There are many rumors if you are searching for Nintendo Switch 2 news. Nintendo Switch 2 came to my mind due to some leaked Nvidia source code.
They have not named the console directly, but the reference is made to “NVN2.” The original Switch was known as NVM; we can’t resist, but thinking about a second-generation Switch or Nintendo Switch Pro could be in the creations.
Today we will talk about the Nintendo Switch 2 news, rumors, and everything you need to know.
The Nintendo Switch 2 rumors
- Some Nvidia DLSS source code may have referenced the Nintendo Switch 2, indicating a second-gen Switch is in the works.
- Nintendo teased a “next-gen” device in a recent Q&A following the release of its latest financial results, and it may be backward compatible with the Switch’s existing library of games.
- Nintendo says the current Switch has four or five years left, so a Switch 2 may not be needed for some time.
- An analyst predicts a Nintendo Switch 2 instead of the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro.
The release date for Nintendo Switch
The Switch 2 is rumored to be in development kits and to launch in late 2022 or early 2023.
Take it all with a grain of salt—no smoke without fire. Considering the current Switch is nearly five years old, it’s not hard to believe Nintendo is working on a successor.
Nintendo stated during an investor call that the current Nintendo Switch is in its “middle phase,” so we doubt a Nintendo Switch 2 will be released soon. Nintendo reaffirmed this sentiment in a recent earnings call.
The OLED Switch is $349. This supports the previous theory.
A Bloomberg Intelligence analyst believes the Switch Pro will cost at least $100 more than the current model. In addition to increasing the device’s value proposition, I believe Nintendo can drive strong demand at $399.99.
Not only Kanterman. Serkan Toto, a Japanese games consultant, estimated the Switch Pro would cost $399, which could be the same console like the Switch 2 and thus the same price, or a higher-spec version, in which case the Switch 2 will likely cost less.
New Nintendo switch
The OLED Nintendo Switch is more of a boosted ‘Pro’ version of the current Switch than a new Switch.
In one previous leak, a new Switch console had an Nvidia Tegra Xavier processor, a 64GB SSD, 4K video support, two USB-C ports, etc. But it also suggests a TV-only console, which seems unlikely. The new model’s chip is still unknown, but Nintendo confirmed the 64GB storage upgrade from 32GB.
Recent mobile GPU advances also point to a promising future for upcoming handheld consoles like the Switch 2. According to reports, Samsung and AMD are working on a new Exynos 1000 chip with AMD graphics, which could give the Switch 2 a massive power boost if Nintendo chooses that CPU over the current Switch’s Tegra X1.
Nintendo Switch 2 screen
The Switch’s screen is an important component, so it’s no surprise Nintendo is upgrading it to OLED. But it’s still a 720p panel that only outputs 1080p when docked. Our own reporting confirmed that an upcoming Nintendo Switch iteration would use Samsung OLED displays.
In an interview, Ross Young, co-founder of Display Supply Chain Consultants, discussed the benefits and drawbacks of an OLED screen for the Switch Pro or Nintendo Switch 2.
“LCDs use a maximum brightness, white or black. And OLEDs don’t,” Young said. This depends on the content. So it depends on the content you’re playing. Video is where OLEDs shine. But a bright video game with lots of white may use more power.
According to the head of Universal Display Corporation, a new Switch console will be released soon. Nintendo’s CEO, Steven V. Abramson, said the company was considering OLED for its superior contrast and response times over LCD. Even if Nintendo keeps quiet about it, a new Switch is underway.
Moreover
Nintendo may choose a new display with a higher resolution. Bloomberg reports that a new Switch will use advanced upscaling to achieve a 4K resolution. Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) allows Nvidia to Upmix graphics into high-resolution images without the performance demands of rendering them natively at 4K. Bloomberg was told a new Switch would use new chips with DLSS hardware.
According to the same report, the new Switch will have a larger OLED display and a 4K output, if not native 4K rendering.
This could indicate that a 4K output over DisplayPort over USB 3.0 is possible for the Switch 2.
But improved specs may not be the end of the Nintendo Switch 2. A series of code in the Switch’s April 2020 firmware update suggests the next Nintendo Switch may be a two-display device.
Considering Nintendo’s popular DS and 3DS handhelds, we’re curious how dual-screen support would work in the Switch ecosystem. Maybe you’ll be able to play handheld while streaming content to your TV, like the Wii U, did.
The New Nintendo Switch 2
Like the original Switch, the OLED Switch can be used docked-TV, tabletop, or handheld. The dock now has an Ethernet port and a new kickstand for better tabletop gaming.
However, Nintendo recently patented a unique health-tracking device that can track sleep, monitor mood via microphones and sensors, and even change a room’s odor. The patented device has its own dock (like the Switch) and appears to be designed for health-related games like Ring Fit Adventure.
This Nintendo Switch lacks that technology. It will be interesting to see how Nintendo improves its fitness-tracking game for the next Switch console.
What about the Pro?
The Nintendo Switch Pro was rumored to be a successor to the original Switch. Then came the Nintendo Switch OLED, which improved the looks but not the performance. This sparked rumors of a ‘pro’ version being in the works.
But Nintendo says this isn’t the case; therefore, the rumors and leaks we’ve seen so far are for a second-generation Switch, not a mid-generation upgrade. There’s no easy way to confirm this, so we’ll have to trust our gut. We believe a new Switch console is in the works, dubbed the Switch Pro or Switch 2.
Getting the Nintendo Switch 2
We’d like to see a few features on the Nintendo Switch 2 that could make it a compelling high-end option for Nintendo fans.
Because the Switch’s 6.2-inch screen is limited to 720p in handheld mode, games like Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon Sword, Shield, etc., aren’t fully realized. Mobile gaming in 1080p would be a big reason to upgrade to a new Switch, especially if the console can do it at 60fps.
- 4Kor 1440p TV mode support Given the availability of 4K consoles and the fact that the PS5 and Xbox Series X will play 8K content, we recently advocated for a resolution upgrade for the Switch 2. Imagine playing Breath of the Wild in 4K on a new console with a hefty new dock that supports 4K or even 2560 x 1440 resolutions.
- We recently got hands-on Alienware’s Concept UFO, a portable gaming PC with Switch-like buttons, triggers, and grips. The Switch 2 could be the easiest way to play on the go if Nintendo can design new Joy-Cons that are bigger and more ergonomic without being too big.
- Bluetooth v2.1. While the current Switch has Bluetooth 4.1 for wirelessly connecting Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, other Bluetooth devices (like headphones) require an adapter. Please, Nintendo, allow me to easily pair my AirPods with my Switch.
Why do we need a Switch 2?
Despite this, we’re still hoping Nintendo adds 4K and speeds up the process. The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic system with some of Nintendo’s best games ever released. But three years later, its hardware is starting to show its limitations, especially regarding third-party game ports.
The Outer Worlds’ new Switch port, according to Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, “looks so bad on Switch I’m tempted to tell even people who have no other way to play is to stay away.” According to Gach’s screenshots, the port is blurry and suffers framerate drops. Similar issues have been reported with Pillars of Eternity and Wasteland 2.
New Horizons are both optimized for the Switch, but the console appears to be having trouble with AAA games. And a new crop of third-party games built for PS5 and Xbox Series X may be more graphically demanding than ever.
The OLED panel could make Nintendo’s games look better and make the company’s hybrid console more appealing to fans of big third-party franchises.
How long until Nintendo Switch 2?
You may be disappointed if you expected 4K but elated if you wanted a better screen for mobile gaming. We’re excited about the new kickstand, though it doesn’t scream “Nintendo Switch Pro.”
But the Nintendo Switch is still a great gaming console with a unique hybrid design and great games. Our top picks for the best handheld gaming consoles are the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. So we expect them to be supported for years to come. If you haven’t jumped on the Switch train yet, now is the time to do so, as it won’t be replaced soon.
The OLED Switch will, as expected, play games from the console’s library. The Nintendo DS/Nintendo 3DS family has supported the same game library for over a decade. Given the Switch’s popularity, we expect Nintendo to follow suit.