Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

As a seasoned gamer and tech enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the prospect of a new Nintendo Switch is truly exciting! The potential for 4K visuals, improved battery life, and faster performance has me eagerly awaiting its release.


There’s been a lot of chatter about an impending announcement regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, and it appears we might be hearing something about it before the year ends. It’s unlikely there will be any news this month, but October or November are possible months for the reveal.

It’s still undecided what the new Nintendo console might be called, with some speculating it could be the Nintendo Switch 2. This idea certainly sounds intriguing.

While the company has never released a direct sequel for its consoles (Color TV-Game, NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Wii and Wii U), it’s worth noting that the Switch has achieved extraordinary success with over 143 million units sold. This strong performance suggests that the next hardware from this Japanese game maker will likely represent a significant advancement rather than just an evolution.

At the moment, there aren’t many significant Nintendo games coming up in the near future. While we do have Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and a few other notable titles, nothing major is planned for 2025. This suggests that the most anticipated games might be saved for the launch of the Switch 2, possibly including a new 3D Mario game.

Considering everything discussed, we now have a general sense of when further details might surface and an approximate timeline for the new console’s release. It’s been quite some time since the Switch OLED model hit the market, after all.

Here’s a summary of all the recent Nintendo Switch 2 updates compiled for your convenience. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for an official unveiling soon!

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 release? Our speculation

As a passionate Nintendo enthusiast here, I’m excited to share some inside scoop: I, a part of the Nintendo family as President, am looking forward to revealing our next big move for the successor to the beloved Nintendo Switch! It’s been nearly a decade since we first unveiled the Switch back in March 2015. Fasten your seatbelts, folks, because we’re about to embark on another exhilarating journey with a special Nintendo Direct broadcast… Stay tuned!

— 任天堂株式会社(企業広報・IR) (@NintendoCoLtd) May 7, 2024

Nintendo has all but confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will not be released before April 2025.

During a conference call with investors in May 2024, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that their projected earnings for the upcoming fiscal year (from April 2024 to March 2025) do not account for sales from any new gaming console. Furthermore, he mentioned that there has been no announcement regarding when the successor to the Switch will be released.

Earlier, the Japanese game developer announced on May 7, 2024 (through X) that they would make an announcement about the successor of the Nintendo Switch within the current fiscal year. This doesn’t reveal details about the device itself, but it does give us a timeline to look forward to.

Based on reports from various sources like Eurogamer and Bloomberg, it appears that Nintendo’s upcoming console was initially slated for a 2024 release but has since been postponed internally. Now, it looks like a 2025 launch is more likely. Given this information and their financial call remarks, we can speculate that the Nintendo Switch 2 might debut in April 2025. If history repeats itself, one could predict an unveiling event occurring around October or November 2024, as the first Nintendo Switch trailer was released in October 2017.

Nintendo Switch 2 rumours and leaks

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

The whispers and leaks surrounding the upcoming Nintendo Switch suggest that it could be an entirely new console instead of just an upgraded “Pro” model, which is often referred to as the Switch 2.

In September 2023, Eurogamer revealed that Nintendo covertly showcased the Switch 2 at Gamescom 2024 to a restricted group. The fortunate Nintendo associates were given a sneak peek of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running on the upgraded console’s more robust specifications, and it was mentioned that development kits have been distributed among some important partners.

According to a discussion on the Nate the Hate podcast (as reported by Nintendo Life), it appears that the technology demonstration of Breath of the Wild was running at an impressive 4K resolution with a smooth 60 frames per second, and moreover, they mentioned “load times had been eliminated.” This suggests that the upcoming Nintendo console might incorporate Solid State Drive (SSD) technology.

It was also claimed that the tech demo showcasing the targeted system specs is capable of running The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 demo at a similar level to PS5 and Xbox Series X. The console is said to be using DLSS 3.5, too.

How much will the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

With no official release date, there’s no confirmed price for the Nintendo Switch 2 either.

To predict what’s coming next, it’s frequently beneficial to examine what has transpired before. The most recent model from Nintendo is the Nintendo Switch OLED, released at a price of £309.99/$349.99 in October 2021. This was an uptick from the original Nintendo Switch’s price of £279.99/$299.99, which was set back in March 2017.

As a passionate movie-goer waiting eagerly for the sequel of my favorite gaming console, the Nintendo Switch, I can’t help but anticipate its arrival, which is roughly three years away. Given the trend, it’s safe to expect that with time comes an upgrade in both features and, likely, price.

In 2021, analyst Matthew Kanterman (via Bloomberg) indicated that the potential price point for the Nintendo Switch 2 might be around $400. He also expressed his belief that Nintendo could generate robust sales even at this price of $399.99.

Given that a PlayStation 5 retails at approximately £480 / $500 and Sony has announced their high-end PS5 Pro will sell for about £700 / $700, it’s not unreasonable to speculate that Nintendo might price their next console within the £400 range.

Although it won’t match the power of a PlayStation 5, the new model will nonetheless represent an improvement over existing Nintendo Switch versions. This inevitably results in increased production costs that eventually get passed onto consumers.

Thus, it appears we might expect a Nintendo Switch 2 priced at around £399.99 or $399.99. However, since no official announcement has been made yet, this remains merely speculative.

Nintendo Switch 2 specs news: How powerful will the next Nintendo console be?

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

Various speculations and whispers about potential features of the Nintendo Switch 2 have surfaced, ranging from enhanced resolutions like 4K, improved battery performance, larger storage capacity, addressing Joy-Con drifting issues, using both LCD and OLED screens, among others.

In September, an alleged ‘leak’ occurred, with pictures of what seems to be the forthcoming version of Nintendo Switch surfacing on Reddit. The images were said to have originated from a Chinese social media platform.

Later on, it turned out that the creator of those pictures was actually a passionate 3D designer and modeler, as reported by Eurogamer. This raises some questions about their authenticity, but regardless, they are definitely interesting to check out.

According to reports, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to boast several upgrades compared to its predecessor. These improvements include a larger screen (8 inches vs the original’s 6 inches), increased RAM capacity (12GB instead of 4GB), and more storage space (256GB as opposed to 32GB). Additionally, it is anticipated to support HDMI 2.1, USB-C ports, and magnetic Joy Cons. A source close to VGC confirmed these specifications, stating that Nintendo has shared this information with its business partners.

As a cinephile reviewing the latest gaming console, it seems that Nintendo has chosen an LCD screen for now, with plans to unveil an OLED model down the line. Anticipating this, the rumored Switch 2 boasts impressive resolutions – offering 1080p in handheld mode and a stunning 4K resolution when docked.

There’s talk about a potential addition of a secondary screen on top of the Switch 2, mimicking the design of the Nintendo DS. This concept is not widely discussed, but given Nintendo’s history of pushing boundaries in portable gaming, such an innovation would be surprising yet fitting.

In a competition held on Freelancer.com, a mock-up designed by Aiden L. from California stood out as the most creative and compelling representation of what the potential Switch 2 might appear like.

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

There’s been a bunch more rumours and reports over the years, which you can find below.

In May 2024, Android Authority compiled a report that gathered all the rumored specifications about the Switch 2, based on various leaks at the time. This included an analysis by Famiboards user LIC who scrutinized the shipping data and interactions between Nintendo, NVIDIA, and other relevant companies.

Based on all this stuff in the rumour mill, the following specifications were then established:

  • 12GB RAM – 7,500MT/s transfer (up from 4GB RAM on the Switch OLED)
  • 6GB LPDDR5X modules x2
  • 256GB UFS 3.1 Storage (up from 64GB on the Switch OLED)

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the enhancements coming with the Switch OLED model. While I may not be tech experts, the rumored boosts – such as a significant increase in RAM and storage capacity – are undeniably enticing improvements that have me eagerly looking forward to this upgrade.

If we suppose that there’s a general improvement in hardware capabilities across devices, it’s tempting to imagine that the hypothetical Nintendo Switch 2 could potentially run significantly more advanced games with enhanced graphics compared to its predecessor. This assumption holds if the rumors are validated and our expectations are indeed fulfilled.

Additional information was disclosed by the well-known source, CentroLeaks, suggesting that the potential successor to the Nintendo Switch might boast an 8-inch screen (an inch larger than the Switch OLED model). A fan-created prototype of this hypothetical design has been circulated online.

Using leaked components, we’ve created an approximate model of the anticipated size of the Switch 2, placed alongside the original Switch and SteamDeck for comparison. (This model was shared by mjayer on famiboards.)

— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) May 9, 2024

As a film enthusiast, I subsequently disclosed further information through the Brazilian streamer, TvPH. Of course, it’s important to approach this news with a dose of skepticism.

According to reports from tvPH in Brazil, there’s a potential leak suggesting that the new Nintendo Switch 2 might hit the market as early as March 2025. Further details are expected to surface this fall, and it’s possible we’ll see more remastered games announced around that time too. This is the same source who accurately leaked the console’s internal delay to next year previously.

— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) May 7, 2024

A well-recognized data analyst, often referred to as OatmealDone, has uncovered indications of a novel Switch dock capable of delivering 4K graphics. This speculation appears to gain credence from Animal Crossing World, an online community managed by fans, who noticed some recently published screenshots from Nintendo that seemed to be captured in 4K quality.

4K resolution might become achievable through the use of Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS), a technology that leverages machine learning to scale up from a lower internal resolution to Ultra High Definition (UHD) output. This is assuming Nintendo continues to use Nvidia, which seems likely.

The current Switch has 32GB storage, while the OLED has 64GB. The battery life has already been improved on the Switch from 6.5 hours to nine in the last update, too. Could the Switch 2 perhaps get us to 10 hours? We can only hope.

The upcoming console is likely to retain its twin gaming feature, similar to what the Switch is known for, enabling you to enjoy games either on your television or portably, like a handheld device.

There’s speculation suggesting that the Switch 2 may continue using cartridges and be capable of running older games as well. It’s widely expected that the Nintendo Switch 2 will perform more efficiently and swiftly than its original counterpart, regardless of how you prefer to play your games. Some enthusiasts are hoping for a built-in SSD storage upgrade, which could significantly reduce loading times.

It appears that another possibility is a fitness tracker, similar to those available on smartphones, which suggests that the highly successful Ring Fit Adventure series may continue to be a main focus for Nintendo in the future – an outcome that is certainly unsurprising.

According to Bloomberg’s report from January 2024, the upcoming console will debut with an LCD screen instead of an OLED one initially. This might lead to an unusual scenario where the graphics on the next-generation Nintendo Switch could appear less sharp in handheld mode compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Absolutely certain is the fact that the upcoming Nintendo console will incorporate the Nintendo Account. President Shuntaro Furukawa intends to facilitate an effortless shift for consumers from Nintendo Switch to the new generation console, utilizing the Nintendo Account as a bridge. (Source: Genki_JPN)

Hopefully, the collection of classic games on Nintendo Switch Online will persist onto the next console and keep growing.

Should I wait to buy a Nintendo Switch 2?

Nintendo Switch 2 release date speculation: News, rumours and expected specs

If you’re deciding between purchasing a Nintendo Switch now or waiting for the Switch 2, it really hinges on your eagerness to dive into some of the best games the current console offers.

Are you content to wait for the potential release of the Switch 2, which might happen between April 2025 and beyond? Since there’s a possibility that the Switch 2 will be able to play all Switch games, it means you wouldn’t be left behind if this turns out to be true.

It’s important to mention that Nintendo rarely reduces the price of its hardware, so you won’t find substantial savings whether you buy the Switch 2 on release or in three years. This applies to the current Switch, which is still priced at £279.99/$299.99, just as it was back in 2017.

It’s fortunate when certain deals include a game or two, and sometimes retailers reduce prices a bit. If you’re eager to play Tears of the Kingdom or can’t wait for Princess Peach Showtime, it might be more advantageous for you to go ahead and get a current-generation Switch right now.

If not, there’s probably less than a year until the Switch 2 hits store shelves.

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2024-09-24 18:06