A new rumor making the rounds on the Internet points to Nintendo working on an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch that will launch in early 2019.
Mid-gen console upgrades were popularized this generation with the PlayStation 4 Pro and the Xbox One X, which both offer additional horsepower and improved visuals. Now a new rumor making the rounds on the Internet points to Nintendo creating a similar, upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch.
The rumor seems to stem from supposed “industry insider” Marcus Sellars, who is known for starting rumors and supposedly “leaking” information on Twitter. In since-deleted tweets, Sellars claims the upgraded Nintendo Switch will release in early 2019 with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and “dynamic scaling” that will let it output 4k resolution. Sellars also claims that this upgraded Switch will have some exclusive games that won’t be available on the standard version of the console, pointing to the Resident Evil 2 remake as an example, and that it will support streaming services like Twitch.
It should go without saying that this rumor should be taken with a massive grain of salt. Sellars may have been accurate about some leaks in the past, but he’s also been known to leak unverified information that has been fed to him by users trying to out him as a fraud. A lot of his “leaks” have also been proven false, like his claim that Black Ops 4 would be on the Switch, for example.
There are a couple of things that make this particular rumor hard to believe. First off, it seems highly unlikely that Nintendo will launch an upgraded version of the Switch in early 2019. It’s true that the original Switch released in March of 2017, but typically, Nintendo would want to schedule the release of a new console around the holiday season to maximize its sales potential. Furthermore, if an upgraded Switch capable of 4k visuals was set to launch in early 2019, it seems as though Nintendo would have announced it already, or at least hinted at its existence in an official capacity.
Another reason why this rumor is hard to believe is due to the claim that the upgraded Switch will support Twitch streaming. In the past, Nintendo has flat-out said that game streaming is “not fun,” and has never indicated that it plans on incorporating it in their consoles. Game streaming could have been a selling point for its paid online service that’s coming at the end of September, but since we haven’t heard any mention of it, it seems unlikely Nintendo is planning to jump on the bandwagon.
Is it possible Nintendo is planning to release an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch for release in early 2019? It seems unlikely, but anything is possible. However, if Nintendo was planning to release an upgraded Switch, one would imagine it would release closer to the PS5 and Xbox Scarlet as a way of disrupting its competition.
The Nintendo Switch is in stores now.
