Reports of a 4K variant of the Switch, dubbed the Switch Pro by many, have been around for a while now, and particularly in the last few months, have really heated up. A recent report claimed that even after the launch of the Switch OLED, a 4K Switch model is very much still in the works, with development kits already having been sent out to some developers- which is something that Nintendo itself has categorically denied.
But now, more new details may have come to light about the device, thanks to a video uploaded by known and generally credible Nintendo insider NateDrake (via ResetEra), who claims that what was originally in the works as Switch Pro has transformed mid-production and is now being internally looked at as a Switch 2, or a full-fledged successor to the current console.
According to NateDrake, the console will support 4K via DLSS (which is something that Switch Pro reports have been claiming for months), and that development kits were sent out to various major developers at the end of 2020, with smaller teams getting kits this year. Various games for the console are allegedly already in development, including some exclusives and some ports of PlayStation and Xbox titles.
The insider goes on to claim that some of these in-development games are hoping to be done with production by late 2022. As for the console itself, Nintendo is allegedly targeting a late 2022/early 2023 launch. Where the console’s launch falls within that six month period will depend on supply and production constraints.
Interestingly enough, this Switch successor supposedly doesn’t support backward compatibility with the Switch yet, owing to the fact that it has some key hardware differences with the original console, but it’s been claimed that Nintendo is looking at other options to ensure that backward compatibility makes it in.
This is all unverified information, of course, and especially when it comes to a company as notoriously secretive and unpredictable as Nintendo, it’s best to take any and all leaks with a grain of salt. Back in early 2020, Nintendo suggested that the Switch was at the halfway point in its life cycle, so it’ll be interesting to see how long the company waits before releasing a full-fledged successor to the platform. Traditionally, Nintendo’s consoles have had 5-6 year-long cycles, though there’s no guarantees that the Switch will follow that pattern.
The Switch OLED’s recent launch has certainly provided a boost to Nintendo’s hybrid device, especially where sales are concerned, with the device enjoying quite a successful launch in the UK last week. Read more on that through here. Recently, reports have also brought to light the fact that the Switch OLED’s dock contains new hardware that makes it capable of 4K/60 FPS output, even though the device itself, of course, is not capable of the same.
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