Two new Switch consoles ‘in production’ as Nintendo prepares for big reveal
THERE are two new Nintendo Switch consoles already in production, reports say.
The Wall Street Journal that one is a revamped version of the current Switch that is going to look very much the same but with some internal upgrades, while the other is a lighter, cheaper and more portable version.
The Switch is a hybrid console that can be played plugged into your telly with a normal controller, or in hand-held mode with controllers clipped onto the side.
The cheaper version will have a "new look" according to the WSJ, with some analysts suggesting it could ditch the hybrid nature entirely.
This would make sense, as Nintendo has effectively stopped making games for its DS range of handhelds .
The 3DS was launched around the same year time as Sony's Vita, which is about to have its life support switched off.
Nintendo has promised to keep making and shipping 3DS consoles, but with flagship franchises such as Pokémon moving to Switch, it's hard to see how much longer it can carry on for.
Rumours of new Switch consoles being in development have been around for some time, with early reports indicating they were due to arrive in March of this year.
This is the first we have heard about them being in production though.
The news comes alongside the revelation that Nintendo is moving all Switch production out of China and into South East Asia.
This applies to the current model and both new versions, according to the WSJ, and is a move by Nintendo to avoid being caught up in the crossfire of Trump's trade war with China that would otherwise see Americans being forced to pay more for their consoles.
Is this going to be the Switch 2?
NO. These two new Switches are going to run the same software as the old ones.
They won't have any seriously enhanced capabilities either, but they may have different strengths and weaknesses compared to the current version.
The built-in screen is likely to be an improvement over the current offering, as screen technology has moved on quite quickly since the Switch first went into production.
While we are gearing up for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Project Scarlett and all the fancy graphical upgrades they promise, we're not expecting the Switch 2 any time soon.
Not only is Nintendo known for not chasing after the fancy graphical bandwagon
The Switch itself launched years after the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as Nintendo abandoned the ill-fated Wii U, and is on a completely different upgrade cycle.
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E3 might not have brought new consoles for Nintendo fans last week, but it did bring some good news.
A surprise sequel for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was announced, while Nintendo gave fans their first proper glimpse at Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
The latter game won't be out until 2020, unfortunately, but does look like it should be worth the wait.
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