In a latest Q&A released after the most recent Direct, Nintendo revealed that the Nintendo Switch 2 was initially purported to be named one thing else. The unique concept was to name it the Tremendous Nintendo Change, drawing inspiration from the shift between the 8-bit NES and the 16-bit Tremendous NES, the place the identify was upgraded to incorporate “Tremendous” in recognition of the enhancements.
Nonetheless, Kouichi Kawamoto, a key determine behind the console, defined why they ultimately determined in opposition to utilizing the “Tremendous” identify. In response to him, though it may need appeared like a good suggestion, it didn’t really feel like the precise alternative for the Change 2.
Continuity, Not a Break
The rationale behind the choice to stay with a model quantity, like “Change 2,” is that Nintendo wished to spotlight the continuity between the brand new console and the unique. Not like the Tremendous NES, which couldn’t play NES video games, the Change 2 can nonetheless run video games from the unique Change, which made it much less acceptable to make use of the “Tremendous” identify. Kawamoto defined, “Tremendous NES (25), which got here out after the NES (26), couldn’t play NES video games. Since Change 2 can play Change video games, it didn’t really feel proper to make use of the identical naming conference as Tremendous NES.”
The primary purpose behind the brand new identify was to emphasise that the Change 2 is an evolution of the unique, with improved efficiency, slightly than a totally totally different machine. Nintendo desires gamers to see it as the subsequent logical step within the Change household, not simply as a extra highly effective model.
The choice displays Nintendo’s want to keep a way of continuity, avoiding a drastic departure from the unique Change. The main target was on ensuring the console nonetheless appeals to a broad viewers, not simply hardcore players. Nintendo wished the Change 2 to be a flexible console, persevering with its attraction to a variety of customers, slightly than simply these in search of extra superior efficiency.

