How PlayStation Portal and Steam Deck changed my mind about Switch 2

Nintendo’s next handheld will be here soon and possibly even exposed this week. but playing on other handhelds helps me rethink what Nintendo’s next system should be.

It could happen any day when Nintendo announces Switch 2Nintendo’s next console after almost 8 years Nintendo Switch. After such a long wait, expectations are high. Right now, early reported leaks on the system and its internals show something that looks a lot more like an updated first-gen Switch than anything really wild and new.

Disappointed? Not me, not really. I’ve been playing a lot lately on two other handhelds: Sony’s Playstation Portal and on Valve Steam Deck OLED. Both have been in my home for over a year, but I’ve recently returned to them for various reasons. The portal has become a place where I can play remotely Astro Bot from the PS5, and it’s shockingly good at it. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck has become mine UFO 50 game console, my only way to play one of my favorite indie games of all time.

I also tried moving the Portal and Steam Deck to new areas. I’ve been streaming some cloud games to the portal through Sony in beta support for PS Plus. I bought a docking station to connect the Steam Deck to my TV, pairing controllers so I could play two player UFO 50 games with my kid.

As these two oversized handhelds became my winter favorites, they also filled me with thoughts about what they do better than the current Switch… and made me appreciate the things the Switch still does better. Nintendo needs to change some things for the next Switch, but I’m more confident that Nintendo should also stick to their formula.

I crave better control

Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal, in different ways, absolutely beat the Switch in the controller department. I was spoiled by the luxurious feel of both pockets. The Steam Deck is littered with control options: spacious analog triggers, large additional trackpads, and additional paddle buttons on the back.

While I don’t use most of them, they don’t bother me, and the deck offers many ways to customize. They are well arranged. I could use the D-pad and buttons, switch to analog sticks or use the trackpads – or mix and match. Touch is subtle, but for solid-state trackpads in particular, they add realistic feedback and a “clicky” feel that impresses me.

The Portal is amazing in its own way because it somehow really replicates most of the magic of the PS5 DualSense controller. The buttons are smaller than DualSense, and Portal doesn’t have a clickable trackpad (you have to awkwardly double-tap the touchscreen instead), but the vibrating haptic motors are strong and the rear triggers have the same unique force feedback that PS5 controllers give it they do.

Astro Bot really shows off these features, as the game makes the most of the PS5 controller in endless fascinating ways. I doubted Astro Bot would translate well to a streaming portable like the portal, but it works. Sometimes, of course, there are streaming hiccups. When everything is fine, I forget I’m using a streaming device. Surfaces rumble beneath me, I feel weapons pulsate under my fingers. I’m sucked in.

Nintendo was ahead of the game when the Switch first launched: Its tiny controllers are crammed with buttons, have motion controls, and their haptic vibes were way better than anything else in 2017. These controllers now look dated, wear and tear easily, and lack analog triggers. I just much prefer the Steam Deck and Portal controllers now.

Bigger screens please

I love small pocket computers, but Steam Deck and especially PlayStation Portal made me realize that big screens are very good for playing big games.

The Switch optimizes most of its games to maximize its hardware, so everything usually looks good on the Switch’s current 6- or 7-inch 720p screen. Steam Deck’s larger screen size is valuable for cross-platform games that are often designed for computer monitors or televisions. However, PlayStation Portal does it best. The 8-inch 1080p display ended up working perfectly for most PS5 games. Madden? no problems Astro Bot? Joy. I can navigate the PS5 menus and not feel like I’m squinting.

The Switch 2 is expected to have an 8-inch, 1080p screen, and that sounds just perfect to me… especially if the Switch 2 is expected to play more current-gen console and PC games like Elden Ring or Baldur’s Gate 3.

But you know what? The Switch form still has unbeatable magic

There’s one last thing I realized: eight years later, the Switch’s magical switching powers remain undefeated.

We take these things for granted: The Switch comes with a TV Game Dock and works flawlessly. The controllers slide out and become two-player or single-player dual-handed, take your pick. Children can understand it.

Two controllers in one system was a brilliant idea and still makes playing two players with my kid easy and fun. I haven’t seen another handheld that handles adding and removing controllers as easily as the Nintendo. My recent experiment with connecting the Steam Deck to my TV showed how unstable the process is. The dock is not included and needed work and firmware updates, and I had a hard time pairing controllers (the Xbox ones didn’t work, but the 8bitdo controller and Switch Pro paired seamlessly). Even then I had to restart Steam Deck to get it to work. Plus, you can replace Switch controllers when they break, which is huge for longevity. Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal make you live with the controls that come bundled with them.

Nintendo absolutely needs to update their Joy-Con controllers with better haptics and buttons and a more “professional” feel, but the way they separate, pair, and work is still better than anything else.

For me, just updating the inside of the Switch and keeping the shape the same is fine. I know we all crave Nintendo surprises (I do more than anyone). I’m still pretty confident that the Switch 2 will have its kinks, such as the rumored optical sensor in one Joy-Con and who knows what else. Nintendo doesn’t have to invent a new hardware form this time. There’s a reason everyone else is still trying to copy it: Nintendo knocked it out of the park with the Switch. The Switch 2 deserves to follow in its footsteps with a bunch of overdue performance improvements. If that’s what’s happening, that sounds good to me.