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A Nintendo Switch 2 has been highly anticipated since the release of the original in 2017.
Until now, Nintendo has kept quiet on any news related to their next-generation console. However, at a recent shareholder Q&A, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukwa was asked about the Switch’s successor. While we’re yet to get official confirmation on the existence of a Switch 2, we are getting a few nuggets about backwards compatibility.
Nintendo orchestrated the launch of the Switch OLED in late 2021 although, aside from the changes is visual fidelity and clarity, it was largely the same console. A potential Nintendo Switch 2 would certainly build on the quality that the original had, though when exactly could we expect it?
Now, there’s not been a word from Nintendo that a Switch 2 is even going to be a thing, only that Nintendo is planning a next generation Switch. Between now and a potential announcement, all we can do for now is to look back at previous releases from Nintendo, such as the Wii and Wii U, and to the relatively ancient 3DS and all of its iterations.
Tears of the Kingdom released on May 12th this year, and this piece of information could be key to understanding when a Switch 2 could arrive. Realistically, with the launch of Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo wouldn’t consider releasing a new console for a while after this. There’s no need for them to take the spotlight away from the game that is even more impressive than the generation defining Breath of the Wild. In light of that, we predict that Nintendo wouldn’t even announce their next console for at least another year.
Nintendo Switch 2 NX2 Developer Portal leak
In an exciting twist “NX2” is now listed on Nintendo’s developer page, spotted on Famiboards. This is significant because NX was added to Nintendo’s developer Portal around one month before the October 2016 Switch reveal.
However, there is pure speculation, and many have pointed out reasons to trust the leak from Famiboards. Reddit user ScootSchloingo highlights Famiboard’s user’s source is a tweet that has since been deleted, implying the Tweet may not have been accurate. Unfortunately, we can’t get verify whether this screenshot is accurate because the Nintendo developers will be under NDAs.
Nintendo Switch 2 release window rumours and leaks
The latest Nintendo Switch 2 release date rumours might be disheartening. According to Bloomberg, no new Nintendo hardware is going to be worked on or released until at the very earliest, April 2024.
Now, this doesn’t mean that a Nintendo Switch 2, or whatever it’s set to be called, is going to be released in April next year, but at least we know we’re definitely not seeing until then. That should smother the flames slightly. Switch fans might also be relieved to know that Nintendo appears to be keen on a “smoothly transition”, at least according to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukwa and translated by @Genki_JPN. It’s an ambiguous phrase for sure, but we could speculate it’s to do with the backwards compatibility of Switch games, which will come as a relief to many long time Nintendo fans.
Bloomberg has also reported that Japanese electronics company Sharp is working with an unnamed company on the development of a new gaming console. Of course, this unnamed company may not be Nintendo, and the device might not be the successor to the Switch. However, Sharp has worked with Nintendo in the past, so we can reasonably speculate Sharp could be working on the next-gen console.
With the ASUS ROG Ally having launched this year, the handheld gaming market is becoming a much more competitive scene. What will Nintendo do?
Nintendo Switch 2 release date predictions
If a Nintendo Switch 2 is even coming, we think we won’t hear about the console until April 2024, at the very earliest. This is based on the lifeline of the upcoming Zelda game, which, with expansions, could take up to a year and a half to die down in popularity. We’ve seen it with games such as Elden Ring, which is expecting the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion more than a year after its initial launch.
Aside from that, we can take a look at previous Nintendo console launches. These are the select few major handheld releases, with the DS receiving many more variations in the years between and after.
- Nintendo DS (2004)
- Nintendo DS Lite (2006)
- Nintendo 3DS (2011)
While those cover the handheld Nintendo devices, the Nintendo Switch is also a major home console, so let’s take a look at the Wii and its extended family:
- Nintendo Wii (2006)
- Nintendo Wii U (2012)
- Nintendo Switch (2017)
From the looks of these release patterns, it takes between 5-7 years for Nintendo to release a major update or successor to their consoles. While that might initially sound disheartening, you may have forgotten that the Nintendo Switch released in 2017 – six years ago now.
You heard that right – six years ago.
We’re now in the prime territory for a successor to launch for the Switch, and you’d be right to be anxiously waiting for an announcement of some sorts from Nintendo.
What we’d like to see from the Nintendo Switch 2
We’ve had almost six years to fantasize about what we could see on a potential Nintendo Switch 2 – so let’s go over everything we would like to see.
Backwards compatibility with Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch has a fantastic library of games, and losing out on those would be heart-breaking. If we were to get a Nintendo Switch 2, being able to play all of those game carts natively on the console would surely encourage many gamers to upgrade. We saw it with compatibility between Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, and between DS and 3DS, so here’s hoping.
The latest news however looks promising. According to a recent shareholders Q&A which we’ve mentioned, Nintendo intends on a “successful transition” for Nintendo Accounts. While this doesn’t confirm anything, it does give Nintendo fans some hope that they won’t be rebuying their entire games library.
More storage options
The Switch was slightly limited by the 32GB flash storage. We’re now at a technical landscape where 256 & 512GB storage solutions aren’t a problem, and a Nintendo Switch 2 would surely benefit from multiple options. At the moment, relying on the best Nintendo Switch micro SD cards is all we can do.
1080p OLED display
The Switch has a 720p display, which isn’t ugly at all, though 1080p compact displays aren’t hard to come by, and some tablets even have 4K displays. We will surely see a much higher resolution display on the Switch 2 – so we’re going to be expecting this, Nintendo.
Other minor features
- Solution to joycon drift
- Built-in voice chat
- Improved speakers
- Similar design and usability
- 4K output to display
We’re going to be keeping an eye out for the latest updates on the Nintendo Switch 2, however at this point, it’s not really a confirmed console. In the meantime, you might be interested in reading about the Steam Deck vs Razer Edge. Make sure to check back in with us periodically for the latest updates on all things gaming related.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a Nintendo Switch 2 be 4K?
If we do see a Nintendo Switch 2, we imagine that it won’t be 4K, but 1080p.
Will a Nintendo Switch 2 be handheld?
We don’t know anything about the Nintendo Switch 2, however we would hope that they would retain the hybridity that the original was so famous for.
Image source: Famiboards
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