As of this writing, we are just hours away from Nintendo announcing the Nintendo Switch 2, the highly anticipated follow-up to their best-selling hybrid console. Not much is known about the new console beyond rumors and leaks, but we can already tell that Nintendo is aiming to make it their best console yet.
It’s clear that once the Direct concludes, the focus will shift entirely to the Nintendo Switch 2. Over time, support for the original Switch will dwindle—a sad and unfortunate reality for players who have spent nearly a decade immersed in its novel console experience.
While today is a celebration, it is also a bittersweet moment for the original Switch. To honor its legacy, here are some of the most memorable moments the hybrid console has given us over the years.
Docked Mode for the First Time
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+ 8I remember using Docked Mode for the first time. The seamless transition between Portable and TV mode truly caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect it to switch so smoothly without any hiccups. Playing Breath of the Wild on my TV and then effortlessly pulling the console out of the dock to continue in my room was a convenience I never knew I needed.
It was also a moment that taught me to take care of my Joy-Cons, as I mistakenly slid the wrong one onto the wrong side, probably causing intense pain to my brand-new Nintendo Switch V1.
Breath of the Wild Release
click to enlarge + 8The Switch launched with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a day-one title, and it was arguably one of the best decisions Nintendo ever made. It showcased the hardware’s potential, pushing its graphics, performance, and battery life limits. Watching Link wake up in the Shrine of Resurrection and then standing on the hill overlooking Hyrule Castle was a breathtaking moment that filled me with optimism for the Switch’s future lineup.
Joy-Con Drift
Ahh, the good ol’ Joy-Con drift. This phenomenon has plagued many Switch players over the years. It was a paradox—some had it, some didn’t—which made it feel like isolated cases, yet complaints flooded social media about Nintendo’s finicky Joy-Con analog sticks. Not even calibrating them could fix the issue. We saw Link moving on his own in Breath of the Wild or Smash characters plunging to their deaths in Super Smash Bros.
click to enlarge + 8The Pandemic Surge
The pandemic was a harrowing experience, a terrible period that lasted for years. Many sought solace and comfort in their homes, and fortunately, the Nintendo Switch provided a temporary escape for those stuck in isolation. Games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and even Breath of the Wild became the perfect distractions from that moment in history.
click to enlarge + 8Many of my friends—some of whom weren’t even gamers—resorted to buying a Switch just to have something to do every day. Unsurprisingly, Switch sales skyrocketed during this time.
The Nintendo Directs
click to enlarge + 8When E3 was canceled, Nintendo fully embraced the Direct format, opting for quarterly live streams instead. While they had used this approach before, it wasn’t until then that it became their primary way of announcing new games. It quickly became a tradition to eagerly anticipate each Nintendo Direct, with fans speculating about upcoming releases and making reaction videos (RIP Etika). Of course, disappointment often followed due to the absence of Hollow Knight: Silksong or long-requested remasters like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.
Sakurai Events for Smash
Another major highlight of the Switch era that even non-Smash players could appreciate was Masahiro Sakurai’s live streams revealing the next Super Smash Bros. fighters. These announcements were pivotal moments in the console’s history, racking up millions of views and countless reaction videos across the internet. From Tekken’s Kazuya to Kingdom Hearts’ Sora, each new addition was a unifying moment for gamers worldwide.
click to enlarge + 8Here’s hoping we see more of this during Switch 2’s lifespan.
The Switch Lite
Nintendo capitalized on the Switch’s success by introducing multiple console iterations. The Switch Lite offered a fully functional experience without the hybrid gimmick, making it a more affordable option for first-time buyers or those who primarily played in handheld mode. (Unfortunately, it was much more prone to Joy Con drift, and no immediate remedy as its analog stick was stuck on the console.)
click to enlarge + 8Then came the Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo’s response to complaints about the original model’s small screen. The Joy-Cons remained unchanged ( some drifted, some didn’t), but at least we got a bigger display.
Remasters and Remakes
The Nintendo Switch also served as a gateway to reintroducing classic games. Titles that had been stuck in limbo for years were finally revived through remasters and remakes. The best example would be Metroid Prime Remastered, which had been trapped on the GameCube for so long. Another notable revival was Xenoblade Chronicles X, which finally escaped the Wii U’s shadow.
More and more remasters graced the console, including beloved Mario titles like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and even Zelda games like Link’s Awakening.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, it’s clear that Nintendo won’t be stopping making Remasters and Remakes anytime soon. Perhaps we’ll finally see The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess remade for the new console.
click to enlarge + 8As much as it pains me to say it, this might be the beginning of the end for the original Nintendo Switch. Sure, it will continue to receive updates and cross-gen support for a while, but as the Switch 2’s more powerful hardware takes center stage, we may eventually see games developed exclusively for the new console.
This marks the end of an era for Switch 1 users, but it has been a long time coming. Through all the highs and lows of the gaming industry, the Nintendo Switch has had an incredible run.
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