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Nintendo Switch Pro: all the rumours surrounding Nintendo’s worst-kept secret

AL

by Alison Lam

AL

by Alison Lam

An upgraded Nintendo Switch – dubbed the Nintendo Switch Pro – is all but confirmed. Here’s everything there is to know about the powered-up console.

As a producer of top-tier consoles that have rocked generations, no one can stay silent whenever new rumours of a new Nintendo gadget surface. That’s why all eyes are on Nintendo as they remain mysteriously quiet on any updates regarding the Nintendo Switch Pro – or whatever it may be called.

Almost as a counterattack to the radio silence, countless rumours have been spread – and some subsequently debunked – in the digital world. Nintendo isn’t the only one to experience this – anyone who has looked forward to a console, such as the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S in recent times, should be familiar with this.

In fact, there’s so much information floating about the internet that it can be hard to figure out what’s true and what’s not. So without further ado, let’s dig right into the nitty gritty details of everything that’s been said about the impending, so-called Nintendo Switch Pro.

Nintendo Switch Pro

A quick rundown on what’s happened so far

Rumours of a new Nintendo console first came to light in early 2019, which is coincidentally the same year the Nintendo Switch Lite was released. During this time, Wall Street Journal published an article interviewing several of the “parts suppliers and software developers” related to the hardware.

Meanwhile in Nintendo’s home country of Japan, Gamepedia was also a key source that perpetuated similar gossip surrounding a more powerful Nintendo Switch. The rumours spread like wildfire, but because Nintendo kept their mouth tightly shut and subsequently released the Switch Lite, they died down almost as quickly as they arrived.

But the kindling embers of the Nintendo Switch Pro didn’t settle. Instead, they were fanned into a new, frenzied wave in 2020.

Nintendo Switch Pro

What happened? Doug Bowser, the president of Nintendo America, stated that “the momentum on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite in the fourth year is strong. And we believe we’re changing the trajectory of another typical console life cycle”.

He continued on, saying that 2020 was the “midpoint of this life cycle”, which implied that a new Switch, or at least an upgraded version, was in the works.

That takes us to 2021. Earlier this year in March, everybody was buzzing with excitement when Bloomberg hinted that a new Nintendo Switch console would have a 4K output as well as an OLED screen based on orders from OLED screen suppliers, Samsung. At this point, onlookers were pretty much fed up by the seemingly unending flow of speculation.

However, the latest rumour is slightly different from the rest. In May 2021, the CEO of Universal Display Corporation, Steven V. Abramson made some interesting remarks in their recent Q1 2021 Earnings Conference Call – you can read the full transcript here. Spawn Wave Media highlighted a particular segment, which said:

“The OLED IT market is burgeoning with the launch of new products…And in the gaming market, there are reports for the first time Nintendo has selected an OLED screen for the new Switch Pro due to OLED benefits of higher contrast and faster response times.”

That line alone spurred on millions of people worldwide to renew speculation surrounding Nintendo’s upcoming console. What was groundbreaking wasn’t the fact that another OLED theory had surfaced, but the fact that a reputable, genuine company made the reveal.

Sifting out the fact and fiction on the Nintendo Switch Pro

While it’s all well and good to become excited reading various bits of information surrounding Nintendo’s newest console, it’s also important to bear in mind that rumours are, well, rumours. Despite several reputable companies dropping hints on the current status of the Nintendo Switch Pro, the company themself hasn’t even uttered a syllable.

Well, almost. Nintendo recently published its corporate management policy brief, which gave some insight into the possibility of a new console. It reads:

“We are also advancing the development of services based on our Nintendo Account program… By creating a positive cycle with services and content founded on our integrated hardware-software model.”

“We hope to create positive long-term relationships and increase our points of contact with even more customers.”

So what is true at the moment? The short answer is nothing – aside from the fact that Nintendo is deadset on maintaining their radio silence. Since representatives from the company haven’t communicated anything to the public, unfortunately you’ll have to sit tight and wait for Nintendo to officially announce the details.

But that doesn’t mean we completely wipe its existence away from our minds – there is a bit of truth hidden in every rumour, right?

While there were some sources that are legitimate, the truth still eludes us. Not even the name is clear, though most are dubbing the new console as the ‘Nintendo Switch Pro’. ‘Nintendo Switch 2’ is also another popular alternative.

There is an optimistic side, for so long as Nintendo doesn’t name-drop, anything is game. Literally.

The recent slip-up from the CEO of Universal Display Corporation during an online conference for stakeholders confirmed previous rumours going about. These claimed that the Nintendo Switch Pro would utilise a 7″ OLED screen.

There were also theories insinuating 4K via HDMI and a handheld 720p resolution would be supported by the console. Backwards compatibility as well as a brand new Nvidia chipset complete with DLSS tech were also on the agenda.

However, these features have not had any substantial evidence backing them up and remain fiction – for now.

When will it all be revealed?

Many are hoping that since rumours are currently at its peak, Nintendo will announce some information surrounding their new console at the largest gaming expo of the year – E3 2021. Nintendo have already confirmed their involvement in the June event.

Even the slightest indication of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ regarding the development of the Nintendo Switch Pro would be greatly appreciated. If anything is revealed, we will update this article with the new information.

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