As Nintendo Switch 2 rumours grow, what can we expect?

Nearly seven years following the launch of the original Nintendo Switch, the system's success has reached heights few could have predicted. Now the second-best gaming console of all time as noted by Digital Trends, a follow-up to the Switch was inevitable. Its unusual place within the gaming space also means industry professionals are increasingly confident in predicting the direction and features of what we're tentatively calling the Switch 2.

Rumors from a reliable gaming news leaker have stated that a Switch 2 is currently likely approaching a 2024 release. This is bolstered by news about possible showcases to developers, reports from Nvidia insiders and hardware companies working with Nintendo to expand operations. Though the launch date isn't consolidated by any means, indications seem to place expectations within the next year or two.

Nintendo's ultra popular Switch console

Noting Nintendo’s path

Nintendo found its success in home gaming (ignoring its roots in playing cards), through tackling both arms of the market – handheld and console systems. The Game Boy dominated the handheld space when it first launched in 1989 and the Famicom (later redesigned as the NES in the West) found success in the console space in 1983.

The decades that followed saw Nintendo continue to rule the handheld space, though its success in consoles was more mixed. Sony’s PlayStation line and Microsoft’s Xbox platforms often outperformed their console generation equivalent from Nintendo. This was especially the case with the PS2, which remains the best-selling platform of all time.

Adding complications to Nintendo's mix was the company's willingness to experiment outside of the norm. The Wii demonstrated success in this approach, beating its competitors in the 7th console generation by around 20 million sold. This was followed by a bomb in the Wii U, which sold around 85 million fewer units than the original Wii.

The Switch took a much more calculated risk that consolidated Nintendo’s experience across both the handheld and console space. We’ve touched on this before at MaltaToday and the system's only become more popular. A huge part of this success comes from how the Switch acts as a dual console and handheld system.

This revolutionary approach allowed the Switch to combine both its handheld and console game series into one lineup. Everything Nintendo built is now on one platform, providing confidence in a further direction. The Switch 2 has opened Pandora's box, and the company knows it would take a huge hit if it were to again separate its games into two platforms.

The direction of the Switch 2

The first of the most likely directions of the Switch 2 is a focus on the compatibility of games from the Switch 1 on the Switch 2. Nintendo has explored this direction before with the 3DS and New 3DS, where the updated platform offered many last-gen games with better performance and features. It’s also likely that many new titles will launch cross-gen, at least for the first few years.

Aiding in the performance of new games will be a much more powerful chipset. The Tegra X1 which acts as a basis for the first Switch was originally released in 2015, so an update to this aging technology could significantly boost performance potential. It won’t match the PS5 or Xbox Series, but it will undoubtedly be a significant step up, likely somewhere in the range of a Steam Deck or better.

The last major update we expect is better general online functionality and bonus systems, both areas where Nintendo lacks behind its competitors. Internet browser access is important here, and so far only Microsoft has leveraged their console in this regard. Bonuses as per the Game Pass and PSPlus also don't have a strong answer in Nintendo's platform. Broad browser access could hit two birds with one stone in this regard. Consider the types of websites and services listed on CasinoReviews.

With proper browser support, browsing casino websites, collecting bonuses like free spins and deposit matches, and playing the included game would open up a huge range of opportunities where none existed before. This would appeal to both better online and bonus support, should Nintendo choose to take this route.

Hitting a curveball

The big caveat with Nintendo is that, while there is precedent and a direction that the industry is heading towards, the company also likes to set its own tone. We might see them try to reinvent the wheel again and there’s no telling where that could lead. Whatever the case, it won’t be long until we find out more.