NINTENDO could soon unveil its first-ever 4K gaming console.
A very convincing leak has poured fuel on the fire for rumours about a Nintendo Switch Pro.
The original Nintendo Switch launched back in 2017, to phenomenal success.
Currently the Nintendo Switch is only capable of running Full HD 1080p games while docked – or HD 720p in handheld mode.
That’s despite rivals offering 4K gaming, and 4K TVs now being cheaper and more common.
Now tech blog WinFuture and Twitter user OatmealDome have flagged details about a possible new console in a recent Nintendo Switch firmware update.
One is a line that references ‘Cradle Aula’, which is reportedly the codename for the new Switch dock.
It suggests that the dock can receive updates itself, rather than being a simple stand with several ports.
This means the dock could offer additional processing capabilities, giving it the potential computing heft to produce 4K graphics.
The firmware update also included a line that reads: “4kdp_preferred_over_usb30”.
Fans suspect this means the console could deliver 4K visuals using a DisplayPort connection – rather than a more conventional HDMI cable.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard such a rumour: Bloomberg previously leaked info about a 4K Nintendo Switch Pro.
Ever since its 2017 launch, gamers have been enamoured with the two-in-one Nintendo Switch.
It uniquely works as a handheld device, while also plugging into the telly for more social gaming.
The console is regularly sold out around Christmas, and is now one of the most recognisable gaming machines in the world.
A recent report by Bloomberg says that Nintendo is planning for the introduction of a new Switch model.
This will take place in the financial year ending in March 2022, according to the report.
That means the console could launch at any time from now until March.
It follows an earlier Bloomberg report saying that Nintendo was targeting a pre-Christmas release.
That would indicate a launch at some point between September and December.
It’s not too farfetched, given that Nintendo will want to better compete with the PS5 and Xbox this Christmas.
The console is expected to feature a larger OLED panel built by Samsung.
Unlike traditional LED-backlit LCD screens, an OLED display has pixels that illuminate themselves.
That means individual pixels can be turned on or off, allowing for deeper blacks, improved contrast and a wider range of colours.
And the lack of a large backlight creates energy savings too.
The screen is expected to come in at 7 inches from corner to corner, up from the current 6.2 inches.
Samsung is reportedly starting mass-production of the panels as early as June.
It’s reported that the new screen will offer a 720p HD resolution.
But the console will supposedly support 4K graphics when plugged into an Ultra HD TV.
“The OLED panel will consume less battery, offer higher contrast and possibly faster response time when compared to the Switch’s current liquid-crystal display,” said display expert Yoshio Tamura, speaking to Bloomberg.
It’s unclear if the new model will be branded as the Nintendo Switch 2, or land as more of a “quiet” upgrade.
Nintendo previously improved battery life on the Switch without introducing it as a separate model.
However, Nintendo did recently launch Switch Lite, which is a cheaper handheld-only version of the console.
We don’t have any pricing info for a Nintendo Switch 2.
But it’ll certainly be in high demand, if the recent PS5 and Xbox launches are anything to go by.
What’s more, the Nintendo Switch usually sells out each year during the holidays, partly due to Black Friday but primarily because of Christmas.
So it’s very possible that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be very difficult to get.
In other news, Trending In The News’s favourite alternative to a games console is the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset.
Check out the wildly impressive Panasonic 65HZ1000 TV, which makes most tellies look rubbish.
And Dell’s Alienware R10 Ryzen Edition is a gaming PC powerhouse that crushes both the new consoles.
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