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Nintendo Switch 2 — everything we know so far

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Rumors and leaks about a future Nintendo Switch 2 are all here.

image credits: tomsguide

Rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 have been scarce recently, to the point that we may not see a new device for some time.

There is a strong case for a Nintendo console that can output ultra-high resolution graphics to compete with the PS5 and Xbox Series X now that 4K TVs are widely available.

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Last year’s release of the OLED version of the Nintendo Switch didn’t go far enough in enhancing what we already had. As for the Nintendo Switch 2, we’d want to see features like a 4K display, greater storage, and more ports for additional peripherals.

New Nintendo Switch 2 release date said to be in the works

According to Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis, a “next-generation Nintendo device” is expected to be released in 2024.

Though Switch console sales have been robust recently, the analyst believes that they will eventually drop and necessitate the development of a new Nintendo system. But it’s not clear if it will be the Nintendo Switch 2 or an entirely new console.

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Game Boy and 3DS have been updated and re-released several times by Nintendo.. Since the Switch is Nintendo’s only handheld console that is currently being sold, we see no reason why they couldn’t do the same for it. We wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a Nintendo Switch 2 in the future, but we’d expect it to take a few more years to arrive.

Price of the second-generation Nintendo Switch

Costs $349 for the OLED model. Preliminary hunches were correct.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Kanterman predicted that the Switch Pro would cost at least $100 higher than the current model. “While the device’s value proposition will improve with a price of $349.99, I believe Nintendo can still drive strong demand even at that higher price point.”

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Kanterman isn’t the only one. Toto, a video game consultant based in Japan, predicted that the Switch Pro will cost $399, which might mean that it’s the same console as Switch 2 and hence the same price, or that it’s a distinct higher-spec version and therefore the Switch 2 will be cheaper.

Specifications for the upcoming second-generation Nintendo Switch console

The OLED Nintendo Switch is more like a supercharged ‘Pro’ version of the present Switch than a completely new Switch, although it does fit several of the leaks we’ve previously uncovered.

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As an example, a prior leak stated that a future Nintendo Switch system would have a 64GB SSD, 4K video capabilities, and two USB-C connections. But it also suggests that a console like this would be a TV-only device, which is rather unusual. Until now, we have no idea what type of chip is in the new model, but Nintendo has stated that it would have 64GB of storage space, up from the existing 32GB.

For portable systems like the Nintendo Switch 2, recent mobile GPU advancements point to a bright future. Assuming Nintendo decides to replace the present Switch’s old Tegra X1 processor with Samsung and AMD’s upcoming Exynos 1000 chip, the Switch 2 might see a significant increase in performance.

Nintendo Switch 2’s new display

We wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo used OLED to make the Switch’s screen even more beautiful. Even yet, the display is still only capable of 720p when docked. OLED panels offered by Samsung have been confirmed by our own reporting to be used in an upcoming Nintendo Switch version.

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According to a conversation with Tom’s Guide, When it comes to the Switch Pro or Switch 2, Display Supply Chain Consultants co-founder Ross Young talked about the benefits and drawbacks an OLED panel might offer.

There is a maximum brightness that LCDs employ no matter if it’s a white or black image.” It doesn’t apply to OLEDs,” says Young. “The amount of power they use depends on the content. Because of this, it will all depend on what you’re playing. When it comes to video, OLEDs have the upper hand. If you’re playing a video game with a lot of white, then OLEDs may use more power.” “

A recent remark of a new Nintendo Switch console by the CEO of Universal Display Corporation supports the OLED notion. CEO Steven V. Abramson indicated that Nintendo was considering moving to OLED because of its superior contrast and response times over LCD. It’s a positive sign that even if Nintendo is keeping quiet about it, there is a new Switch on the horizon..

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Depending on the display type chosen by Nintendo, a resolution increase may also be implemented. Upscaling will be used to reach 4K resolution on the next Switch, according to Bloomberg. It’s called Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS, and it leverages AI technology in order to successfully upmix graphics into high-resolution images without the performance needs of rendering them natively at, for example, 4K. According to Bloomberg, a new Switch will use new processors and the necessary circuitry to support DLSS functionality.

In the same report, it was stated that the next Switch will be able to display 4K content, if not natively, and that it will have a bigger OLED display.

The line “4kdp preferred over usb30” was discovered in a more recent probing of the Switch firmware, and it may point to the possibility of a 4K output through DisplayPort over USB 3.0 on the Switch 2.

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However, the Nintendo Switch 2’s upgraded specs may only be the beginning. Code uncovered in the Switch’s April 2020 firmware update suggests that the next Nintendo Switch may have two screens, implying that a dual-screen system is in the works.

The Nintendo DS and 3DS aren’t the first handhelds to allow two screens; still, we’re intrigued to see how this would affect the Switch environment. As with the Wii U, you may be able to play in portable mode while streaming some material to your TV.

Features of the latest Nintendo Switch 2

The OLED Switch, like the original Switch, may be used with a docked TV, on a tabletop, or in handheld mode. Additionally, a new kickstand and Ethernet port have been added to the dock.

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According to Nintendo’s latest patent filing, the company has developed a new health-monitoring device that can track your sleep patterns, detect your mood with the help of microphones and sensors, and even alter the smell of a place. An interesting feature of the patent is that it has its own dock (similar to the Nintendo Switch) and appears to be built for games like Ring Fit Adventure.

This Nintendo Switch doesn’t appear to have that kind of technology. Is a fitness tracker in the works for Nintendo’s forthcoming Switch console? It is too early to know whether or not such a device will be released.

What about the new Nintendo Switch Pro?

The rumoured Nintendo Switch Pro was widely expected to be a successor to the original Switch. It wasn’t until the OLED version of the Nintendo Switch was released that the performance of the original Switch was improved. Because of this, there are still whispers about the possibility of a ‘pro’ version being developed.

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Despite this, Nintendo has stated that the speculations and claims of leaks we’ve heard so far are for a second generation of the Switch, rather than an upgrade in the middle of the current generation. We’ll have to rely on our instincts here because there’s no easy way to receive confirmation. It’s possible that a newer version of the Switch is in the works, but whether it’s referred to as the Switch Pro or the Switch 2 is irrelevant to us.

What we expect from the second-generation Nintendo Switch

Among the things we’d want to see in the Nintendo Switch 2 are a few that might make it an appealing high-end alternative for Nintendo aficionados.

  • Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Sword and Shield cannot be played in their full splendour due to the Switch’s 6.2-inch screen being limited to 720p resolution when in handheld mode. When it comes to upgrading to a new Nintendo Switch, having the ability to play games in 1080p on the go would be a major selling point.
  • TV mode can run at a resolution of up to 1440p or 4K. If the PS5 and Xbox Series X support 8K content, it would be good to see the Switch 2 get an increase in resolution, something that we have campaigned for recently. Breath of the Wild in 4K would be a dream come true for everyone who’s ever played the game on a high-definition TV or monitor.
  • Improved comfort. Recently, we were given the opportunity to test out Alienware’s Concept UFO, a portable gaming PC that looks and feels like a Nintendo Switch controller. The Switch 2 could be the most comfortable portable gaming system if Nintendo can design new Joy-Cons that are larger and more ergonomic without being too bulky.

Why do we need a second generation of the Nintendo Switch?

Having said that, we’re still holding out hope that Nintendo will improve performance and introduce 4K support in the future. The Nintendo Switch is a joy to use, and it’s backed by some of the best Nintendo games ever made. However, its hardware is showing its limitations more than three years after its release, namely when it comes to significant third-party game ports.

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The Outer Worlds’ new Switch port was tested by Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, who says that “looks so horrible on Switch I’m tempted to urge even people who have no other means of playing it to stay away.” There are noticeable framerate reductions in Gach’s screenshots of the port. Pillars of Eternity and Wasteland 2 are examples of games that have experienced similar troubles when they were ported.

It’s not only Breath of the Wild or Animal Crossing: New Horizons looking and performing fantastic on Switch; it seems like Switch is having trouble with AAA titles as well. With new third-party titles designed on PS5 and Xbox Series X that may be more graphically demanding than ever, it could prove especially difficult for Nintendo.

Because the Switch scored well against the PS4 and Xbox One, Nintendo doesn’t need a system that can compete with those systems, but the OLED display might make Nintendo’s games look a lot better and increase interest in Nintendo’s hybrid platform among fans of huge third-party franchises.

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When will the second-generation Nintendo Switch be released?

It’s possible you’ll be disappointed if you were hoping for 4K, but if you wanted a better screen for mobile gaming, you’re likely delighted. Even though it doesn’t scream “Nintendo Switch Pro,” we’re excited about the redesigned kickstand.

It doesn’t matter, though, because the Nintendo Switch is still a fantastic games console thanks to its hybrid design and terrific games. Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite are the best handheld gaming systems on the market today. As a result, we fully expect them to be sustained for many more years to come. For those who have not yet joined the Switch bandwagon and are confident that it will not be replaced in the near future, now is a great moment to join.

As expected, the OLED Switch will be compatible with the console’s current catalogue of games. The Nintendo DS/Nintendo 3DS family has supported the same game catalogue for more than a decade, and Nintendo has a history of maintaining their handhelds through multiple versions. We anticipate that, in light of the Switch’s success, Nintendo will apply the same strategy to its next system.

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