Many are speculating about the Nintendo Switch 2 following a recent advertisement casting call that may hint at the arrival of the upcoming handheld gaming console. This rumor has sparked a lot of discussions and guesswork, but it’s important to approach such news with a healthy dose of skepticism, as there has been no official confirmation from Nintendo about the development or imminent reveal of a successor to the Switch.
The casting call advertisement sought talent for a project featuring a man who awakens from a coma to wake up to an entirely different world, including the ease of playing “awesome” arcade games on a new handheld console.
Some are interpreting this as a veiled reference to the Switch 2, but others aren’t quite convinced.
For instance, this ad’s specific mention of arcade games led some to speculate that this could be an entirely different product, possibly a handheld emulator system focused on retro arcade titles, rather than a direct successor to the Switch.
This interpretation is bolstered by the relatively recent trends in the gaming industry, particularly the resurgence of mini consoles a few years back. The 8th console generation saw several companies, including SNK, SEGA, and Sony, release a mini version of their classic consoles, such as the Neo Geo, Genesis, and PlayStation. The devices, which were primarily designed to play a selection of pre-installed classic games, enjoyed varying degrees of success. Given this context, it’s plausible that the advertisement could be for a similar product from a company like Capcom or SEGA, rather than a new offering from Nintendo.
It’s worth noting the recent statements made by Nintendo’s leadership, which add another layer to the discussion. In a press conference discussing Nintendo’s interim consolidated financial results for September 2023, company President Shuntaro Furukawa explicitly denied rumors about Nintendo showcasing a new Switch model to developers. He claims that any such reports about demonstrations of the Switch 2 at events like Gamescom 2023 were inaccurate.
Additionally, Furukawa addressed the discovery of a Nintendo patent for a device with dual-screen functionality, which is reminiscent of the Nintendo 3DS. He clarified that while the patent’s details were public, this doesn’t indicate that the company intends to include such features in a forthcoming product. Instead, it appears the patent was filed mainly for research and development purposes.
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser has also commented on the future of the Switch platform. In an interview, he hinted at the potential for backwards compatibility in the next iteration of the Switch, noting that the formation of the Nintendo Account was a step in easing the transition for users from one console generation to the next. This would suggest that while Nintendo is certainly thinking about the future, the specifics of their next console, including its form and features, remain under wraps.
Nevertheless, until Nintendo makes an official announcement, it’s best to take rumors with a grain of salt. Finally, fans and gamers alike will undoubtedly continue to speculate and look forward to what Nintendo has in store for the future.
