The Nintendo Switch has been a massive hit since its release six years ago, and gamers and experts are already looking forward to its replacement, which has been unofficially named “Switch 2.”
Even though Nintendo hasn’t said anything, we know from industry insiders and rumours about when the new console might come out, what hardware improvements it might have, and how it might change the game world.
The hybrid success wave
When it came out in March 2017, the original Switch changed how computer games were played with its unique hybrid design. It switched smoothly from a home machine to a portable handheld device, making it available to more people and causing sales to skyrocket. The Switch became Nintendo’s second-best-selling device, behind only the famous Nintendo DS, thanks to its unique approach that gamers liked.
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The Switch has an effect that goes beyond sales. It helped Nintendo keep up strong sales over the years, thanks to a steady stream of highly acclaimed first-party games with well-known characters like Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon. These series are consistently among the Switch’s best-sellers, strengthening Nintendo’s place in the gaming market.
It’s time to start over.
Even though the Switch is still trendy, there are signs that sales may be slowing down. Nintendo’s September 2023 quarter numbers showed that sales and profits fell 4% and 19% year-over-year, respectively. Because of this change, experts think that 2024 might be the year for a new system that will help Nintendo’s hardware sales again.
Possible date for the release
Experts in the field have different ideas about when the Switch 2 will come out. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, thinks it will come out in the second half of 2024 because the original Switch is getting old, and sales are decreasing. Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis thinks the launch will happen in the fourth quarter, while Atul Goyal of Jefferies thinks the launch date could be more open depending on how well the product sells during the holiday season. If Switch sales stay high, the game could come out in the fall of 2024. But if sales drop a lot, it might be time to start earlier, in the spring or summer.
Making money off of character popularity
A possible start in 2024 would time itself to take advantage of how popular Nintendo’s main characters were at the time. The “Super Mario Bros. Movie” made more than $1 billion at the box office, which helped Nintendo make more money in the June 2023 quarter. The company also said it would make a live-action movie based on The Legend of Zelda, which made people even more interested in these classic titles. Along with these movie projects, the arrival of a new console could create a powerful synergy that brings both old and new fans to the Nintendo ecosystem.
What to look forward to with the Switch 2
Analysts think Switch 2 will continue the hybrid console tradition that Switch started. However, there are few public details yet. “I expect Nintendo’s next console to be a Switch follow-up, building upon the success of the hybrid approach,” he says. He also thinks that the processing power and controller skills will get better. Toto from Kantan Games thinks the new system will be a “new device and not just an upgrade.” He says this to stress the importance of significant hardware improvements after seven years.
This focus on development fits with how tech companies like Apple do business. By making a version of Switch that is familiar and powerful, Nintendo can get current Switch users used to the new system while attracting new users with great first-party and third-party games. Analysts at Moffett Nathanson say this method might be like the “iPhone model,” which gives current users a straightforward way to upgrade while keeping a tight grip on the market.
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Possible sales and the long-term effects
People have different ideas about how well the Switch 2 will do in the market. Harding-Rolls thinks its success will depend on how easy it is to get, and it could sell as many units as the first Switch did in its first quarter on sale (around 7-8 million). However, Moffett Nathanson analysts are still determining if the Switch can be topped in terms of general success. They say that the current console’s huge sales are due to people wanting more home entertainment choices because of the pandemic. It is expected that the Switch 2 will perform as well as or better than the original Switch, but it might take a lot of work to keep up those numbers over time.
Finally, a new chapter for Nintendo
Nintendo is about to start an exciting new era with the possible release of the Switch 2 in 2024. The Switch 2 could build on the considerable success of its predecessor by adding more computer power, better controllers, and more support for the hybrid console experience. The exact release date and sales numbers are still unknown, but word in the industry is that Nintendo is getting ready to keep being the leader in handheld and home system games.