As we approach 2024, gaming fans eagerly await details on two key aspects of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2: its price and release date. Despite Nintendo’s silence on the matter, the next-generation console is expected to debut this year. Industry sources such as Video Game Chronicle report that developers are receiving development kits, signaling that preparations are underway and excitement is building.
The new system might be priced at $400, a $100 increase from the original Switch. As forecasted last December in Fandom Pulse, game prices could also rise to match the $70 benchmark set by PS5 and Xbox Series X titles. These are now coming from a GamesIndustry prediction article with industry analyst Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, who also suggests that the new Nintendo console will retain its portability, a hallmark of the brand.
Toto shared insights, “The time is finally here for a Switch successor, even though I can say a “Pro” model actually did exist and certain developers were already working with the dev kit. I believe the next hardware will drop next year for $400. There is a high chance that games will cost more, too: $70. The next system is also likely to be an iteration rather than a revolution. Nintendo might add some bells and whistles to the device, but it will be similar to the current Switch. And because there is Pokémon, and Pokémon is associated with handheld gaming, there is no way on Earth Nintendo will drop the portability feature for their next big thing.”
Tom Wijman of Newzoo also contributed to the conversation on GamesIndustry, predicting a 2024 launch for the Switch’s successor, accompanied by a new 3D Mario game. Wijman notes that Nintendo’s embrace of digital distribution will likely allow for the transfer of games between Nintendo accounts to the new console; “Having embraced a digital storefront, Nintendo will allow users to transfer between Nintendo accounts to Switch 2; no more building your games library from scratch.”
Speculation has been rife since 2023, particularly after a demo at Gamescom allegedly showcased the system’s expected hardware prowess. Reports from Fandom Pulse have also touched on the rumored inclusion of NVIDIA DLSS technology and other features, though Nintendo has consistently denied these claims.
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If the Switch 2 is to be an “iteration rather than a revolution,” it may follow the path of the Nintendo 3DS, which offered enhanced hardware and a 3D screen while building on the success of its predecessor, the DS. A highly requested feature among fans is backward compatibility, and all eyes are on Nintendo to see if they will deliver on this front.
On January 2nd, Nintendo announced that the Switch has achieved 132.46 million units in lifetime sales. Nevertheless, company president Shuntaro Furukawa did not comment on the upcoming console. While the precise timing of the new console’s reveal remains a mystery, Nintendo’s annual February Direct is anticipated to possibly drop hints, fueling excitement for what promises to be a landmark year in gaming.
Let the world know what you’d want Nintendo to do with this “iteration” or would you rather the developer Switch to a “revolution”? Leave a comment!
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