According to a fresh rumor, Nintendo’s much-anticipated Switch replacement could be released as early as next year. Since its initial debut in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has become one of the best-selling systems of all time, thanks to a strong slate of first-party exclusives such as Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, all good things must come to an end, and after six years of the Switch, fans are asking if Nintendo is planning to release a new platform.
Over the last year or so, rumors of new Nintendo hardware have floated around the internet, most of which concern the system specs and debut date of this imaginary machine.
While Nintendo has remained tight-lipped regarding a possible Switch sequel, word has it that the Japanese gaming behemoth has already switched its focus towards building its next system following the success of Tears of the Kingdom in May. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently stated that if a new system is in the works, it won’t be introduced until at least 2024.
A couple of sources who recently spoke with VCG confirmed this likely launch timetable for a new Nintendo system. These anonymous sources, who are said to be intimately familiar with Nintendo’s next-generation hardware plans, claim that the company plans to launch its new system in the second half of 2024, allowing retailers to stock up on units and hopefully avoiding the supply shortages that plagued the infamous 2020 launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
VGC’s sources also revealed other potential hardware specifics about the rumored Nintendo system, including the fact that it will be portable like the Switch. Furthermore, insiders indicate that Nintendo may save money by selling this console with an LCD screen rather than the more expensive OLED that debuted with the revised Switch OLED model in 2021. Finally, the future Nintendo system, like the Switch, may use actual cartridges, but it is unclear whether it would enable backward compatibility for Switch games.
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