Homebrew Discussion Hypothetically, what if Nintendo released a "Switch 3DS Pro"?

Elliander · May 6, 2020

Something that I've been hoping to see for a long time is the following:

1.) A 3DS style hardware revision, that has two screens in handheld mode along with an adapter of sorts to natively run 3DS carts in addition to Switch games.
2.) A wireless dock mode to allow the TV to serve as a main screen and the Switch to server as a handheld screen in order to support proper porting of Wii U games and docked 3DS games.

While I highly doubt that Nintendo would ever let us use the 3DS games we paid for on the Switch, I do think that a "Switch 3DS Pro" would allow them to capitalize on their existing library of 3DS and DS titles to port them cheaply to the Switch without having to do nearly as much work.

Incidentally, Nintendo filed for a dual screen patent a few years ago:

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018...i-touch-patent-concept-is-very-very-nintendo/

and last month it was revealed that the latest Switch firmware explicitly supports this dual screen mode:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/nintendo-switch-dual-screen/

So, what if this materialized as a "Nintendo Switch 3DS Pro" that serves as the merger of a 3DS and a Switch? and what if the hardware was also powerful enough to effectively port over the Wii U - and by extension Wii - library with it? What would that mean for the console as a whole, and what would it mean for the game preservation and emulation scene? I'm fairly certain that the hardware is already powerful enough to run N3DS, Gamecube, and Wii games no problem if Nintendo wanted it to and I doubt it would take much more work to make sure that Wii U games would work as well.

Imagine: The perfect gaming console to play the entire library of every Nintendo game ever made. As one who already owns 4 Switch consoles I doubt I would buy a Pro unless it was so radically improved. Even though I also own 2 Wii consoles, 2 3DS consoles, an N3DS console, and a Wii U I'd still want something like this. but what are the odds?

Phenj · May 6, 2020

Sounds like a bad fantasy a 7 years old would have.

Elliander · May 6, 2020

Phenj said:
Sounds like a bad fantasy a 7 years old would have.

What would make it bad?

zoogie · May 6, 2020

Phenj said:
Sounds like a bad fantasy a 7 years old would have.

Then I'm a 7 year old

IC_ · May 6, 2020

Nintendo 4DS?

Elliander · May 6, 2020

Maybe that's too many dimensions

But if they want to merge the Switch and 3DS crowd onto a single platform, "Switch 3DS" would be a suitable name as it clearly illustrates new backwards compatibility. Since the next Sony and MS consoles are slated to come out this it would be the kind of push to keep Nintendo relevant while it works towards it's own next gen. It would be able to reuse old assets while test the waters for what comes next.

Silent_Gunner · May 7, 2020

This is why the DS/3DS concept is such a PITA to emulate/port over if the games in question depend on anything not standard on the hardware of other systems, handheld or not.

AkikoKumagara · May 7, 2020

Elliander said:
"Switch 3DS" would be a suitable name as it clearly illustrates new backwards compatibility.

3DSwitch is more clever, in my opinion... though, communicated verbally doesn't make it as obvious what it is.

Mythical · May 7, 2020

I don't think that'll happen as you'd need to strap in extra hardware just to make it feasibly possible, then it wouldn't really even be a mobile console

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Oh and the "perfect console" is a good pc

Rahkeesh · May 7, 2020

Some kind of wireless dock isn't completely impossible on a new model, but the issue is that Nintendo is well past caring about 3DS software, the Switch has more than enough library now, there's just no incentive. Maybe they could adapt their NDS emulator from the Wii U but I think 3DS is a bit too far on Switch without dedicated hardware.

weatMod · May 7, 2020

i never really like the bottom screen it was always a stupid gimmick most of the time and often games were ruined because they tried (and failed) to work it into their half baked control scheme ideas ,KI uprising , PH mario 54 DS all had horrible controls to name a few just to try and incorporate the bottom screen as an input device
i would rather see a single autostereoscopic screen than 2 screens and clamshell design
unless the second screen could slide inside unit and be pulled out from the bottom and then slid back in
and maybe even have an option where the bottom screen could fold over and cover the top screen while leaving the joycons exposed and not covered
or top screen that pops out from the top motorized or spring loaded and also possibly be able to be folded down over the bottom screen
the bottom sceen was awful for most things besides maps and inventory screens

Elliander · May 7, 2020

Mythical said:
I don't think that'll happen as you'd need to strap in extra hardware just to make it feasibly possible, then it wouldn't really even be a mobile console

Well, if it was just a patent application and nothing more I'd be inclined to believe that considering where we are in the console development cycle, but since Nintendo has already put work into laying the groundwork into the Switch firmware that means something has to be around the corner.

First they made it possible to transfer profiles from one switch to another - a move clearly needed to encourage people to actually buy a new model - and then they integrated dual screen support into the Switch firmware in order to make the console ready to accept new hardware.

I picture some sort of hybrid between a Switch and a 3DS, like a giant 3DS that also has a USB C-port to attach to a port so the screen would be closed and protected before sliding into a new dock, potentially solving the screen scratching issues some users got (which is one reason why I always use a custom chasis for my docks. no warming from heat to worry about either, but no bricking since the hardware and power supply is still official Nintendo)

I'm betting though that whatever they have coming up they will deny it until the last possible moment because they have to. If news got out that there was a better Switch around the corner, sales would plummet and they need to move the old hardware to recoup production costs. In their meetings, they only said there would be no new Switch in 2020 which is oddly specific phrasing.

Extrasklep said:
Nintendo 4DS?

Oh and the "perfect console" is a good pc[/QUOTE]

Maybe with a modified Switch and/or WiiU Gamepad working in concert with a PC emulator, set up with an HDMI display and Switch Pro controllers as bluetooth gamepads for other games. But then, that wouldn't be very portable. The perfect gaming console is one that can do everything.

Rahkeesh said:
Some kind of wireless dock isn't completely impossible on a new model, but the issue is that Nintendo is well past caring about 3DS software, the Switch has more than enough library now, there's just no incentive. Maybe they could adapt their NDS emulator from the Wii U but I think 3DS is a bit too far on Switch without dedicated hardware.

I agree that Nintendo has no reason to push for any 3DS game release, but as a whole Nintendo has demonstrated a general tendency to re-sell the same games over and over again. They even pirated (yes, pirated - it's piracy even if it is their game because the software used in the game extraction is copyrighted and Nintendo had no commercial rights to that software) actual emulator ROMS just to make things easier on them. That's why I think that although they won't likely give us a way to play our own 3DS games, they will likely give us a way to buy them again. It's the Nintendo way, after all.

Then again, Nintendo never made many other Wiiware games available that they could have made. Of course, the Switch firmware seems to be based on the prior 3DS firmware, so it's very likely they are capable of going in that direction. and even if they decide not to release 3DS games onto a switch with two screens, it's existence would open the door to properly emulating 3DS games on the Switch.

I could easily see it as more of a gimmick to keep the Switch relevant and extend it's life cycle. Adding hardware that only lets the Switch play games that people already bought? A great way to sell consoles and keep profits up while they work on whatever replaces it, plus it gives them a chance to close the vulnerabilities used by mod chips coming out for the Switch now to appease game companies who may be concerned about lost sales due to piracy.

weatMod said:
i never really like the bottom screen it was always a stupid gimmick most of the time and often games were ruined because they tried (and failed) to work it into their half baked control scheme ideas

I agree overall, but many games did it well and it would be more difficult and thus more expensive to port over such games simply because the UI would have to be reworked on every single one. Personally, I didn't really like the WiiU gimmick either, but that had more to do with the fact that it was required to use to play games when a Pro Controller would have been sufficient and was more comfortable.

I think that there if such features were made available, without shoving it in our faces, it would do very well commercially.

jockep · May 7, 2020

Will this new Switch be a software update? :rolleyes:

spotanjo3 · May 7, 2020

Don't liked it. If they do release it (I DOUBT) and I am going to skip it!

Clydefrosch · May 7, 2020

i fear it would be super heavy

EmanueleBGN · May 7, 2020

You are describing the Wii U

Mythical · May 7, 2020

Elliander said:
snip

That doesn't change how you'd need to slap extra hardware on to make it a feasible idea

Homebrew Discussion Hypothetically, what if Nintendo released a "Switch 3DS Pro"?

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