While the Nintendo Switch 2 has yet to be released, there's little doubt that the new console, like its predecessors, will continue to illustrate the imagination and creativity that makes the company's hardware so beloved. It's something I've always ired about Nintendo: its ability to reinvent with each subsequent console, challenging pre-conceived notions of how a game should be played and offering something wholly unique. Yet, as original and engaging as Nintendo's consoles may be, it'd also be ridiculous to suggest that they're without any faults.

Across multiple generations, Nintendo has faced many common criticisms of its consoles, whether that be the lack of power and performance, or the lack of strong third-party output. Personally, there's one major issue that has persisted across Nintendo's last few consoles, actively impeding my enjoyment of certain titles. Thankfully, recent leaks for the Switch 2 leave me hopeful that this issue may finally be resolved, allowing Nintendo to break free from one of its biggest shortcomings.

Switch 2 Leaks Hint At Having Faster Wi-Fi

The New Console Could Have Improved Online Play

As reported by gaming news site suggests amiibo will continue to be ed on the Switch 2.

Despite the numerous additional details about the Switch 2 that the FCC filings provide, there were certain things that could not be confirmed, such as charging times or if the console will be more powerful when docked.

However, one detail of the FCC filings that piqued my interest was regarding the Switch 2's Wi-Fi capabilities. As the Verge report pointed out, the filings suggest that the Switch 2 "...will Wi-Fi 6 networks with up to 80MHz of bandwidth", one above the Wi-Fi 5 networks that the original Switch ed. What this means is that Nintendo's new console will have faster Wi-Fi than what the original Switch would have allowed for.

What has me excited about faster Wi-Fi on the Switch 2 is the multitude of benefits this will create for the new console. For example, with faster Wi-Fi, it will mean that Nintendo's new console will allow for quicker s of games, allowing you to jump into the action with little time being wasted. This impact on times may also prove to be a necessity with the larger titles that the Switch 2 is likely to boast. That being said, the inclusion of faster Wi-Fi could also enable Switch 2 to provide better and smoother experiences with online play.

Online Play Has Been One Of Nintendo's Biggest Struggles

The Switch's Poor Online Performance Made NSO Less Appealing

It's no secret that Nintendo has repeatedly struggled with providing smooth online multiplayer experiences for many of its consoles. This has been no more apparent than during the Switch era, with multiple titles facing criticism for their rough online multiplayer. Whether you're fighting for glory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, or exploring new courses with friends in Super Mario Maker 2, you're likely going to experience an issue of some kind, such as lagging or disconnection, which actively impedes your experience.

Nintendo ultimately failed to provide the many enjoyable multiplayer experiences it had promised.

What makes these issues particularly egregious on the Switch is the bigger emphasis that Nintendo has placed on online play. With the multitude of titles added to the system that allowed for or heavily focused on its online multiplayer, alongside the addition of a paid service with Nintendo Switch Online, the company asked you to place a bigger commitment to online play than before. Yet, without the technical requirements to online play, Nintendo ultimately failed to provide the many enjoyable multiplayer experiences it had promised.

As someone who invested in NSO and the bigger emphasis on online play, I find myself feeling hard done by with its current state on the Switch. Not only were the many online issues I encountered a source of great frustration, but I couldn't find that sense of commitment that Nintendo assured it would have for online play. As much as I may benefit from the service's other features, such as its legacy content, Nintendo's failure to justify the NSO's main selling point has proven to be a major letdown, and a possible hindrance to the service's success overall.

I'm Hopeful Nintendo Will Improve Online Play For Switch 2

Nintendo Seems More Committed To Providing Smoother Online Experiences

This is what makes the possibility of faster Wi-Fi on Switch 2 not just a convenient inclusion, but a promising sign for the future of online play on Nintendo consoles. The inclusion of faster Wi-Fi shows a renewed sense of commitment from Nintendo towards the online multiplayer experience, helping to improve on the NSO's biggest and most crucial feature. It will not only help to maintain trust among current NSO , but the improved online play will only broaden the overall appeal of the service as a result.

Of course, there are still some concerns regarding the Switch 2 that could affect online play. For example, the Verge article also points out that this improvement on Wi-Fi is not as big as it could have been, while the FCC filing only details testing with a limited number of different networks. With this in mind, it's hard to determine how the improved Wi-Fi for Switch 2 will ultimately affect online play, if at all.

Even then, I remain hopeful about the Switch 2, with the potential for improved Wi-Fi being just one instance of Nintendo taking active steps to improve online play. For example, the release of the Switch OLED model in 2021 came with a LAN port on the new dock, allowing you to use a wired connection for a smoother online experience. It's that sense of commitment Nintendo is now showing that wasn't present for so many years which makes me confident that the Switch 2 will allow for smoother online multiplayer experiences, improving on one of the company's biggest shortcomings.

Source: The Verge