The major gaming event of 2025 will undoubtedly be the release of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The arrival of a new console, along with new exclusives, is always a big moment in the world of video games — but also a time for questioning, especially regarding certain marketing decisions.

It's perfectly understandable that Nintendo would want to highlight its new console, even if it means overshadowing the original Switch, whether through exclusives or features that leverage the enhanced power of the Switch 2.

But it's precisely some of these features, showcased through the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack (Nintendo’s subscription service), that are currently sparking debate within the community.

New features for N64 games — but not for everyone

Starting June 5, classic Nintendo 64 games will receive a small modernization boost:

• You’ll now be able to configure controls,
• rewind gameplay,
• and apply a CRT filter to recreate the look of old CRT TVs.

However: both rewind and the CRT filter will be exclusive to the Switch 2.
Owners of the original Switch will only get access to the control configuration feature.

A questionable decision

This is a debatable move, especially considering the minimal resources required to implement a CRT effect or a rewind system. Platforms like Recalbox have offered these features for several generations of Raspberry Pi, and many neo-retro game developers include them by default. In fact, some emulators in Recalbox have used these features for over twenty years...

So this is clearly not a matter of the original Switch’s technical limitations, but rather a marketing choice aimed at artificially boosting the appeal of the Switch 2 — at the expense of the millions of first-generation Switch users.

A reactive community

The gaming community didn’t waste time expressing its surprise on social media — as shown by the many responses under Nintendo’s tweet.

With a policy of high prices (for both console and games) and sometimes questionable exclusive services, Nintendo, still a cornerstone of the gaming industry, is certainly stirring strong reactions among its fans as the Switch 2 launch approaches.