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Goodbye, Switch. You Changed the Way We Play
The original Nintendo Switch didn’t just play games, it became part of our lives. It was there in quiet moments, loud ones, joyful ones, and even the in-between. It was more than a console. It was a companion. It sat beside us through life’s ups and downs, reminding us that play matters. That wonder matters. That connection matters. And somehow, it made the simple act of picking up a controller feel magical again.
A Console That Felt Like Magic
When the Switch launched, it wasn’t just a console. It was a spark. A small piece of magic you could hold in your hands. It lets us play on the couch, in bed, on planes, in new cities, and during breaks at work. It changed the rules. It gave freedom to play anywhere and made every moment feel like game time.
I waited in line for seven hours with my cousin to get one. We were excited and hopeful. That Switch brought us together again and again, with Snipperclips, 1-2-Switch, and endless races in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. We’d pass the Joy-Cons back and forth, laughing and shouting like kids again. Eventually, my cousins got their Switches, too. Everyone had one. It became a bond that spread through our family, like a shared secret.
Moments That Stuck
I recently carried it across the world to Japan. It was the only console that made the trip with me. On quiet nights, I teamed up with Kirby in Forgotten Land. Even in a new country, it felt like home in my hands.
Back in 2017, when I finished Breath of the Wild, I cried. Happy tears. That game, on that little screen, felt bigger than anything, vast, open, and full of life. It felt endless in the best way. The kind of game that doesn’t just entertain you, it stays with you. You remember the wind in the fields, the towers in the distance, the silence between battles. And you remember how it made you feel: small, brave, and free.
During lockdown, Animal Crossing: New Horizons wasn’t just a game; it was a lifeline. Its soft music became my morning alarm, gently easing me into days that felt uncertain. It’s a quiet, colorful world that gave me somewhere to breathe when everything outside felt heavy. I clung to its simple routines, shaking trees, fishing, and talking to villagers. It wasn’t just comfort. It was a kind of healing. It helped me feel okay when the world didn’t. It reminded me to smile.
It Changed Gaming Forever
The Switch didn’t just launch games. It launched memories. It launched a connection. It opened doors. It showed us that consoles didn’t have to stay plugged into one room. It blurred the lines between handheld and home console in a way that felt natural. It inspired new ways to play, new devices, and new habits. People started gaming in places they never had before, on lunch breaks, on flights, in waiting rooms.
At my job, nearly everyone has one. I’m talking about over 100 people. It wasn’t just for gamers. It was for people who wanted joy in their hands. People who didn’t grow up with consoles but found their first real love for gaming with the Switch. And it made sharing games easier. You could just pop off a Joy-Con and hand it over.
I’ve owned them all: the original, the Lite, the OLED. But I miss that first one. The one I waited for. The one that started it all. I sold both the original and the Lite to upgrade to the OLED model, not because the OLED is bad, but because nostalgia hits different. And I’ve regretted it ever since.
What’s Next
Now, the Nintendo Switch 2 is stepping in. I’m excited for it. Ready for it. The trailers look promising, and the future of gaming feels bright. But I’m not letting go of what came before. The original Switch is staying with me, in my memories, in my photos, in my heart. It’s earned its place. Not just as a console, but as a part of my story.
It reminded us that games aren’t just about winning or losing. They’re about sharing something real. They’re about joy and wonder. And they’re about being together, even when we’re apart. It connected people. It brought light to dark days. It gave us something to hold onto.
So goodbye, Switch. Thank you for everything. For the joy. For the memories. For the magic. You really did change the way we play, and the way we connect.
Dear Nintendo,
A lifelong fan.
Thank you for creating something truly unforgettable with the Nintendo Switch. From the very first moment I held it, I knew it was more than a piece of tech; it was a gateway to memories I’ll carry with me forever. It was the laughter I shared with family, the joy of exploring brand-new worlds, and the comfort I found when everything around me felt uncertain.
Your team didn’t just make a console. You gave us something that felt alive. It fit in our hands, yes, but somehow, it also fit into our hearts. It reminded us that games aren’t just games. They’re how we stay close, how we escape, how we remember who we are.
And yes, sometimes you make decisions that leave us scratching our heads, choices that don’t always make sense at first. But honestly, that’s part of what makes you, you. A little strange. A little unpredictable. But always, somehow, full of heart.
Thank you for every late night, every shared smile, every quiet moment where your work made my day feel a little lighter. Thank you for helping us feel connected, understood, and seen, without saying a single word.
I’ll never forget what the Switch meant to me. And I’ll always be grateful to you for making it.
With all my heart,
Do you remember your first time turning on the Nintendo Switch? What stayed with you?