Rumors of a new Switch model due out in 2019 have been circulating for a while. It seems pretty likely, too- Nintendo has always put out multiple revisions for their portable systems (and the Switch is definitely a portable), plus Microsoft and Sony have both achieved great success with their own take on the iterative console model, via the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro.
So that people expect a new Switch model in 2019 should come as a surprise to no one. What may come as a surprise to many, however, is that there are some people who expect two new Switch models in 2019. Those people including analyst Dr. Serena Toto, of Kantan Games. Speaking to GamesIndustry about his expectations from the coming year, Toto expressed his expectation regarding Nintendo introducing a new higher priced and lower priced variant of the Switch together in 2019.
“While the 2019 Switch Pro has been already reported to be in development by the Wall Street Journal, I also think Nintendo will offer a “Switch Lite” (or just keep the current version at a lower price) to cover the lower end of the spectrum and offset sinking 3DS sales,” he said.
Again, this should not come as a surprise to anyone. Nintendo insists on keeping the 3DS around, but they have already admitted they are only doing so to have lower priced entry into their ecosystem, and that most active game development has now moved on to Switch. A cheaper Nintendo Switch will enable them to not only expand the install base of the console further, but also allow them to finally discontinue the 3DS for good, which, now about to enter its ninth year on the market, it sorely needs to.