The Nintendo Switch OLED has arrived. The new Switch model may not be quite as upgraded as some of the rumors alluded to earlier this year, but the Switch OLED has some big advantages over the previous models. And just in time for the release of the exciting new console, Nintendo has released an interview with two of the developers behind the Switch OLED. Along with tackling the new console itself, the two answered some lingering questions about the Joy-Con drift.
The Switch OLED has launched the same day as Metroid Dread, and over the next 14 months, there are plans to release massive titles such as Splatoon 3, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Bayonetta 3, the sequel to Breath of the Wild, and more. Because of all of this, Nintendo is primed for a huge 2022. Along with the tentpole games, the Switch OLED could be leading the way, and it is intriguing to hear the developers behind the tech explain the thought process behind the console.
Ko Shiota is the head of the Technology Development Division at Nintendo and Toru Yamashita has worked in the Technology Development Department since the Wii era. The two answered questions about continually improving consoles, creating a better experience, and what the Switch OLED has to offer. At Nintendo, there is a philosophy about continually developing and bettering a console, even within its same generation. Shiota goes so far as to say that it is the "destiny" of a console to improve after launch. Whether it be an upgraded Nintendo DS model or even internal variations that provide new or better technology on the inside that fans don't see, improving upon the console is paramount.
With the Switch OLED, the team wanted to create a new variation of the hardware even since the release of the original model in 2017. That has now come to pass with the Switch Lite and Switch OLED. The OLED itself went through various theorizing and testing before it came to be what it is today, which could perhaps be why there were so many different rumors about the new model and why there could still be a Switch Pro with 4K technology on the way.
Therefore, I think it is the “destiny” of gaming consoles that improvements will continue even after the launch.
As far as the Switch OLED itself, the two talked about visible and invisible changes over the previous models. The larger OLED screen is the obvious place to start, as the better colors that the screen can provide were an emphasis. Other perhaps less visible enhancements include a better speaker, better battery life, more storage, a redesigned and more sleek dock, and more.
Shiota and Yamashita also addressed the Joy-Con drift issue, and there appears to be good news for the Switch OLED and consoles moving forward. Shiota compared the wear on the specially designed analog sticks to the wear on a car tire, in that it is impossible to avoid. However, the team was able to improve durability to help the issue as a whole. The more durable Joy-Cons are a part of the Switch OLED, and the same technology was incorporated into other Switch consoles, Joy-Cons, and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller as well.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is available now.
Source: Nintendo