this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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That’s right, for hardware that’s now eight years old and never got a price discount. It currently sells for C$400 – but they’re about to jack the price.

There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.

Yet, Nintendo is jacking the price.

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[–] ieatpwns@lemmy.world 44 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

They rip the emulators from your hands then increase the price on the console. That’s anti consumer af

[–] BroBot9000@lemmy.world 38 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Just buy a steam deck and actually own your hardware and software.

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[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 18 points 2 days ago

Video game companies are going all-in on seeing just how greedy they can be and get away with it. I'm curious to see just how much consumers will put up with.

[–] Coyote_sly@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Buy used. Because fuck them.

[–] BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Or better yet, consider a SteamDeck instead of supporting Nintendo in any way, shape, or form.

[–] the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago

Because fuck you.

[–] cecilkorik@lemmy.ca 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Fuck Canada in particular, as usual. It's starting to feel a bit personal.

[–] TwinTitans@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

Probably to offset any tariff costs in the USA.

[–] Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago

Of course they are. They don't want anyone buying anything but switch 2.

[–] TwinTitans@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Uh…wow. The balls.

[–] simple@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)

There are Android tablets that are much cheaper than the Switch, more powerful, more battery efficient. Also, play games better.

You're not really suggesting that playing mediocre android games on a touchscreen tablet is the same market as a handheld gaming device with controllers

[–] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

No, I’m suggesting that it’s 2025—not 2017 anymore.

Android gaming is now very good, with many excellent titles available at an affordable price.

What’s more, you can play them very easily with an actual controller.

[–] simple@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago (8 children)

Android has a couple high-profile indie games like Stardew Valley and some rare ports of older games, that's it. I wouldn't call it very good. and unless you're willing to shell out $150+ for a great telescopic controller there's no way playing on the tablet would be comfortable.

[–] pivot_root@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (17 children)

The OP is really blowing smoke up Android's ass when it comes to the quality of native Android games. Most "top" mobile games are freemium crap riddled with microtransactions.

What it does have, however, is emulators. Including one for the Switch itself. Paying $350 for decade-old hardware and $80 for games is just bad value compared to a $300 used S21 and $0 games.

[–] simple@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

If we're going by piracy logic then you can buy a $200 used Switch and hack it to download games for free. I genuinely don't think a phone or tablet would ever be a good experience. nobody is going to play with touch controls, it doesn't let you play games on the TV, the emulator has compatibility issues and bugs, not to mention how most phones throttle hard when they get warm. I'm not buying this discussion at all.

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[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What android games would you suggest?

[–] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Genshin Impact, GRID Autosport, Pascal’s Wager, Sky: Children of the Light, The Banner Saga Trilogy.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

There is also dead cells, slay the spire, monster train, disable immortal, etc.

However, those are also all playable on switch too. Technically you can emulate the switch on android, but I think this brings up the biggest flaw in gaming on android; you're either emulating or streaming for most good games.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

Google will change the APIs every 2 years and break all your old games so I'm kinda over it at this point.

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Was considering a new switch, but may hold off now.

Which tablets do you have in mind? I could not find any suitable for anything but phone games via touch screen and unimpressive battery, but I don't really know this market

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.zip 9 points 3 days ago (2 children)

If you want a similar gaming handheld, Steam Deck.

[–] RazgrizOne@piefed.zip 4 points 3 days ago

Love my steamdeck but it’s definitely not similar to a switch other than they both play video games handheld. Even the docked experiences are super different.

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (4 children)

How's the deck for mouse-heavy strategy games like Stellaris, Civ, etc?

[–] deadcade@lemmy.deadca.de 5 points 3 days ago

Great, the touchpads are amazing for mouse-related stuff while handheld. I can comfortably use mouse heavy menus with them. Obviously, a lot closer to a laptop touchpad than an actual mouse, but still a lot better than a joystick as mouse.

A Steam Deck is a PC. If you dock it, you can hook up a mouse+KB and a monitor, and use "desktop mode" (KDE plasma) to use it exactly like any other Linux desktop. Docked "gaming mode" makes it feel more like a home console for PC games (and emulators). It is even possible (though not recommended) to install Windows.

[–] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

If you hook it up to a monitor and use a keyboard with mouse, it’s indistinguishable from a regular PC.

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Playing portably, mouse-based games run pretty well. Games that use a lot of keyboard keys are where it gets difficult without using an actual keyboard.

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

I don't personally have one, but Civ has a touch interface (at least 5 does, never got into 6). The touchpads probably approximate a mouse input.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You'd probably be better served by a retro handheld. A lot of them run android so you can play android games, but the built in controllers make emulating actually enjoyable.

Major issue is that the ones cheaper than a switch struggle with 3D games.

If you have the money, steamdeck is definitely one of the best bang for buck, but it'll probably be more expensive than a switch (unless you can find a deal on a used/refurbished one).

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Thanks! I am starting to think a steamdeck is going to be my solution. SteamOS on my tiny nongaming Linux laptop works perfectly for 2D or light 3D games, so I expext it to be fine.

[–] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 0 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You can get a Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (with a pen) for C$330. It has better GPU performance than a Switch.

You can play games like Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and Sky: Children of the Light pretty damn well.

[–] Deestan@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thanks. Does it work well with controllers, or do people mostly play with the on-screen joysticks?

[–] atomicpoet@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Yeah, you can hook up a Bluetooth controller just fine. Lots of them available.

You can emulate too.

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It may be that value prop of 1 with OLED is higher than 2.

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 2 points 3 days ago

That’s OLED, this is the original Switch, hardware 8-years-old.

[–] spy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I've been playing some games in a retroid pocket 5.

Mind you, it doesn't run all games, nor all well, but could be worth checking out.

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