The 6 Years of Engineering Behind The Nintendo Switch 2

How Nintendo Made The Switch 2

This Nintendo Switch 2 documentary details the development of the Nintendo Switch 2 console and goes behind the scenes of its creation. Discover how Nintendo initially wasn’t sure whether to iterate on the original Switch’s design or make something completely new. Therefore, the team explored a variety of unique hardware concepts. The documentary also explores all the design decisions Nintendo made and shows how the developers applied Gunpei Yoko’s philosophy of “lateral thinking with withered technology”—the idea of repurposing mature, readily available technology in creative new ways.

It also takes a close look at all the hurdles Nintendo had to go through. The team initially wasn’t sure if backward compatibility would be possible, since the Switch 2 doesn’t feature any built-in Switch components. This made achieving compatibility with older titles far more complex. Additionally, it was a struggle to find the perfect name for the Switch successor. Fan favorite ideas like Super Nintendo Switch were on the list, but didn’t feel quite right for a particular reason.