Firmware update 10.0.0 recently went live for the Nintendo Switch, and though it was an underwhelming one – as Nintendo’s firmware updates usually are – some interesting possibilities may have emerged from it. Over on Twitter, dataminer @hexkyz has discovered references of preliminary support for a new Switch hardware model tagged “nx-abcd”, to which three of the 5 new DRAM profiles are dedicated.
Heskin also says that there’s evidence of exclusive support for a secondary screen of this new hardware model- which might suggest an approach similar to the 3DS, or perhaps eve the Wii U- though it’s possible that it might simply be a case of connecting to smartphones.
This follows from months – if not years – of speculation that Nintendo are planning on launching a more powerful Switch model at a higher price. Reports emerged last year that Nintendo had two new Switch models in the pipeline – a cheaper one, and a costlier one – but after the Switch Lite was announced, the company said it had no immediate plans to release another variant. However, more reports earlier this year suggested that a Switch Pro is planned for release by mid-2020.
Firmware 10.0.0 adds preliminary support for a new hardware model: "nx-abcd".
3 of the 5 new DRAM profiles are for this new hardware type and there's evidence of a secondary display of sorts being added exclusively on this model.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)— Mike Heskin (@hexkyz) April 14, 2020
