It seems like the Nintendo Switch has barely been out for any time at all, and we're already talking about its successor. I know that the Wii U's life was cut relatively short by its chilly reception, but the Switch has received a ton of plaudits. Despite these, Ninty are already looking to replace it, according to current rumors. No one seems entirely sure as to whether the next console is going to be a proper, fully-fledged new console, or an update to the Switch. In my mind, however, the latter seems far more likely. The Switch hasn't been out that long in the grand scheme of things, and replacing it completely would just seem bananas.
The thing is, while it's a great console, there is still much room for improvement. It's never going to win the console war of this generation, but it could definitely score some more fans if it upgraded just a few crucial things. In this article, we're going to take a look at current rumors, to show you 15 things that the next Switch is thought to have. As well as this, we're also going to pitch 10 features that we think it really needs, if it's going to have a chance at growing its audience much. Are there any features that you'd particularly like to see on the next Switch? Anything that you think desperately needs to be changed? You can let us know in the comments, as always, we love to hear from you!
25 Theory: It Will Be An Upgraded Version Of The Switch
It wouldn't be outlandish to suggest that Nintendo are planning a hardware upgrade for the Switch. Sony and Microsoft brought out mid-gen upgrades in the form of the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One S, and it would make more sense than an entirely new console. Recently, some hackers dug into the new 5.0 firmware's code and discovered something rather interesting. While the update didn't seem to do much on the surface, it included references to a new T214 chip, a new circuit board, and eight gigs of RAM, as opposed to the current four.
24 Theory: There Will Be A Handheld-Only Version
Rumors about this particular SKU have been floating around since last year, but it doesn't seem unlikely. Were Nintendo to cut out the dock, they would be able to slash manufacturing prices and also capture a big part of the ailing handheld market. While I wouldn't try and put a price on this kind of deal, analysts have already had a pop, and come out with the figure of $199. If this were to come to pass, it would be a very decent price for some excellent hardware.
23 Needs: Better Battery Life
This is especially true if it's handheld-only, as we mentioned above. While the battery life of the current switch can, theoretically, last six hours, if you're planning on playing a graphically-intense game on the bus/plane/train, etc, you'd better hope it's a short journey. When playing something like Smash, you can expect two or so hours. Ideally, the minimum would be about six, and the maximum around ten, to truly make it a portable powerhouse. This is far from impossible, I just hope the bigger batteries wouldn't result in a higher price, too.
22 Theory: It Almost Certainly Won't Have VR
Unlike Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo don't seem at all interested in this whole VR thing. Sure, it's going to get a Labo headset, but a full-fledged PSVR style thing? Definitely not. Nintendo have expressed no interest in this, and no leaks point towards it at all. In a way, I don't really mind: VR is still quite divisive among gamers, so if Nintendo simply want to focus on putting out more interesting games, more power to them, let others take on that mammoth task.
21 Theory: It Could Feature Stereoscopic 3D
If you thought that Ninty were done with 3D after the somewhat muted reaction to the 3DS, then think again! The Patent Office recently released a patent filed by Nintendo back in 2018, and shows how a home console could produce 3D images through a regular old TV. A sensor would be put on top of the screen, which would track users' heads, while two images would be superimposed on each other to create a 3D effect. If the head-tracking is good enough, this could be truly revolutionary, eliminating all those annoying issues the 3DS had with lines of sight.
20 Needs: A Full-HD Screen
If Nintendo really are gearing up to do a Switch Pro, please, please, please let there be a full HD screen. I know that the current 720p screen is perfectly serviceable, but in an era where phones have ludicrous resolutions and 4K TVs are becoming commonplace, it seems like a bizarre half-measure. Throw a 1080p panel in the console, and we'd truly be living in the 2010s, instead of the mid-2000s. While this might put up the price a tiny bit, it shouldn't cost too much if made in bulk.
19 Theory: It Will Have 4K Support, Kind Of
Not exactly surprising given my rant just a moment ago, but the idea of a Switch Pro upscaling Breath of the Wild to glorious 4K will have to stay a fantasy for now. Despite this, 4K is, according to some sources, not entirely absent from the Switch revision. While games won't be able to be played in 4K, it will be able to play 4K video content, so if you want to use it to watch videos on your brand-new, shiny 4K TV, then go nuts.
18 Theory: It Will Release This Year
The Nintendo Switch 2 is looking like it will emerge in the second half of 2019, according to none other than the Wall Street Journal. While it's not certain, suppliers to Nintendo, and other companies in the know, say that they are getting close to production. The upgrades, according to them, are going to include a new LCD screen, better hardware, and new software functionality. As the Switch first came out just over two years ago, it seems about the right time for the revision to make its debut.
17 Theory: The Screen WILL Get An Upgrade
It seems pretty certain that the Switch's screen will get an upgrade, it's just no one seems to know in exactly what respects yet. Nothing has been said about resolution, but what has been mentioned is the type of screen it will use. At present, the Switch uses cheap LCD tech, but according to the earlier sources, this will be improved. It could either get a better LCD screen, or, potentially, jump all the way up to an OLED. If they wanted a loss-leader, that would be it.
16 Needs: More On-board Storage
While physical copies go some way towards making the most out of the Switch's meager 32GB of on-board storage, it's not really good enough nowadays. Sure, you can put an SD card in, but why should that be something that you have to fork out for? SSDs are cheap enough that someone like Nintendo should be able to put 250GB+ capacity drives into their console. I'm not asking for terabytes, but 32GB is paltry, plain and simple, and it should be remedied.
15 Theory: A New Chip-set Will Be Powering It
At present, the Switch runs on the Nvidia Tengra, which is a perfectly fine chip-set, but if Nintendo want to eke out two more years of life from the console, an upgrade could be in order. According to Digital Foundry, the Tengra X2 would be a good replacement, and is already being produced. Another possibility for the revision would see the Tengra chip paired with the GP106 from a GTX 1060. If the rumors of a 'power dock' are true, then we could see some truly spectacular graphics on the Switch revision.
14 Needs: Lighter Weight
This is particularly important if the Switch really is going to have a handheld-only SKU. While it weighs in at just under 300 grams, which isn't heavy by any means, many phones weigh in at about a third of that. Of course, given the Switch's size, it's not going to get down to quite those numbers, but 300g is just slightly too heavy to comfortably carry around at all times. If it could cut down to around 200, it would be that bit more comfortable.
13 Theory: The Amount Of RAM Will Be Doubled
To go along with that more powerful chip-set, the Switch revision will also be getting a RAM upgrade, according to the leaked firmware information that we discussed earlier. The amount would double from four to eight gigabytes, allowing for far better frame-rates and multitasking on the Switch revision. Seeing as the laptop I bought over ten years ago had four gigs of RAM in it, I don't think that's asking too much. RAM is also pretty cheap, so this shouldn't affect the price of the new unit too badly.
12 Needs: A Price Cut
Late last year, I bought a PS4 Pro after umming and erring on whether or not to. Finally, I decided to grab one around Black Friday when they were going cheap. The crazy thing is that if I wanted a PS4 or an Xbox One S, I could have got one for about $50 less than I would have paid for the Nintendo Switch. The price still being so high is an absolutely insane move on Nintendo's part, and it's about time that the Switch's price got cut down by about a third.
11 Theory: It Will Have A Smaller Screen
While the resolution might be going up, all signs point to the revision actually having a smaller screen. As opposed to the Switch Pro idea, this SKU would feature a smaller screen as one of several cost-cutting measures. The screen's current width of 9.4 inches is great, but a smaller screen would be useful if it is going to become a pure handheld. It would also theoretically allow for longer battery life, which, as I mentioned earlier, would be no bad thing.
10 Needs: Graphical Updates
While I don't expect the Switch to be a powerhouse on the level of something like the PS4, Xbox One X, or a high-end gaming PC, having a little more punch would be nice. At present, the Switch is by far and away the least powerful console currently on the market, and changing that would make it more competitive. Can you imagine how good Breath of the Wild would look if it were given an equivalent to the PS4 Pro's super-sampling mode?
9 Theory: The Console As A Whole Will Be Miniaturized
Sure, the possibility of a Switch Pro is enticing, but that particular version will not be getting smaller. What could get smaller is the theoretical handheld-only Switch. As we mentioned, the screen would probably be shrunk, but that's not all. If Nintendo could also miniaturize the hardware down, we could end up with a console that's smaller in every respect, has better battery life, and is lighter. I wouldn't be against owning one of these, particularly if the price was commensurate with the new restrictions on functionality.
8 Needs: More Third-Party Games
While this doesn't exactly rest on Nintendo's shoulders exclusively, I really wish the Switch had more games. I've played on my friend's Switch, and I like it as a system, I really do. What I'm not so keen on is the fact that there are only two games I really want to play on it. Those games are Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. What I want are more third-party developers to hop on board and start making Switch exclusives.
7 Theory: A Portable Switch Would Be Limited To 720P
While other SKUs would get upgraded screens, the purely portable Switch would be left at 720P, it seems. This isn't a particularly bad thing, as it would certainly keep costs down, but I hope that if the Switch Pro gets an upgrade to its screen technology, then the portable one will too. Sure, it could lumber along on the older LCD tech, but if the other one jumps up to an OLED, then why not give the portable the happy medium of an LED screen?
6 Theory: Video Will Be Fed Through The USB-C Port
Now this would be awesome. As it is currently, the Switch requires a cradle to output video, which knackers its usability somewhat. Not severely, but it's an irritation. However, there's no reason why the Switch couldn't use its USB-C port to output video. You can buy USB-C to HDMI cables just about anywhere, and it would make hooking up the Switch way easier, particularly on the potential version without a dock. This seems like a sensible decision for Nintendo to make, regardless of the SKU involved.