Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Don’t Be Scared into Pre-Ordering the Switch

Don’t Be Scared into Pre-Ordering the Switch

All of the mysteries have been revealed. We know all there is about the Nintendo Switch. It’s a freeing thing, isn’t it? We have some idea of what games to expect over the next few months. We know how much it’s going to cost. While some things are still uncertain, like if it will soar like the Wii or sink like the Wii U, enough is there to help us start making some decisions. The most important of which might be if pre-ordering is a good idea.

I mean, now it’s out there. The limited Nintendo World Store pre-orders went live on Friday the 13th. Other opportunities are trickling in. But should you really be buying one? Should any of us? I mean, I will. It’s practically a job requirement for me. But is going for a console from a company that didn’t do well with its last one a good idea?

It’s always a good idea to err on the side of the caution. We saw some great launch window games in last night’s presentation. Clearly, there’s potential. But, when it comes to a new system, sometimes it isn’t the games that can be the issue. It’s the hardware. The Wii U GamePad has had some issues. As someone with a launch system who knows other people who opted in immediately, I know a number of us had syncing issues with the controller. The battery life is ridiculous as well, to the point where I just can’t play without keeping the charger on-hand.

The Switch is going to be a console and a handheld at once. We won’t know exactly how well that battery is going to perform until probably a month or two after launch. We aren’t going to see if there’ll be performance issues when playing on the go or on the console until we’ve been able to test it with a good array of games. This kind of information won’t be there at launch. It’ll probably come by May or June. Pre-ordering means you miss out on firsthand accounts that could influence purchasing decisions.

Don’t Be Scared into Pre-Ordering the Switch

The only reason to pre-order a Switch now is out of fear. Which is understandable. Nintendo has a terrible track record when it comes to providing products. There were Wii production shortages. When the amiibo were first release, they were like little plastic diamonds. The NES Classic Edition is only just starting to show up on store shelves again – after the holidays when they should have been around. The 3DS, an established system, has been missing in action since November due to overwhelming demand. This is going to very likely going happen with the Switch. They aren’t going to make enough of the system to go around. Still, we shouldn’t let the dread of not getting one force us into making a commitment we shouldn’t make.

The Switch could be very exciting, not only for Nintendo fans, but gamers in general. Something very different is being done here. We’ve never had such a hybrid before. But that also means there could be all sorts of problems we’ve never expected before. Unless you absolutely have money to throw around and are desperate to own all those new or slightly-newer-than-before games that will be out around launch, take a pause. See what other people have to say before making this investment.

To top