Nintendo’s handheld console, the Switch, is now in its 7th year on the market, approaching the end of its lifecycle. With modern gaming hardware advancing leaps and bounds, the Switch’s meager 1 teraflop chip is starting to show its age.
For the past two years, rumors about the Switch’s successor, tentatively dubbed the ‘Switch 2’, have been churning heavily, and up until now, a late 2024 release was believed to be the plan. However, plans sometimes change, and a new report says that the Switch 2 may not release this year.
It’s Not Even Officially Announced and Yet Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks Point to it Being Delayed Already
Switch 2 Release Window Allegedly Pushed
Recent rumors surrounding the release of the Switch 2 have taken a surprising turn. Initially anticipated for a late 2024 launch, reports now suggest a potential delay, pushing the release window to early 2025.
This information surfaced initially from Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe, who claimed to hear from five independent sources working on launch titles for the Switch 2. Lippe states that all of them are targeting a Q1 2025 launch, which may imply that Nintendo has pushed back the console’s launch by another quarter.
Adding fuel to the fire, VGC later reported that Nintendo had directly informed publishers of an internal delay, shifting the launch from late 2024 to early 2025. Sources suggest this move aims to bolster the console’s launch lineup with a robust selection of first-party titles. Eurogamer and Bloomberg have corroborated the report as well, which adds even more credibility to the rumor.
Nintendo’s Response
So far, all three publications have reached out, but Nintendo has declined to comment on the matter. Although their previous strategy with the Switch, which was announced one year before its March 2017 release, offers a potential parallel for the Switch 2. This means we could see the next-gen Nintendo being revealed before March 2024. There have been rumblings of a Nintendo Partner Direct scheduled for late February, so this could very well be where the Switch 2 is officially announced.
Despite the lack of official confirmation, industry expectations for a 2024 launch have been significantly challenged. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa refrained from commenting on next-generation console plans during their recent earnings meeting, emphasizing the current Switch as their “main business” for 2024. However, their next fiscal year extends into April 2025, leaving room for a potential launch within that timeframe, even with a delay.
Analysts like Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, have offered predictions regarding the upcoming console. He anticipates a launch price of $400, exceeding the Switch’s initial cost, and the possibility of adopting the $70 price point seen in many PS5 and Xbox Series X/S titles.
Potential Switch 2 Hardware Specs
Reuters reported earlier this month that the Nintendo Switch 2 will pack a custom processor made by Nvidia, ditching the off-the-shelf Tegra X1 chip found in the current Switch. Back in 2023, it was rumored that Nintendo showed off prototype hardware for Switch 2 at Gamescom. According to people who were privy to the secret showcase, the next-gen Nintendo will be closer in performance to a PS4 than the current crop of home consoles, the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
While the exact launch date remains officially unconfirmed, the weight of the evidence points to a likely delay for Nintendo’s next console. With a focus on strengthening the launch lineup and potentially aligning with their upcoming fiscal year, it seems we may have to set our sights on early 2025 as the release window. Fans eagerly await official confirmation and further details surrounding the highly anticipated next-gen console.
Are you looking forward to the Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know in the comments!
