Nintendo Switch 2 Will Not Feature System-Wide Achievements, Confirms Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 Will Not Feature System-Wide Achievements, Confirms Nintendo The gaming industry has come to embrace achievements and trophies as a key part of player engagement, with platforms like Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam integrating these features deeply into their ecosystems.

However, Nintendo has once again chosen a different path for its upcoming hardware.

According to Nintendo of America’s Bill Trinen, the Nintendo Switch 2 will not feature a system-wide achievement or trophy function, maintaining Nintendo’s long-standing policy regarding this feature. In a recent interview with Polygon, Trinen was direct when asked about the inclusion of an official achievement system for the Switch 2, simply responding: “Nope.” While this news might be disappointing to fans who enjoy collecting achievements as part of their gaming experience, Nintendo reiterates its commitment to game-unique accomplishments instead of a unified platform. Historically, select Nintendo Switch titles have included their own built-in achievements, and this pattern will continue on the Switch 2.

Anticipated releases like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and upcoming enhanced editions of Breath of the Wild are set to include exclusive in-game challenge systems.

These titles will utilize a newly developed app called Zelda Notes, which tracks player progress and awards unique achievements based on in-game activity.

This demonstrates Nintendo’s understanding of the appeal of achievements, even as they decline to adopt a model similar to competitors. Trinen’s comments reflect Nintendo’s philosophy of letting developers tailor in-game rewards to best fit their experiences, rather than imposing a universal standard.

Instead, Nintendo’s focus remains on crafting innovative hardware and software experiences unique to their platforms, such as those found in Nintendo Direct presentations and exclusive eShop features. On the subject of marketplace experience, Nintendo Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto also addressed changes to the eShop in his conversation with Polygon.

Kawamoto confirmed that, consistent with previous Nintendo home consoles, the Switch 2 eShop will not feature background music.

He explained, “Unlike back then, the eShop now has lots of videos that are showcasing the games.

We didn’t want to intrude on that, so we don’t have music there.” Kawamoto also emphasized that his team’s priority has been enhancing the performance and responsiveness of the eShop to ensure a smooth browsing and purchase experience for users. Nintendo’s continued adherence to its own vision for achievements and user interfaces sets the company apart in an industry where standardized features are increasingly common.

With the Nintendo Switch 2’s release on the horizon, developers and players alike will once again explore how best to celebrate in-game accomplishments, even as system-wide achievements remain absent from Nintendo’s next-generation hardware.

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