We now know more about the Nintendo Switch 2 features following the reveal of the console on 2nd April. But what does this mean for the futue of the Zelda franchise? Today I want to take a closer look at the features for the Switch 2, and how this could unlock new gameplay experiences in The Legend of Zelda on Switch 2.

With the reveal of the Switch 2 I think we should expect vastly improved Zelda games in the future. In particular I am looking for a more dense open-world, seamless integration with larger dungeons, better online features, co-op support and more.

Nintendo finally announced the Switch 2 console in an hour long presentation on April 2nd, and we now understand the full scope and capabilities of the console. Let’s have a look at some of the features, and then we’ll get into what this is going to mean for future Zelda games.

Game chat

Game chat is the “new feature” for the Switch 2, bringing social features to the console. Yes, this is just like Discord, and yes we’ve been able to do this for a long time. However, Nintendo and online features haven’t always been on the cutting edge, so it’s good to see Nintendo catching up here. Game chat is going to let up to 12 people chat while playing games. You can share screen in real-time, even when you are playing different games.

This has the potential to be the biggest game-changing feature for The Legend of Zelda. We’ve seen co-op Breath of the Wild mods before, and now Nintendo are focusing more on social features and online multiplayer games I think they are going to want to use these features in a Zelda game. That could mean officially supported local or online co-op play.

One thing that is very interesting in game chat is you can play with your friends, even when they are playing other games. This could have a massive impact on puzzles. Imagine your friends playing other Zelda games, and somehow that influencing what happens in your game. Sounds improbable, maybe impossible, but if anyone could do it Nintendo could.

Resolution and framerates

Here’s what Nintendo have to say about their new console “Bring games to life with a larger 1080p screen – or connect to a TV and play in up to 4K resolution*. Support for HDR, VRR, and frame rates up to 120 fps let you enjoy brilliant colour, clarity, and smooth gameplay.”

This is going to have an immediate impact on the next Zelda. We’re already seeing this with the Switch 2 versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom; they look incredible, and here Nintendo are upscaling older games. Imagine what the next Zelda came could look like with the capabilities of the Switch 2.

The Switch 1 definitely struggled with some Zelda games; Link’s Awakening ran pretty poorly, and Tears of the Kingdom chugged along on occasion. The Switch 2 will be able to provide the platform for the best looking Legend of Zelda entry we’ve ever seen.

Mouse controls

Nintendo confirmed the mouse controls simply by turning the JoyCon 2 on it’s side. They demonstrated the mouse controls with Metroid Prime 4 and Civ 7 at the gameplay hands-on sessions with creators and games media outlets. Given the flexibility of the mouse controls, where you can be playing in controller mode, and then simply flip the joycon 2 and use it as a mouse, I think we’re definitely going to get mouse controls in the next Zelda game.

This could be in puzzles where you need specific control, or something else. I don’t think it’s going to be the main focus of the gameplay mechanics, but complimentary similar to what we saw in Metroid Prime 4. It’s there is you want to use it, but if you don’t want to then you don’t have to. Personally I wasn’t a fan of the motion controls in Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword on the Wii, I tend to sit back and play with a Pro Controller. But I am intrigued by the mouse controls and look forward to what Nintendo could do with it.

Power

The Switch 2 is more powerful than the Switch 1, even though Nintendo are being cagey about releasing the tech specs, even after the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct last week.

Switch 1 CPU/GPU: The original Switch runs on an Nvidia custom Tegra X1 processor split into four ARM Cortex A57 CPU cores. The Switch Lite and Switch OLED have the same hardware.

Switch 2 CPU/GPU: The most the Nintendo reveals is that it has a “custom processor made by Nvidia” on the Switch 2’s official specs page. Nvidia confirmed it also has a custom GPU, claiming that the new console has “10x the graphics performance” of the Switch 1″.

Digital Foundry has reported on the tech specs by saying:

“Broadly speaking its helpful to think of the Switch 2 as roughly PS4 level in terms of comparable titles but it can do so much more in terms of storage, bespoke graphical features, possibly the CPU is also faster. As a first generation ballpark, so to speak, PS4 is a very good comparison point I think.”

What does all this mean for Zelda? If we have more power then worlds can be more dense. We can have more enemies on screen, more NPCs in towns and villages, and more seamless open-worlds. I’ve said before in previous videos I would love to see the return of complex old-school Zelda dungeons. I would love the experience of Dungeons and the Open-world to blend together seamlessly without having to load into a custom zone.

Zelda notes features in-game

The new app feature Zelda Notes, which is due to launch on 5th June with the Switch 2 looks great, but I want to see these features in-game. Voice memories is very cool, it’s something else to hunt for and something us Zelda lore nerds want, but the fact I have to use a mobile app for this isn’t ideal. Yes, I can do it, but really it should be a feature in-game.

Autobuild and item sharing looks like a very popular feature. Autobuild sharing in particular looks great. I don’t know about you, but I was a lazy builder when it came to Tears of the Kingdom. I loved following the creations in the Hyrule Engineering subreddit, but getting all the Zonai Devices, and then getting enough energy to power up the Zonai builds was a pain, and ultimately this turned me off from making too complex Zonai Devices. If the barrier to entry for Zonai devices was lowered, then I would be much more likely to engage with it.

Community comments

“Now we know more about the Switch 2, what do you want to see from Zelda? We have better graphics, higher frame rates, better online features, mouse controls etc – how could Zelda take advantage of the Switch 2?”

@OmegaFox09
Please no more open worlds¿ I’ve seen enough

@TheRealPSKilla502
As I’ve said before and I’ll say again, I want to return to pre-BotW 3D LoZ, with real dungeons, linear story, and ability-based progression, but with modern graphics. We saw a glimpse of what it could look like with the Wii U tech demo, just imagine what another 10 years and 2 console generations worth of development could give us!

@chuckolator1859
This is kind of just reiterating the pre-TotK conversation – but open world Zelda with a better sense of story progression, real dungeons, and 86 the weapon durability. 😅

I get why they give you all the runes at the tutorial, but it’s honestly not my preference. I want to find cool toys throughout the game, and a flaming greatsword that breaks after 2 battles doesn’t cut it.

I don’t know why the devs think the main story progression can’t have a linear order. Skyrim did it, Xenoblade did it, most open world games still have a linear main quest. It’s so much better with linear progression. Being able to do the dungeons in any order means nothing to me, because I’m still going thtough them in “some order”. I wouldn’t know the difference either way. But having a set order allows for a much better story and sense of progression.

I hope that the new Zelda Notes features are indicative of the direction Zelda is going. I’ve been wanting to see cooperative features explored in a 3D Zelda for a long time. Also, I hope we get Hidden Skills back. I miss having larger movesets for weapons. That would be a great incentive to explore!

@RizzyGyatt
I want to see an Open Air 3D game running at 1440p60 (or 1440p120 lmao) with huge, complex, expansive dungeons that can’t be cheesed with Rocket and Hover Stone. with a story that we actually participate in. placed in the BOTW/TOTK world

@GamingReinvented
Honestly, I just want the same as ever. A more visually stunning game that mixes the best parts of the wild era games and classic Zelda formula together, and has a story with more going on than said wild era games.

@Romulus879
I hope all mainline Zelda games will be playable on the Switch 2. The Mouse control could be helpful to replace the mechanic with the pencil in the DS titles.

@vianabdullah2837
Maybe a co-op focused game that expands on the ideas introduced in the final dungeon of Echoes of Wisdom. Also lively towns and settlements rather than a desolate and post-apocalyptic settings of previous games. A large urban setting hasn’t been tried in a game before.

@butter0989
Mouse-controlled dungeon puzzles

Let me know what you think in the comments.