Genshin Impact on Nintendo Switch: Yay or Nay?

Genshin Impact on the Nintendo Switch has been somewhat in a limbo, having been a known factor since before launch but without a “proper” update besides “it’s still being worked on”. Considering the fact one of the game’s selling points is being playable on your phone, there seems to be no reason to want this version, is there?

Perhaps there are more factors to consider before we completely dismiss the “viability” of Genshin Impact for the Nintendo Switch. Perusing a small sample size, let’s see what reasons some may have to prefer the portable console.

YES PLEASE

PLAYING WITHOUT NEEDING TO BRING THE LARGER CONSOLE / PC

Discounting the mobile phone, the other platforms would be PC and the Playstation. Laptop batteries don’t last very long if you’re gaming on it so you’re not fully mobile besides some models being quite heavy. The Playstation is pretty self explanatory, requiring not just a power source, but also a screen.

The appeal seems to be both the portability of the Nintendo Switch, and its control scheme, namely the Joy-Cons. Genshin does not presently officially support the controller add-ons for phones, a demerit for a subset of users.

Even if you’re alright with the touchscreen controls, there are other understandable factors to prefer another platform, namely:

• File size; freeing up space on your phone
• Comparatively small screen
• Discomfort when holding a phone for long periods of time

MORE POWERFUL THAN PHONES

As much maligned the Nintendo Switch’s actual performance is, it still pays to remember that there are phones that can’t run the game even outside of the factors listed just above. The console’s existing hardware is still fairly respectable, and should the alleged “Nintendo Switch Pro” ever surface, it seems like a good time to get even more people to own the console (even if that’s more to Nintendo’s pocket over HoYoverse’s).

SIMPLY MORE OPTIONS

Getting the game on the Switch really just boils down to providing more options for people in how they wish to play the game. Some simply prefer the platform for whatever reason, like being able to play more comfortably, again, a previously mentioned factor.

POTENTIAL NINTENDO PROPERTY COLLABORATIONS

Much like Aloy for the Playstation, we could have a crossover character everyone could get for free. Platform-exclusive items already exist on the Playstation e.g. the Descension items, and PS users got Aloy ahead of the rest, so this can’t be wholly out of the question, depending on the licensing.

NO THANKS

RESOURCES BETTER FOCUSED ELSEWHERE

As it currently stands, the 2.7 version update has been indefinitely delayed, so it’s fair to prefer the team to have one less platform to think about while they fix things up and update with various quality of life features.

CROSS-PLAY OR BUST

Even those supportive of the Switch version are asking for cross-play. After all, a number of these people are already playing the game on other platforms, and the Switch is an attractive prospect if they’re able to use their original accounts.

HARD TO CATCH UP

I’ve outlined the issues with Genshin‘s early game problems which could potentially turn off new players, should they they start fresh with the Switch. Consider that while the convenience of portability is one thing, the game requires persistent internet connection. Should a Switch player not be able to get a connection, they won’t strictly have the time to play.

With all that laid out, what do you think? If you haven’t already played Genshin Impact and are waiting for the Nintendo Switch version, is there a reason you haven’t started? For those who are already playing, how much do you want it on the console?

Whatever the case, the plan is definitely real, so we’ll just have to wait for its future implementation.

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