Summary
Nintendocould launch its often-speculated Switch successor as early as next year, at least according to a new rumor. The Nintendo Switch has enjoyed an impressive run since it was first released in 2017, becomingone of the best-selling systems of all timethanks to a strong slate of first-party exclusives likeSuper Mario OdysseyandThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, all things must come to an end eventually, and after six years of the Switch, fans are now wondering if Nintendo is getting ready to release a brand-new console.
Rumors of new Nintendo hardware have spread across the internet over the past year or so, most of which pertain to this hypothetical console’s system specs and launch window. While Nintendo itself has remained tight-lipped abouta possible Switch follow-up, word has it that the Japanese gaming giant has already shifted its focus toward developing its next console following the blockbuster launch ofTears of the Kingdomback in May. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently hinted that if his company’s next console is in the works, it wouldn’t be released until 2024 at the earliest.
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This potential launch window for a newNintendoconsole was just reinforced by a pair of sources that recently spoke with VCG. These anonymous sources are said to have close knowledge of Nintendo’s next-gen hardware plans, and claim that the company is planning to launch its new system in the second half of 2024 to allow retailers to stock up on units and hopefully avoid the supply shortages that plagued the infamous 2020 launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
VGC’s sources also shared some potential hardware details about the rumored Nintendo console, namely that it can beused in a portable modesimilar to the Switch. Additionally, sources claim that Nintendo might bring down costs by launching this console with an LCD screen instead of the more premium OLED that came with 2021’s updated Switch OLED model. Lastly, the new Nintendo system could use physical cartridges like the Switch, but it isn’t yet clear if it will support backward compatibility for Switch games.
Nintendo has yet to officially respond to VCG’s reports, but many industry insiders have weighed in on the possibility ofa new Nintendo console launching in 2024and agree that it would be a sound business move for the company in light of the Switch’s slight drop in sales over the past couple of years. However, it’s worth repeating that nothing official has been announced byNintendoas of this writing, so any rumors about a new Switch successor should be taken with a grain of salt until more concrete evidence comes forward.
