Nintendo’s Naming Decision for Switch 2

Following its major Switch 2 presentation, Nintendo revealed in an interview with the team behind the console that one of the alternative names the company considered before settling on Switch 2 was “Super Nintendo Switch.”

Nintendo’s producer on the Switch 2, Kouichi Kawamato, stated, “We had numerous ideas for the name, and we really struggled to find the right one. We even considered names like ‘Super Nintendo Switch.'” However, the issue with this name was that, although drawing a parallel to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was appealing, it was also potentially confusing. The SNES was the successor to the NES, but it 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.”

Adding a number to the end of the original console’s name (the general strategy Nintendo’s competitor Sony has taken with the PlayStation) made things simpler and easier to understand. Nintendo’s caution is not unfounded, as evidenced by the Wii U, which was more powerful than the Wii and featured a unique controller in the Wii U GamePad. Because its name was so similar to Nintendo’s older console, and it was backwards compatible with the Wii and supported pre-existing accessories like Wii Remotes, it was viewed as an add-on rather than a new device worth upgrading to.

There were other issues that contributed to the Wii U’s struggles, such as a decline in support from third-party game developers and a failure on Nintendo’s part to explain what made the console distinct. However, the name certainly didn’t help. The Switch 2 is better positioned for success than the Wii U, and it seems that “sticking to what works” is the guiding idea behind the new console, which is reflected in its name.