We’re expecting a Nintendo Switch Pro at some point – but what can we expect from a Nintendo Switch Pro or new Nintendo Switch?
Even though a Nintendo Switch Pro never came to be, rumors of a 4K Switch refuse to go away. The Japanese company recently announced the Nintendo Switch OLED, a pleasing upgrade over the original console that comes with a bigger screen, a redesigned kickstand, more internal storage, better speakers, and a striking OLED display. But when it comes to power, the Nintendo Switch OLED is exactly the same as the original Nintendo Switch released in March 2017. The console displays at 1080p when docked, and 720p in handheld mode. That news came as a disappointment to many, as the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X has only served to highlight the performance gap between Nintendo’s console which is approaching its fifth anniversary. 4K TVs are now the standard in many homes, too, which makes the Switch’s 1080p output look noticeable soft on most 4K displays. Demand for a Nintendo Switch Pro is certainly there, then, but will we ever see a 4K Switch? Here’s everything you need to know about Nintendo’s elusive 4K console. The Nintendo Switch Pro was rumored to launch instead of the Nintendo Switch OLED, which arrives on October 8,2021. Now, though, the existence of a Pro console has come into question, as the Nintendo Switch OLED includes many of the leaked specs that were supposed to be included in the Switch Pro. Bloomberg predicted a Nintendo Switch Pro console would have a release date around September or October this year, which surprised many at the time. Instead, that release date belongs to the OLED model, however, a release date of March 2022 was hinted at, which could still come to be if Nintendo did announce a Nintendo Switch Pro. Obviously redesigns cost money, and redesigns with improved hardware doubly so. The Nintendo Switch Pro, with its updated and more powerful hardware, will almost definitely cost more than the current Switch’s £279 / $299 / AU$449 pricing. The Nintendo Switch OLED is already a more premium model and will launch at $349.99 / £309 / AU$539. Thankfully this isn’t a huge step up from the original Switch’s asking price and is less than the $399 price tag that was predicted by some. For comparison, the PS4 Pro was $100 more than the PS4. As a family-focused company, we’d be surprised if the Nintendo Switch Pro came in at the same price as PS5 and Xbox Series X, $499 / £449 / $AU749, but it will be more expensive than the Nintendo Switch OLED nonetheless. Nintendo denies the existence of Nintendo Switch Pro after new reports Bloomberg has once again reported that a Nintendo Switch Pro is indeed real, and has claimed that 11 different game studios had access to an official development kit that featured 4K support. The console was apparently shelved due to supply issues caused by the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, though it could still be released. Nintendo, however, has moved swiftly to deny these claims. In a post on Twitter, Nintendo said that Bloomberg’s report “falsely claims that Nintendo is supply tools to drive game developers for a Nintendo Switch with 4K support”, the company went on to say “we have no plans for any new model other than Nintendo Switch OLED Model”. A Nintendo Switch Pro could still be in the works According to Tokyo-based analyst Serkan Toto, a Nintendo Switch Pro could still happen. Toto has suggested that the Switch OLED might be a “dummy upgrade” before a real upgrade arrives next year. Speaking to Bloomberg, Toto said: “This new Switch looks more like an interim model than a real upgrade to me,” Toto told Bloomberg. “This might just be a dummy upgrade until Breath Of The Wild 2 is ready and the component shortage is over next year.” The Nintendo Switch OLED has been announced The Nintendo Switch OLED (which was supposed to be the Nintendo Switch Pro) has been announced by Nintendo. In an announcement trailer posted to the official Nintendo YouTube channel, we got our first glimpse of the hardware improvements that are coming. Obviously, the display will be enhanced and take advantage of OLED technology to deliver an amazing picture with vivid colors and impressive contrast. The Switch OLED’s screen will also be slightly bigger (7-inches as opposed to 6.2-inches) and the internal sound system is getting a boost. If you like downloading games you’ll be able to take advantage of 64GB of internal storage, and those who like gaming online can use the new Nintendo Switch dock’s Ethernet port which is built in. The Nintendo Switch OLED does not support 4K gaming while docked as was expected of the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro, and outputs at 720p in handheld mode. Where is the Nintendo Switch Pro? Now that June 3 has been and gone, the imminent announcement of a Nintendo Switch Pro seems less likely. Nintendo is also hosting its own event during E3 on June 15, so it could make the announcement then. Either way, we’ll be keeping an eye out for any news should it appear. Nintendo Switch preorders might go live on June 4 Preorders for the Nintendo Switch Pro could go live on June 4 according to a tweet from prominent Pokémon leaker CentroLeaks. A date of June 30 has also been suggested, but CentroLeaks believes that this was likely a placeholder. This date doesn’t sound too farfetched, considering the Nintendo Switch Pro could be revealed on June 3. Nintendo Switch Pro announced could take place on June 3 We could get a Nintendo Switch Pro announcement as soon as June 3, according to one of the hosts of the Xbox Era podcast. Nick Baker believes that Nintendo will reveal the new console on Thursday June 3; however, he noted that the date could be pushed back, as it has been before. The reveal would line up with Bloomberg’s report, which tipped the console to be announced before E3 takes place. Nintendo Switch Pro to be revealed before E3 We might see Nintendo’s new Nintendo Switch before E3, according to sources at Bloomberg. The console could be announced ahead of June 12 so that publishers can show off upcoming games, and a release date is tipped for as early as October. Nintendo Switch Pro confirmed? OLED firm Universal Display Corp might have inadvertently revealed that a Nintendo Switch Pro is indeed on the way, as a recent transcription of an investors call by the company made mention of a “new Switch Pro” and its choice of OLED as its screen. Universal Display Corp CEO Steven V. Abramson stated during the investors call: “… Nintendo has selected an OLED screen for the new Switch Pro due to OLED benefits of higher contrast and faster response times.” This our best proof yet that a new Nintendo Switch is indeed on the way, but it’s still unclear what form it will take. Nintendo Switch Pro in doubt Nintendo has ramped up Nintendo Switch production as it aims to shift 30m units this fiscal year, according to Nikkei Asia. This is an unusual move when a company is set to release new hardware, particularly if its set to replace an existing model, and it’s clear that Nintendo thinks that the Nintendo Switch has plenty of life in it yet. Dataminer strikes gold? A data miner known as SciresM has claimed (via Wccftech) that they have found reference to a new Nintendo Switch model within the Switch’s latest firmware update, codenamed ‘Aula’. Reportedly, this hardware uses the same chip as the Nintendo Switch Lite and 2019 Switch model, the Mariko (Tegra X1+) SoC. However, SciresM also claims that there are references to support for a Realtek chip which is a “4K UHD multimedia SoC”. Rather than being within the Switch tablet, they think that it “might be inside a new dock and not inside the tablet, though, there’s no way to tell from the firmware code yet.” They also say that the tablet itself will have an improved OLED screen, though what resolution it’ll offer is still unclear. The claims of some kind of 4K support do line up with the many other reports from the past year which claim that an upgraded Switch capable of 4K is on the horizon. Of course, there’s been no confirmation from Nintendo itself that a new Switch is on the cards and, in fact, Doug Bowser has made comments very recently that suggest there might not be for some time. With that in mind, we’re still taking this with a pinch of salt. Analysts think it’s still on the cards Despite Doug Bowser’s recent comments, industry analysts still seem to think that there could be an upgraded Nintendo Switch on the cards for 2021. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Dr Serkan Toto of Kantan Games and Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis said they think the console is on the horizon.
