RUMOURS about an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch have been swirling around for years, and it seems there may have been some truth to it.
The original Nintendo Switch released at the start of 2017, meaning the console is almost six years old.
We expected the Switch OLED to come with new technology.
Console developers such as Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation often release an upgraded version of their consoles at some point during its lifecycle.
However, while two newer Switch consoles have since been released, neither is a technological upgrade.
The Switch Lite is a smaller, portable version of the Switch that cannot be connected to the TV.
The Switch OLED released last year with a much improved screen, but no upgrades to the overall console’s hardware.
Many were speculating that a Switch Pro would be released due to the components Nintendo was purchasing.
Usually the company increases its order of components when it is producing a new console.
According to Digital Foundry, the Switch Pro was being worked on, but has since been abandoned by the company.
When the Switch OLED released, it seems that this was the mid-console upgrade that Nintendo was developing.
There are many reasons why the Switch OLED might not have included the upgraded hardware we were expecting, with the most likely being the global computer chip shortage.
The report claims that Nintendo has moved on from the idea of developing a Switch Pro, and instead are working on the Nintendo Switch’s successor.
It claims that the next Nintendo console will not release in 2023 as Nintendo considers how to navigate the console transition.
Nintendo has had issues transitioning between consoles before. Despite the Wii’s massive success, the WiiU was a commercial failure.
If the Switch’s successor is to improve on the Switch’s formula, the new features will have to be considered carefully.
It appears that we will be continuing to play with our Switches for a bit longer at least.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
