Nintendo has made a lot of mistakes when it comes to naming its consoles – so we’re here to offer some thoughts.
Like everyone else, we’re really looking forward to the Nintendo Switch Pro. We too were excited when the new hardware made headlines earlier this week when a source spilled the beans that Nintendo will release the console later this year and that it would come with a 720p OLED screen, and the ability to output in 4K when docked. While the specs are starting to emerge from the aether, the name of the console has been a subject of debate, with some in the industry calling it the Nintendo Switch Pro while others have colloquially called it the Nintendo Switch 2. On Twitter, some have argued that the console should be called the New Nintendo Switch, while here at TechRadar we’ve taken a liking to the Super Nintendo Switch, an homage to the Super Nintendo System (SNES). Admittedly, the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely succeed with whatever name Nintendo decides to give it – unlike the unfortunately named Wii U – but there’s a case to be made for each of the names. Nintendo should think long and hard about which one it wants for the successor to the Switch. So, to help Nintendo along, we’ve laid out the cases for and against all of the proposed names. It seems very likely at this point that Nintendo will call the system the Nintendo Switch Pro. That name alludes to the purpose of the new hardware that acts as a souped-up version of the Nintendo Switch, and follows in the footsteps of Apple, Samsung, Sony PlayStation and other major tech companies. The best argument for going with Nintendo Switch Pro is that it sounds, well, powerful – and most folks are willing to upgrade for the better specs. Also, if sales data is any indication, they’re willing to shell out for a game console with Pro in the title, too (see: PS4 Pro that launched at $399 / £399 years after the original PS4, and still sold extremely well). The only argument against calling it the Nintendo Switch Pro is that the name feels a bit too uptight for Nintendo’s broad target audience.
