Nintendo can be impossible to predict, so we asked a Magic 8-Ball to shine some light on what the Kyoto-based company might do next.
After Nintendo threw its latest curveball at the world with the surprise announcement of the Nintendo Switch OLED, sometimes it feels almost impossible to predict what the Kyoto-based company will do next. Multiple reports pointed towards the reveal of a Nintendo Switch Pro, one that would bring the console’s games into the world of 4K for the very first time, But as we should have expected by now, this wasn’t the case. Nintendo had its own ideas for the next Nintendo Switch model, and rather than address genuine problems like Joy-Con drift, improve the console’s graphical performance and increase battery life, we were instead presented with a modest upgrade of the original Switch. While it’s Nintendo’s sheer unpredictability that makes the company so special as a platform holder, it can also lead to untold frustration when the “Big N” stubbornly refuses to do what can often seem like the obvious thing. Sometimes it’s blue ocean strategy can lead to unprecedented success, like with the Wii. While at other times, we can’t help but wish Nintendo would take the easy option. So figuring out which direction Nintendo will go next isn’t easy. That’s why we put our most pressing questions to a Magic 8-Ball, a fountain of knowledge and someone who will always provide a “yes or no” answer. The outcomes are just as obscure (and hilarious) as you might expect. Magic 8-Ball says: Most Likely We couldn’t be happier with this answer. The recently announced Nintendo Switch OLED model was not the 4K Nintendo console we let ourselves believe was out there, but it sounds like the Nintendo Switch Pro might still be on its way. Unfortunately the wise Magic 8-Ball has kept us in the dark about what specs we could expect from the Nintendo Switch Pro. Many suspect the handheld will sport a full-HD OLED display, with the Switch Pro able to produce a 4K image while docked. It would likely have a more powerful processor too, and could even use Nvidia DLSS-like technology to boost its framerate. We’ll just have to wait and see. Magic 8-Ball says: Very doubtful Well, this has thrown us a bit. The Nintendo Switch has been widely successful because of its adaptability of being a home console and a portable system in one. But could Nintendo return to having a dedicated device that sits underneath your television? We’ve seen Nintendo release the Nintendo Switch Lite to address those who only play handheld, and the Nintendo Switch OLED doesn’t do anything to improve the experience when playing in TV mode – much to the annoyance of many – so maybe the idea of Nintendo creating a dedicated home console again isn’t as far fetched as it first seemed. Magic 8-Ball says: Don’t count on it This is probably one we could have answered on our own.
