With the postponement of Professor Layton and the New World Steam, and the intriguing absence of a Switch logo in the first trailer for LEVEL5's game, all eyes are on Nintendo's next console. But it's another machine that's making headlines today.
A fourth Nintendo Switch to conclude in style?
Since 2017, the Switch has made Nintendo's fortune. The hybrid console sold at more than 130 million units sold, and is the second best-selling machine in history, just behind the unbeatable PlayStation 2. It must be said that the Japanese company has been able to capitalize on the needs of gamers. After the release of its first model, the Nintendo Switch offered a Lite version in September 2019, then an OLED version in 2021. A shock trio that promised to please an ever-wider audience.
The fact remains that the console still has a few good years ahead of it. While Nintendo's next flagship is expected (without any certainty) for 2025, with the hope of an early release at the end of next year, rumors surrounding a final Switch are swelling. According to new leaks reported by leaker Nash Weedle on the social network X, the company is currently working on a new variant of its Nintendo Switch.
A Switch pocket for February...
Like the Lite version of the console, this Nintendo Switch Pocket would be exclusively dedicated to portable gaming. If we are to believe the patents shared on Twitter, the machine would have also benefited from some logistical adjustments to become even more compact. The R, L, ZR, ZL triggers as well as the Home and Capture buttons would have been repositioned. The console, whose first 3D renderings look very similar to the good old portable machines released in the early 2000s, would also have a magnetic system dedicated to adding a protective case. Enough to fully assume its nomadic character.
According to the “information” shared by the leaker, the console would be marketed at an unbeatable price: 149€. It would be launched on February 16, 2024, and would benefit from a wide range of colors to suit the tastes of all players. On the autonomy, Nintendo would aim for twelve hours, which seems rather impressive, especially when you know that a classic Switch rarely exceeds five hours of play. Finally, and this is a non-negligible point: the next portable console from the firm will support cartridges.
... but for what purpose?
The fact remains that if the details surrounding this hypothetical new console are very (too?) precise, several elements raise questions. First, the idea of a Switch Pocket encroaches on the territory of the Switch Lite, released just four years ago. In addition, choosing a portable console with The dawn of the new generation of Nintendo machines is a big risk for the company. As usual, these rumors should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt.
We will probably have to wait until February to get the final word on the story. On the other hand, if the leak is confirmed, it will surely signal the arrival of a new generation of consoles more focused on living room gaming. Finally, Nintendo could return to its fundamentals, by marketing a classic machine, accompanied by a small portable console, both compatible with the same game cartridges, and why not cross-save.
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