2DS XL News: Why Nintendo Switch Fans Should Hate The New Console- Games, Price & More

2DS XL was revealed by Nintendo late Thursday evening to the surprise of gamers everywhere. Nintendo Switch owners will likely view the console as irrelevant, but we think it’s actually worth hating. From pricing to games, the 2DS XL only hurts the potential of 2017’s popular hybrid.

1) It Discourages Switch Game Development: The Nintendo Switch is projected to ship nearly as many units in its first year as the Wii U did during its entire lifespan. That potential install base is great for future software development, but the 2DS XL stunts that achievement in every way.

By putting out new 3DS-based hardware this summer, Nintendo is essentially signaling to developers that making games for its old system is still more than viable. In fact, it’s encouraged. Even if the Switch sells well, it’s still no match for the 66 million 3DS systems in the wild. As a developer hoping to maximize profits, choosing the 3DS platform is a no brainer. In the long run, this continued support could translate to more games coming out on 3DS than Switch. That potential chilling effect is something no new console should have to face from its own manufacturer.

2) The 2DS XL Is Way Cheaper Than Switch: The 2DS XL will cost $149.99 when it launches this July. That’s a big problem when the Nintendo Switch sells for double that amount. Nintendo has essentially created and advertised a new, more affordable alternative to Switch to all people on a budget. In that sense, the more casual crowd Nintendo tends to attract may opt for a 2DS XL instead of going straight to Switch.

Neither option hurts Nintendo’s bottom line, but the company again opens itself up to that trickle-down effect of a potentially weaker Switch install base. We know the Game Boy Micro never truly stifled DS purchases, but Nintendo is in a very different place today than it was in 2005. The Switch cannot fail if this company wants a future in the console business. By offering such a large price differential for two brand new products, Nintendo is creating problems it can’t afford to have.

3) It Muddies The Message To Consumers: Nintendo has a recent history of messaging problems, and the fact that the 2DS XL even exists is a continuation of that tradition. If the hardware maker truly wants the Switch to be a hit, it shouldn’t be trotting out updated legacy hardware at all. Doing so tells lapsed gamers that the 3DS family is just fine and that the Switch isn’t necessary. Taking that notion further, the 2DS XL’s prominence implies Nintendo isn’t even fully confident the Switch will succeed. If its own creators don’t believe in Switch, why should the general public?

4) It Contributes To Hardware Shortages: Nintendo has a set amount of resources to produce and ship products to the market. As we’ve seen with the sudden discontinuation of the NES Classic and recent Switch shortages, this company simply can’t produce hardware fast enough to meet demand.

Adding the 2DS XL to that pipeline only complicates those troubles further. Do you think it’s a coincidence the 2DS XL was announced as soon as the NES Classic left shelves? The need to produce enough 2DS systems for July was likely a passive contributor to that console’s unexpected demise. Only so much product can be made at once. Nintendo has so many different orders to fill that the present sellouts will likely continue.

The Nintendo 2DS XL releases July 28 for $149.

Do you think the 2DS XL is a detriment to the Nintendo Switch? Will its low price and huge game library have any impact? Tell us in the comments section!