Former Blizzard Executive Unimpressed by Switch 2: ‘I’ll Pass’

In a surprise twist, former Blizzard and Xbox veteran Mike Ybarra didn’t hold back his thoughts on the new Nintendo Switch 2, summing up his feelings with a blunt “hard pass.” While the Nintendo Direct event on April 2 brought a slew of surprises to eager fans, not every reveal hit the mark. Since the presentation, the Switch 2 has been at the center of significant criticism, especially from some seasoned industry personalities.

During the Direct, pricing details were conveniently left out, only to be revealed later through press releases and official listings. This strategic delay didn’t sit well with many, igniting a wave of disbelief over the $450 price tag set for the console in the U.S., with some game editions going for $80 or more. Fans expressed their frustration over the steep prices and Nintendo’s perceived lack of transparency. Even some former Nintendo PR managers chimed in, likening the omission to a discourteous oversight.

After the Direct, Mike Ybarra took to Twitter, voicing his dissatisfaction with the Switch 2. Beyond the “hard pass” statement, he was particularly critical of the pricing – pointing out how games like Mario Kart World come with an $80 price tag, while also calling attention to what he views as underwhelming performance specs, referring to “low frames.” Ybarra’s sentiments resonated with fans who took to Reddit, venting about the hefty price of titles and the additional costs for next-gen upgrades for owned games.

Ybarra also didn’t shy away from scrutinizing the Switch 2’s much-touted in-game chat feature. He argued that Nintendo lagged behind competitors in adopting this feature. Commenting on Tears of the Kingdom, he bluntly remarked that despite being in 4K at 60fps, the game’s look was reminiscent of early 2000s titles. His criticism echoed others in the industry; Shuhei Yoshida, a former PlayStation executive, deemed the Switch 2 Direct “underwhelming” due to its scarce new game announcements. Although surprised by the price, Yoshida did commend the console’s social capabilities.

The debate surrounding the Switch 2 largely centers on its pricing strategy, not just for the console but also for its flagship games. While the $80 charge for Mario Kart might be a shock, especially in light of some older titles being similarly priced after inflation adjustments, many argue that the industry norm has remained around the $60 to $70 mark for new releases. The true impact of these costs and the other contentious features on the Switch 2’s success is yet to unfold, but it’s clear the uproar against it wasn’t quite the reaction Nintendo anticipated.