3 things we need for fighting games to thrive on the Nintendo Switch 2

The fighting game genre has an incredibly dedicated base of players who are willing to play games everywhere. No matter what type of platform it may be, if fighting games are available, players will go there and play them. Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally on the market, a few big fighting games will be on it, with possibly more titles making their way over. Although games like Street Fighter 6 have been available on other platforms, that doesn't mean people will avoid picking up the game for the Switch 2, especially if they're looking for something that interests them to play on their newly purchased console. But there needs to be more than just this for the genre to really take off on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Fighting games have the potential to become a major part of the Switch 2 library, with many players continuously supporting them over a long period. The portable nature of Switch 2 appeals to fighting game players who frequently engage with their favorite genre, especially those who travel with video game consoles. But if Nintendo and other companies want to capitalize on this, they're going to need to address a few key things that will make players want to stick around with Nintendo's newest console. Here are three big things that we need for fighting games to fully thrive on the Nintendo Switch 2.

3 Accessories for Switch 2 players

Getting fight sticks would be neat

One thing that every other console that includes fighting games in its library has is fighting game-specific accessories. More serious players go above and beyond when it comes to how they play their favorite games, often picking up additional accessories to complement their enjoyment or competitive goals. The most common thing associated with this is exclusive arcade sticks made with fighting games in mind, like fight sticks made by Hori and Mad Catz. Consoles like the PlayStation 4 had multiple branded arcade sticks related to big games in the genre, such as ones that were made when Tekken 7 and Street Fighter 5 were released.

Things like this are for both casual and competitive audiences, even if the very casual player doesn't always buy something like that. However, the options there show that the console makers and the game developers actively support the genre on that platform. It's attractive to nearly everyone, especially those who want to start at the ground level of new fighting game releases. An exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 arcade fight stick, or even a branded game pad that highlights a specific game, is enough to get the attention of fighting game enthusiasts and bring them to the Switch 2 more often. But does this always need to be fight sticks and game pads? No, there are many kinds of products that are made with the fighting genre as a focus, so there are options for this to be a big thing on the Nintendo Switch 2.

2 More tournament games

Which games are the events playing?

As of the launch of the Switch 2, Street Fighter 6 Fighter's Edition is the first new major fighting game on the console, despite other games available on the original Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, many of those older titles are heavily played on other platforms for multiple reasons, often related to the technical issues of the first Switch console. But that doesn't mean more fighting games can't be ported over to or made new for the Switch 2. However, games that are played at a competitive level for major events like EVO, CEO, and others should be brought to the new console. This is because most players interested in those games are going to engage with the communities across different platforms, and will support the ones they find the most enjoyment, value, and competition in.

The Nintendo Switch 2 really needs more fighting games that people are going to want to play on it. Part of this is getting all the major releases that are put onto multiple platforms, but also giving them a reason to stay on there and encouraging others to be there. Games like Mortal Kombat 1 and Marvel vs Capcom Infinite may be on home consoles, but people will support playing them on PC because of others they can group up with on the platform. They can play the games in a way that gives them a good experience, regardless of where they are. Without any new games being released over time, players are not going to want to build communities around the console, let alone want to be competitive in games for it.

Does this mean that developers should shy away from having games exclusive to the Switch 2 that can be like this? Of course not, but that requires players wanting to engage with the console to make something like that pay off. In the past, Nintendo games like Tatsunoko vs Capcom were exclusive to the Wii and played by many fighting game fans. However, the game didn't last very long because only a small group was able to support its release, and the game was never ported over to other consoles to attract more players. An exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 fighting game, made by a major company, played at a tournament level, would be amazing. But there needs to be people there to make that matter.

1 Improving the online experience

Building the Switch Online communities

Online multiplayer has become more significant to the fighting game genre, which matters a lot more than people want to admit. Playing against other people offline locally will always be the definitive way to be competitive in the genre, but getting online and playing with people over the internet is a staple now. Online multiplayer allows people who can't travel to events to play with others, not just those who can't gather a group of people at their home for many rounds of fighting games. This goes beyond the fighting game genre, as online multiplayer has become a foundational part of video games as a whole.

This is why the online experience on Nintendo Switch 2 needs to be up to the same quality as what's on other consoles, if not better in some ways. Implementing things into new releases, like rollback netcode and online lobbies, is key to giving players the tools needed to enjoy the genre while online. Latency is always a constant problem that every platform deals with, but some approach it better than others. The Switch 2 needs to have a significantly better online gaming experience than its predecessor, and entice fighting game players enough to want to play their favorite titles through Nintendo Switch Online. Part of this could involve things like the new online feature GameChat on Switch 2, but it needs to be expanded upon and made easier to use for those who want to connect with others outside their Switch Online friend list.

Another aspect of this is the Switch Online Expansion classics applications on the console. As more games are added to the GameCube classics, the ability to play them online with others needs to be revamped and improved. At the moment, playing Soulcalibur 2 offline is fun, but an absolute disaster when trying to make an online lobby. This can't remain like this if other fighting game classics eventually appear on the service. It will be a missed opportunity not to attract players who love retro fighting games and who would be interested in playing their favorite titles in a stable online environment.

The heart of support on Switch 2

There is a lot of potential for the fighting game genre to be a major part of the Nintendo Switch 2 ecosystem. People love fighting games enough to support them wherever they are released, even if there are other places considered better to experience them. Things are still very early for the console, but fighting games already have a basis on the Switch 2 with Street Fighter 6, which is a great place to start. If the fighting game genre is going to thrive on the Switch 2, more games will eventually have to come out for it, with new improvements to make the platform a viable place to play them. The heart of the matter comes down to support from both the game makers and players who play games. One really can't exist without the other for the genre to be thriving on the new console.