In a surprising twist of events, the tech giant, Sharp, is reportedly manufacturing LCD displays for a still-unrevealed console, fueling speculation about a potential successor to the wildly popular hybrid gaming platform, the Nintendo Switch.
The speculation started when Sharp, a company known for producing high-quality displays, made an unexpected reveal. It disclosed that it’s working on LCD displays for an undisclosed gaming console.
It didn’t take long for gamers to put two and two together, linking the news to rumors about the development of a follow-up to the Nintendo Switch.
Sharp, however, stirred the pot further when it promptly deleted any mention of this new gaming console online. This new and sudden retraction led to a flurry of talks, with enthusiasts attempting to read between the lines.
Was this a simple and honest mistake or a calculated move to build up hype? Or, perhaps, Sharp made an oopsie and the company behind the console wanted them to take down the hint?
For some reason, Sharp deleted "new game console" mention from its earnings document after a press/investor briefing https://t.co/7FJAqY4CSn
— Takashi Mochizuki (@6d6f636869) May 11, 2023
Sharp’s history with Nintendo isn’t a secret. Previously, the company provided LCD displays for the DS consoles, which are the second-best-selling family of consoles in gaming history. It also helped Nintendo out by assembling the Switch consoles.
Nintendo hasn’t confirmed that a successor to the Switch is in development. On the contrary, Nintendo is still bullish on the seven-year-old console even as the sales have started to taper.
You can’t blame Nintendo for wanting to squeeze a few more million out of the Switch, especially as it makes history as it strives to outsell the DS and the PlayStation 1.
With roughly 30 million more units to go until it sets a new sales record, the Switch can potentially race to the top within a year or two. A mid-cycle upgrade could guarantee that the Switch vaults past both the DS and the PSone but it remains to be seen if a Switch Pro is indeed in the works or not.
While we await more concrete news from Sharp and Nintendo, the speculation continues. Regardless of the truth, one thing is for sure – Sharp’s innovative LCD technology and the potential of a new gaming console promise exciting developments in the gaming industry.
