Nintendo Switch Set to Get an Upgraded Model — Here’s What We Know so Far
Rumors of an upgraded Nintendo Switch model have been circulating for months. With no confirmation from the company, fans haven’t known what to expect — until now. New information about the gaming giant’s plans shows that the Nintendo Switch Pro could be coming in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Upgrades and Features
With the latest news, fans finally know what to look forward to in this next generation of Switch. Though, Nintendo hasn’t confirmed anything yet. Even “Switch Pro” is a fan-given name. Still, these upgrades are almost a guarantee.
First, you’ll find the Switch Pro’s screen to be bigger, at 7 inches. Instead of the traditional LCD screen, this new model would also feature OLED graphics, which is where the newest processing chip comes in.
Nvidia is likely going to supply Nintendo with a new chip that will up the processing and high-quality graphics of the Pro. It uses deep learning super sampling (DLSS), where artificial intelligence (AI) renders and upscales the graphics to be 720p or 4K when you dock the Pro to a TV. However, keep in mind that a new chip requires new coding. This means that these visual upgrades will likely be for newer games and not upgrading older ones.
Regardless, these new graphics will no doubt put the Nintendo Switch Pro in competition with the newest consoles from Xbox and PlayStation, which also have stunning visuals and processing power.
Fans are hopeful for some other upgrades, too. At the top of the list, many want to see new Joy-Con controllers that get rid of drift as well as longer battery life in the consoles themselves.
Details of the Release
Nintendo has been quiet about any new information or release dates for the Pro. In fact, in February of this year, the company stated that it wasn’t going to announce anything “anytime soon.” However, most theories point to a 2021 holiday season release.
The lack of an announcement of a Pro model lines up with the lack of news about a “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” sequel. In the latest Nintendo Direct, the company announced it would have more information on the game later this year. It would then make sense if Nintendo paired both releases for around the same time.
When the first Switch came out, “Breath of the Wild” was the only game available. If Nintendo wants to drive sales of this new Pro model, they could carry out the same release dynamic. Plus, fans are going to want to play the sequel game in higher graphics. Though there’s no confirmation yet, you can look forward to the last few months of this year.
As for the cost, rumors estimate that Nintendo could raise the price by $50-$100. This would make the new model around $350-$400. With the upgraded features, this price hike would make sense — especially as newer consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X are right around the $500 mark.
After surpassing the 3DS with total sales of almost 80 million, the Switch is one of Nintendo’s most successful consoles yet. A new Pro model will no doubt add to this success.
An Innovative Platform
Nintendo is notoriously secretive about its plans, but it always surprises fans in one way or another. The latest Nintendo Switch Pro news is exciting and innovative. It opens up the possibilities for gaming on your Switch. Graphics and processing will be better, which will elevate your entire gaming experience.
What features do you hope to see in the new Switch model?