Upcoming Nintendo Switch Successor: Essential Details Revealed
The buzz surrounding a potential successor to the highly successful Nintendo Switch has reached new highs, despite the likely lengthy wait before we see an update to Nintendo's most popular console in history. However, now there's concrete evidence that the elusive Switch 2 does indeed exist. As for specifics and technical details, we're still reliant on hearsay and cryptic announcements from Nintendo.
There have been a flurry of initial predictions suggesting a Switch sequel might hit the market this very year. However, more recent reports suggest a significantly delayed release, with early 2025 being the tentative date for the console's arrival. The most recent hints from industry insiders hint at an arrival as early as April or May 2024, coinciding with Nintendo's fiscal year ends in March.
According to sources such as VGC and Eurogamer, the sequel console will retain its compatibility with the hybrid cartridge and online download system that made the original Switch such a success. At the very least, you will be able to play your existing Switch games on the new device. However, Nintendo has yet to offer a definitive answer on whether your cartridges will still work.
Nintendo has been explicit about the timing of any announcements. The latest Nintendo Direct, held on June 18, offered a 40-minute runtime, which some predicted might include a teaser. However, Nintendo clarified that this event was solely dedicated to upcoming Switch titles due for release in the second half of 2024. In a tweet, Nintendo confirmed there would be no announcement regarding the Switch's successor.
Regarding the console's appearance, most reports suggest it will boast a larger screen than its predecessor and come with a higher price tag. Graphical capabilities ought to be on par with those of the previous console generation.
What Specs Can We Expect from the Nintendo Switch 2?
The anticipated Switch sequel is rumored to feature a larger screen than the original console at launch, but recent whispers suggest the next console may switch up the Joycon size and attachment methods.
Vandal, a Spanish tech news site (as reported by Eurogamer), suggests that the Switch 2 will employ magnets to attach the Joycons, rather than the conventional rails we're used to with the Switch. This information comes from accessory manufacturers, who typically have early access to console hardware details. As previously mentioned, the next console will still work with the current Switch Pro Controllers, offering some continuity for long-lasting controller owners.
The Spanish website hasn't disclosed the new Switch's exact dimensions, but it mentioned that it will be larger than the current Switch while still smaller than a Steam Deck.
When Can We Expect the Switch Sequel to Launch?
Those holding out hope for a 2025 launch might want to prepare for a longer wait. Nikkei Asia's sources claim that Nintendo will release the Switch sequel in March 2025, allowing games developers and studios more time to prepare launch titles.
Instead, Nintendo will continue to push the first Switch as much as it can, potentially releasing new console versions tied to well-known franchises. GamesIndustry.biz's Chris Dring told listeners on his podcast that developers should not anticipate a Switch 2 until April or May 2024, post the end of Nintendo's current fiscal year.
Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe claimed on his podcast that five industry sources confirm that Nintendo has revised its launch target to Q1 2025. If that wasn't enough to raise concerns, Eurogamer also echoed similar rumors from its sources within the industry.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has emphasized that customers should be able to obtain a Switch 2 without relying on scalpers. Eurogamer noted that the new release date ensures a robust slate of launch titles to complement the console. This seems to imply that Nintendo has shared the launch date with its partner developers, and these rumors have eventually filtered down to industry insiders.
Nintendo appears set to sidestep the entire hardware market in 2024. Nintendo confirmed to Eurogamer on April 15 that it will not attend Gamescom 2024, normally a focal point for the world's games and hardware developers. Instead, Eurogamer was informed that Nintendo intends to offer Switch game trials at other occasions throughout the year. This decision is remarkable, as Gamescom 2023 witnessed some of the first solid rumors emerging, with publishers receiving development kits.
If Nintendo favors a first-half 2024 announcement, this timing seems premature, given the expected release date. Nintendo has not announced plans for the Switch 2 in its latest quarterly financial report released early this week. Instead, the company noted a decline in hardware sales by around 8% annually, despite the Switch becoming the best-selling console of all time in its seven-year lifespan, with 139.36 million units sold as of end-2023.
Previous whispers suggested the Switch's follow-up might drop in the second half of this year. These rumors date back to July 2023, and they gained traction following news that certain developers had an opportunity to test the new console in several closed-door meetings at Gamescom.
A 2024 launch aligns with the supposed PlayStation 5 Pro version, which could present significant improvements over the original PS5's innards, with ray tracing enhancements and more potent CPU and GPU specifications.
Will the Switch 2 Outperform the Original Switch?
Most of the current buzz indicates that the Switch 2 will have access to Nvidia's exclusive chip. This rumor has been lingering for nearly three years, with early leakers hinting at Nintendo gaining access to a severely downsized variant of the T234 chip. The current Switch relies on a tweaked Tegra X1 chip, but the next Switch might be substantially more powerful than Nintendo's first handheld console. Public documents from Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard seem to suggest that Nintendo's console might match, if not surpass, the power of the last console generation—that is, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Reuters added fuel to these rumors by quoting an anonymous source suggesting that Nintendo was indeed receiving a new, custom chip. Late last year, Digital Foundry conducted an in-depth analysis of this rumored Nvidia chipset, dubbed the T239. They conducted benchmarks with similar architecture on the RTX 2050 running at 750 Mhz. However, it's best to avoid drawing concrete conclusions about the next console's capabilities based on chip rumors.
Instead, let's focus on the console's potential display. Reliable industry sources have hinted that the Nintendo Switch sequel will sport an 8-inch LCD. This is a significant increase in size compared to the regular 6.2-inch Switch LCD screen. However, some fans might be disappointed that the next console won't maintain the Switch OLED's stunning 7-inch organic display.
The LCD screen might help keep costs down, which was beneficial for the first Switch when buyers had to consider spending over $500 on a new Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. Nevertheless, other handheld consoles like the Steam Deck OLED will have a competitive edge owing to their superior specifications.
The Switch 2 might not be as affordable as its predecessor. Trusted sources have claimed that it could cost around $400, which is $100 more than the first Switch. Despite this, it will still be less expensive than the two most significant, pricey consoles. However, it will now cost as much as an Xbox Series S.
When Can We Expect Nintendo to Unveil the Switch 2?
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa tweeted in early April that the sequel switch could be announced at any point during the next fiscal year. However, it's important to note that Nintendo's fiscal year concludes in March of the following year. This means we might have to wait until 2025 to catch any hint of the new console.
Furukawa's statement was made directly after the company announced its latest quarterly earnings. Industry analyst David Gibson wrote that the company's president also informed investors that the “Switch next model is the appropriate way to describe” the Switch 2. We still don't know what it will be called, but at the very least, this suggests that Nintendo views its next console as an extension of the current-gen model.
Nintendo may announce this console during a new Nintendo Direct broadcast or game launch. The latest Nintendo Direct on Feb. 21 was one of its “partner showcases,” which promotes third-party titles coming to the Switch. While there were a few surprises, such as the original two games in the Star Wars: Battlefront series making their way to the Switch, there was no news about a new console.
Drake reiterated this Direct date in a tweet. This makes sense, especially since Nintendo's first Direct of 2023 also took place in February. However, this does not necessarily mean we will see a console announcement as early as this month. Drake has yet to fully withdraw his claim that Nintendo plans to announce the console in March, but it seems increasingly unlikely at this point.
This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year. It will have been over nine years since we announced the existence of Nintendo Switch back in March 2015. We will be holding a Nintendo Direct…— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) May 7, 2024
Nintendo might unveil its console during a promotional push for its next major game release. The only first-party title on the schedule is Princess Peach: Showtime!, which is set to launch on March 22. While this is a new title featuring a major character from Nintendo's most profitable franchise, it might not have the global appeal of a new Mario platformer like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, which could add excitement to a recent console reveal or—even a teaser.
This entry was revised on 8/14/24 at 9:51 a.m., enriching it with industry insights regarding the Switch's launch date. It was revised on 7/1/24 at 9:46 a.m., enhancing it with additional details about the anticipated Switch 2 stock supply. It was revised on 6/18/24 at 9:52 a.m., incorporating fresh info from the recent Nintendo Direct. It was revised on 5/8/24 at 11:55 a.m. ET, incorporating remarks from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, and again on 11/7/24, adding information regarding backwards compatibility.
Based on the latest reports, the anticipated Switch sequel is expected to launch in either April or May 2024, coinciding with Nintendo's fiscal year ends in March. (from "When Can We Expect the Switch Sequel to Launch?")
The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to feature a more powerful Nvidia chip, potentially outperforming the original Switch's Tegra X1. (from "What Specs Can We Expect from the Nintendo Switch 2?")
