The Switch is now officially 5 years old, and it makes us think back half a decade to what our first interactions with the tiny console could be. Whether or not we’re lucky enough to get the review unit early, head down to our local video game booth to pick up a pre-order, or place it by random chance We found a unit on a department store shelf, nothing like the thrill of new hardwareLinhung?
However, five years is a long time for a console, and the OG Switch has seen two new hardware versions (two and a half) hit shelves since launch. The premium version is now the Switch OLED model and the Switch Lite offers mobile gaming like never before for those who don’t like playing on their phones.
To honor this important milestone in the Switch’s journey, the NL Team got together to relive exactly how we used our early Switch models and recount how our console has coped with the… the harshness of lots of games in the past five years…
Gavin Lane, editor
For some reason, I was confident I could walk into my local department store on launch day morning and just pick up a Switch on the shelf… and that’s exactly what I did! I don’t remember being on Day One on any Nintendo console before, so it was especially thrilling to be ‘part of the conversation’ right out of the box. Luckily, I’ve been lucky enough to travel long distances every weekend in March 2017 – which definitely played a role in my Day One Switch plans’ – and the 8 long return trips Hours in a comfortable coach car is quite exceptional.
That OG switch is now in the hands of another family member after I upgraded to it lightly better battery life version (I then justified the extra upgrade to the Sweet OLED Model because I needed it for work? That’s what I told myself anyway). I said the original is in good shape, and it still charges well.
My Joy-Con, however, doesn’t work well; they’ve replaced and replaced the club a few times, and now it’s time for me to stop using it if it can be avoided. I’ve got a Hori Split pad for portable play and a docked Pro Controller. Joy-Con is a last resort.
Damien McFerran, editorial director
My ‘launch console’ is actually evaluation unit we were sent back by Nintendo back in 2017 and it’s still going strong – even though it’s not there rather Good condition like 5 years ago.
As I reported a while backI was one of the unlucky ones to discover that, despite treating it with the kind of softness one would normally expect from a tiny kitten, my Switch was starting to show signs of fatigue. very early in its life cycle.
I upgraded my Switch twice and I’m rocking now OLED model. However, my original Switch is still in use because I gave it to my son. Its literally dropped broken – cracked back panel, plastic on vents aged and even missing a screw on top of case (I don’t know). I also noticed that one of the Joy-Con rails no longer holds the Joy-Con in place and a light touch causes the controller to slide upwards.
So yes, my original Switch still exists. Just.
Kate Gray, staff writer
We all know what happened to my first Switch. I took it everywhere during my two years of travel, and it carries battle scars: Joy-Con drifts, screen scratches, cat bites, and a bunch of chipped and missing plastic cases. who knows where. It was a sad sight, but it was for love, not abandonment, although I wish in retrospect this was the case.
I upgraded to a new Switch last year and I haven’t used a Joy-Con in a while – I have the Hori Split Pad, which comes with a turbo button to speed through text boxes – so it works. Pretty good move so far. Also, I don’t travel a lot anymore, so it doesn’t get messed up in my bag.
My original Switch, poor thing, is now in a drawer. But I think it could be worth it as an OG Switch, so maybe I can send it to someone who will appreciate it more than I do!
Ollie Reynolds, editor
I was one of those people who immediately pre-ordered the Switch as soon as it became available – The performance of the Wii U is amazing! I just got a feel for Nintendo’s hybrid console and luckily it turned out to be an absolute diamond. However, I remember my excitement quickly turning to frustration because I couldn’t connect to my Wi-Fi. I finally managed to fix it, but it took a lot of tinkering to get it to work.
I bought the Switch Lite and recently the Switch OLED. The Lite model and the OG model have been largely left to collect dust since the advent of my OLED, and although the Lite is still in fairly pristine condition, OG has sure have seen some better days. The Joy-Con doesn’t click properly on the machine anymore, and both are prone to some pretty horrible number drift. The screen is still in pretty good shape, but I can barely see everything now after experiencing the OLED – first world trouble!
It’s still usable, though, and I’ll probably give both the OG and Lite to my nephews at some point. If they’re good, that is.
Alana Hagues, editor
I really don’t plan on getting the Switch on day one. I did it with the Wii U and, we know what happened to that console (RIP actually, Wii U). So I’ve been feeling a bit wary of picking things up at launch for a while. But on launch day, I was irresistibly tempted by an ad for a bundle deal with the Switch and a certain mini-launch title; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. For a long time, I couldn’t use the Switch to connect to my Wi-Fi at home, so I could only play handheld if I didn’t want to play online. And god forbid if I want to buy something on the eShop. I finally tried to connect it, but the problem was with an old router. It’s a strange problem to explain to people.
I still have the same Switch for today. However, clumsy hands and a drifting Joy-Con were once mutual friends, and I’m on my third pair of Joy-Cons, though mostly playing on TV and using Splatoon 2 Pro-Controller. And me Yes to have colorful Joy-Cons, so the yellow ones are dominating the moment. Luckily, it’s still intact, with the Gengar stickers and all the love, wear and tear fed into the machine. I don’t feel drawn to the Lite and I have an OLED screen, but I want to be as loyal as I used to be with my GameCube and keep the first device I bought.
Thomas Whitehead, deputy editor
My original switch was a review unit, received at an event that also started our review of Breath of the Wild. It was quite interesting (although the deadline is very tight, only a week!), but also interesting when flying back to Scotland from London. When I had to put it in a tray at airport security, a crowd of Heathrow employees surrounded me, asking me how I got it. For me, it’s an early indication of how popular this little device will become.
It worked fine for almost four years – a tablet, not a Joy-Con controller – but then its fan started making unsettling noises. I moved into another family member’s unit when it happened (they bought the Animal Crossing special edition) and now I have an OLED display. I’m keeping the original because it’s retired making a lot of money – unless of course something goes wrong with the OLED screen.
As for my original Joy-Con, they’re at the bottom of the table in shame. Small controllers are fun and have a fun feel, but those analog controllers still terrible; I’ve been through a few sets.
That’s us, but after five long years of fun-filled use, how is your Switch performing? Let us know in the poll below, and be sure to leave your first Switch purchase memories in the comments.
