If the rumors are true and there is another Nintendo Switch in the works, it could mean the downfall of the PlayStation 5 (and Xbox). Let's take a look at why the Nintendo Switch 2 could be a game-changer for the industry.
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The most recent next-gen console came from Sony and Microsoft in the form of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S respectively. We haven't yet seen or heard of a next-gen Switch.
In 2018 we were graced with a Nintendo Switch OLED model that featured some improvements and a 7-inch OLED screen and more vibrant colors to boot, we're still waiting for an all-new Switch from Nintendo. Now that we're getting closer and closer to when Nintendo's president mentioned they were going to end the embargo on new hardware, data miners and insiders are looking for anything ‘they can on a new console. And luckily, there have been a few leaks and rumors circulating about what we can expect from a new Nintendo Switch console.
What we know about the Nintendo Switch 2
Let's get one thing straight while we're here: Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 right now is just speculation and rumors. Unfortunately, nothing has been officially released regarding the upcoming Nintendo Switch console, so everything you see in this article is based on leaks that can be found on the internet, and speculation from industry experts. That being said, though, there has been a ton of speculation about what the new console will look like, so let's dive straight into it.
The first thing we know is that it is very unlikely that the next console will see the light of day in the near future, which is explained later in this article, but Nintendo has mentioned that no new hardware will be released before at least April 2023, so we have to wait until then before discovering anything else.
The Nintendo Switch OLED arrived just last year, so while we may be late for an update on how long the original Nintendo will be released, it's not like we're extremely late for an updated model. Since the launch of the OLED model, there have been whispers of a Pro model on the market, but nothing has been confirmed.
Will it be a Nintendo Switch 2 or a Nintendo Switch Pro? Some people use the two terms quite interchangeably, but there are implications that they will be different models. When we look at other console brands, when Sony and Microsoft talk about a Pro edition/model, they are talking about a faster, more capable, more efficient model with features streamlined and optimized for pro gaming. This would differentiate it from the usual next-gen version of the console. So, which one will it be?
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What worked for the Nintendo Switch
Let's start with the most obvious thing that worked for the Nintendo Switch. The fact that it has a handheld mode, as well as the ability to be connected and transform into a more traditional console, has been one of its main selling points. When gamers think of a traditional console, they imagine themselves sitting on a couch playing their favorite video games on a nice, big TV. The original Switch could do this while still being a completely portable system, making it a great option for a home console you can use anywhere.
For this reason, the joy-con system was a fun concept, but not everyone liked their small size. Many fans liked the fact that the Switch technically already came with two mini controls which made couch co-op multiplayer gaming a lot of fun and gave players more options for customizing the look of their Switch by purchasing an additional joy-con.
That being said, there was also the possibility of obtaining a Nintendo Switch Pro controller on the Nintendo Store and other compatible controllers for those who do not appreciate the native controllers with separate joy-con of the hybrid console, which had more of a traditional console shape like what you'd see with a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, but perhaps not as high-tech. The battery life of the original model has also been improved, which has been a huge plus for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and the OLED model.
Don't forget nostalgia. The Nintendo Switch has a ton of options, like the Nintendo Switch Online membership, which gives you access to older games like older versions of Mario Kart and The Legend of Zelda, as well as online games. The subscription itself isn't anything fancy, other than it gives you access to some games and features like cloud saving. The subscription only really pays off at the higher tiers of the subscription, which offer perks that make it a little more worthwhile, but that being said, you're not paying that much for a full year of subscription that you provides access to games from the Nintendo 64, Nintendo Entertainment System and more, so it's worth the investment.
Expandable storage space is an essential part of the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo makes full use of it. With the branded MicroSD cards you can get from the Nintendo Store, any MicroSD is usable, and for the time of the Switch's launch, it worked just fine. The capacity of MicroSD cards ranges from 16 to 512 GB, which is not insignificant with a full library of Nintendo Switch games, especially if you buy the online versions and not the cartridges.
These are all things that have been carried over to the OLED model of the Switch, and we hope they will continue to be carried over in future models.
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What we want to see in Nintendo Switch 2
There are a few improvements we'd like to see come with a new version of the Nintendo Switch, some less conventional than others.
First of all, it would be great if the Nintendo Switch 2's built-in screen could give us 1080p or 4K quality gameplay. The current maximum is typically 720p for current Switch models. Some phones these days are capable of 4K, 1080p or even higher, so it's doable.
Now that more options are available for TVs and displays, it would be surprising if 4K output, when the console is connected, was a capability of the new model. It makes sense that this wasn't a capability of the original when the console launched, because in 2017 4K TVs were a luxury, but now that they've become more common, some changes need to be made.
One thing fans have been asking for is being able to purchase and keep older games on the Nintendo eShop (Nintendo's online store for purchasing Nintendo games) without having to subscribe to the online service. While no one wants to get rid of the subscription model, many people don't want it to be the only option for accessing older, more nostalgic games.
Improved online features and multiplayer modes are something we hope for the new Switch console, as the Nintendo Switch's online app isn't much fun to use. The fact that we have to rely on a smartphone bypass for things like friends lists, multiplayer matches, and voice chats seems a bit outdated, given that Microsoft and Sony already have these elements fully integrated into their systems. As long as players sign in to their Nintendo Account, users should be able to do all of these things directly on the console.
One thing a new model could improve is a new save data transfer process. Currently, cloud saves are a privilege reserved for those with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, and even then, syncing your data between multiple Switches is a huge headache, but few people need it. to do it anyway. Additionally, some Switch games don't allow cloud saves at all. Hopefully this will eventually be changed.
Finally, we hope that the onboard storage system in the Nintendo Switch 2 will change from the microSD system it currently uses, and move to SSD storage. There are more and more tiny SSDs that can store terabytes of data and load files much faster, which would cut game loading times by a ton. All current generation consoles use SSDs, so this is not a huge expectation. Any of these upgrades would be a big improvement to the new Nintendo Switch.
In my opinion, the Nintendo Switch 2 should go digital with its games. As it stands, I don't know a single person who is willing to invest in physical copies of game cartridges, as it usually requires a shipping process that ends up costing a lot more than just getting the game directly on the Nintendo eShop. I don't know if many people will agree with me here, but I don't see the point in physical copies for the Nintendo Switch 2. With something so compact and portable, I'd much rather shuffle my games in my storage with a bit of internet connection rather than having to lug around cartridges for the games I want to play. It just feels a little outdated, and maybe for some players the nostalgia is worth it.
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Rumors
Several leaks have sparked rumors about the next Nintendo Switch model, some regarding which chips will be used, which company will supply the chips, and more. The first of many rumors concerns the Nvidia chips that would be used in the Nintendo Switch 2 which leaked on the Gaming Leaks and Rumors subreddit. Something similar was mentioned in an email from an Nvidia employee. The email apparently confirmed the existence of the Tegra239 SoC (system on chip) which will also have an 8-core CPU. If this rumor is true, it would make Nintendo's next model about as powerful as the PlayStation 4.
Another rumor has been circulating on social media in the form of a Twitter post from kopite7kimi, claiming that the next Switch will feature a “custom” Tegra234 SoC, but claiming that it will include a 12-core CPU. Although the cores might be contradictory, they could be referring to the same chip, but that's the hard thing when it comes to leaks and rumors, when they all say something slightly different it's hard to tell which could be the truth.
Another leak in March also referenced the Tegra239 chip, and also referred to NVN2, an alleged sequel to the current Nintendo Switch's NVN graphics API. The API appears to contain references to Nvidia's upscaling technology, DLSS 2.2, and their support for raytracing. So while there has been no confirmation of a console update, leaks and signs point in that direction.
So, to summarize, it looks like we can expect a custom Nvidia Tegra Other rumors suggest that the next Nintendo could be a TV-only machine, but that seems highly unlikely given that one of the Nintendo Switch's biggest selling points is that it can be both in television mode and in portable mode.
Expected release date
While it's all speculation at the moment, we know for sure that we won't see anything anytime soon. Nintendo has officially mentioned that there will be no new hardware until the end of its financial year, which is April 2023. It is for this reason that we can speculate on news or an announcement at the end of 2023 at the most early, but more likely in 2024.
Insiders have noticed a significant increase in Nintendo's spending on raw materials at the moment, which some people are translating as a sign that there is another console (perhaps the Switch 2) in development at Nintendo that could be coming sooner than we thought.
Speculative retail price
There's a ton of speculation going around right now about the price of the Nintendo Switch 2, waiting for the day it's finally announced. When OLED was still in production and not yet officially released, experts suggested the price would be $349, which turned out to be correct. Now they are suggesting that the next Nintendo Switch model will be $100 more expensive than the current latest model. Some said that “$349.99 will increase the value proposition of the device, but I still think Nintendo can generate strong demand even at $399.99” and others agree that $399 will most likely be the price of the next console.
When discussing these prices, they seem to use the term Nintendo Switch Pro and Nintendo Switch 2 interchangeably, so if that's the case, we can expect $399 to be the price of the all-new primary console. If the pro version refers to a different, higher-spec version, then the Switch 2 could cost even less than that.
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Why it could be the PS5 killer
Sony and the PlayStation 5 have been plagued by a global chip shortage since the release of the next-gen console. This means it's almost impossible to get your hands on one, and loyal PlayStation gamers are still stuck with their PlayStation 4, waiting to get their hands on a PS5 as soon as it's available. new available.
If the rumors are true and the Nintendo Switch 2 is about to arrive and it will have the hardware loaned to it, that would mean it could put the PS5 out of harm's way. Think about it, a TV-mode handheld console that's as strong as the PS5, with an SSD for faster load times, and wouldn't be stupid enough to use the chips that are in a current shortage meaning availability would be much less of a problem? I'd rather put money into something that I know will be available and work for me than wait for a machine that no one will be able to get their hands on.
Sure, a PS5 is great, the DualShock technology in the new controllers is cutting edge and the console can output in 4K, but (apart from the controller) if the Nintendo Switch 2 lives up to the hype, it will be able to do all of this and more and will be available to the average consumer. If the rumors are true, Sony better watch its back.
Whether the Nintendo Switch 2 will see the light of day is still up for debate, not to mention the console's capabilities, but the consensus is that it will be bigger and better than the original, and could be a contender to join the console war currently taking place between Microsoft and Sony. Considering that it already seems more attractive than having to wait in line or get on an order list for a PS5 and it doesn't even exist yet, the outlook is good.
Better graphics, a bigger screen, new 4K games that make the most of the new hardware, next-gen gameplay and more portable features – that's all the Nintendo Switch 2 needs to beat the consoles of the generation current like the Xbox Series X and the PS5. And it's not impossible.
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