Virtuos Expresses Strong Confidence in Nintendo Switch 2's Success Amid Booming Handheld Market

The Nintendo Switch 2 is already making waves in the gaming industry, building on the massive success of its predecessor and capitalizing on the growing demand for portable gaming.

As major developers and industry insiders share their perspectives, Virtuos—a leading game port specialist and long-time supporter of the Nintendo Switch—is expressing strong confidence in what the new hybrid hardware has to offer. Virtuos, recognized for bringing acclaimed titles like Dark Souls and The Outer Worlds to the original Switch, is poised to play a key role in the Switch 2’s lifecycle as well.

Recently, Eoin O'Grady, the technical director at Virtuos subsidiary Black Shamrock (noted for contributing to Starlink: Battle for Atlas), spoke to Wccftech about the direction of the handheld gaming market and how it positions the new Nintendo hardware for greater success. O'Grady emphasized that the "expansion in the handheld gaming market," fueled by innovations like the Nintendo Switch and devices such as the Steam Deck, is creating ripe conditions for the Switch 2 to thrive.

He noted that rising consumer demand for gaming on the go—served by an impressive lineup of indie hits, Nintendo exclusives, and major AAA releases—will enable the Switch 2 to outperform even its record-setting predecessor.

In his words, Nintendo benefits from a dedicated fan base and stands to gain even more as the portable gaming segment continues to grow rapidly. Alex Heise, Virtuos' North America director of business development, reinforced this outlook by referencing the enduring strength of the Nintendo brand.

He pointed out that the immediate recognition and proven success of the original Switch—amplified by the simplicity of a "2" in the name—make the value proposition of the Switch 2 clear to fans and newcomers alike, especially when compared to some of Nintendo’s earlier hardware iterations.

Heise candidly admitted that while few fully anticipated the Switch 2’s explosive start, Virtuos always held high expectations for the device, noting: "The Switch 2 marks Nintendo’s most iterative upgrade since the NES-SNES era, introducing a numbered sequel for the first time." Nintendo recently confirmed that over 3.5 million Switch 2 units were sold worldwide within the first four days of launch—setting a new benchmark for the fastest global sales of any Nintendo hardware.

The company’s previous hybrid console, the original Nintendo Switch, saw over 152 million units sold by March 31, 2025, solidifying its place among the best-selling platforms in history. Third-party studios are also showing robust backing for Nintendo’s new console era.

Major developers like CD Projekt Red (the team behind Cyberpunk 2077) and Capcom (noted for Street Fighter 6) have pledged support for the Switch 2, signaling a robust ecosystem of content and partnerships moving forward. With strong early momentum, a surging handheld market, and broad third-party endorsement, the Nintendo Switch 2 is well on track to write the next chapter in Nintendo’s hardware legacy—potentially surpassing even the remarkable achievements of its predecessor.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 Switch Virtuos Success console Black Shamrock Ubisoft CD Projekt Red Capcom Steam Deck Alex Heise Eoin O'Grady Wccftech