Nintendo Switch Pro could release as soon as September and is tipped to be revealed before this year’s E3 event, which takes place on June 12 to June 15.
Bloomberg said that sources familiar with Nintendo's new hardware believe that the company is ready to release its upgraded replacement for the four-year old Switch, and that it will likely be priced higher than the original, which cost $299 / £279 / AU$469.95. The current Nintendo Switch will be phased out over time.
The new Nintendo Switch could be announced before E3 so that publishers can showcase Switch games that take advantage of the updated hardware, according to Bloomberg’s sources.
Eurogamer has now also corroborated Bloomberg's report, confirming that its own sources believe that the Nintendo Switch upgrade will be announced before E3 so that publishers can freely announce their titles.
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Industry insider Emily Rogers, who is usually in the know when it comes to Nintendo announcements, is also confident that a new Nintendo Switch will be revealed soon, with some speculating that an announcement could take place as soon as today, May 27, or by tomorrow.
Yes, Bloomberg's report was accurate.New screen, upgraded chips. Aiming for Sept - Oct release. An announcement is imminent. We might be getting news sooner than we thought.May 27, 2021
What is the Nintendo Switch Pro?
The Nintendo Switch Pro or New Nintendo Switch, as many are calling it, will replace the standard Nintendo Switch model and will be sold alongside the handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite, which costs $199 / £199.99 / AU$329.95. The Nintendo Switch Pro will apparently have a 7-inch 720p OLED display, and will be capable of outputting at 4K resolution when connected to a TV.
If the Nintendo Switch Pro is indeed real – and it's looking more likely it is after the existence of a Nintendo Switch Pro was accidentally hinted at by OLED firm Universal Display Corp – it will be the first time Nintendo has offered a mid-generational hardware upgrade on one of its consoles. We’ve seen the company offer iterative upgrades on its handhelds in the past, like the Nintendo 3DS XL and New Nintendo 3DS, but Nintendo doesn’t tend to change its console hardware until the start of a new generation.
The move wouldn't be too surprising, however, giving that both Sony and Microsoft successfully extended the lifecycles of both the PS4 and Xbox One with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X respectively.
Why do we need a Nintendo Switch Pro?
Even though the Nintendo Switch is continuing to sell at a record-breaking pace, the Nintendo Switch Pro will ensure that the Switch remains competitive. The console’s vast library of games will carry over and should benefit from the new hardware specs that the Nintendo Switch Pro will apparently offer. We've seen what Mario Kart 8 Deluxe could look like running in 4K, as well as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and it could tempt existing Switch owners into an upgrade.
Those who own a Nintendo Switch Lite won’t be left in the cold, either, as Switch games will work on both platforms, with the only difference likely to be an uptick in performance and visuals when playing on Nintendo Switch Pro.
With the PS5 and Xbox Series X now also available, some Switch owners may feel the hybrid console is a little outdated, particularly when hooked up to a 4K TV. A newer Nintendo Switch model should help bridge the gap somewhat, but it will also allow Nintendo to cater to two types of consumer: the Nintendo Switch Pro will act as the premium tier option, while the Nintendo Switch Lite will be seen as an entry level model, giving consumers more choice depending on their needs and budget.
Will the ongoing chip shortages affect Nintendo Switch Pro production?
Suppliers are apparently confident that they won’t face any issues when it comes to manufacturing the Nintendo Switch Pro. Production lines are now far better prepared for the possibility of component shortages. The global semiconductor crisis has affected both PS5 and Xbox Series X supply, and Nintendo is supposedly using parts that aren’t as in high demand as those required by Sony and Microsoft’s consoles.
That doesn’t mean we expect the Nintendo Switch Pro or New Nintendo Switch to be readily available, though. Like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, the Nintendo Switch has been in high demand since the pandemic, and fans of Nintendo’s hardware will no doubt be clamoring to own the new Switch model upon release.
New Switch games such as Pokémon Legends Arceus, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are also on the way, with the former set to release January 28, 2022, and the latter November 19, 2021. We're likely to hear more about Breath of the Wild 2 and other hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch titles during E3, too.
We've contacted Nintendo for comment and will update accordingly should we hear more.
