A recent social media post has sparked discussion about how the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 could represent a generational milestone for Japan’s “Lost Generation” gamers. The post, which went viral in early April 2025, points out that the Switch 2 (expected to launch later this year) might be the final Nintendo console that the Famicom generation will experience during their working careers.
一つ怖いことを言うと、Switch2が2025年に発売する。ゲームプラットフォームは7,8年続く。つまり、Switch2が次世代に切り替わるのは2032〜33年。
— だーます (@dms9000) April 2, 2025
ロスジェネ世代が定年に入るんだよ。
かつてファミコン世代と呼ばれたロスジェネは現役で最後のゲーム機になるかもしれんのよ…
The original tweet explains that gaming platforms typically last 7–8 years, meaning the Switch 2’s successor would likely arrive around 2032–2033. By that time, many members of Japan’s “Lost Generation” (those who entered the job market during the employment ice age following Japan’s economic bubble burst) will be reaching retirement age.
そうそう。いっちーのような作り手には最後の戦場だし、僕らプレイヤーには働いた金で買える最後のゲーム機（以後、年金へ）
— だーます (@dms9000) April 3, 2025
This observation has resonated with many gamers who grew up with Nintendo’s earliest systems. Responses to the post include nostalgic reflections like “from cradle to grave with Nintendo” and humorous predictions about retirement homes filled with elderly gamers furiously competing in Super Smash Bros (with percentages linked to blood pressure readings).
Some commenters questioned the premise, noting that retirement doesn’t necessarily mean stopping gaming, while others worried whether traditional retirement will even exist by the 2030s. There were also technical disagreements about console lifecycle predictions, with some pointing out that 5-year cycles are more common than 7–8 years, potentially putting a hypothetical Switch 3 closer to 2030.
The discussion highlights how video games have become a lifelong medium for generations who grew up with them, rather than just a childhood pastime. For many who started with the Famicom in the 1980s, the idea of their gaming journey potentially coming full circle with Nintendo’s hardware is both poignant and meaningful.
Source esuteru
