We almost got a Super Nintendo Switch... this is why Nintendo decided to go with Switch 2
The SNS was a very sounded name among the fans, and Nintendo did consider it.
Nintendo fans were filled with speculation about the name of the company’s next-generation console, and many hoped it would follow in the footsteps of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) by being called the Super Nintendo Switch. However, Nintendo ultimately decided on the more straightforward Nintendo Switch 2, and the reasoning behind this choice sheds light on the company’s philosophy.
In a developer Q&A following the Nintendo Direct, Kouichi Kawamoto, a producer in Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning and Development department, explained the decision. “There were a lot of ideas for the name, and we really struggled to find the right one. We even considered ideas like ’Super Nintendo Switch.’ However, Super NES, which came out after the NES, couldn’t play NES games. Since Switch 2 can play Switch games, it didn’t feel right to use the same naming convention as Super NES,” Kawamoto said.
This backward compatibility was a key factor in the naming decision. Unlike the SNES, which marked a clear generational leap from the NES, the Switch 2 is designed to be an evolution of the original Switch, maintaining compatibility with its predecessor’s games. Takuhiro Dohta, a senior director at Nintendo, emphasized this point: “Switch 2 is a new system with improved performance, but we’d like players who get their hands on it not to focus on the specs, but rather to think of it as the latest system developed by Nintendo. So, in the hope that it becomes the new standard for Nintendo Switch, we named it Nintendo Switch 2”.
The decision also reflects lessons learned from past naming conventions. The Wii U, for example, faced confusion among consumers who thought it was merely an accessory for the Wii rather than a new console. By opting for the name Nintendo Switch 2, the company aimed to make it undeniably clear that this is a new system, while still emphasizing continuity within the Switch family.
Ultimately, the name Nintendo Switch 2 highlights the console’s role as the next logical step in the Switch lineage, combining improved performance with a familiar user experience. Fans may have missed out on the nostalgic charm of the “Super” moniker, but the name Nintendo Switch 2 ensures clarity and continuity for players worldwide.
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