Been not-so-patiently waiting for Nintendo to make the next big move? Well, folks, the day we've all been holding our breath for has arrived:
Nintendo has finally let the cat out of the bag about their plans for a shiny new Switch console!
The Big Switch 2 Reveal Is Coming Soon
In a surprise announcement that sent shockwaves through the gaming world, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa revealed that the company will unveil the long-rumored Nintendo Switch 2 on March 31st, 2025, before the end of this fiscal year.
That means we're just months away from getting all the juicy details!
The announcement posted on X has got fans giddy with excitement.
Before you get too excited, Furukawa-san made it clear that the upcoming June Nintendo Direct event is strictly software-focused.
According to the X post, the CEO noted that "there will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during that presentation."
This is Furukawa, President of Nintendo. We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year. It will have been over nine years since we announced the existence of Nintendo Switch back in March 2015. We will be holding a Nintendo Direct…
— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) May 7, 2024
No Switch 2 news will be shared then, as Nintendo wants to keep that powder dry for a separate, dedicated Switch 2 announcement between now and early 2025.
Still, we can start making some educated guesses about what to expect based on past Nintendo console launches and the rumor mill's musings:
The Timing Tells a Tale
If Nintendo sticks to their usual playbook, the Switch 2 reveal will likely happen this fall, potentially followed by an early 2025 launch, just like the original Switch rolled out in March 2017 after an October 2016 announcement. Bloomberg whispers point to a March 2025 release date.
The million (actually multi-billion) dollar question is just how powerful this new system will be compared to the current Switch and its beefy competitors like the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Most expect a nice bump in graphical horsepower, but probably not enough to go toe-to-toe with Sony and Microsoft's heavy hitters. After all, the Switch's versatility as a hybrid console is its killer feature.
New Functions on Deck?
Then there's the potential for cool new functionality beyond just pure graphics muscle.
Will the Switch 2 have an updated form factor? New control options? Improved battery life?
Maybe they'll finally make the kickstand not feel like an afterthought! Your guess is as good as mine at this point.
Nintendo has us all on the edge of our seats in anticipation. 2024 is shaping up to be the calm before the storm as we brace for the Switch 2 tsunami to make landfall finally.
Sales Slowing for Aging Switch
It's no surprise that Nintendo is preparing a Switch upgrade. Sales of the original Switch have cooled off after that blistering pandemic-fueled run of mind-boggling numbers.
Nintendo only expects to sell 13.5 million Switches this fiscal year, down from 16 million last year. An all-new system is just what the doctor ordered to reinvigorate sales.
And let's not forget the external forces at play here. Both Sony and Microsoft are said to be preparing mid-cycle upgrades to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
You can bet your bottom dollar that Nintendo wants to come out swinging with the Switch 2 rather than being left behind on performance.
There are still so many unanswered questions at this point. But one thing is clear: the Nintendo Switch 2 release date announcement is coming, and it's going to be one for the history books.