Although we know we’re not getting a Switch 2 (or Switch Pro) this year, it seems inevitable that Nintendo will announce something sooner or later. The Switch, which has been a huge hit for Nintendo since its release in 2017, has seen a myriad of excellent titles, ports, and remasters. It’s been home to some of the best games of the generation, but its time seems to be at an end.
Following the troubled life of the WiiU, the Switch arguably revitalized Nintendo’s relevance in the market. Once again, with hits like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, Nintendo re-emerged as a major competitor. The blend of handheld functionality and more powerful TV connectivity seems like the perfect solution for Nintendo’s hardware. The release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, although critically acclaimed, seems to highlight the need for new hardware. The game, released back in May, seems to push the system to its limit, struggling to maintain a consistent frame rate while lacking in resolution.
What we know so far
While the existence of a “Switch 2” is unofficial, rumours have been circulating for some time. The Switch is six years old and based on aging hardware, so it seems likely that an upgrade or replacement is incoming. With the exception of the 3DS and WiiU, Nintendo has typically tried something completely new with each generation of hardware. The success of the Switch has been so huge, however, and the branding so successful that we expect to see an iteration on the popular device.
There have been rumors that Japanese display maker Sharp has been working on LCD displays for a new console. Although we don’t know much yet, speculation points towards a collaboration with Nintendo. However, since Nintendo already released an OLED Switch, it seems like a backwards move to produce fresh hardware with an LCD screen. The original Switch featured an LCD display, but that seems like an increasingly dated option as we move forward.
Release date, specs, and price
Again, we can only speculate, but 2024 seems possible for a release window for this new hardware. Meanwhile, the price point for the OLED Switch, which sits at $349 / £309 / AU$539, suggests that we should expect a similar price point, depending on if it utilizes an OLED display.
Of course, new hardware would be nothing without an upgraded set of specs. While we’re not willing (or able) to predict specifics, we can hazard a rough guess. It seems likely that Nintendo will stick with the system-on-a-chip route offered by Nvidia. Furthermore, with the advent of 120Hz phones, an upgrade from 60Hz to 120Hz would be a great improvement. Meanwhile, we can hope for improved battery life, enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity, and tightened control options, assuming they stick with the Joy-Cons. Finally, while Nintendo has been releasing old games at a decent rate, proper backward compatibility would be wonderful, in whatever form that may take.
What do you think? Will we get a new Switch next year? Will it be a Switch 2 or something entirely new? Let us know in the comments!
