The one and only Nintendo has reached out with a plea to owners of Switch consoles to ensure they keep charging their batteries or they risk ruining the console indefinitely. The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017 and has since gone on to become one of the best-selling gaming platforms of this generation. The consoles have been notoriously hard to find at times, including at the start of this year, when the spread of COVID-19 meant that staying at home was the new going out.
The Nintendo Switch, branded as the perfect family console by Nintendo, has been a best-seller ever since its debut in 2017. The hybrid console boasts a vast range of games in its inventory, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the newly released Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Its popularity has meant that Nintendo has gone on to release the cheaper Nintendo Lite as well as consoles in whimsical designs, such as the adorable and coveted Animal Crossing Switch. One of the most innovative and popular features of the system is its ability to be used as both an at-home console, traditionally linked up to a television unit, and also as a portable handheld device that players can use on the go with friends and family.
This added mobility does of course mean that console users will have to return their handheld devices back to the docking station to recharge at regular intervals. Nintendo has revealed now that this is not only to get maximum battery life when the gaming platform is in its handheld state, but it is also essential to prolonging the overall life of the console. In a tweet from the support team at Nintendo Japan, the company pleas with users to ensure that they do not leave their Switch Console idle and unplugged for extended periods of time, as this will cause the battery within to become unchargeable. The company requests that users charge their device at least every 6 months to prevent the console from becoming obsolete down the line.
There have recently been rumours of a new next-gen console coming from Nintendo, named among fans as the Nintendo Switch Pro. Mumblings have been heard across the gaming community of a newer and beefier Switch console, which would support 4k resolution. As both Microsoft and Sony have revealed new next-gen consoles that have already been released for pre-order, it would make sense for Nintendo to do the same soon in order to keep up with its gaming rivals. Nothing official has been released by Nintendo yet to confirm or deny these rumours, but a newer edition of the Nintendo Switch could negate the need for charging reminders from the video game company.
Until fans officially hear more though, it is best to follow Nintendo’s advice and ensure that their Switch consoles are regularly topped up. Keeping their gaming stations frequently plugged in will maintain the consoles' lifespan for as long as possible. This is something that is vastly preferable to a defunct system and a library full of enticing but unplayable games.