Report Suggests Nintendo’s Upcoming Console Could Be A Hybrid Like Switch, Launching In 2024
Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are the leading players in the gaming industry. While Sony and Microsoft have already unveiled their latest consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, respectively, Nintendo is yet to announce its successor to the popular Nintendo Switch. However, recent reports suggest that Nintendo might be preparing to release its next-generation gaming console in the latter half of 2024.
VGC reports that multiple sources have indicated that Nintendo’s next big console will be released next year. The sources also stated that the next console will have a portable mode like the Nintendo Switch, making it a hybrid console. This means that it won’t be following in the footsteps of the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, instead going the way of the hugely successful Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo can also reduce costs by downgrading the current OLED screen of the Nintendo Switch OLED to a more cost-effective LCD panel in its next-gen console. According to sources, this is likely due to the high cost of large storage media required for most next-gen games. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S games can be over 150GB in size. For reference, the base model of the Nintendo Switch has 32 GB of storage. Also, Nintendo has undercut Microsoft and Sony’s consoles, and it’s possible they’ll do the same with their next console.
Sources also told VGC that the console would feature a physical cartridge slot – meaning users would be able to purchase physical games – just like the Nintendo Switch. However, it is not yet clear whether the hardware will support backwards compatibility, allowing users to play the huge library of both first- and third-party Nintendo Switch games.
Launched in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch became the third best-selling console of all time in February this year with 122.5 million copies. It has a large cult following thanks to first-party games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon games, and other classics like Metroid Prime Remastered. .
