The Nintendo Switch 2 has been a bit controversial since it was first unveiled this spring. Not only was the new Nintendo handheld more expensive than the original, the games would cost more as well. However, those early gripes were somewhat assauged once fans got their hands on the Switch 2, reporting solid performance upgrades and raving over the first Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza.

But then more time went by, and it seemed Nintendo was already hitting the Switch 2's hardware limits. Considering how long Nintendo tends to take between hardware generations, the idea the console was tapped out within the first month had a lot of folks worried about the future of Nintendo's hybrid console lineup. But those worries may have been a bit premature.

Early Switch 2 games are pushing limitations

First we've got to move fast and break things.

Nintendo opted for a custom Nvidia APU with the Switch 2, much like the original Switch console. The chip isn't the most powerful, but it doesn't need to be. The Switch 2, like its predecessor, is designed to flex between home console and handheld modes, and gets a power boost when docked and connected to your TV. So maxing out that hardware wouldn't take much time.

However, this is also just how game development tends to work. Game devs will push hardware limitations early in a console generation to maximize graphics quality, and then optimize for the best performance once the limitations of the hardware have been found. So while Donkey Kong Banaza maxes out the Switch 2's hardware, it's also one of the more poorly optimized games we'll see this generation.

So don't get too paranoid about the next Zelda game just yet.

Only Voxel tech is responsible

Voxel 3D pixels are the main culprit for performance issues in DK

The primary culprit of Donkey Kong Bananza's performance issues is its voxel technology, according to Nintendo. Voxels are 3D pixels, though they don't look cube-like to players. The 3D cube structure of a voxel is more the internal structure of the 3D design used for Bananza. Because of this new pixel structure, Donkey Kong uses more resources than your standard 3D Nintendo game.

The Donkey Kong development team opted for voxels over traditional pixel art because of the greater degree of freedom offered by voxels, which gives Bananza its signature destructive feel.

It's unlikely most Switch 2 games will opt for voxels instead of pixels, since Donkey Kong Bananza is only the second Nintendo game to use voxels instead of more traditional pixels and textured polygons.

Because of DK's particular design, the game performs a bit worse than expected. It's still playable, but it's not as smooth as you might expect from a game on a brand-new console. However, we shouldn't expect Bananza's performance to be indicative of Nintendo Switch 2 games as a whole going forward, because its something of a unique case.

Nintendo consoles are designed for fun, not power

It's all about enjoying the game, not breaking benchmark records.

Even if Nintendo didn't opt for a high-density voxel design model for Donkey Kong Bananza that caused performance issues, Nintendo's consoles haven't been cutting edge in generations. The last time Nintendo was a serious contender in the Console Wars was probably in 1996 with the N64 console. Since then, Nintendo has stuck to what it does best: create fun first party games on affordable consoles.

The Nintendo Switch released on hardware that was already outdated by the time it hit the shelves, as did the Switch 2. And that's fine. Nintendo's hardware isn't groundbreaking because it doesn't have to be.

People will still buy Nintendo hardware because its the only place to play the latest Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon titles. Nintendo's games are fun, family friendly, and steeped in nostaliga which means they'll sell even if Nintendo jacks up the price of each game to $80.

The Switch 2 has nothing to prove

If you want a powerful handheld, look elsewhere

GPD recently announced the Win 5 handheld, which will be powered by AMD's Strix Halo APU, making it the most powerful gaming handheld we've heard about. You could also wait on the rumored Steam Deck 2 instead.

But if you're looking at the Nintendo Switch 2, chances are you don't really want the most powerful handheld. You want the Switch 2 because of Mario Kart World or the next-gen Zelda game, or even for the updated Mario Party or Duskbloods. Nintendo has a power that no other console maker does, and that's a stable of well-known, beloved first-party franchises.

So while these early rumors of performance woes may have worried the Nintendo fans in us all, there's no reason to get too worried. And, let's be honest, performance isn't even the thing we really care about with Nintendo titles anyway. As long as I can get a consistent 30 frames per second in the next Pokémon game, I'll be happy. And I'll easily pay $80 for the privilege of playing yet another creature collector.