Gaming Is the Switch an eighth generation or ninth generation console?

ItsAshleyFTW · Jul 5, 2020

I've been wondering about this for a while now. When the Switch came out I was like, "Since the Wii U was eighth gen and this is a new console, this is probably ninth gen. It'll compete with the PS5 and Xbox 4." But now that we know how those systems actually look and perform, the Switch can't possibly compete with them. So is the Switch a late entry to the eighth generation, or is it a completely new generation? Did Nintendo actually confirm which generation the Switch belongs to? Has anybody even asked this here? What do you guys think?

Pippin666 · Jul 5, 2020

ItsAshleyFTW said:
I've been wondering about this for a while now. When the Switch came out I was like, "Since the Wii U was eighth gen and this is a new console, this is probably ninth gen. It'll compete with the PS5 and Xbox 4." But now that we know how those systems actually look and perform, the Switch can't possibly compete with them. So is the Switch a late entry to the eighth generation, or is it a completely new generation? Did Nintendo actually confirm which generation the Switch belongs to? Has anybody even asked this here? What do you guys think?

It can't compete in therms on raw power, but it can certainly compete in therms or FUN and portability. Shit games with good gfx is still

. as for your question, I will answer 8.5 gen.

Pip'

IFireflyl · Jul 5, 2020

The Switch isn't an 8th or a 9th gen console. It's just a console. Until Nintendo releases a console that can actually compete with other consoles in terms of performance, it doesn't deserve to be compared to them. Game exclusivity is literally the only reason the Switch is as popular as it is. If the same games are available on PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Whatever The New One Is Called then the Switch would be dropped by virtually everyone except the Japanese. This is a globalization, and obviously there would be some exceptions (e.g. some people might still want it due to the portability of it), but that would be the exception, not the rule.

Goku1992A · Jul 6, 2020

The switch is not a console it is a handheld so technically speaking it is 5th generation. The reason why it isnt a console because of the switch lite. A dock doesn't classify it as a console it is only a TV output many smart phones have adapters that you can connect to your monitor or TV.

A modded switch is the best handheld of all time. The Modded vita is the 2nd Best and the Modded 3DS is the 3rd best (didnt get 2nd best because the emulators run like shit)

Gameboy / Gameboy Color Gen 1
Gameboy Advance / SP/ Micro Gen 2
DS Family / Gen 3
3DS Family / Gen 4
Switch Family / Gen 5

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

As it competes with XSX and PS5 it will be gen 9

Just as the WiiU competed with the XBONE and PS4 and was gen 8

It has nothing to do with power, it has to do with iterations of gaming consoles

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
As it competes with XSX and PS5 it will be gen 9

Just as the WiiU competed with the XBONE and PS4 and was gen 8

It has nothing to do with power, it has to do with iterations of gaming consoles

I have to respectfully disagree. I would be more in line with @Goku1992A's train of thought were it is better compared to a handheld device instead of compared to consoles. When a smartphone has equal or greater specs than the Switch it does not deserve to be compared to a console. Especially since, as @Goku1992A stated, the only reason people consider it a "console" is due to the dock, but that dock doesn't do anything to the Switch's performance. It just lets you output to a TV (another thing that even smartphone's can do).

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
I have to respectfully disagree. I would be more in line with @Goku1992A's train of thought were it is better compared to a handheld device instead of compared to consoles. When a smartphone has equal or greater specs than the Switch it does not deserve to be compared to a console. Especially since, as @Goku1992A stated, the only reason people consider it a "console" is due to the dock, but that dock doesn't do anything to the Switch's performance. It just lets you output to a TV (another thing that even smartphone's can do).

Comparing a console to phones is very silly, but if you really want to do it:

The wii was weaker than the Iphone 4 that came out in 2010 (well within the wii's lifecycle 2006-2012)
The iphone had 9.74% faster CPU speed, 0.44GB more RAM memory, and 31.5GB more internal storage.

The generations are not about specs, but about when a product is launched and what it's competing with.

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
Comparing a console to phones is very silly, but if you really want to do it:

The wii was weaker than the Iphone 4 that came out in 2010 (well within the wii's lifecycle 2006-2012)
The iphone had 9.74% faster CPU speed, 0.44GB more RAM memory, and 31.5GB more internal storage.

The generations are not about specs, but about when a product is launched and what it's competing with.

You're comparing the Wii, which was a console, with a Switch, which is a handheld. The 3DS is a handheld. The Vita is a handheld. The Switch is a handheld. No other handheld was compared with consoles until the Switch. And even then, it's a bogus comparison because it is an entirely different type of device. Just because people ARE comparing it to consoles doesn't mean that they SHOULD be comparing it to consoles. It is a handheld and should only be compared with other handheld devices.

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
You're comparing the Wii, which was a console, with a Switch, which is a handheld. The 3DS is a handheld. The Vita is a handheld. The Switch is a handheld. No other handheld was compared with consoles until the Switch. And even then, it's a bogus comparison because it is an entirely different type of device. Just because people ARE comparing it to consoles doesn't mean that they SHOULD be comparing it to consoles. It is a handheld and should only be compared with other handheld devices.

It's a console/handheld hybrid and it's silly to pretend it's not

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
It's a console/handheld hybrid and it's silly to pretend it's not

How is it a console?

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
How is it a console?

Well first of all I said it's a hybrid, but anyhow - here is the definition of a video game console

Noun
video game console (plural video game consoles)

(video games) A dedicated electronic device that is designed to play video games, especially in accompaniment with a television.

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
Well first of all I said it's a hybrid, but anyhow - here is the definition of a video game console

Noun
video game console (plural video game consoles)

(video games) A dedicated electronic device that is designed to play video games, especially in accompaniment with a television.

I'm not saying it's not a handheld console. I'm saying it's not a home console. When I said it's a handheld that was short for handheld console (which is what "handheld" has meant since handheld consoles like the GameBoy started coming out). This is a handheld console, not a console. If you disagree with that, tell me what makes it worthy of home console status.

EDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handheld_game_console

GBADWB · Jul 6, 2020

console is a general term for any of hte video game devices, unless someone specifies or implies home console. Treating the switch as not a hybrid is categorizing things for the sake of it. If you believe the switch is not a hybrid and only one side, what is your opnion on the vita vs the PSTV. Yes the vita is a handheld, but i'd slap anyone who would say the PSTV was a handheld, despite it playing most of the Vita's library.

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
I'm not saying it's not a handheld console. I'm saying it's not a home console. When I said it's a handheld that was short for handheld console (which is what "handheld" has meant since handheld consoles like the GameBoy started coming out). This is a handheld console, not a console. If you disagree with that, tell me what makes it worthy of home console status.

The key difference between handheld and home consoles is whether they are played on the go or at home with a television. The Switch can do both and so is a hybrid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_video_game_console#Eighth_generation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#Home_consoles

If you go to Wikipedia you can see consensus is to compare the Switch to other home consoles

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
The key difference between handheld and home consoles is whether they are played on the go or at home with a television. The Switch can do both and so is a hybrid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_video_game_console#Eighth_generation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles#Home_consoles

If you go to Wikipedia you can see consensus is to compare the Switch to other home consoles

Again, just because people ARE comparing the Switch to home consoles doesn't mean that they SHOULD be comparing the Switch to home consoles.

Let's go a step further: are the Switch and the Switch Lite both eighth-generation consoles?

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
Again, just because people ARE comparing the Switch to home consoles doesn't mean that they SHOULD be comparing the Switch to home consoles.

Let's go a step further: are the Switch and the Switch Lite both eighth-generation consoles?

No, only the docked version is a hybrid. Let's stick to the conversation we were having.

Victorzer · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
How is it a console?

Because it's a domestic console at the same time it is a handheld, stop being stubborn and complicating things.

IFireflyl · Jul 6, 2020

x65943 said:
No, only the docked version is a hybrid. Let's stick to the conversation we were having..

This is part of the conversation that we're having. Based on what you said, we have the following:

The Switch is considered a console.
The Switch Lite is considered a handheld.

With that in mind, the only logical conclusion is that the docking station makes the Switch a console. This means that my phone is also a home console since I have a docking station that connects it to my TV, and I use it to play games. What generation home console is my phone (it's a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 if that matters)?

Victorzer said:
Because it's a domestic console at the same time it is a handheld, stop being stubborn and complicating things.

This entire topic is an opinion topic. I have my own opinions. You can disagree and we can have a civil discussion about it (which I believe is what has been happening), but don't think for a second you have the right make me live my life on your terms. Have a good day, sir.

x65943 · Jul 6, 2020

IFireflyl said:
This is part of the conversation that we're having. Based on what you said, we have the following:

The Switch is considered a console.

The Switch Lite is considered a handheld.

With that in mind, the only logical conclusion is that the docking station makes the Switch a console. This means that my phone is also a console since I have a docking station that connects it to my TV, and I use it to play games. What generation home console is my phone (it's a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 if that matters)?

I said the Switch was a console/handheld hybrid. The switch lite is a handheld. Let's be clear about what we both say and not try to mischaracterize each other's statements.

Your phone example is silly because it is not marketed as a gaming console or handheld. What handheld generation is my TI-84 calculator? I played games on it.

Goku1992A · Jul 6, 2020

Ok lets play Devils Advocate (Lets forget about if it can dock or not) Lets even forget it is a handheld Lets call it a "portable console" but as far as generation goes this is like (PS3/Xbox 360) generation we are talking about competing with devices. The switch has more in common with the PS3/360 in-terms of it current capabilities than the PS4/Xbox one. So it would be 3rd generation. The wii sure wasn't in the PS3 or 360 league and neither was the Wii U but the switch is good running mates with the PS3/Xbox 360. Now when it comes to the PS4/Xbox one those devices blow the switch out of water when it comes to what they are offering. PS Now/Game Pass , Monthly Free Games (With Online) , Game Streaming , You can talk online with other people, Multimedia features also most importantly 4K support ... the list goes on and on. PS4/Xbox One is like Goku and Vegeta and the switch is like Gohan.

Gaming Is the Switch an eighth generation or ninth generation console?

Is the Switch eighth-gen or ninth-gen?

Eighth generation

Ninth generation

Well-Known Member

SSF43DE Master

Active Member

Well-Known Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Active Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Active Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Active Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Active Member

Well-Known Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Active Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Well-Known Member

Active Member

i can be your sega dreamcast or sega nightmarecast

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Popular threads in this forum