The Nintendo Switch has not only dominated the year of 2019 in comparison to both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it completely turned around Nintendo's image to those outside of the ecosystem. With the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox on the horizon, Nintendo is looking to take advantage of the marketplace already saturated by their competition's consoles.
Many analysts and industry insiders believe that Nintendo will be releasing a smaller and much cheaper Nintendo Switch console focused on a purely handheld audience. Here are 10 rumors about the Nintendo Switch Mini that could be true.
10 Pokemon Sword & Shield Will Be Attached
There are few video game franchises that can single-handedly catapult the sales of a new piece of hardware, but Pokémon is definitely one of them. With the upcoming release of Pokémon Sword & Shield in November, it wouldn't come as too much of a surprise to see Nintendo release a brand-new piece of hardware bundled with the new games.
If you throw in the possibility of the bundle including colored joy-cons that match the colors of the games, you're almost assured a high volume of sales upon release.
9 It Won't Include A Dock
The Nintendo Switch Mini has two main priorities in the marketplace according to rumors. Its primary focus will be offering a cheaper entry point for consumers while also having a focus on handheld gaming. If this is the case then it could make sense that the new hardware release would come without the dock.
This would drastically reduce the price of the product and show a commitment to handheld gaming. If it happens to be smaller in size and the joy-cons don't detach, then they'd have to produce an adapter or entirely new dock, so there's another reason for its exclusion.
8 It Could Feature An Improved D-Pad
A complaint that's most often leveraged against the Nintendo Switch is that its d-pad is really disappointing. For a publisher and platform that has such a storied history with 2D platformers people have felt that in exchange for Nintendo wanting their own uniquely designed d-pad, players are left with a lackluster experience.
Hardware iterations allow companies to tweak parts of their system and controllers in a way that doesn't feel like early adopters are being shafted. If Nintendo wants the Mini to be a handheld gamer's delight, it needs to upgrade the d-pad.
7 It Will Be Smaller
When you start hearing rumors about the Nintendo Switch Mini having joy-cons that can't detach, aiming for a cheaper launch price, and having a focus on the handheld experience your mind automatically assumes it will be smaller in size.
If Nintendo's goal is to attract an even larger demographic of children and handheld games, than reducing the size of the Nintendo Switch seems like a reasonable place to start. By eliminating the removable components and reducing the bezel you're already looking at a reduction in overall size and weight.
6 It Could Still Be Used On A Dock
Now, just because the Nintendo Switch Mini will likely not ship with a dock included with it, it doesn't mean it won't be compatible. Given Nintendo's track record it's likely that if you already own a dock thanks to your purchase of the regular Nintendo Switch you'll be able to use your new Nintendo Switch Mini with the dock to play games on your TV.
Before you set your eyes on this coming to fruition, you should also understand that it's just as likely that Nintendo will make you buy an adaptor... or even worse, that it truly isn't compatible with docks in any capacity.
5 It Might Be Weaker To Reduce Price
The Nintendo Switch is currently #3 in power when compared to both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 despite releasing years after. With both Project Scarlett and PlayStation 5 set to release in 2020, there's a chance Nintendo will fall further behind. Though some reports have suggested a Pro model will be released alongside their handheld iteration, Nintendo may release a console even further behind its competitors.
In an effort to shave costs at every corner, Nintendo is rumored to have the Mini shed more processing power in favor of coming in at a lower price.
4 A Brighter & More Efficient Display
If a company can make it's handheld device's display brighter while at the same time upgrading its efficiency, they can improve battery life without it being the initial focus. Rumors suggest that this may be exactly what's happening with the Nintendo Switch Mini.
Nintendo had a focus on increasing the brightness and efficiency of the screen as they look to make a handheld dedicated version of the Nintendo Switch, and due to these improvements also gained added value to the battery life. They killed three birds with two stones.
3 Joy-Cons Won't Be Detachable
A Nintendo Switch focused on being a handheld device would likely feature joy-con controllers that don't detach and are permanent parts of the hardware. For parents of young children who are worried about their child losing removable parts, this could be a welcome redesign. Older kids or adults who love customizing their Nintendo Switch with various colors of joy-cons, on the other hand, would probably be disappointed.
It would also mean that games with an emphasis on motion-controls would need an update or would become obsolete on the new hardware.
2 It Will Cost $199 At The Most
In most places, you can currently get a Nintendo Switch for around $299 and sometimes the price can hover around $250 given a great sale. The primary motive behind Nintendo's release of a Nintendo Switch Mini is providing the market with a low-cost entry point into their ecosystem, as well as a cheaper way to get more Nintendo Switches into the same household.
If the hardware revisions are to be believed, then don't be surprised if this thing comes in at around anywhere between $149 to $199.
1 It Will Release In 2019
With the next Xbox and PlayStation looking to release during Holiday 2020, it makes the most sense for Nintendo to release a new version of their existing hardware before those consoles launch. An argument can be made that if the focus of the Nintendo Switch Mini is to be a handheld device than it could compete in the active marketplace with two traditional consoles.
Recently, there has been a crop of Nintendo Switch Mini cases popping up on the internet. Though these aren't confirmation of its existence, they could be red flags that an announcement and release could happen by the end of 2019.