Seven years after the release of the Switch, the time has soon come for Nintendo to launch a new console, the details of which still remain secret.
The Nintendo Switch has been making rain and shine for seven years now. Launched on March 3, 2017 with the only important game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildthe hybrid console which serves as both a home console and a portable console, has, despite all the criticism against it shortly before its launch, managed to defy all predictions.
Far ahead of the Playstation 5 or the Xbox Series, the Nintendo Switch was able to demonstrate that power was definitely not the main argument to convince the public to buy a console. But seven years after its initial release, it will soon be time to say goodbye to the Switch. If Nintendo keeps information about its next machine secret, the rumors are (very) numerous and sometimes promise the Moon. However, after the video game announcement period, which generally arrives in June, eyes are once again focused on the Japanese manufacturer which keeps the suspense going.
What name for the successor to the Nintendo Switch?
Over the years and rumors, many names have circulated, particularly on social networks. Switch Pro, thanks to information distilled by “connoisseurs” reporting a more current version of the Switch, had made a big impression on players, seeing more support for 4K screens rather than a real gain in power – like the PS4 Pro compared to the PS4.
But as we saw with the WiiU, whose failure is still experienced as a trauma at Nintendo, the idea of taking the name of a previous console, even while giving it a considerable gain in power, seems difficult. Among the general public, who do not keep up to date with the latest video game news, a similar name with an additional term is somewhat confusing. But keeping the name “Switch” would also mean that a certain number of elements from the previous generation are compatible.
Nintendo again hand in hand with Nvidia
For its next console, Nintendo would have signed again with Nvidia to ensure the technical part. The successor to the Switch could thus be equipped with a Tegra T239 chip, with the added bonus of scaling functionalities, or DLSS, allowing better fluidity at the expense of resolution, while retaining a certain visual sharpness.
During the resounding trial between Microsoft and the FTC during the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King, a power comparable to that of the Playstation 4 was also mentioned. But things have evolved since then, and the addition of clean technologies to Nvidia could have been a game changer.
Retro-compatible but updated Joy-Con
To avoid attracting the wrath of players, Nintendo would have ensured backward compatibility of Switch accessories for its next console. The Joy-Con like the Pro controller would benefit from such treatment according to information revealed on the social network Bilibili.
At the same time, we learned that the new controllers of this new console would no longer be on rails but would be “electro-magnetized” so as to no longer have the effect of a lack of robustness when holding the console in portable mode.
Backwards compatible games?
We are moving towards total backward compatibility with the Switch catalog. On the one hand, this will allow Nintendo to ensure sales of its new console from the launch to its fans – who will have less difficulty separating themselves from the Switch, but also to avoid creating confusion with the big public and in stores.
With sales of the Switch being strong, the shelves are just as strong, and the games continue to sell well, so much so that it will be difficult to dislodge them even with a new console. Furthermore, Nintendo continues to fully support the Switch with games expected in the coming months. So many clues which therefore give hope for backward compatibility.
However, it remains to be seen whether older games will benefit from a patch increasing the resolution or fluidity, for example.
Screens by Samsung and Sharp?
According to information from Business Korea, Nintendo has signed with two screen manufacturers for the coming months and years. Samsung would be in charge of producing OLED screens and Sharp LCD screens. However, it is not certain that this means that Nintendo is planning two versions at launch, but that the manufacturer sees more in the long term. The OLED Switch only arrived in October 2021.
Concerning the resolution, there is everything: some argue that it would reach 1080p (full-HD) in portable mode, others prefer to rely again on 720p, like the Switch or the Steam Deck. On the other hand, the dock would benefit from a 4K output and an interface accordingly (currently, it is limited to 1080p).
What games for the future console?
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, having seen the light of day in May 2023, it is impossible for a new episode of the saga to see the light of day at launch as the Switch was entitled to. But we know that Nintendo sometimes keeps completed games in reserve for several months, and it’s ultimately been several years since we last saw Mario in a 3D episode like Mario Odyssey…
Furthermore, as usual, we should also be entitled to several announcements from third-party publishers, for example Ubisoft. French is thus a historic partner of Nintendo, particularly on Mario + Rabbidsand more generally present at the launch of many consoles and services like Stadia.
What release date for Nintendo’s next console?
This is THE multi-million question. Here again, rumors are rife, and although Nintendo has indeed confirmed that it is working on the console that will succeed the Switch, the company has so far never made anything more official.
Business Korea explains that a release at the end of 2024 remains possible, but more pessimistic reports rather evoke the first quarter of 2025 due to a significant need for stocks to ensure a launch that meets expectations, and this, in all hands. Nintendo wants to avoid at all costs what happened with the Playstation 5, copies of which were still difficult to find almost six months after the launch.
