The Switch Pro didn’t come out last year. Instead, the Switch OLED dropped, resulting in much fan disappointment. Make no mistake, the prettier and larger screen is great, as is the price tag. However, with the Switch getting more ports from hardware-heavy games, fans can’t help but wonder if it needs a mid-cycle upgrade to keep up. Because of this, rumors about a Switch Pro never seem to die even after Nintendo denied the existence of the long-rumored console. Then again, it doesn’t help that more “legitimate” info keeps on pouring.
For example, earlier this year, Nvidia seemingly “leaked” details about the Switch Pro. Now, a since-deleted tweet by the industry analyst, Serkan Toto, saying “Summer 2022, Pro time indeed,” suggests that Nintendo will reveal the Switch Pro soon.
Obviously, we’d all love to see a Switch Pro. We know that Nintendo is worried about releasing a successor to the Switch. By releasing a more expensive $400 Switch Pro variant, Nintendo will delay the need for a successor. At the same time, multiple consoles will do an excellent job boosting the sales of the Switch family. It’s already en route to beating the PS4 in units sold and we wouldn’t be surprised if the Switch Pro will give it a huge boost for a legitimate run at the PS2’s record of 155 million at the top spot more likely.
At the end of the day, we should take all these rumors and leaks about a Switch Pro with a grain of salt. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if a Switch Pro was initially in the cards.
The arrival of the Switch OLED last year came as a surprise. There’s this very plausible theory going around that Nintendo intended to retire the original Switch with the OLED taking its place. Meanwhile, a Pro model will arrive alongside next year’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel. Some are even speculating that Nintendo already had the panels from Samsung. Instead of letting them sit around, Nintendo made more OLED units instead while waiting for the chip shortage to ease up so it can make enough Switch Pro units.
All of this sounds very believable but also very not true. The good news is that Nintendo is expected to hold a first-party Nintendo Direct showcase soon after revealing Switch ports of NieR Automata and the Persona games last month.
