Switch 2 Developers Discuss the Need for More Processing Power, Adding Value to Switch Games, & More in Recent Interview
Posted on April 09 2025 by Nick Miller
In the latest edition of Ask the Developer — Nintendo’s in-house interview series — Switch 2 developers described their thoughts on creating the newest Nintendo home console. The interview, published shortly after the April 2nd Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, covered topics such the need for more processing power in home consoles, adding value to existing Switch games, mouse controls, and more.
Answering questions were Switch 2 Producer Kouichi Kawamoto, Switch 2 Director Takuhiro Dohta, and Technology Development General Manager Tetsuya Sasaki, all of whom you may recognize from the Switch 2 Direct. Each began working on the Switch 2 around 2019, though they say “core development” of the console began years before that. This core development, Sasaki explained, involved “actively gathering information each day on different kinds of technology and the results they could achieve.”
According to Kawamoto, “one of the key features of Switch 2 is its expanded processing capability.” The developers all agreed that a fundamental concern with the Switch, and a primary point of improvement in the Switch 2, had to be processing power. Kawamoto acknowledged:
“There were times when we wished the Switch system’s processor was faster so that we could provide new and unprecedented gameplay experiences. I think the processor we chose to implement in Switch during its development was the best option at the time. However, as time went on, we began to realize that it didn’t necessarily mean developers could make any kind of game they wanted with it.”
Dohta added that it was because of the Switch’s improved processing power over the Wii U that they were able to build so many new features into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. He explained:
“When new hardware comes out and processing power improves, software development can also take advantage of that and take on new challenges. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was originally developed for Wii U, so it was created with the Wii U system’s capabilities in mind. However, with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we could create a world in the sky and underground since the performance had improved for Switch. To add to that, the ability to fuse objects together to create new ones was also made possible because of the Switch system’s capabilities.”
The developers elaborated later in the interview on the idea that improved processing power and new features on the Switch 2 add new value to Switch games that players may already have in their library. Even games that don’t receive enhanced Switch 2 editions will benefit. Dohta explained, “When we tried running Switch games on Switch 2, there were some where loading times became faster, or game performance became more stable, so we realized that the overall gameplay experience could improve.” He added, “GameChat will also be available for Switch games that are played on Switch 2. Even for previously released games, there are opportunities to add value in the sense that it can enhance and change the gameplay experience.”
Dohta further elaborated:
“[GameChat] is automatically available for all games that are compatible with Switch 2. You can share your screen with others and get them to help you come up with strategies, or give you tips when you’re stuck. Or, if you see your friend playing a game that you aren’t familiar with, it may spark your interest in that game, and you can ask them about it. That way, whenever a game is released for Switch 2, value is added automatically without the software developers having to put in a special effort. I think it would be fair to say this feature represents a true progression from Nintendo Switch.”
Shifting gears a bit, the developers discussed the new Joy-Con 2 controllers. One function of the new controllers is the ability to operate like a mouse. Kawamoto noted his inspiration for this new feature, saying, “It wasn’t in the initial planning, but when I was playing a PC game using a mouse, the idea struck me that maybe the Joy-Con controllers could also be used as mice.” He added, “Switch 2 was originally designed to support a wider range of games by improving the system’s processing speed, so with that in mind, I thought it’d be better to be able to play interesting games that require a mouse.”
Kawamoto further explained that this idea is consistent with one of Nintendo’s oldest design philosophies, saying, “Implementing mouse control that’s widely used nowadays in the Joy-Con controllers isn’t that costly, and I think that’s exactly what ‘lateral thinking of withered technology’ is all about.”
“Lateral thinking of withered technology” is a phrase coined by former General Manager of Nintendo’s Research & Development 1, Gunpei Yokoi, who had a hand in developing Game & Watch systems as well as the Game Boy. It refers to the idea that progress doesn’t always need to come in the form of new technologies, but that popular products may be developed through new applications of existing technology, even those that may be old or widely used. This form of lateral thinking will express itself in multiple features in the Switch 2 like, for example, GameChat’s screen-sharing, which Kawamoto explains is just repurposed from the technology used to transfer images to the Wii U GamePad.
As for mouse controls, however, Dohta described the reasoning behind its inclusion. “The Switch screen supports touch controls, but it can only be used in handheld mode and tabletop mode. When you change it to TV mode, the touch screen function is not available. The same goes for Switch 2, but I think the mouse functionality can also serve as a substitute for the touch screen.”
Aside from mouse mode’s utility in games already showcased like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and the newly announced Drag x Drive, it is another example of how the Switch 2 may add value to existing Switch titles. First-party games like Super Mario Maker 2 or Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker that were designed with touch controls in mind would be greatly enhanced if supported. Likewise, it broadens the range of accessible games on the Switch 2, giving games that traditionally feel at home on PC, such as point-and-click adventures, a new platform.
Additions like mouse controls, as well as changes made to the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, are all working in pursuit of what Sasaki called a “grand ambition”, saying, “There’s been a long-running project at Nintendo with the grand ambition of developing the ‘pinnacle of all controllers’, and we’ve been researching it hard for a long time now.” Each new console brings Nintendo one step closer towards that pinnacle, as each new controller adopts the qualities of its predecessor and evolves. Even with these new advancements, however, Kawaomoto assured that the original Joy-Con and Pro Controller will be supported on the Switch 2.
The interview closed with each developer wishing players well and hoping that they enjoy the Switch 2. Sasaki hopes that players can enjoy playing the new console “without worrying about all the technical details.” Dohta lauded the console’s broad spectrum of games and play styles, hoping that “everyone will warmly welcome Switch 2 as their own new personal system.” Kawamoto reiterated the Switch 2’s backwards compatibility and added that he hopes the Switch 2 will become “the new standard.”
Click here if you’d like to read the complete Ask the Developers interview. You can also check out Zelda Dungeon’s previous coverage of Ask the Developer interviews covering such topics as the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo and Echoes of Wisdom.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for purchase on June 5th, 2025 for $449.99 USD. Follow Zelda Dungeon to keep up to date on any current events that may change pricing and availability.
Now tell us what you think. How do you hope to see the Switch 2’s increased processing power take Nintendo’s legacy franchises to the next level? Do you think the Switch 2 has the potential to become “the new standard?” What Switch games would benefit most from mouse support? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Nintendo
Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders. His other favorite video games series include Kingdom Hearts, Fallout, and Ratchet & Clank.
