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24

If I’m Being Honest

June 9, 2025 by Tim

I do not need a Switch 2.

In my rational brain, I know this. My original Switch is the least-used of my gaming platforms. I do not travel enough to need a lot of portable gaming, and when I do travel I gravitate towards my Steamdeck first. Not a single Switch or Switch controller in my house is currently charged, and they are all wearing a healthy coat of dust. There is no Switch 2 launch exclusive I have to play.

And yet I cannot shake a primal, gamer-centered desire to have one. Right now, stock issues will make holding out easier, but can I stay strong once they’re sitting there on the shelf? This is the first “new console launch” I’ve skipped in 20 years. It feels unnatural, even if I know it’s the logical decision.


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Nextgener
Nextgener
20 days ago

Well I got mine with no pre-order, by standing outside a Best-buy for 3-hour’s.

All thing’s considered, I’d say I got it the…well not easiest. But the least painful way all thing’s considered.

WereCatf
WereCatf
20 days ago
Reply to  Nextgener

I’ll never understand you people. I would never bother waiting even half an hour just to be able to buy some new gadget, let alone multiple hours. If I really want it, I’ll just wait until I can order one online and have it delivered to me.

Ben Dutchman
Ben Dutchman
18 days ago
Reply to  WereCatf

You younguns. Sitting in line for something used to be a happening, an event.

MJC
MJC
20 days ago
Reply to  Nextgener

I got mine by sitting in my chair at my desk for just half an hour. I think mine was less painful than your 3 hour wait.

Skorpeyon
Skorpeyon
20 days ago
Reply to  Nextgener

I walked into GameStop, told them I wanted to preorder, and preordered. I stopped back in to GameStop, picked it up on launch day. No waiting in line, took a grand total of about 20 minutes between the two visits. I’d say it was pretty painless, myself. If I hadn’t managed to secure that preorder, I’d just be waiting until they were properly stocked on shelves. I’d never wait for 3 hours to buy something day 1.

Pulse
Pulse
20 days ago

its easier to skip when theres nothing on it you want. reason i havent had a playstation since 3 and never an xbox.

Thief
Thief
20 days ago
Reply to  Pulse

The 360 was the only worthwhile Xbox for me. Last gen I got a Switch 1 (which is well used) and PS4 (not so much), but have so far skipped this generation entirely.

Pulse
Pulse
20 days ago
Reply to  Thief

reminds me when i was thinking of getting a ps4 and every review of every game was “its so pretty!” but refused to actually talk about the GAME. i dont care about pretty, i want play. then xbox went on the same tangent. only nintendo and pc was like “heres what you can do!”

Stef
Stef
19 days ago
Reply to  Pulse

There are a lot of good games on PS4 though, as well as on the switch1

Eodyne
Eodyne
20 days ago
Reply to  Pulse

This is kinda me with the XBox. There’s nothing exclusive too it I’m super excited about that I can’t also get on PC.

Terrycloth Monkey
Terrycloth Monkey
20 days ago
Reply to  Pulse

Only “console” I’ve ever purchased was a Steamdeck. I just plain prefer PC gaming.

Geoff
Geoff
20 days ago

I pre-ordered it here in the UK, Nintendo email saying I’d qualified for pre-order was too much to resist, but I do still play my Switch.

There was availability on Amazon here for some time after launch but it’s all scalper prices now ~$850 for the Mario Kart bundle including tax

Graeme Spence
Graeme Spence
20 days ago

Switch is overrated the only reason Nintendo gets the sales is cause of it’s exclusives which are only on it’s console hence why they hammer down hard on emulation.

I can bet if Nintendo even if they only put exclusives on PC a couple of years later there hardware sales would fast start to drop.

Thief
Thief
20 days ago
Reply to  Graeme Spence

See I don’t think so – a lot of their sales go to kids, and other demographics that aren’t PC gamers.

Xbox and Playstation have a much bigger overlap with the PC gamer demographic.

Eodyne
Eodyne
20 days ago
Reply to  Thief

Nintendo has also taken the position of “we’re FINE being the second console”

Xbox and Sony really leaned into the “one or the other” thing for awhile. Starting with the Wii Nintendo went “get a Wii AND [Xbox/Playstation]

Eldest Gruff
Eldest Gruff
20 days ago
Reply to  Eodyne

Good ol’ Wii60 advertising campaign.

leduk
leduk
20 days ago
Reply to  Graeme Spence

I dont get ppl gaming ps/xbox when a pc can do better, with mods. The switch is very different.

Richard II Weatherfield
Richard II Weatherfield
20 days ago
Reply to  leduk

Simple. SOme of us can’t afford top of the line PCs and thus can’t run the most recent games well, or at all in some cases, on PC.

PhobosRising
PhobosRising
19 days ago

For as often as consoles come out, skipping those and getting a midrange has always been the way to go. “Top of the Line” has always been the dream, but not enacted on. I should elaborate, not for the fiscally responsible pc owners. There’s always the “Nasa won’t miss this rig, while I dine on ramen for 4 years”.

Eldest Gruff
Eldest Gruff
20 days ago
Reply to  Graeme Spence

Yeah, that’s a common misconception. Simply because their best-selling games are their own exclusives, doesn’t mean that third party sales are suffering. I mean, hell, the third biggest launch on Switch in 2023 was Hogwarts Legacy, a third party game that launched nine months after the PS5 and X/S version. If they put their games on PC then the sales made by 15-35 year old single males would drop. Wouldn’t touch family sales. Wouldn’t touch older adults who really need the portability. Wouldn’t touch anyone who liked playing multiplayer. Wouldn’t touch adults who enjoy games, but don’t have the time,… Read more »

Eldest Gruff
Eldest Gruff
20 days ago

In the other hand, I’m sure it’s deductible for you as a business expense,

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago
Reply to  Eldest Gruff

He’s not a reviewer of games and/or a youtuber/streamer so how would he be able to get a deduction on it for him as a business expense?

Risky
Risky
20 days ago
Reply to  Urazz

He could add another chapter to the console wars timeline. Would be interesting to see that world continue while not at war?

Pulse
Pulse
20 days ago
Reply to  Risky

or something new spark up more conflicts. nintendo does have both a new batch of soldiers and some fire

Eldest Gruff
Eldest Gruff
20 days ago
Reply to  Risky

False narrative. We are still at war. War never changes.

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago
Reply to  Tim

Big problem is that a big chunk of your comics are not about gaming directly anymore. Even Analog and D-Pad aren’t really focused on gaming that much really, they are more about superheroes and such with a minor theme of gaming added in. That could potentially spell trouble for you if you get audited by the IRS. Not criticizing you or anything like that, just pointing out a potential problem if you use tax deductions on your gaming purchases.

Playing it Safe
Playing it Safe
19 days ago
Reply to  Tim

So as of right now most of the IRS has been DOGEified, so not to worry, but… I’m not a tax expert, not a CPA, but I used to do bookkeeping for a small business. Technically your game purchases are probably dual use, meaning you use them both for business and pleasure. IF you were to get audited you’d have to justify their business use. This is similar to how you probably deduct a portion of your mortgage for the square footage you use for your business (assuming you work out of your home). If the games show up in… Read more »

Playing it Safe
Playing it Safe
19 days ago
Reply to  Tim

Then in my (again, non-expert) opinion, you’re set. Where most people fail is in that documentation or notes. I also want to be clear that I’m wasn’t making accusations or passing judgement, I truly don’t care one way or the other. My comment really stemmed from the poster who said that your comics aren’t really about video games anymore..which is only sort of relevant. From an auditors perspective, video games are going to be a funny thing because for most people they are for personal entertainment. Fair or not, this means it gets a closer look. If you were a… Read more »

Urazz
Urazz
19 days ago

Yeah, I’m not passing judgement either. Just pointing out that I didn’t think he could get a tax deduction from it based on Eldest Gruff’s original post on that. The IRS may not allow for a business tax deduction on an item if you only make minimal use out of said expense in your business.

But yeah, your previous post that the IRS has been DOGEified does have merit. The IRS may end up completely screwed up because of that and any kind of tax audits may end up not happening.

Urazz
Urazz
19 days ago
Reply to  Tim

And that’s the important part. You have finished product, notes, etc. to show that it’s part of your job and it is an expense. Having it be for pleasure doesn’t matter if you are also doing it for your job and showing proof that it was for the job Of course, if you get audited then the IRS will be reviewing your notes/finished product and deciding if that’s enough to warrant the deduction. That’s what I’m just pointing out, that you don’t do video game centered comics as much as you used to with the original strip, so they may… Read more »

Terrycloth Monkey
Terrycloth Monkey
20 days ago
Reply to  Urazz

He has a webcomic about gaming. It’s pretty clearly deductible, assuming he has 25k of other deductions to make it worth not taking the standard deduction.

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago

I dunno, Analog and D-Pad are more focused on superheroes than gaming. It has a minor gaming theme but most of his game focused comics are the console wars and the real-life gag comics that go into gaming sometimes and those are a lot less frequent than his main comics. I think claiming tax deductions on purchases for gaming would be a bit of a stretch and could get you into trouble with the IRS if you get audited.

Playing it Safe
Playing it Safe
19 days ago

Business income deductions are separate from the form 1040 standard deduction. Any amount of itemized deductions can be made for business income.

Kasaix
Kasaix
20 days ago

I don’t need a Switch 2 for the same reasons you listed. I’ll probably get one the first chance I get, and I will feel shame.

Guest
Guest
20 days ago

Stay strong! It will be just another (expensive) dust collector in the house. And with Nintendo, you never know – given the current trend, they could decide to brick your console for inactivity.

Chris
Chris
20 days ago

I skipped the launch of the first one, and grabbed the Lite when the Lite came out. Slightly better battery life, and I enjoy tinkering with the innards of the consoles I buy, to make them last longer. I feel like the Lite is easier to reassemble and maintain with parts, like the sticks. I am probably going to wait until they release a Switch 2 Lite version before I grab that. One thing I particular enjoy about the 2 now, though, is the sheer number of scalpers who are now regretting their decision to mass buy these consoles, when… Read more »

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago
Reply to  Chris

Yeah, that was the Nintendo Switch and it’s been great and feels a lot more durable than a regular Switch.

Pulse
Pulse
20 days ago
Reply to  Chris

avoiding scalpers is a big reason to not be rushing to get stuff on release. scalpers ruin everyones fun times and noones willing to put in systems to stop them.

Urazz
Urazz
19 days ago
Reply to  Pulse

I was able to get the Switch Lite on it’s launch easily enough. Then again, the Switch itself was pretty much better in every way so there was no reason for scalpers to really go after it. I only got the Switch Lite only got it because the only used it for portable gaming and that it was cheaper than the Switch itself. I wouldn’t have gotten a Switch otherwise if the Switch Lite wasn’t around.

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago

Nope, wasn’t tempted at all to get the Switch 2. It really doesn’t have any new games I’m really hyped to get, and Nintendo has pretty much pissed me off enough to make me not want to get it with them making the games and the accessories more expensive to get. I’m also not liking them trying to sue Palworld out of existence either.

Cyrad
Cyrad
20 days ago

Just remember $80 games and $90 controllers with stick drift make for very expensive dust collectors.

Raille
Raille
20 days ago

yup, got the thing i don’t really need and will only break out for work trips and nintendo exclusives.

Eodyne
Eodyne
20 days ago

I hear this. I don’t need one and I’ll be able to hold out for awhile at least until some more exclusives role out but…

I WANT one Tim. I cannot really even explain why but I WANT one…

Skorpeyon
Skorpeyon
20 days ago

My Xbox One is less used than my Switch, tbh. I pull the Switch out every so often for first-party games, so the Switch 2 was an easy decision for me. Xbox, on the other hand, every game I’d want to play is readily available on Steam, or on my ROG Ally X, etc. Now that Sony’s started doing that with their first-party stuff as well, if Nintendo ever actually goes the way of Sega and starts putting their games on other platforms (which I’m fairly confident won’t ever happen), I’ll probably never buy another console again.

Last edited 20 days ago by Skorpeyon
Chris
Chris
20 days ago

And capitalism claims one more victim. XD

Will B.
Will B.
20 days ago

Never been a console player. The resistance comes easy! 😀

Justin
Justin
20 days ago

personally I had saved up enough points over the years at one store to buy the switch 2, a controller, and game outright. Weeks before the launch the store got out of selling consoles, that and how things are shaking out with the game carts and them reserving the ability to brick a console at will (basically) has turned me off to a switch 2.

Last edited 20 days ago by Justin
wnstnchng
wnstnchng
20 days ago

Some of us upgrade our phone every year, it was never about “need” but “want”.

Urazz
Urazz
20 days ago
Reply to  wnstnchng

Not me. I upgrade my phone like every 5 years minimum unless the phone breaks and even then, I don’t buy the current top of the line phone.

JJimbo
JJimbo
20 days ago

I mean, I’m right there with you. I *could* go get a Switch 2, but…. ugh, I want to. But there’s nothing out there right now that tells me, ‘Hey you’d actually use this!’

Urazz
Urazz
19 days ago
Reply to  JJimbo

It’s why I never got a Nintendo Switch until the Switch Lite game out and there were plenty of games available for me to get.

Braeden
Braeden
20 days ago

The only game system I own is a switch 1 and I don’t even play it ever. Hell, I don’t even know why I’m here, most of the comic references go over my head. But I still come every Mon, wed, Fri just out of habit I guess!

Flintlocke
Flintlocke
20 days ago

I’ve enjoyed my Switch 1 much more than I thought, so that’s why I was happy to get the S2. Also it’s the very first time that I can buy a console day 1, which felt great!

Eldest Gruff
Eldest Gruff
20 days ago
Reply to  Flintlocke

I am right now enjoying the *other* huge major launch day title.

That being, Pokemon Violet.

I mean, honestly, it feels like what we got in 2022 was basically a rough alpha build at this point. Scarlet/Violet running at 60 FPS is legit kind of amazing.

MarthKoopa
MarthKoopa
20 days ago

But Mario Kart!

Greevar
Greevar
20 days ago

It’s easy for me to resist. Nintendo peaked with the Super Nintendo. I can play all of those with an emulator.

Ashi
Ashi
20 days ago

There was nothing pressing that made it want it day 1, and I have so much on S1 that I haven’t even gotten to yet, so passing on it early was a breeze for me.

Sweetos
Sweetos
20 days ago

I don’t need it, nor do I want it.

Garrulous
Garrulous
20 days ago

The commentary really resonates. At the store this weekend I ended up being quite relieved that there were none on the shelves. May have failed if there were some of the Mario Kart world bundle sitting around. Hopefully the craze on that game settles down since a bunch of people I ‘could’ play with being into it right now is the big driver for going to the Switch 2. IF people burn themselves out on that game before shelves are regularly stocked I might just make it. If only the rational brain was guaranteed to win, because right now I… Read more »

Cmd1095
Cmd1095
19 days ago

I’ll probably get one eventually, the new Kirby Air Ride calls to me, but money is tight enough for me to resist until it makes more sense than just spending over 500 bucks for one game, no matter how badly I want it

Blade
Blade
19 days ago

For me, i’m gonna wait and see if there are going to be titles that are going to convince me to Switch over (pun intended) I did buy it for my son’s birthday since he is an avid Switch fan since the first one come out and he really has been responsible with his Switch. That beeing said: The kid loves it and has had a stupid grin on his face the last couple of days. The fact that he still can play his old catalog without any hiccups made him love this even more, even if it is “just”… Read more »

MasterofBalance
MasterofBalance
19 days ago

We always go for the stuff we don’t need, don’t we?

Verdiekus
Verdiekus
19 days ago

Stay strong Tim!

Kenechki
Kenechki
19 days ago

Cant you Take the blame on the Kids?

Joel
Joel
19 days ago

I haven’t owned a Nintendo device since SNES. The platform just hasn’t had a game that interests me in ages. I suppose if I had kids I’d be more interested in it. My PS5 is currently the thing gathering dust. My Xbox gets usage because it has a game I play with my wife, and it would just be too expensive to keep buying games for both platforms. The PS5 is just for Sony exclusives, and there haven’t been a lot of interesting ones lately.

Jacob B
Jacob B
19 days ago

I remember you wrote that comic years ago how the Switch got a ton of use thanks to your kids. Do they not use it very much now after growing up? Or is it that they have their own to use?

Urazz
Urazz
19 days ago
Reply to  Tim

That and it doesn’t help that you pretty much need a subscription with Nintendo to be able to play multiplaye online.

Stef
Stef
19 days ago

Plenty of good nintendo games on switch1 though, dunno why you don’t use your switch that often.

PhobosRising
PhobosRising
19 days ago

Aww, getting your housespiders a new junglegym.

Delamain
Delamain
19 days ago

It took 3 consoles where I only at max buy 3 games for the console but I think I’m finally ready to walk away from Nintendo entirely. It will be a shame to miss Metroid and Zelda but I didn’t really like the direction they’re taking Zelda and gimmick Metroid Prime doesn’t look like it will be that great ( I have to tell myself this to basically buy 1 game for $500+).

Matt
Matt
19 days ago

Well now it is time to get ready to buy a new portable xbox.

Thomas
Thomas
19 days ago

Just throwing it out there. If someone is willing to part ways with their old Switch. I could really use it. I moved to Chicago and it went missing during the move. It was used to keep in touch with my mom and younger brothers. We’d play party games, ACNH, clue, golf, etc…I haven’t been able to afford one since I lost it. I really miss it and sharing more games with them. Thank you for your time. Also for making the best web comic in history. Been here since it all began. Guymelefs Rock

Nausicaa
Nausicaa
18 days ago

I won’t buy it because Nintendo is being too greedy.

Urazz
Urazz
18 days ago

Saw a video on YouTube where a guy took apart the Switch 2 Joy Cons to compare to joy cons of the Switch 1 to the Switch 2′ joy cons. They use the same stick and are charging even more for the joy cons. lol

David G. Paul
David G. Paul
17 days ago

Will wait for a Zelda themed one