suit in the future.
The invitation-only system aims to ensure that consoles end up with devoted fans instead of being snatched by scalpers, which deserves recognition. On Friday, I found myself unprepared when dealing with online stores and spent an exasperating period attempting to place orders across multiple sites—congratulations to genuine individuals who managed to secure one, yet these platforms tend to favor automated buyers. Even as I frantically refreshed pages hoping to add a console to my cart, listings were already surfacing on eBay priced at over £650.
Now I understand that for online retailers, every sale counts equally, and since I previously experienced something similar with the PlayStation 5 a few years back, I must remind myself accordingly. Scalpers are akin to contemporary versions of Robin Hood. Indeed. Or at least they should be if the version being read had Robin compensating the wealthy owners fairly for the items he intercepted before selling those same goods to the less fortunate at an even higher cost. However, it’s all good since Robin does donate part of the money obtained through this practice to charitable causes.
To help fellow readers, I highly suggest signing up for notifications from Currys, as they seem to be one of the few exceptions alongside Nintendo in this chaotic situation. Since I was busy at work last Friday, I anticipated difficulties when I entered the store early Saturday morning. However, I found myself alone in the shop, and after just five minutes, I had successfully purchased a Mario Kart bundle and Pro Controller without any hassle. The whole process felt somewhat out-of-date yet completely stress-free and refreshing!
Moving ahead, my sole wish is for other console makers and sellers to have the courage to draw lessons from this experience.
Dan Street
Wherever you go, Switch 2?
Awful, just awful!
This has occurred numerous times previously with the Switch, and even with the Switch OLED, so I really shouldn’t be shocked that it’s happening once more with theSwitch 2!
I've been a dedicated Nintendo user since the lean Wii U era through the impressive Switch and Switch OLED generations. I hold aNintendo Switch Online membership and enjoy numerous hours of playtime. Despite my luck in obtaining pre-order tickets for theSwitch 2launch, it’s puzzling why I haven’t received an invitation from Nintendo Direct to make another purchase as they usually do.
Rather than getting one from here, I sought it out somewhere else. I’m just hoping this issue won’t affect the game releases. Back when the Wii U struggled, there were barely any third-party titles available, and the limited number of first-party exclusives wasn’t sufficient to compensate, resulting in an underperforming console ecosystem.
Jacob
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Stairway to heaven
Given the announcement of a Universal Studios theme park opening in the UK, could this lead to the introduction of a Nintendo zone at some point?
It would be an excellent opportunity for Nintendo to leverage a chance to boost its presence in one of its less dominant regions.
Other updates include the confirmation of Rainbow Road in Mario Kart World, along with the introduction of progressing to the subsequent circuit. Could this imply the inclusion of an ascending highway that leads up to the celestial elevations of Rainbow Road?
That would indeed be a spectacle compared to launching something from a cannon into outer space!
Bad Edit
Any harbor will do in an emergency.
Therefore, fortune favored me this time. Amazon managed to deliver for me since sadly I did not get an invitation to buy the console directly from Nintendo. Despite that, I felt incredibly fortunate. The moment I placed my pre-order, it became unavailable. It sold out so rapidly that I am still quite astonished.
I'd like to discuss some upcoming ports for the Switch 2 as well. I'm excited about titles such as Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade. Additionally, I would be thrilled if they released a version of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which is one of the most challenging games I've ever tackled. Such a port could boost sales significantly and likely perform exceptionally well on the new system’s capabilities.
We didn’t see ports of Dark Souls 2 or 3 for the initialSwitch release, which was particularly disappointing to me since including only the first game felt incomplete. Sekiro certainly merits representation onNintendo’s platform, and realistically, they’d likely embrace having another high-priced exclusive akin to titles likeMario andZelda. It seems like an ideal partnership. I will continue holding onto my hope and maintainingthe excitementof successfullypreordering thegame.
Shahzaib Sadiq
Capricious Day
I do not agree with GC’s claim that Nintendo made a mistake by not postponing the Switch 2 Direct announcement due to the tariffs.
Initially, Trump adopted an unpredictable stance regarding tariffs starting from January. He imposed taxes on Mexico and Canada but postponed these duties following slight compromises. A month later, he reinstated most of the tariffs only to rescind many of them once more a few days thereafter. Consequently, there is reasonable skepticism about whether 'Liberation Day' will indeed proceed as planned.
Moreover, according to the experts' agreement, the impact of the tariffs turned out to be more severe than anticipated. Although actions taken towards China and the European Union did not come as a shock, the steps directed at Japan, Vietnam, and Cambodia certainly caught everyone off guard and thwarted Nintendo’s strategy to evade the taxes imposed on goods coming from China.
The most significant impact of a delay would be the harm to Nintendo's reputation. Although America represents a substantial market for the company, theSwitch 2 has garnered global attention. Additionally, there is an increasing trend of anti-American sentiments around the world, fueled by the current administration's statements regarding locations such as Greenland, Gaza, Canada, among others.
If Nintendo postponed its highly anticipated unveiling because of U.S. political maneuvering, they might be seen as feeble and giving in to American pressure. This would be particularly true in their homeland—remember, Japan isn’t immune to nationalism itself.
(I just started typing this when I found out that pre-orders have also been pushed back in Canada. This further demonstrates that postponing the Direct was unnecessary since crucial information about pre-orders and potential pricing changes remains unclear even a week after.)
I believe Nintendo might secretly be grateful to Trump, as he has taken some of the pressure away from them. If Americans end up paying an additional $100-$150 for the console, the resulting outrage would likely be aimed solely at him.
Mike
GC: We would argue that the harm to reputation from postponing pre-orders in North America is far more detrimental than just pushing back the entire Direct event by a single day. However, since it’s already happened, we feel for the Nintendo financial analyst who now must decide how to proceed.
Missing out
I have had the complete opposite experience to TGN Professor. The Switch pre-order system has been a complete nightmare, I wish I had ordered from Amazon, as I usually do. The verification code sent to my email takes too long to arrive then doesn’t work. I’ve had five codes and can’t get in.
Nintendo customer service’s answer was basically ‘tough, keep trying’. I wasted a whole day on it yesterday and still have no pre-order. This is one of the only Nintendo consoles I won’t have at launch. I am one very unhappy customer.
Ryan O’D
GC: There’s still time, stores like Argos and Amazon seem to be getting new stock in pretty regularly.
Virtual upgrade
Finally, the Switch 2 reveal and Direct have come to pass. This successor looks the part but I’m not quite sure whether I actually want one just yet. I tend to wait until well into a console’s lifespan before taking the plunge and I see this as being no different after the Direct. It seemed akin to a new iPhone reveal, where the differences are purely incremental.
There isn’t anything incorrect about expanding upon a successful concept, but it doesn’t justify rushing into getting the new version right away. I plan to give it some time—let others try it out first—and only then will I consider whether upgrading is worthwhile. After all, there are plenty of fantastic games left for me to enjoy on my present system.
I completely agree with Owen Pile’s defense of high game prices, as expressed on Monday, when he compared them to activities that might only last a few hours but come at a similar price.
I wrote about it afterward. Batman: Arkham Shadow review , questioning whether it was worth getting a Meta Quest 3 to play it, given the price I’ve paid for a disappointing holiday. In light of what I’ve seen of the Switch 2 and the emergence of Alien: Rogue Incursion, along with existing titles like Resident Evil 4 VR and Saints & Sinners 2, I’m now almost definitely going to put the money I’d ring fenced for an impulse Switch 2 purchase towards the Meta Quest 3.
My PlayStation VR needs an upgrade and upgrading to PlayStation VR2 just can’t be justified, given that I’m still using PlayStation 4 along with the fact that Sony seemed to abandon it soon after launch.
I know VR isn’t for everyone but I’m very much a fan of it. I’ve started researching the Meta Quest 3 in earnest now and reviews are positive. I’d gratefully appreciate any feedback on the unit from any readers that own one, before I click on the payment button.
D Dubya
GC: PlayStation VR2 doesn’t work with the PlayStation 4, you’d be buying a very expensive sleep mask.
Inbox also-rans
Just a heads up that there’s hefty discounts on Jusant (£9), Cocoon (£12) and Gloomhaven (£15) on PSN at the moment, if you fancy playing something good without splashing too much cash.
Matt (He_who_runs_away – PSN ID)
GC: Jusant and Cocoon are great, we strongly recommend them.
Apparently the Switch 2 Enhanced Edition games contain the game and update on the cartridge, and are native Switch 2 games .
LoRd SiNn
GC: We’ve tried to clarify this with Nintendo, but they won’t offer any confirmation or denial. Once there’s a definitive answer we’ll do a story on it.
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