By “Why would you tamper with that?”
- by Liam Doolan
Nintendo is seemingly opting for a conservative choice when it comes to the moniker for its Switch “successor” – officially announcing earlier this year that it may well be referred to as the ‘Switch 2’.
If you are still pondering why it has been named this way, or why Nintendo didn’t go for a more captivating title, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has shared his insights during a discussion with ‘Kiwi Talkz’, hosted by Reece Reilly.
When it was mentioned how Nintendo adopted PlayStation’s approach to naming by using numbers, Layden emphasized that it fundamentally boils down to “brand equity”:
Shawn Layden: “They’ve [Nintendo] built so much brand equity in the name Switch, why would you alter that?”
As of September 2024, the Switch has sold over 146 million units worldwide, making it clear just how significant “brand equity” is in the term ‘Switch’.
When asked about Nintendo’s current strategy in the gaming landscape, Layden reiterated that Nintendo has “established its own niche” (or “Private Idaho”, as he previously described it) and its future seems promising:
“Everyone respects Nintendo; they are a competitor, but you appreciate everything they’ve achieved to build this industry that we all enjoy and cherish, so I believe they will persist in their success. They have the right people involved, with the right mindset.”
“…they’ve been in this business for a long time, they have witnessed all the highs and lows…they will continue to thrive.”
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer also recently remarked on the Switch 2, stating that he believes the console will be a “remarkable success” and that you cannot bet against Nintendo.
What are your opinions on the name Switch 2? Do you think a straightforward ‘2’ appended to the end of the existing console is sufficient? Are you as optimistic about Nintendo’s future as Layden is? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Liam is a news journalist and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He