This ‘Light Mode’ Switch 2 Is Stunning, But There’s A Catch

They say software sells hardware, and that’s absolutely true. But there’s a secondary motivator that can cause a console to fly off the shelf, and that’s the perfect splash of color. Nintendo knows exactly what it’s doing when it releases a yellow Pikachu-inspired Game Boy or a bold red and blue Mario-themed Switch. Chances are pretty high it’s selling you or your household a second console. And Nintendo will surely repeat this tried-and-true tactic with the upcoming Switch 2.

I stumbled across this elegant “Light Mode” concept for the Switch 2 today, and instantly fell in love with it. I’m ready to fork over my money, mainly because this white design scheme corrects what Nintendo got wrong with the white Switch OLED model.

What you’re seeing above is, unfortunately, just concept art from Redditor /u/HertzBurst. But let’s hope Nintendo is paying attention. (You too, dbrand, just in case.)

Notice how the tablet itself has a clean, thin strip of white running across the edges? It’s a subtle detail but it’s very striking. It blends perfectly with the matching dock, and absolutely pops against the Portal-themed color accents on the Joy-Cons.

Seriously though, it does give off strong Portal 2 vibes:

The “Light Mode” Switch 2 design has the same captivating effect on me that the PlayStation 5 does. While I’m not in love with Sony’s console on a games level, the “Chroma Pearl” on black design of the system itself is gorgeous. It’s a centerpiece. I simply love looking at it.

To be clear, Nintendo hasn’t announced any additional colorways for the Switch 2 since the first look trailer dropped and revealed the console’s surprising power. And to be fair, I like the sophisticated and rather grown-up appearance of the charcoal black against the splashes of blue and orange on the new Joy-Cons.

But now that I’ve seen this beautiful take on the Switch 2, I have to admit I’m left feeling underwhelmed when looking at the launch version we’ll actually get. If you’re listening, Nintendo, this needs to be exactly what the eventual Switch 2 OLED version looks like.

ForbesNintendo Secretly Teased The Switch 2’s Power And We Totally Missed ItBy Jason Evangelho

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