Nintendo Switch 2: Two Weeks Later and Australia's Still Obsessed

The dust has settled on one of the biggest gaming launches Australia has ever seen The Nintendo Switch 2 dropped about two weeks ago for $700, and honestly, the hype hasn't died down one bit

Those chaotic midnight queues outside EB Games stores seem like a distant memory now, but the ripple effects are still being felt across the Australian gaming scene What we're seeing isn't just another console launch - it's a genuine shift in how Aussies are approaching gaming

Stock Situation Sorted

Remember the PlayStation 5 nightmare where you couldn't find one for love or money for over a year Well, Nintendo clearly took notes Stock shortages that plagued the launch week have largely disappeared, though good luck finding those premium bundles or decent accessories without paying through the nose

The Gamesmen's Daniel Cusumano admits he completely misread the room "Thought we'd have heaps left over for walk-ins Couldn't have been more wrong But credit to Nintendo, their supply chain has been rock solid compared to Sony's disaster"

That $700 price tag that had everyone clutching their pearls initially Turns out Aussie consumers aren't as price-sensitive as retailers thought, especially when you stack it up against what Xbox and PlayStation are charging

The Features That Actually Matter

Two weeks of real-world use has separated the genuine innovations from the marketing fluff That Game Chat feature everyone was skeptical about It's become the console's secret weapon

Families scattered across Australia's massive distances are finally staying connected through gaming Grandparents in Darwin gaming with kids in Hobart, using the camera setup to actually see each other while they play It sounds cheesy, but it's working

Mario Kart World Tour remains the absolute standout The first proper Mario Kart in over a decade was worth the wait Those 24-player races are creating genuine office conversations, and the interconnected track system feels revolutionary rather than gimmicky

Cultural Moment

Developers are excited about the possibilities, retailers are seeing their best sales in years, and consumers are rediscovering their love for gaming The timing couldn't be better either After lockdowns showed us how important games are for staying connected, a console built around social features feels perfectly positioned

Nintendo's Winning Formula

The Switch 2 has managed something the Wii U spectacularly failed at - being a worthy successor rather than an expensive gimmick Everything that made the original Switch great is here, just better Graphics, performance, screen quality, online features - it's all been upgraded without losing the core appeal

Early sales projections of 15 million units in year one are looking conservative at this point If Australian demand is anything to go by, Nintendo might have another 100+ million unit seller on their hands

What's Next

With Donkey Kong Bananza dropping next month and a solid pipeline of exclusives throughout 2025, the Switch 2's momentum shows no signs of slowing Christmas is going to be absolutely mental for retailers

But beyond the sales figures and quarterly reports, what's really interesting is how the Switch 2 is changing Australian gaming culture It's validation that gaming isn't just for kids or hardcore enthusiasts anymore - it's genuinely mainstream family entertainment

Two weeks on from those midnight queue scenes, one thing's crystal clear - Nintendo has another winner on their hands And Australian gamers couldn't be happier