Nintendo plans new Switch console next year
Japanese gaming giant Nintendo is planning to release a new version of its successful Nintendo Switch console next year, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
According to ‘suppliers and others with knowledge of the plan’, the updated model of the console, which can be connected to a TV or played on the go, is planned for the latter half of 2019 but could come as early as the summer.
Nintendo is reportedly still discussing exactly what features and hardware updates will be included in any new model as it looks to improve on the Switch console while keeping costs down.
A prime candidate for update is the console’s LCD screen. While it is unlikely Nintendo will follow Apple in including an OLED screen on the device due to the expense, an update to the screen using LCD technology used in more recent smartphones is cited as a possibility.
Any update will almost certainly be limited to the screen, performance updates and the size of the main console, which can be connected to a television or played on the go.
Unless Nintendo make a dedicated handheld version of the Switch, new models will need to be compatible with current ‘Joy-Con’ controllers, which can be used independently or attached to the side of the console.
Limited battery life when using the Switch on the go has been a criticism of the console, so any upgrade will also look to improve its longevity. The use of updated LCD technology should allow the screen to be brighter and more energy efficient.
The new model is planned to maintain the sales momentum of the Switch, which has outstripped many industry observers predictions with its strong performance. The Switch has been Nintendo’s fastest selling console worldwide, with a stellar first-year lineup of games helping it to reach 20 million units since its release in March 2017.
However, a sparser release calendar in 2018 has lead to a slow-down in sales of the console, with a 100,000 unit drop-off in the quarter between April and June this year.
While Nintendo can expect a boost in sales as Christmas approaches and the company releases its highly anticipated Switch versions of Pokemon and Super Smash Bros, it will be hoping that a new model of the console can maintain that momentum further.
When contacted about the potential hardware revision, Nintendo said that it 'did not comment on rumour or speculation'.
Video game console manufacturers often upgrade hardware part-way through its lifecycle, both to improve performance, maintain momentum or revitalise interest. Sony and Microsoft released different models of their PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles last year, offering both cheaper models and premium 4K-enabled consoles.
Nintendo has previously found success with upgraded models of its DS family of handheld consoles. The original clamshell DS was remodelled with the DS Lite, a more svelte console with a brighter LCD screen that helped to spark the DS into becoming one of the best selling consoles of all time. Further models were created for different needs, while the DS’s successor, the 3DS, followed a similar model.
Nintendo pledged to support the 3DS through at least 2018 in an interview with The Telegraph last year, citing it as a perfect introductory console for children due to its pricing and wide range of games. However, the success of the Switch as a handheld console and the proliferation of smartphone gaming has lead to fewer new games being released for the 3DS.
As such it makes sense that any new Switch model will likely focus on enhancing the console as a portable device, including its screen, size and battery life as Nintendo looks to shore up its position in the handheld gaming market.
