Nintendo to release two new Switch consoles this year
Nintendo is reportedly planning to release two new models of the Switch this year, as the Japanese gaming giant looks to continue the early success of its home-and-handheld hybrid console.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the first new model will be an ‘enhanced’ version of the console ‘targeted at avid video gamers’; while the second will be a budget version of the console that removes certain features to offer a cheaper alternative.
Unsurprisingly, the premium Switch model is reportedly not as powerful as Sony’s PlayStation 4 or Microsoft’s Xbox One consoles, but will likely offer improved features to expand the console’s existing popularity with ‘hardcore’ gamers. The Switch console has been praised for its key feature of being able to be played while connected to a television or used as a handheld device.
As reported last year, the prime candidates for improvements on any premium Switch console include upgrading the device’s liquid-crystal-display (LCD) screen to be brighter and more energy efficient, general performance improvements and extended battery life. The Wall Street Journal also reports that Nintendo are switching suppliers for its screens to Sharp.
The second budget version will apparently lean into the latter form of the console, thought to be a replacement for Nintendo’s aging dedicated handheld 3DS console. The Wall Street Journal’s sources said that the Switch’s high-definition rumble was likely to be removed to keep costs down, while earlier reports have suggested that any budget Switch will have fixed controls rather than the removable ‘Joy-Con’ motion controllers.
The original Switch has outstripped many observers’ predictions to become Nintendo’s fastest selling console of all time. The machine has now sold over 20m units since its release in March 2017. However, the Kyoto-based company rang a note of caution in an earnings calls back in January, cutting Switch sales forecasts for the financial year from 20m to 17m.
Nintendo will want to continue the current momentum it has with the Switch console. New models could be the spark it needs, rather than a price cut for the existing console which Nintendo President Shuntaro Fukuwara had previously ruled out.
Video game console manufacturers often offer new hardware models partway into a device’s lifetime. Video game console ‘generations’ usually last between 5-8 years, meaning the timing for a new Nintendo Switch model would make sense.
While a premium console may spark interest for both new players and current Switch owners looking to upgrade, it is likely that the reported cheaper version will be the biggest driver for new sales as it effectively replaces the 3DS. The dedicated handheld has been a huge success for Nintendo since its 2011 release, selling 75m units worldwide. However, its sales were down 60.5pc year-on-year as it reaches the end of its shelf life.
The Wall Street Journal report suggests that after unveiling the consoles at E3, the new hardware would be released in time for Christmas. This means that the new models will coincide with the release of upcoming games Animal Crossing and Pokemon Sword & Shield. The potential of the latter game’s popularity combined with a cheaper alternative Switch could be the sales driver Nintendo need to keep up the Switch’s momentum.
Nintendo are also set to release its new foray into virtual reality, with the Nintendo Labo VR Kit coming out for the Switch in April.
What do you think about the prospects of the two new Switch models? What would you want from a premium version? And would a cheaper, handheld-focussed console convince you to become a Switch owner?
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