This post was updated four/26/24 at four:35 p.m. ET to include things like new rumors about the size of the Switch 2’s Joycons.
Nintendo Switch sequel speculation has hit a fever pitch in spite of how extended we may possibly have to wait for the extended-anticipated update to Nintendo’s most common console ever made. In current months, the ocean of disconnected rumors has began to coagulate into one thing that could be deemed a lot more than a rumor. Although there’s been a bevy of initial rumors suggesting we will ultimately see a Switch sequel release this year, a number of reports now give a considerably longer wait till 2025.
As for what the console will ultimately appear like, most reports indicate it will have a larger screen than the very first Switch and price a lot more. They will have graphics capabilities equivalent to the preceding console generation.
What Type of Specs Will the Nintendo Switch two Have?
The Switch sequel is rumored to have a larger screen than the original console had at launch, but new rumors recommend the subsequent console could alter up the size of the Joycons, and even how they attach to the primary physique.
As very first reported by the Spanish tech news internet site Vandal (by way of Eurogamer), the Switch two will use magnets to attach its Joycons, rather than the rails Switch customers are utilized to. Vandal reported this primarily based on word from accessory companies, who typically get specifics about console hardware prior to release. The subsequent console will nonetheless help existing Switch Pro controllers, which is a good alter of pace for owners who nonetheless want to get a couple of a lot more years out of their existing controllers when the new console comes in.
The Spanish internet site didn’t say specifically how large the new Switch will be, but noted it will be bigger than the existing Switch and nonetheless smaller sized than a Steam Deck.
When is the Switch Sequel Supposed to be Released?
Anyone holding out hope the Switch would nonetheless handle to squeeze itself into 2025’s release schedule really should almost certainly accept the reality of a longer wait. Most lately, Nikkei Asia reported, primarily based on a number of anonymous sources with understanding of Nintendo’s plans, that the Japanese game maker will release the Switch sequel in March 2025 at the earliest. The organization is reportedly attempting to give publishers and game studios a lot more time to release actual games for launch day.
Rather, Nintendo will attempt to preserve pushing the very first Switch as considerably as achievable, possibly with new console tie-in versions with common franchises.
It confirms earlier reports that Nintendo has decided to push the Switch two release. Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe claimed on his podcast that 5 sources from inside the sector say that Nintendo is now aiming for a Q1 2025 launch following initial expectations slipped from 2024. If that wasn’t sufficient to set your teeth on edge, Eurogamer also confirmed comparable rumors from separate sources inside the sector.
Eurogamer pointed out that the Switch date is to make certain a complete slate of launch titles to complement the new console. It all appears to indicate Nintendo has told its companion developers about the new launch date, and these rumors have filtered down to these with scarce sector sources.
It appears Nintendo is remaining aloof of the whole hardware industry for 2024. Nintendo confirmed to Eurogamer April 15 it does not strategy to attend Gamescom, the annual conference held in Cologne, Germany that commonly is a center point for the world’s games and hardware developers. The organization told Eurogamer “After cautious consideration from all perspectives, we’ve created the choice not to be present at Gamescom 2024. Players will have possibilities to attempt out Nintendo Switch games at other events all through the year.”
That is an exciting move contemplating Nintendo commonly attends the conference. Gamescom 2023 was also exactly where some of the very first concrete rumors reared their head, exactly where some publishers reportedly received improvement kits.
If Nintendo does opt for the very first half of the 2024 Switch two announcement, it would be rather premature contemplating the anticipated launch date. Nintendo previously mentioned that the Switch two wouldn’t debut in 2023. Nevertheless, the organization had absolutely nothing to say about the upcoming console in its most recent quarterly monetary report released this previous Wednesday. Rather, the organization noted how hardware sales have decreased by about eight% yearly. This was in spite of how the Switch has turn out to be the very best-promoting console of all time in its seven-year lifespan, with a total of 139.36 million units sold as of the finish of final year.
Most rumors have recommended the Switch sequel will see the light of day in the second half of this year. These rumors go back to July of 2023, reinforced following news that some developers had a possibility to demo the new console in a number of closed-door meetings at Gamescom.
This will not necessarily have a Christmas release, as speculation has regularly noted that it could be offered for pre-order in August or September. That could coincide with the rumored PlayStation five Pro model, which would be a large step up from the original PS5’s internals with ray tracing upgrades and superior CPU and GPU specs.
Will the Switch two Be Much more Strong Than the Very first Switch?
All the existing speculation points to the Switch two finding access to its specific chip from Nvidia. It is a rumor going back almost 3 years to early leakers hinting that Nintendo would get access to a custom variant of the T234, scaled down drastically to match inside a mobile style. The existing Switch makes use of a modified Tegra X1 chip, but the subsequent Switch could be far a lot more capable than Nintendo’s very first handheld console. Documents shown publicly from the Microsoft buyout of Activision Blizzard hint that Nintendo’s console could be as strong, if not a bit a lot more capable, than the final console generation—namely the PlayStation four and Xbox One particular.
Reuters then dumped a lot of fuel onto these rumors by citing one particular anonymous supply who claimed that Nintendo was certainly finding a new, custom chip. Late final year, Digital Foundry performed a deep dive into the supposed chip architecture and capabilities of this custom Nvidia chipset dubbed the T239. They performed benchmarks with comparable architecture on the RTX 2050 operating at 750 Mhz. Nonetheless, it is superior not to appear at chip rumors and make assumptions about the subsequent console’s complete capabilities.
Rather, we superior comprehend what type of show it will have. Some of the most concrete reports from sector analysts noted that the Nintendo Switch sequel will have an eight-inch LCD. Evaluate this to the common six.two-inch Switch LCD screen, a important size bump. Nevertheless, a couple of fans are probably disappointed that the subsequent console will not sustain the Switch OLED’s attractive, 7-inch organic show.
The LCD screen is probably a way to preserve expenses down, which served the very first Switch effectively when purchasers had to take into account spending upwards of $500 on a new Xbox Series X or PlayStation five. Nonetheless, other handheld consoles like the Steam Deck OLED will have an edge on what ever comes out of Nintendo.
The following console could nonetheless interact considerably like the old one particular with the hybrid cartridge and on the web download technique that served the very first Switch so effectively, at least according to outlets like VGC and Eurogamer. It hints at backward compatibility, which would be a large incentive for existing Switch owners.
Nevertheless, that does not imply the Switch two will be as low-cost as its predecessor. Noted tipster Zippo has claimed it could price about $400, which is $one hundred a lot more than you can get the very first Switch for. It is nonetheless much less than the two most important, high priced consoles, but it would now price a lot more than an Xbox Series S. Rather, it would price as considerably as a baseline LCD Steam Deck.
When Will Nintendo Lastly Reveal the Switch two?
Noted gaming rumormonger, Nate Drake of the ResetEra forums, told Game & Speak podcast members that the Switch two would lastly see the light of day in the course of a new Nintendo Direct set to premiere sometime in March. It nonetheless appears loose, although Nate Drake has been grinding at the rumor mill for a though now and has some correct previous predictions. Nonetheless, if we’re in for a longer wait, Nintendo probably will not announce its new console till effectively into the year.
“Everything I’m hearing dating back to Gamescom of final year has indicated that one thing is taking place in March,” he told the podcast.
Nintendo would probably announce this console alongside some new Nintendo Direct broadcast or game launch. The most recent Nintendo Direct on Feb. 21 was one particular of its “partner showcases” that promotes 3rd celebration titles producing their way to the Switch. Although there have been a couple of surprises, like the original two games of the Star Wars: Battlefront series producing their way to the Switch and bringing back the classic 64-player on the web multiplayer, there was not even a morsel of news concerning a new console.
Drake doubled down on that Direct date in a tweet. This tends to make sense, specially as Nintendo’s very first Direct of 2023 also took spot in February, but that does not imply we’ll see a console announcement as early as this month. The Nintendo tipster hasn’t completely backed off his claim that Nintendo plans to announce the console in March, but at this point, it appears increasingly unlikely.
The Mario parent could also announce its console in the course of a media push for its subsequent large game release. The only very first-celebration title on the docket is Princess Peach: Showtime!, which is set to launch on March 22. Even though that is a new title from a staple character in the company’s most profitable franchise, it does not have the whole international appeal of a new Mario platformer like final year’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder that would add any pomp to a current console reveal or–hell–even a teaser.
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