5 Reasons Nintendo Switch Is a Waste of Time

The Nintendo Switch is all well and good – but every now and then. Just, every now and again right? — it’ll be clear as day why it isn’t the absolute best thing since sliced bread/ever.

Okay, so it has the cultish portability thing going for it, along with all of our favorite games from Zelda and Mario – not to mention an OLED model to give it proper dressing up but let’s face it right down the barrel – this system isn’t without its faults.

And here are five reasons to think that the Nintendo Switch could be a waste of time.

1. Joy-Con Drift: The Gift That Keeps on Giving

First, about that dreaded talk of the elephant in the room: Joy-Con Drift. And no matter how much you love your Nintendo Switch, one day, potentially many days in the future based on how well of a steward you are to your property, you’ll likely have to face this annoying problem where the Joy-Con controls begin drifting.

It was like running Mario Kart, but every few seconds your kart would take a short trip off the course on its own. The Switch is basically saying, “here, let me drive for you” — and it’s not even doing a good job of driving! Yes, Nintendo provides repair services, but nobody has time for that. Prepare to be dodging the Joy-Con Drift bullet.

2. Expensive Games That Never Go on Sale

Of course, Nintendo Switch games are cool. But be honest — they are far from inexpensive. Sure, you could just say something like Zelda or Super Mario Odyssey are worth every penny. The issue is Nintendo typically never drops their prices.

Unlike PlayStation or Xbox, which, after a few months, could discount their hot game 50%, Nintendo is that friend whose treats are too special for half-off. A rare sale may hit the Nintendo Switch eShop, but don’t expect it to become an ongoing tradition.

3. Limited Streaming Options

Picture this: you’re on a long-haul flight and want to get some Netflix action going on your Nintendo Switch OLED. You open it up and boom, you see Youtube and Hulu — wait, where the hell is Netflix? Amazon Prime Video? Disney+? It would be the equivalent of having a high-end kitchen but with no microwave.

The Switch is great for gaming, but it does nothing in the way of streaming.Completely useless potato. But if portable movie-watching is your main goal, you might want to bring a tablet instead.

4. The “Lite” Version: All the Fun, None of the Flex

The Nintendo Switch Lite is meant to be the cheaper, handheld only model of the Switch. But come on — that’d be like signing up for a diet and ordering a junior cheeseburger. Yes, it’s cheaper but you sacrificed quite a lot of fun that Switch can provide, like detachable Joy-Cons and the possibility to play on the TV.

While being portable, you’re limited to a single screen and no real way to share the fun among your friends. Essentially, it turns into a one-man party, and that is just fucking pathetic.

5. The Rumoured Nintendo Switch Pro – Still a Dream

As for the much-rumored Nintendo Switch Pro that plenty of gamers seem to be holding out hope for, you can forget about it. This still barely qualifies as scuttlebutt: Nintendo has been teasing a fancier Switch for years, and there are no signs that any such console is more than farting in the wind.

And so, while everybody else is enjoying their high-profile current-gen titles on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, the Switch Pro has become the new unicorn. That might exist someday, but for now you’re stuck on the same legacy hardware — as shiny as the new OLED version looks.

Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch?

For playing Switch games on the go, there’s probably still no better option than a handheld console and that’s why the Switch likely remains your best pick. However, if you expect perfection then this system will create more frustrating than fun.

From the annoying Joy-Con Drift, pricey titles that refuse to go on sale, and limited streaming avenues, there are certainly things to consider. Perhaps give that Switch Pro fantasy a rest and see what else is up before you think of spending too much time on a console that will just end up wasting yours.