Nintendo could release its heavily rumored new version of the Switch in September or October, according to a report by Bloomberg. Manufacturing is reportedly planned to start as soon as July, and Bloomberg says the system may be announced before the E3 trade show, which kicks off in virtual form on June 12th.
News first surfaced about an upgraded Switch as far back as 2018, with the rumor being that Nintendo would swap out the LCD display for an OLED model. The latest leaks point to a “Switch Pro” (or whatever it’s called) with a 7-inch 720p OLED screen and NVIDIA Tegra graphics with DLSS that will allow it to output 4K to a TV.
The Switch has gone largely unchanged since it debuted, though it was quietly upgraded with longer battery life in 2019 and Nintendo brought out the Switch Lite the same year. As with other electronic devices, the current Switch model has been hard to find due to shortages in key parts like memory and processors. However, Nintendo’s suppliers are reportedly “confident” that they can fulfill orders for the next-gen Switch despite those issues.
“Production lines are better prepared for the potential component shake-up and the parts Nintendo is using are subject to less competition than those in its rivals’ more powerful consoles,” Bloomberg’s report states. “Still, the company’s ability to meet consumer demand won’t be guaranteed.”
