How much are you spending on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch?

Games Inbox: How much are you spending on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch?

It’s just a matter of days now (X)

The Tuesday letters page thinks PS5 price cuts may undercut the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, as one reader reveals the secret to beating Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

Free Entertainment
As I type this, only two sleeps to go till I get my Switch 2. I have sold my old Switch and sent all data to the cloud to redownload it on my Switch 2. I have sold my Xbox Series X too. It’s my birthday next month on July 4th and it’s Father’s Day in less than two weeks.

So, I have called all that early. In short, I am not paying a penny for my Switch 2, and I am getting mine at midnight on Thursday morning, at Smyths toy store in York. I pre-ordered mine on April 4th. I know you like photos of midnight launches so I will provide another email come Thursday morning. I have Thursday and Friday off work too.
woz_007 (NN ID)

GC: That’d be neat, thanks.

Last minute purchase
Count me one of the lucky ones. Managed to get me a last minute Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle pre-order from Very (fingers crossed no mess ups). I had resigned myself to getting it next year at the earliest, since myself and my wife are saving up to decorate our daughter’s room. However, I managed to get it as buy now pay in 12 months time and will reduce my monthly spends to pay it off.

It also came with Street Fighter 6, which I wouldn’t usually have been fussed with but actually since I can split the Joy-Cons it might be fun to play against the kids or my wife, if they’ll indulge me. I’ve got extra personal cash for the month, that I might use getting some other bits. I intend to upgrade Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom to the Switch 2 version.

I might also get Fast Fusion or buy a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, as I’ve always fancied trying out Wind Waker. If only I had some time off work. It comes out in the middle of a stretch and I’m also working the weekend.

If anyone else is still struggling to get a pre-order I’d try Very as they seem to have a few bundles in stock and seem to replenishing stock too.
Matc7884

GC: Very has been the most reliable shop through all this, for some reason. Don’t forget that if you get Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack you’ll get the Zelda upgrades for free.

Non-disclosure agreement
It’s disappointing that Switch 2 reviews, for both the console itself and its launch games, aren’t yet available.

I’ve read that either the review embargo for the Nintendo Switch 2 and its launch day games are very close to launch day or that journalists haven’t been given Switch 2s prior to launch, or the day one patch means reviews aren’t possible until after launch day.

Whatever the reason, I was naively hoping for some reviews to drop late last week or today (Monday, at time of writing), if not. I’ve got the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle pre-ordered so don’t necessarily need the reviews to make a decision (except whether to cancel the pre-order, which seems unrealistic at this point) but was hoping to get some extra hype from reading GC’s reviews ahead of launch day.

Is anyone else eagerly (and maybe disappointedly) anticipating reviews ahead of launch day?
Hubert

Lean summer
I’ll settle for Resident Evil 9 and James Bond being the big reveals for Summer Game Fest. I’m interested in both and they’re both things that have been announced but never seen before, which is how things used to work and, as far as I’m concerned, the best way to do things.

I am very concerned at the talk of no new Sony event until September though. That is so disappointing and even when we get there, I have little faith we’ll hear about anything other than Ghost Of Yōtei. I really hope there’s a Nintendo Direct next week though. I kind of feel there won’t be, and I understand why not, but unless there is I think this is going to be a weak not-E3 year, even with these two big reveals.
Cosh

Busy week
It’s a blessed week for myself. I’ve much to look forward to, starting with the obvious and the elephant in the room. The release week of the Nintendo Switch 2 is upon the many and the few. My copy will hopefully be arriving on Friday. Which will also be a hopefully pleasurable day, since it’s also Eid. So those will be a gracious present to myself. My mother will be displeased, but it’s only twice a year. Besides I’ve written multiple times, of my personal joy towards this launch and the possibilities, so it won’t be a case of averting myself from this moment.

Saturday is the opening night of Summer Games Fest. The occasion in which we are treated to previews, Kojima and Geoff Keighley’s smile. Because he loves to smile when Hideo is in the house. Jokes aside, I’m keeping positive for an entertaining showcase and many centrepieces. I’d love to see Resident Evil 9. Tokyo Game Show will probably be a more suitable unveiling though. The Xbox Games Showcase will follow and I’ve already said that I have given up on the brand. However, I’ll be pleasantly amused if it matches the last excellent showcase; fingers crossed.

Lastly, I’ve finally donned my cowboy hat and began a playthrough of Red Dead Redemption, the first title. The one where Jack has a beard. More jokes aside I always wanted to get around to it.
Shahzaib Sadiq
PS: I meant Friday for Summer Games Fest. Because Rebecca Black wrote the song. OK, I’m done.

The main platform
I have to say it’s a smart move by Sony to launch a PlayStation 5 sale to try and undercut the Switch 2 launch and it has definitely turned my head. I’ll get a Switch 2, sure, at some point but like a recent reader said I see no reason yet with the current line-up. Mario Kart World has a built in ceiling of interest due to the fact it’s still just Mario Kart and I can go play the last one for that fix, and Metroid Prime 4 is on the current Switch. Also, by the time the next proper Zelda launches we may have a bigger OLED edition or a price cut.

PlayStation 5 has gotten a lot of grief this gen, mostly down to Sony’s languid first party development but there is no doubt that it is the lead platform right now. People may be correct to complain about Naughty Dog being MIA… but then every game currently releasing is on it and plays well on it so what do you want? PlayStation is basically default gaming.

Next year’s smash hits outside Nintendo will be developed with it as the main platform, it’s tough to turn down that pedigree for an alternative with question marks around lengthy and comprehensive future support. Playing Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth out of the box next week versus waiting however many years for them to turn up on Nintendo’s platform? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Marc

GC: Are you saying you don’t expect the Switch 2 to outsell the PlayStation 5?

Catching up
I can see why some Switch 1 owners don’t feel the need to pull the trigger just yet and upgrade to the Switch 2.

Mario Kart World aside, I think it looks an underwhelming launch line-up for Nintendo exclusives. However, I resisted getting a Switch 1 last year and can’t wait to sink my teeth into all that Nintendo goodness and feast when my Switch 2 is delivered! Bring it on!
Nick P.

Fair advantage
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33… what a great game. I had been gearing up for a full 30 hour experience, to play the main game of the default setting.

To my surprise I beat the final boss at 20 hours. I had been taking almost every fight I encountered, I didn’t put a huge amount of effort into finely balancing stats.

I tend to dodge frequently but if I got a sense of the rhythm of an attack I would parry.

It was therefore a complete surprise that I was at the final boss so soon.

Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice is a favourite of mine and so I guess good dodging and/or parrying really gets you through the game quicker.

For anyone struggling with dodging there is quite often an aural cue, much more so than a visual cue and so listening with headphones really helps.
Deskiryu

GC: If you’re a Sekiro veteran you’ll have a instant advantage with Clair Obscur, it’s curious how much it borrows from From’s game. If it helps, the average for the main story alone, with no side quests, is 27 hours on How Long to Beat, so you definitely did it quicker than most.

Inbox also-rans
Just finished season 2 of The Last Of Us and I agree it was a disappointment. What gets me is It seems like the team didn’t really understand the original game, and yet some of the same people are involved making it?
Ragu

Blue Prince may be the slowest burning game I’ve ever played, but after not getting it at first I’m really starting to enjoy it now. It’s very odd but also very cleverly designed.
Lusco96