Nintendo never fails to surprise you. The company followed up the Game Boy with a bizarre dual-screen handheld console and emerged from the GameCube slump with a console focused on motion controls. The company lost its lead with the Wii U, then bet on another innovation — a portable hybrid called the Switch — to eventually regain it. All of these were big, risky swings that seemed to embody the company's playful, experimental spirit.

The Switch 2, on the other hand, is...a bigger, better Switch. A bit boring. But it's also the right move for Nintendo. The old console model of starting with a new generation doesn't make much sense when people expect their games and experiences to carry over between devices. Since Nintendo hit a home run with the original Switch, it's been a bit boring this time around.

Today's reveal video doesn't go into detail about the Switch 2's specs, but there are still some obvious improvements over the original, like a larger display (although we don't know the exact screen dimensions) and redesigned Joy-Con controllers . More details will be announced at an event in April.

This appears to be a noteworthy set of upgrades that could potentially serve as the long-awaited follow-up to one of the best-selling consoles of all time. At the same time, these changes don't fundamentally alter the Switch experience. The Switch 2 is still a tablet with detachable controllers that you can play as a portable device or connect to a TV for a more console-like experience. It'll still play (most) your old Switch games, and your Switch Online subscription will carry over between devices.

In fact, the Switch's form factor doesn't need to change. It's clear consumers love it; Nintendo has sold more than 146 million units, and the Switch is one step closer to overtaking the DS as the company's best-selling piece of hardware. Its flexibility made sense for a large group of people, and it helped reignite interest in portable gaming, which is now taking the PC world by storm. Even Microsoft and Sony are trying to get into the space. By merging the portable and console development teams, Nintendo is able to focus on a single device and greatly increase the cadence of new releases. In the eight years since the Switch was born, there has been almost no pause between major new games.

So instead of being surprised, Nintendo decided to be sensible. The Switch is what many people have been asking for for years: the same form factor, but more tech-savvy. No weird gimmicks, no feeling like starting from a new system. This is a continuation of something that was already working well.

It's worth noting that this doesn't mean Nintendo has stopped being weird. Just because its main device is a direct successor to the Switch doesn't rule out the possibility of experimentation. You only have to look at moves like Labo and Alarmo to see that Nintendo's playful style is still going strong. The key to these projects is that Nintendo's business doesn't depend on them. There's a chance that a collection of weird cardboard accessories will be a hit, but if not, it's not a huge loss. The same cannot be said for the major shift in home consoles that Nintendo hopes to sell over the next decade.

The Switch 2's security is indicative of where Nintendo is as a company right now. As it tries to grow into an entertainment empire beyond gaming, it must find a balance between appealing to a wider audience and maintaining its creativity. original super mario bros. The 1993 film was a live-action fever dream, but the $1 billion animated film was a safe bet with a proven team. Minion Studio lighting. It's still Nintendo, but the stakes aren't nearly as high.

The name itself is another sign of Nintendo's overall maturity. Unlike the confusion of the Wii U or the ongoing debate over what an Xbox is, the Switch 2 is easy to understand. It's what you like, only better. Nintendo may have given up on competing with other console makers on a technical level, but it's taking a page from Sony's playbook. The transition between PlayStations isn't always smooth, but at least you always know what you're getting into. The same goes for Nintendo now.

Maintaining a balance between risk and safety will be key for Nintendo's next generation. We already know that the Switch is a good device, and we'll have an even better version coming soon. On paper, it looks like the right move. The trick is to maintain that continuity without losing what makes Nintendo unique in the first place. If it stops being weird, surprising, and different, then you're left with just another tablet.