The Nintendo Switch has been one of the most successful and innovative gaming consoles of all time, selling over 100 million units worldwide since its launch in 2017. However, after six years of dominating the market, the Switch is starting to show its age, especially compared to the powerful PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. That’s why many fans and analysts are eagerly anticipating the announcement and release of the Nintendo Switch 2, the rumored successor to the Switch that could take the hybrid console concept to the next level.
But when will the Nintendo Switch 2 come out? And what features and improvements can we expect from it? In this blog post, we will try to answer these questions based on the latest rumors, leaks, and reports about the Switch 2. Here’s why we think 2024 is the year of the next-gen Nintendo console.
Release Date
The most obvious question about the Switch 2 is when it will be released. Nintendo has not officially confirmed or denied the existence of the Switch 2, let alone revealed any details about its launch date or price. However, there are some clues and hints that suggest the Switch 2 could arrive in 2024.
First of all, Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, has stated that the company will support the current-gen Switch until at least March 2025, which implies that the Switch 2 will not be released before then. Furukawa also said that Nintendo aims to maintain relationships across hardware generations through services that utilize Nintendo Accounts and by providing opportunities for them to experience their IP through other non-gaming channels. This could mean that the Switch 2 will be compatible with the Switch and its games, as well as offer new ways to interact with Nintendo’s franchises.
Secondly, there have been some reports from credible sources that indicate that the Switch 2 is already in development and could be ready for launch in 2024. For example, a recent court document as part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition revealed that Nintendo briefed Activision on the Switch 2 in late 2022, and mentioned the "NG Switch". Activision also confirmed a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to the Switch, with full feature and content parity with the other platforms. This suggests that the Switch 2 will be powerful enough to run the latest AAA games.
Another example is a rumor that the Switch 2 was showcased to developers at Gamescom 2023, where it allegedly ran The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 60 FPS with a resolution of 4K, thanks to DLSS 3.5. This rumor also claimed that the Switch 2 will use Nvidia’s Ampere GPU architecture, which is the same as the RTX 30 series graphics cards. While this rumor is unconfirmed and should be taken with a grain of salt, it does align with some previous reports that the Switch 2 will leverage Nvidia’s technology and support 4K output.
Based on these clues and hints, we think that the Switch 2 could be announced in late 2023 or early 2024, and released in the second half of 2024, around the same time as the PS5 Pro. This would give Nintendo enough time to prepare for the transition, as well as capitalize on the holiday season and the hype for the next-gen console.
Features and Improvements
The next question about the Switch 2 is what features and improvements it will offer over the Switch. While we don’t have any official information or confirmation from Nintendo, we can make some educated guesses based on the rumors, leaks, and reports we mentioned above, as well as what we would like to see from the Switch 2.
One of the most obvious and expected features of the Switch 2 is a significant boost in performance and graphics. The Switch 2 is rumored to use Nvidia’s Ampere GPU architecture, which is the same as the RTX 30 series graphics cards. This would allow the Switch 2 to run games at higher resolutions and frame rates, as well as support ray tracing and other advanced graphical effects. The Switch 2 is also rumored to support 4K output when docked, thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS technology, which uses AI to upscale lower-resolution images to higher-quality ones. This would make the Switch 2 compatible with the best TVs and monitors available, and enhance the visual fidelity of the games.
Another feature that we hope to see in the Switch 2 is an OLED display as standard. The Switch OLED model, which was released in 2021, introduced a 7-inch OLED screen that offers brighter colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast than the LCD screen of the original Switch. However, the Switch OLED model did not improve the resolution or performance of the Switch, and was only a minor upgrade. We hope that the Switch 2 will have an OLED screen that is larger, sharper, and more responsive than the Switch OLED model, and that it will match the performance and graphics of the docked mode.
A third feature that we would like to see in the Switch 2 is improved battery life and storage. The Switch has a battery life of about 3 to 6 hours, depending on the game and settings, which is not very impressive for a handheld device. The Switch also has a limited internal storage of 32 GB, which can be easily filled up by a few games. We hope that the Switch 2 will have a longer battery life that can last for at least 8 hours, as well as a larger internal storage of at least 128 GB, which can be expanded with microSD cards.
A fourth feature that we think the Switch 2 will have is enhanced online and social features. The Switch has a relatively weak online service, which requires a subscription to access online multiplayer, cloud saves, and a selection of NES and SNES games. The Switch also lacks some basic features that other consoles have, such as voice chat, messaging, achievements, and streaming. We think that the Switch 2 will improve its online service by adding more features, games, and benefits for subscribers, as well as making it easier to communicate and interact with other players and friends.
A fifth feature that we are curious about is the compatibility and continuity of the Switch 2 with the Switch and its games. As we mentioned earlier, Nintendo’s president said that the company aims to maintain relationships across hardware generations through services that utilize Nintendo Accounts and by providing opportunities for them to experience their IP through other non-gaming channels. This could mean that the Switch 2 will be compatible with the Switch and its games, as well as offer new ways to interact with Nintendo’s franchises. For example, the Switch 2 could allow players to transfer their save data, digital purchases, and progress from the Switch, as well as play the same games with enhanced graphics and performance. The Switch 2 could also integrate with other Nintendo products and services, such as the Nintendo Labo, the Nintendo Switch Online app, and the Nintendo theme parks.
Of course, these are just some of the possible features and improvements that the Switch 2 could have, and we are sure that Nintendo has some surprises and innovations in store for us. We are excited to see what the Switch 2 will bring to the gaming industry and how it will shape the future of Nintendo.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Switch 2 is one of the most anticipated and speculated gaming consoles of all time, and we can’t wait to see what Nintendo has in store for us. Based on the latest rumors, leaks, and reports, we think that the Switch 2 could be announced in late 2023 or early 2024, and released in the second half of 2024, around the same time as the PS5 Pro. We also think that the Switch 2 will offer a significant boost in performance and graphics, an OLED display as standard, improved battery life and storage, enhanced online and social features, and compatibility and continuity with the Switch and its games.
We hope that the Switch 2 will be the ultimate hybrid console that will deliver the best of both worlds: the portability and versatility of a handheld device, and the power and quality of a home console.