Daily Debate: Are You Concerned About Durability Issues with the Switch 2?
Posted on January 19 2025 by Kora Burton
With the Nintendo Switch 2 officially named and set for a 2025 release, what was speculation on leaks and rumors is now speculation based on slightly more substance. Nintendo’s first-look trailer shows off a bigger, sleeker system with a seemingly reworked outer shell, new screen-wide kickstand with a much wider range of motion than the original system’s small prop-up, and most strikingly, detachable controllers that pop in to the system, rather than sliding on using the Switch’s rails.
The successor system looks like a fitting, flashy upgrade for the current era of gaming — but I’m worried about this system’s durability, given the issues users have had with the Switch, especially when played in handheld mode. For one thing, I wonder how different the plastic of the new shell will be, as on first blush, it seems like it could be that softer type of “smooth” plastic that seems so inviting to scratches and scuffs. The curve of the new dock looks pretty nice, but will the Switch 2 dock be of higher quality than that of the original Switch (looking at you, shoddy, immediately broken back panel)?
And, here’s my biggest, most immediate concern after seeing the recent Switch 2 announcement trailer: will we get better or worse life out of the controllers’ connection to the system? As the owner of a Switch from late 2017, I’ve had to put my original Joy-Cons to rest, not primarily because of drift issues (although I’ve had this fixed at home probably ten times over the Switch’s lifetime), but because over time the wiggle and wobble of the connection between the Joy-Cons and the system have caused button and battery connections to loosen, and I just can’t deal with them coming unlocked while playing games anymore. So I wonder, will the new supposedly magnetic setup solve this? I have my doubts, particularly if the Switch 2 controllers have to be inserted at an angle for the connection to work properly. Then there’s those system-side connectors jutting out from the Switch 2, to plug in to the controllers on either side… all I can see is those bad boys getting bent, and a world of pain trying to fix them.
These durability concerns aren’t enough to stop me from getting in line once the Switch 2 goes on sale, but it’s enough to dampen my excitement, and try to remain cautious as we observe more details being released.
What are your thoughts? Do you have similar concerns about the Switch 2’s durability in the long run? How do you think the Switch 2’s life will compare with the original Switch system? Let us know your thoughts down below!
Kora started writing for Zelda Dungeon in 2022, leading up to Tears of the Kingdom‘s release, and now assists the writing team as an Executive Editor. She also works as a college administrator assisting students with their travel, research, and internship goals. She’s an avid lover of board games, fantasy fiction, and DragonCon, and is a mother to a kid in the stars.
