The 2024 edition of the 'State of Switch' survey provides an in-depth look at how Nintendo Switch owners view the upcoming Switch 2. The survey gathered responses from 1,500 participants shortly after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation in early April. While results come from self-selected Nintendo fans, they reveal valuable early consumer reactions to the next-generation console.
Nintendo Switch 2 pricing
Switch 2 launches at $450 in the United States. That price point landed higher than expected for 52.5% of survey participants. Still, only 6.3% described it as "significantly overpriced," indicating many fans find the pricing acceptable, especially for early adopters. Purchase intent runs strong among the survey group. A total of 81.1% plan to buy the Switch 2, with 36.4% intending to purchase at launch, 35.0% planning to buy later, and 9.7% stating they already pre-ordered. Only 4.9% have no intention to buy, while 14% remain undecided.
Player Sentiment on Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing
Most anticipated features and improvements
Among features highlighted in the Switch 2 reveal, "mouse mode" unexpectedly topped the list as most appealing. Though it sounds minor, hands-on footage suggests it adds meaningful functionality. Other enhancements drawing positive attention include improved performance, magnetic Joy-Con controllers, built-in Game Chat, and 4K support when docked. These improvements focus on both gameplay experience and hardware refinements, and many players appear receptive to the changes.
Anticipated games and first-party dominance
Game preferences among respondents show continued strong interest in Nintendo's first-party titles. Mario Kart World emerged as the most anticipated game for Switch 2, with more than 40% of players selecting it as their top choice. Donkey Kong: Bananza followed with over 20% of respondents citing it among their most awaited titles. Nintendo's core franchises continue driving significant excitement and purchase intent for new hardware.
Player Sentiment on Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing
Ownership and usage trends for Switch players
The survey also examines how players currently engage with Nintendo Switch. Respondents reported a median of 50 owned games, with an average library of 71 titles. Of these, 48% are digital downloads and 52% are physical copies. Most respondents—75%—plan to keep their existing Nintendo Switch even after upgrading to Switch 2. Only 13% said they would not keep their current console, with the rest either undecided or not current Switch owners.
For usage patterns, the most-played games in 2024 include Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom & Echoes Of Wisdom, Splatoon 3, Mario Kart 8, and Paper Mario. These titles are primarily first-party releases, with Balatro and Unicorn Overlord as the only third-party games appearing in the top ten. This trend highlights Nintendo's ongoing strength in developing games that maintain long-term engagement among users.
Player Sentiment on Nintendo Switch 2 Pricing
Subscriptions and backward compatibility
A significant portion of survey participants—78%—have a Switch Online subscription, and 60% of these subscribers use the more comprehensive Expansion Pack tier. This indicates strong adoption of Nintendo's online ecosystem, which will likely carry over to Switch 2.
One key advantage anticipated with Switch 2 is backward compatibility. This feature allows users to carry their game libraries over from the original Switch to the new console, supporting the growing trend toward persistent digital libraries across console generations. Survey data shows this approach aligns with the behavior of dedicated players, many of whom have accumulated extensive libraries over the years.
Looking ahead
The 'State of Switch' survey shows the transition to Nintendo Switch 2 is being met with enthusiasm by the existing fanbase. While pricing raised some concern, most fans still plan to buy the console. Interest runs particularly high in first-party games and select new hardware features, with backward compatibility providing reassurance for players with large game collections. These insights suggest Nintendo is well-positioned to retain its current audience while offering enough innovation to justify a new console generation.
