The Nintendo Switch 2 has presented a problem for game designer and director Hideki Kamiya, who finds the lack of a hardware feature a problem, especially when playing in undocked mode. The Nintendo Switch 2 has proven to be one of the hottest video game consoles out there, but despite that success, it hasn't been free of criticism, including those from within the industry.
Kamiya is one such highly respected name in the gaming industry, having designed or directed some of Capcom's best games from the late 1990s and early 2000s. Games he directed during this time frame include Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, Okayand Appearance Joewhile also having an original game design credit for Resident Evil Zero. Since leaving Capcom in 2006, he helped found Platinum Games, where he stayed until 2023, and he has since founded Clovers Inc, which is working on an untitled sequel to Okay.
Hideki Kamiya suggests that all his games take place in the same universe
Game director Hideki Kamiya, the mind behind Okami and Bayonetta, confirms that all the games he's directed are set in the same universe.
Hideki Kamiya has a problem with Nintendo Switch 2 hardware
Although many of Kamiya's games are available to play on Nintendo hardware, he has recently expressed some dissatisfaction with the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers, specifically noting that the lack of a D-pad makes playing many classic games feel awkward. In an interview with 4Gamer, Kamiya reported that he has had a Nintendo Switch 2 since the console was first released, having won a lottery to pick it up on launch day, although the original model had been living with his niece since he first bragged to her that he had bought one. Having recently bought her a second Switch 2 and returning her first, he is now finding that the lack of a D-pad on the left Joy-Con has interfered with his enjoyment of games. “This just didn't fit into my gaming lifestyle, where I usually play lying down, so I have no choice but to use the Joy-Con when playing games,” he explained.
The lack of a D-pad is not a new issue for Nintendo. Released in 2017, the original Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons also didn't have a D-Pad, which Kamiya also pointed out. And while gamers can mix and match Switch and Switch 2 Joy-Cons on the newer console, they can't physically connect older Joy-Cons to the hub due to their smaller size and lack of magnetic connectors. Alternatively, players can choose to play with a Pro Controller, although playing in undocked mode still presents a challenge with that method, or they can purchase a third-party peripheral equipped with a D-pad.
For Kamiya, this last option provided an opportunity to get his daily dose of games that Tetris 99but some extra elbow grease was needed. After purchasing a third-party peripheral for the original Switch, he said he could grind and modify it to make it work in undocked mode, though not all gamers would be willing to put in that much work just to get a customizable controller experience on the Switch 2, and Kamiya seemed to indicate that he had more fun making the gadget than actually using it. “But the fact that even talking about games turned into anecdotes about crafts is probably proof that I was more passionate about making plastic models than I was about games,” he said during the interview.
Despite some criticism, the hybrid console has done phenomenally well in the market, with millions of gamers picking one up since its June 5 release. Initial sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 reached 6 million units within the first 25 days of release, surpassing sales of the original Nintendo Switch by more than double. By the end of September, the most recently released official figures from Nintendo had moved that sales figure up to 10.36 million. Nearly three months later, and with the holiday season quickly passing by, Nintendo Switch 2 sales totals could easily balloon again after Nintendo released its next batch of numbers, though some believe it could be even better with the addition of a D-pad.
- Stamp
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating system
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR support
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Yes
