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Although it took a long time to arrive, the Nintendo Switch 2 has already passed through the hands of millions of players, and should be picked up by millions more as its era continues. Following up a predecessor that became one of the most successful game consoles is no easy task, and the Nintendo Switch 2’s elevated hardware and game pricing could make reaching those same heights difficult, but its current momentum should hold off consequences for a while. Even if its launch window lineup remains one major first-party title per month, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, the Switch 2 hasn’t stumbled over any roadbumps yet.
With any luck, the next Nintendo Direct should come with an influx of valuable titles for the system, especially if Animal Crossing is in the mix. Nintendo has learned from the Switch 1 where its money-makers lie, so quickly deploying Mario Kart and Animal Crossing should keep the Switch 2 itself afloat even as various third-parties learn that digital codes in regular game cases aren’t popular. Physical cartridges will remain in circulation during the Switch family’s reign, but as a recent incident has shown, fans looking to fill their Switch 2 library with older Switch 1 games are taking a risk that feels all too similar to what another console launch nearly dealt with.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 Has Already Beaten the ‘Wii U 2’ Allegations
Fans were worried that the Nintendo Switch 2 could end up repeating the Wii U’s flaws, but the Switch 2 is on track to put its predecessor to shame.
Another Rule Governing The Nintendo Switch 2 Has Come To Light
Some Used Nintendo Switch Carts Are Hidden Ban Hazards
Reddit user dmanthey reported in early July 2025 that they were briefly banned from the Nintendo Switch 2 online services after downloading compatibility patches for their second-hand Switch 1 games. The four Switch 1 games in question had been bought on the Facebook marketplace, and proving this to Nintendo’s support quickly reinstated dmanthey’s account. While this sounds like Nintendo is trying to stomp down on the used game market and encourage game sharing to be done solely through virtual game cards, the truth is less dire, but a little stranger.
In truth, one or more of the Switch 1 games tripped a system in the Switch 2’s online servers that checks if the unique identification number of a given Switch cart is being used by a second Switch. This is an anti-piracy measure meant to catch data in an official cartridge being copied to an unofficial card, although in this case, the system flagged the original cartridges as the ones that were stolen. As the original seller hasn’t stepped forward, it’s unclear if this system goes both ways, but at least it shouldn’t cause any problems for friends sharing a cartridge and most physical game resellers.
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Anti-Piracy Policy Nearly Repeats An Old Xbox Faux Pas
Nintendo seems intent on keeping this system fair, as long as players keep the receipts for used Switch games on hand. At the very least, Nintendo Switch 2 used game bans haven’t made good on the threats that the Xbox One made back in 2013. Its infamous pre-release period included announcements that the Xbox One would require daily online check-ins, region-lock its games, and register discs for exclusive use with single consoles. Fortunately, fan outcry stopped these policies before they were implemented, but it seems their specter still lingers.
Switch 2 Bans Are Toeing A Line That’s Disastrous To Cross
It’s well-known that Nintendo is serious about maintaining its walled garden console environment however it deems appropriate, and it is hard to reach for short-term feedback. Fans were recently reminded of this when a Mario Kart World patch made the unpopular interstitial racetracks more likely to appear in randomized online races than normal tracks, and these tendencies are equally evident in the company’s hard-line stance against modifying the Switch 2 and its games. The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t realized the Xbox One’s worst-case scenario, but it’s getting uncomfortably close to the same mindset.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
- Yes
