All rumors about the new Nintendo Switch
The success of the Switch
Millions of Nintendo Switch consoles and even more fantastic games have been sold. But after the base model, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the Nintendo Switch OLED, the next console now seems closer than ever. After lots of rumors about a launch in fall 2024, it seems like the console will launch in 2025. We expect an official announcement this fall, maybe even in September during a Nintendo Direct.
New Nintendo games
The Nintendo Switch has a large offer of games. Think of the Mario games, but also many games from other publishers like Ubisoft and EA. Nintendo is being secretive about the games that are releasing with the new Nintendo Switch. There are 2 games that fans think are planned for the new Switch. These are Pokémon Legends Z-A or Metroid Prime 4 Beyond. The gameplay of Metroid Prime 4 looks so good it probably needs a stronger Switch.
Play your old Nintendo Switch games
In February, it was made clear that you can still play your old Nintendo Switch games on the new Nintendo Switch. Backwards compatibility is being tested by Nintendo at this time. This means that you can play games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the new Switch. How this works for games that weren't developed by Nintendo, we're not sure yet.
Nintendo Switch Online
With the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo is focusing on their online service: Nintendo Switch Online. They released the old Nintendo 64 and Gameboy games via this service. There are also expansions for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example. According to the new rumors, Nintendo is looking for someone to transfer this service to the new console. This is something Nintendo hasn't done before. It indicates that we're dealing with a new Nintendo Switch.
The improvements listed
A new screen
In February, many journalists announced that the new Nintendo Switch got postponed to 2025. Those same journalists also discovered that the new Nintendo Switch will have an 8-inch LCD screen. That's larger than the Nintendo Switch OLED, but it's unfortunately and LCD screen. These screens are less sharp than the OLED screens, so we expect the new Switch to be a bit more affordable.
Leveling up the graphics
The current Nintendo Switch consoles run on older video cards and processors. It's very much time for an upgrade and that seems to be as good as confirmed. Nintendo is working together with NVIDIA on a special chip for the successor to the Nintendo Switch. This should get the power of the console close to that of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox Series S. This is a big leap in graphic quality.
New controllers
In September, Nintendo requested a patent for an improved joystick. A big problem with the current controllers is that the Joy-Cons can get stick drift. This makes it so that the joystick doesn't register movements well. Nintendo wants to solve this with a new type of Joy-Con. The Joy-Cons should also be connected to the screen via magnets now. This would replace the current slider system.