Nintendo Switch: 9 things the console is still missing today

With the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has created a real console long-runner. The handheld hybrid is now 4 years old – all the best in retrospect, by the way – but there are still a few things that Nintendo is still not getting on the chains. The following 9 things would make the console even better in our eyes!

Nintendo Switch: So the console would be even better

The Nintendo Switch officially went on sale on March 3rd, 2016 and has enjoyed unbroken popularity ever since. The hybrid console is an absolute bestseller and was so popular during the early days of the corona pandemic that it became a real bottleneck.

Despite the high demand, the following still applies: The Nintendo Switch is anything but perfect – the new version in 2019 hasn’t changed anything about that. But what is the switch actually missing to make it even better? We thought about a few things and identified 9 things that we still miss on the console today. Nintendo, please fix!

Yes, the “Nintendo Switch Online” subscription already gives users access to a few selected NES and SNES classics, but a normal virtual console, as gamers already know from the Wii, 3DS and Wii U, would still be one Nice thing! Whether it will ever come remains to be seen! It could just as well be that Nintendo continues to put together half-baked remake combos like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and then sell them off at full price – but hope dies last!

Wireless headphones can already be used on the switch via Bluetooth dongle, but why the handheld console does not natively support this function remains a huge mystery to this day. Especially since the use of wireless headphones on a mobile game console is almost an imposition!

The Wii U already had a Netflix app, but it is still missing on the Switch today. After all, YouTube is available on the Nintendo handheld, but many gamers still miss apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney + on the console. After all, the screen of the switch is a bit bigger than the display of your own smartphone. And while we’re on the screen of the switch …

Admittedly, the switch’s IPS screen is quite solid in most cases – but nothing more! With a resolution of 720p, the pixel density is rather poor and the contrasts of the built-in panel sometimes leave a lot to be desired. It’s high time to upgrade, Nintendo! Full HD resolution and an OLED panel are needed! That can then cost a little more than the standard version.

Fortunately, you seem to have something up and running!

Yep, the Wi-Fi on the Nintendo Switch is anything but stable – it should definitely be improved, Nintendo! Much more important, however: Why didn’t you miss a LAN port on the dock? Sure, here too the Internet offers adapter solutions again – but why isn’t the port natively at the start? In most cases, this would not only speed up the download of games, but should also cause fewer disconnections.

The PlayStation Store has it, the Microsoft Store has it – even all the online shops on the PC such as Steam, GOG or Epic Games have it: a rating system! Only Nintendo continues to vehemently refuse to allow users to write reviews in the eShop. The question is: why? Is Nintendo afraid that some games will be bought less often due to possible shit storms? Or is the giant game company from Japan still unable to set up a clever system of its own even after all these years?

If you have a large memory card in your Nintendo Switch, you will have dozens of games installed on your handheld. The problem: There is not enough space on the home menu for all the games, and the overview in the games library is quick and easy. How nice would it be if Nintendo allowed players to create special folders on their home screen for the games? A folder for role-playing games, one for rogue likes, one for couch co-op games – a dream!

Xbox and PlayStation have shown the way: A functioning party system that runs directly on the console is not rocket science! Nintendo seems to be too easy this way. Instead, users should currently connect to each other via the Nintendo app on their smartphone – ingenious, isn’t it? Nintendo, if you can’t manage to enable voice chat natively on the console yourself – then just ask the Discord developers whether they would like to port their service to your console.

Parents probably know the problem all too well. Different user profiles can be set up on the console so that the children have their own game saves, but that doesn’t stop the brats from switching accounts and destroying your save games – be it knowingly or accidentally! Password protected profiles would solve the problem, but that seems like too much work for Nintendo …

Even if we vented a bit of our anger over the neglected potential of the Nintendo Switch on the last few pages – at the end of the day we are in most cases satisfied with the console. The concept is still unique and thanks to cool first-party games, the Switch is much more than just a “good second console”.

We are still curious to see if Nintendo will someday eliminate the Switch’s biggest criticisms. We keep our fingers crossed!