In particular, Hideki Kamiya was disappointed with the 1 Switch 2 design choice

that Nintendo Switch 2 This posed a problem for game designer and director Hideki Kamiya, who found one hardware feature lacking, especially when playing in undocked mode. The Nintendo Switch 2 has proven to be one of the most popular video game consoles, but despite its success, it hasn't been immune to criticism, including from within the industry.

Kamiya is one of the most respected names in the gaming industry, having designed or directed some of Capcom's best games from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The games he coached during this period are: resident evil 2, Devil May Cry, Okamiand Beautiful JoeHe also holds original game design credits. resident evil zero. After leaving Capcom in 2006, he helped found Platinum Games and worked there until 2023, after which he founded Clovers Inc, where he is working on an untitled sequel. Okami.

Director Okami and Bayonetta tease that the universe is connected

Hideki Kamiya proposes that all his games take place in the same universe.

Hideki Kamiya, the game director behind Okami and Bayonetta, ensures that all the games he directs exist in the same universe.

Hideki Kamiya is having issues with his Nintendo Switch 2 hardware

Although many of Kamiya's games can be played on Nintendo hardware, he recently expressed dissatisfaction with the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controller, noting that playing many classic games doesn't feel good, especially due to the lack of a D-pad. In an interview with 4Gamer, Kamiya revealed that he has had a Nintendo Switch 2 since the console was first released and that he bought it after winning the lottery on launch day. However, the original model had been living with her niece since she first boasted about purchasing it. Having recently bought her a second Switch 2 and getting her first Switch 2 back, he's noticed that the left Joy-Con now lacks a D-pad, which hinders his enjoyment of the game. He explained, “I had no choice but to use Joy-Con when playing games because it did not fit my gaming lifestyle, where I usually play games while lying down.”

Nintendo Switch 2 System
Nintendo Switch 2 System
Credit: Nintendo

The lack of a D-pad is not a new problem for Nintendo. The original Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons released in 2017 didn't even have a D-pad, which Kamiya also pointed out. Players can mix and match Switch and Switch 2 Joy-Cons on the newer consoles, but they can't physically connect traditional Joy-Cons to the central unit due to their small size and lack of magnetic connectors. Optionally, players can play using the Pro Controller, but playing in undocked mode may still be challenging with this method. Alternatively, you can purchase a third-party peripheral equipped with a D-pad.

Switch 2 backward compatibility updates

For Kamiya, this last option gave him the opportunity to play the following games every day: tetris 99But it required some extra elbow grease. After purchasing a third-party peripheral for the original Switch, he said he was able to sand it down and modify it to work in undocked mode. But not every gamer is willing to put in that much work to have a customizable controller experience on the Switch 2, and Kamiya seemed to indicate that he's having more fun building the device than actually using it. He said in an interview, “But the fact that even game stories turned into craft anecdotes is probably proof that I was more passionate about making plastic models than playing games.”

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Image via Nintendo

Despite some criticism, the hybrid console has done incredibly well in the market, with millions of gamers choosing it since its launch on June 5. Nintendo Switch 2's initial sales reached 6 million units within the first 25 days of release, more than doubling sales of the original Nintendo Switch. By the end of September, sales had risen to 10.36 million units, according to the most recent official figures released by Nintendo. Nearly three months later, with the holiday season quickly passing by, Nintendo Switch 2 sales totals could easily surge again after Nintendo releases its next product, but some people think it could go even better with the addition of a D-pad.

Nintendo Switch 2 Tag Page Cover Art

brand

nintendo

original release date

June 5, 2025

Original MSRP (USD)

$449.99

operating system

ownership

solve

1080p (portable) / 4K (docked)

HDR support

yes


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