Nintendo are known for keeping things pretty close to their chests, but a leak on the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 has finally trickled down into the ears of the public, and it’s fair to say that everyone’s gaming spidey-senses are tingling.
One of the things that we love so much about Nintendo’s latest console is its portability – docking your game and seamlessly carrying on where you left off is one of the main things that sets this machine apart.
But with Playstation and XBOX ramping up marketing for their next-gen consoles, Nintendo can’t rely on clever tricks forever. Rumour has it that they’re working on a ‘Pro’ version of the Switch, and that this one won’t be able to leave the house with you.
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Image © High Snobiety
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Latest Nintendo Switch 2 Update – Oct 9
Fasten your seatbelts, because we’ve had some exciting leaks over the past couple of days
First up. You’ve probably all heard of the Polish retailer MediaMarkt, Europes biggest electronics retailer. Well, they’ve added multiple references to a ‘Nintendo Switch Pro’ across their sites, which we’re taking to be the Nintendo Switch 2.
I mean, what else could it be!
Of course, some retailers just like to create hype. But if a chain as big as MediaMarkt is advertising the term, then I don’t think we’re far away from a release date.
In other news, a patent filed by Ninty back in 2018 for a ‘controller for computer’ that looks suspiciously like a Joycon controller has finally been approved.
Notice the sides? There’s no docking rail, which further supports the info below about the Nintendo Switch 2 not being a handheld console.
You can read our thoughts about this below!
And finally, a Bloomberg report has further solidified the notion of a 4K Nintendo Switch 2 dropping in 2021.
They state that Nintendo is planning a new console and an initial release of a ‘large wave of games’ from both first and third-party developers.
The report claims that these games will cater for gamers new and old, covering a wide variety of genres and levels of difficulty.
Could this be the reason why we’ve only had a few games released in 2020?
Apart from our Super Mario 3D All Stars review, Paper Mario, and Luigi’s Mansion 3, there hasn’t been a major title drop as such.
Where’s Metroid Prime 4, for crying out loud!
What We Know About The Nintendo Switch 2
A source close to a former Nintendo employee has suggested that the Nintendo Switch 2 will solely be a ‘home console’.
That’s pretty sad as I think that Nintendo have got the market covered with Hybrid consoles and should roll with their niche.
Still, the rumours also state that a new Nintendo Switch 2 ‘Pro’ model would bring 4K resolution and work with all previous controllers, accessories and games.
That would definitely draw people in who want to see BOTW in crisp 4K up on the big screen, and with the Nintendo Switch Lite on the market filling the gap left by the end of the GameBoy series, perhaps gamers might not feel too badly about the change.
The console is designed to complement existing Switch arsenals and not replace them entirely, though I guess the cost of the product will determine how many people will go for it.
When Will The Nintendo Switch 2 be released?
It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say that we’re looking at a Spring 2021 release for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo have always been a little bit elusive when it comes to launch dates, but I think that we might see a new machine dropping at the same time as BOTW 2. It would make sense, as Legend Of Zelda is undoubtedly the console’s biggest draw.
IMAGE © NINTENDO
How Much Would It Cost?
Again, this is all conjecture, but looking at the cost of the other two Switch machines on the market, we can probably expect a $100 increase to the cost price.
The Switch Lite sits at around $200 with the original Switch costing around $300. It’s fair to say that you could expect to pay $400 for the new home-console-only variant.
I’m not sure that I would pay that for upgraded graphics, especially seen as though I play handheld a lot of the time and the games can be played on all three systems.
Only time will tell, and if they start to bring games out solely for the Nintendo Switch 2, then you can be sure I’ll have one on my desk before you can say ‘Bokoblin’. Maybe an N64 Expansion Pack style add-on might have been a better idea, a new upscale-dock perhaps?
IMage © Next Player
What Specs Will The Nintendo Switch 2 Have?
You can be sure that it’s going to have Ultra HD and 4K resolution as standard, which means that Nintendo’s new console will be able to go head to head with Microsoft and Sony and maybe even take the lead.
We’ll see more realistic games too – Ganon is going to look so badass!
Bigger memory is a must, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB-C charging. The original port only had one USB and one HDMI out, so we’d like to see at least two of these on the new dock; two USB ports for charging two Pro Controllers at once, and two HDMI outs for dual-screen action.
It’s possible that we might also see a dual-screen controller if this Nintendo Switch DS is anything to go by.
Final Thoughts…
Seeing BOTW, Mario Odyssey, Skyrim, and all of your favourite games in crisp 4K would be unbelievable.
But for many gamers, especially those already using their chosen best Nintendo Switch emulator, I think it will all depend on the cost as to whether they make the jump to purchase one.
The last thing that we want is another Wii-U scenario, and Nintendo will need to bring out Nintendo Switch 2 only games to make this machine a necessity.
We’ll be picking up more info as the months go by, so make sure you stay tuned for more facts as and when we get them.
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 33 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
