After seven years on the market, with 140 million systems sold and over 1 billion games, Nintendo is finally preparing to unveil its next hardware. In this article, we gather all the information we have about the Switch 2—or whatever the next console will be called—and the speculations surrounding Nintendo's upcoming system. There has been a surge of news about the next Nintendo console recently. Although Nintendo has made several announcements, including a new alarm clock and a music app, there has been no official word on the Switch 2. However, things might change soon, as Nintendo's next earnings briefing is scheduled for November 5, where news about the Switch 2 could potentially be revealed.
Recently, reports suggested that a Switch 2 event might occur in late-September or early October, with a possible release in March 2025. Earlier this week, the first alleged images of the Switch 2 surfaced online, hinting at the console's manufacturing phase. This article delves into the potential form factor, release date rumors, price, launch games, backward compatibility, and more. For simplicity, we refer to the new system as the Switch 2, though it's likely Nintendo will give it a unique name, as they have done in the past.
In 2021, Nintendo management stated that the Switch was in the middle of its lifecycle. Now, in 2024, it's reasonable to assume the Switch is nearing the end of its lifecycle. While many questions remain about the Switch 2, here's all the essential information we have so far. In mid-September, unverified images of the alleged Nintendo Switch successor appeared online, showing a console that isn't a radical departure from the current Switch design. The images suggest an eight-inch screen, Joy-Cons with magnetic attachments, and significantly improved hardware.
The pictures were initially found on a Chinese social media site and later uploaded to Reddit. Although Nintendo hasn't commented, a source told VGC that the Reddit images align with what partners have been informed about the final Switch 2 design. The Switch launched in March 2017, and console generations typically last 5-10 years, but there's no guarantee Nintendo will follow this pattern. Trends are constantly changing due to various factors. For example, the Wii and Wii U launched in November 2006 and 2012, respectively, but the launch month for the next Nintendo console is anyone's guess.
Earlier this year, a September 2024 release date for the Switch 2 emerged in an official press release from GameShark. However, this is likely not legitimate. An analyst later suggested a 2024 launch with an 8-inch LCD screen, potentially a step back from the OLED screen in the latest Switch revision. More recently, multiple reports claimed Nintendo had internally delayed the Switch 2 launch to 2025, causing a drop in Nintendo's stock price and industry speculation about the potential impact on the gaming market in 2024.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that the Switch 2 will be announced during the company's current fiscal year (April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025). Nintendo also announced a Nintendo Direct event in June, but it won't include news on the Switch 2. During an earnings call, Furukawa hinted at the Switch 2's evolution over the original system, suggesting it will build on the foundation established by the Switch console.
Recently, GI.biz reporter Christopher Dring said, "No developer I've spoken to expects it to launch in this financial year, in fact they've been told not to expect it in this financial year. A bunch of people I spoke to hope it's out in April/May time." Eurogamer corroborated this, noting the next Switch console won't be released until April 2025 at the earliest. Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann expressed excitement for the Switch 2, but also acknowledged the importance of Nintendo taking their time to get it right.
Analyst David Gibson suggested a March 2025 release for the Switch 2, pointing out that one of Nintendo's assembling partners, Hosiden, is investing heavily in preparation for something. The biggest unknown about the next Nintendo hardware is its exact form. Former Nintendo employees predict it will have a similar form factor to the Switch, usable as a handheld device and dockable to a TV. Nintendo has said nothing about the next system's specifics, aiming to "surprise and delight" fans.
Digital Foundry reported that the Switch 2 might use Nvidia's new custom T239 processor. Based on speculated specs, a PC built with these components could run Death Stranding at 1080p at an average of 35 fps. Nintendo consoles are historically less powerful than PlayStation and Xbox consoles, and it's unclear if the Switch 2 will be a 4K-capable device or offer cutting-edge graphics and performance.
Vandal (via VGC) reported that the Switch 2 will use Joy-Con controllers with magnetic attachments. It's unknown if existing Joy-Cons will work on the system, but the current Switch Pro controller will be compatible. On the Broken Silicon podcast, it was suggested that the Switch 2 will have a faster clock speed in docked mode and a lower clock speed in undocked mode to extend battery life.
While Switch sales boomed during the early COVID-19 pandemic, the global semiconductor shortage posed challenges for Nintendo. For the Switch 2, Nintendo doesn't anticipate this to be a problem. Nintendo's sales forecast for the financial year doesn't currently factor in Switch 2 sales, but that could change. Generative AI continues to be a major topic in video games and technology. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently weighed in on the use of genAI, stating Nintendo will carefully consider its implementation.
It's widely expected that Nintendo will release a new Mario Kart game for its next console. A report suggested Mario Kart 9 will have a "new twist," and fans eagerly await details. If a new Mario Kart game is in development, it would make sense for it to be a launch title. A 2023 report said several developers already had the new Nintendo console at their offices and were beginning to build games for it.
One major question is whether the next Nintendo console will support Switch games. Nintendo's previous statements about the Nintendo Account system carrying forward might suggest some level of backward compatibility. A former Nintendo employee theorized that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with digital eShop games. MobaPad reported that the Switch 2's cartridge slot will support backward compatibility with physical Switch game cartridges, but new cartridges might not be compatible with the original Switch.
Check back with GameSpot for more updates on the next Nintendo console, as we'll continue to update this story with new information. The Switch 2 hasn't been announced, so everything is speculative. An analyst recently predicted a $400 price for the Switch 2 and $70 for top-tier games. The original Switch launched at $300, which helped its market performance. Whether the next Nintendo console will launch with one SKU or multiple editions at various price points remains to be seen.
Regarding the $70 game price prediction, it wouldn't be surprising, given Nintendo already charged $70 for Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo said this was a one-off for Switch game prices, but charging $70 for Switch 2 games would align with Microsoft, Sony, and third-party publishers. Nintendo's previous consoles had separate account systems, but the new Nintendo Account system could ease the transition to the next console.
Nintendo's CEO, Shuntaro Furukawa, said the next Nintendo console will use the same Nintendo Account system as the Switch. Speaking to Bloomberg, Yijia Zhai of Macquarie Group Ltd. said the next Nintendo console won't match the Switch's success. Goldman Sachs analyst Minami Munakata said the next Nintendo hardware likely won't expand the total addressable market. However, the forecast could change if the system is a new concept rather than a successor to the Switch.
A console not being as successful as the last one isn't necessarily bad news for Nintendo. The Switch performed exceptionally well, especially following the Wii U's poor performance. Nintendo hasn't indicated when it might announce new hardware, but some predict an announcement tied to its fiscal calendar. Nintendo's new financial year begins on April 1, so an announcement before then could boost stock prices and generate momentum.
Nintendo is being "somewhat ambitious" with its hardware sales forecast for the current financial year and plans various initiatives to sell the forecasted number of Switch consoles and games. Part of this strategy reveals why Nintendo delayed confirming the Switch 2, as it was concerned about negatively impacting current Switch sales.
In September 2024, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella said the next Nintendo console could "disrupt" the video game industry. "A couple of things will really impact how things go: Nintendo's next hardware device, expected to arrive next year, could significantly disrupt the market," he told GI.biz. "Of course, not much is known about this device beyond rumor, but a highly successful new Nintendo device could apply downward pricing pressure across other devices. But we'll have to wait and see."
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