Nintendo “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/nintendo/ “> Nintendo will launch a new Switch hardware model early next year.
Taipei-based newspaper Economic Daily News announced on Tuesday that the new Switch would go into production later this year, with a launch scheduled for Q1 2021.
According to the publication, the new Switch model will have upgraded “interactivity” and improved display quality.
The report cites several hardware manufacturers responsible for the Switch’s Flash storage, Joy-Con controllers and more.
Over the past year, several media reports have claimed that Nintendo has planned a third Switch model, in addition to the flagship console and the Switch Lite.
Citing sources from the relevant supply chain, Taiwanese website DigiTimes reported in January that new Switch hardware would go into mass production in the first quarter of this year and launch shortly thereafter.
The Wall Street Journal also claimed in 2019 that Nintendo was planning a more powerful Nintendo Switch hardware version, with “enhanced features aimed at avid gamers.”
And in April a Nintendo Switch “href =” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/platforms/nintendo/switch/ “> Nintendo Switch Firmware update reportedly reported a new, unannounced hardware model.
According to an engineer, de Ver. 10.0.0 Firmware refers to a new “nx-abcd” hardware model. The software already refers to code names for the launch model Switch, Switch Lite, and the 2019 update with improved battery life.
All existing hardware plans are likely to be significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nintendo returned shipping console consoles in Japan in April after a brief hiatus, following an increase in demand for the hardware that has continued through the summer.
In the three months ending June 30, Nintendo Switch hardware sold 5.5m units for the quarter, representing a year-over-year sales increase of more than 160%.
Analysts have suggested that Nintendo Switch may have a longer life cycle than expected, translating into Wii’s total sales of 102.63 million units. Switch launched in March 2017 and sold about 61 million units on June 30, 2020.
Earlier this year, Japan-based Kantan Games analyst Dr Serkan Toto predicted in a GI.biz article that an upgraded ‘Switch Pro’ would launch in the very near future.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind,” he said, adding that his judgment was that the console would cost about $ 399.
“More specifically, I provide 4K support, larger cartridge size, and of course frozen parts,” he said.
In January, Nintendo claimed it had no plans to launch a new Nintendo Switch model in 2020.
