Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza Would Not Have Been Possible on the Original Switch, Says Nintendo

Nintendo has recently shared details about their upcoming console, the Nintendo Switch 2. The new console promises to build on the legacy of the first Switch, adding new features such as mouse mode and GameChat. However, one of the main improvements that developers were asking for was better technical performance. Shuntaru Furukawa, the president of Nintendo, spoke about this in a recent Q&A session.

“Over the past eight years, software developers have come to need higher hardware processing power,” Furukawa said. He went on to explain that this improvement was essential for creating new ways to play. He also mentioned that games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza would not have been possible on the first Nintendo Switch due to its limitations.

Nintendo Switch 2

Furukawa also revealed that the development of the Nintendo Switch 2 began in 2019 as an internal project. Nintendo has always been focused on developing new hardware to support their creative ideas. “In the near future, we will develop several titles focused on the possibilities of this new console to create innovative experiences,” he added. “We want it to set a new standard and keep surprising users.”

When asked about concerns that the new console might not offer much innovation, Furukawa responded by saying that the first Switch was completely redesigned from scratch. “We feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product, filled with various ingenuity and the attention to detail of Nintendo’s development team,” he explained. He also emphasized the close collaboration between hardware and software, which has always been a key characteristic of Nintendo.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5. Fans can expect games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond to be available for the new console.