The Nintendo Switch, which was released on March 3, serves both as a hand-held gaming console as well as a fully fledged home gaming system.
The device was received well by consumers with about 80,000 units of the console being sold within the first week of release in the UK.
However, despite the overwhelming initial response to the console, the Switch has been facing some serious issues with its portable mode.
According to a report from Forbes, although the lower specifications of the Switch are better than those of the PS4 and Xbox, the console has two major problem areas that could use some help. These problems may prove to be a hurdle for the console in the long term.
What Are The Two Issues?
The two issues that can significantly disrupt the competitiveness of the device are that its battery does not last long and there are performance differences in portable and docked modes.
Longer Battery Life, Especially In Portable Mode
Since it holds a direct connection with the device's innate hardware, there is not much that can be changed significantly in the context of a longer battery life.
According to reports, there are things that can be changed in terms of controlling battery usage to make the console more efficient especially in portable mode. When used in long flights, the console does not trouble much since there are several charging facilities or USB ports at one's disposal.
However, the problem arises when one uses it outside where there are no charging ports available, then the battery drains out rapidly.
The issue is not of the battery getting drained easily in portable mode, but more of how this will cast an effect on the "unique local multiplayer options" provided by the Nintendo Switch.
Portable And Docked Modes: Difference In Specifications
The variations in specifications between the docked and portable basically mean that a game will run in a different manner in each setup.
Reports of framerate drops in the portable mode for Zelda: Breath of the Wild vis-à-vis the docked option are already emerging online.
"This is worrying, as Nintendo will have an intimate knowledge of the Switch's architecture and their development staff cannot resolve this, then it will be likely worse for third party studios," notes Forbes.
The reason this issue may become a cause for worry for Nintendo is not because of the lingering framerate problem, but "for each Switch release you will effectively have to balance a game twice to maintain a decent polish threshold."
The framerate disparity in the two modes for Zelda: Breath of the Wild may not be a standalone one, and other games for the Switch may also encounter the same, which could potentially harm the reputation of the device.
Thus, just by upgrading the specifications alone will not solve the issue, as this may just increase the difference between the docked and portable modes. However, a temporary work-around for studios could be optimizing the docked variant of their game.
