As we enter 2024, it appears highly probable that the next iteration of the Nintendo Switch will also make its debut this year. Numerous reports have suggested that development kits may already be in the hands of studios, and recently, Japanese developers openly expressed their enthusiasm for a new Nintendo console in their New Year’s messages.
In a Gamesindustry.biz article discussing 2024 predictions, Dr. Serkan Toto, an analyst from Kantan Games, shared insights into Nintendo’s plans. With a history of accurately predicting developments in the Japanese gaming industry, Toto mentioned the existence of a “Pro” version of the Switch, which was ultimately abandoned. Now, he foresees a Switch 2, described as an “iteration rather than a revolution,” set to be priced at $400, surpassing the standard $300 MSRP of the current Switch.
There’s been a mix of information regarding the ambitions behind Nintendo’s next Switch. While there are reports suggesting advanced features like DLSS 3.5 and ray reconstruction, potentially surpassing the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 in certain aspects, a closer look at the NVIDIA chips for a portable successor suggests a need for tempered expectations. The likelihood leans towards an “iteration rather than a revolution” strategy, providing some added hardware capability and perhaps a few new features without introducing groundbreaking changes.
Naturally, none of these details have been officially confirmed by Nintendo, so it’s advisable to approach them with a degree of skepticism. Regarding the potential revelation of the Switch 2 or its eventual name, the next few months appear to be a plausible timeframe.
“The time is finally here for a Switch successor, even though I can say a “Pro” model actually did exist and certain developers were already working with the dev kit. I believe the next hardware will drop next year for $400. There is a high chance that games will cost more, too: $70. The next system is also likely to be an iteration rather than a revolution. Nintendo might add some bells and whistles to the device, but it will be similar to the current Switch. And because there is Pokémon, and Pokémon is associated with handheld gaming, there is no way on earth Nintendo will drop the portability feature for their next big thing.”
Via Gamesindustry