It appears Nintendo is readying itself to launch a new console. Unofficially named the Switch 2, a litany of sources suggests that Nintendo is close to releasing the upgraded device. Not only that but as per the Chinese financial publication, MoneyDJ, this could be released as early as next year.
Key Takeaways
**
Nintendo Switch 2 is coming in Q1 2024.
It will have better performance and graphics.
The console will support 4K gaming.
It will be backward compatible.
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According to the said report, the metal casing manufacturer Hongzhun Precision, a subsidiary of Foxconn, a world-renowned tech assembly group, has reported an expected surge in revenue in the latter half of the year. A notable increase that some link to a shift in the production of Nintendo's next-gen console. Despite the firm's operations spanning an array of technological areas, from phone assembly to computer hardware, the gaming world is poised to interpret this rise in cash flow as a prelude to the next big gaming gadget.
While Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about their upcoming hardware, the speculative sneak peeks into the Switch 2's specs are exciting.
Over the past few years, we've come across a handful of seemingly legitimate information suggesting what it could house inside. It's believed that it will run on a customized Tegra T239 processor, allowing it to accommodate a variety of CPU and GPU configurations with different clock frequencies. This empowers developers with the ability to choose a configuration that fits their gaming projects, which would also be in line with what Activision Blizzard CEO, Bobby Kotick, said about the potential performance of the console.
To match this added power under the hood, the handheld device is expected to have a peak power output of 28.6W when plugged in and 11W in portable mode. In terms of screen tech, the Switch 2 will ship with a 720P OLED screen capable of 24gbps HDMI 2.1. Though it doesn't embrace a 120Hz refresh rate, it supports 10-bit HDR and 4K60 output.
Finally, in terms of storage, the console has 256GB that supports UHS-II, with read speeds of 550mbps and write speeds of 480mbps, similar to the Samsung S22. In addition, the custom Tegra T239 chip is expected to be fully backward compatible, featuring an Ampere-based GPU for ray tracing and Nvidia's DLSS.
Given the recent report from MoneyDJ and Hongzhun's predicted spike in revenue as well as the recent leak straight from the Nintendo portal, you can't blame gamers for hoping that we're getting an official Switch 2 announcement later this year, following a similar timeline to the original Switch's unveiling in October 2016.
Nintendo is known for strategic launches, and releasing information about the Switch 2 this year would avoid disrupting the expected holiday sales of the current Switch, while also stimulating excitement for the new model.
The Nintendo Switch recently set a new record in Japan, months after becoming the third-best-selling console in the world. If it can keep up its sales, it's on track to usurp the original PlayStation as the best-selling console in history with over 155 million units sold. But, if Nintendo introduces a new console, it can kiss Switch's chances of making history goodbye. Then again, that's a big IF. However, there's a way for Nintendo to have its cake and eat it - by making the Switch 2 backwards compatible with the original Switch.
This wouldn't be the first time that Nintendo would pull off a similar move. By doing this, Nintendo can guarantee that the Switch 2 has a robust library already at launch. At the same time, it can slowly phase out the original Switch over the next 2-3 years, by which time it would have snatched the record already.
This is an ideal hypothetical scenario that Nintendo could probably be thinking of pulling off as early as next year.
Of course, regardless of these rumors and speculations, Nintendo was always expected to release a new console. Despite the resounding success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and upcoming games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Nintendo can't deny that it's becoming a struggle to optimize games only for the Nintendo Switch to barely keep up. After all, not every studio can afford to delay its biggest game by a year just for polishing for a single platform.
With that said, it's best to just let things play out and wait for what's guaranteed. Like, for example, the release of Pikmin 4 on July 21.
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