General Gaming NewsOpinion

A Nintendo Switch Pro could be coming this year

Switch JoyCon

The last three years have been a wild ride for Nintendo. After the rough launch and dismal sales of the Wii U, the company was looking to iterate on the idea of a touchscreen-based games console. And in 2017, they hit on what may well amount to another lightning-in-a-bottle game console idea. The Nintendo Switch has straddled the line between portable and stationary games console quite well. An impressive and expanding library of video games has led the console to explosive sales.

The console has cemented itself as a solid family option, and a great entry point into modern gaming for casuals and those who feel left out by the complexity of AAA modern titles. Nintendo itself has helped make the market more accessible for millions by both creating great games and gameplay, and keeping the console fresh in everyone’s mind. The company has pushed tens of millions of units in markets across the globe, with the recent Chinese launch being a huge hit too. The launch of the V2 Switch with improved battery life, and the Switch Lite, also shows that Nintendo is definitely willing to iterate on their idea.

And now, a new report suggests that Nintendo is about to kick it up a notch. Analyst Dr. Serkan Toto from Japanese firm Kantan Games, recently spoke with GamesIndustry International and detailed what he thinks the future holds for Nintendo. There have been some issues with the platform though, like the infamous “drifting” JoyCon issues. Hopefully Nintendo issues a designed fix for that problem in future iterations, which analysts suspect could be coming soon.

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Nintendo will launch a ‘Switch Pro’ in 2020, my guess is at $399,” he said. “More specifically, I predict 4K support, bigger cartridge sizes, and of course beefed-up components.”

According to his speculation, the gaming giant could also include a 64GB variant of the portable console. This is one of the major sticking points for some gamers, as the limited capacity all but requires those looking to use digital downloads on the Nintendo Switch to buy an extra SD card to expand storage. And with the impending launch of ports of AAA games like Red Dead Redemption 2, there’s no doubt that the Switch needs more storage potential built-in.

READ MORE  Pokémon Scarlet & Violet: Mystery Gift Codes List (January 2023)

As for when this could release, it’s anyone’s guess. Although there’s some suspicion that a Switch Pro could come out around the time of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, or possibly even before. Toto says Switch Pro “will launch after the summer holidays to counter the roll-out of the PS5 and next-gen Xbox later in the year—along with a first-party, system-seller game.”

Other innovations and new additions could be coming on the software front as well, according to Toto. He says that The focus on indie titles and ports would very much continue in 2020. “The love affair between Microsoft and Nintendo is likely to continue, with more big Xbox games landing on the Switch,” he said. It’s been stupidly successful now, so why would Nintendo or Microsoft change it.

This would make sense to some, as gamers are hungry for more console iterations and improved next-gen experiences. Although it could also backfire on Nintendo, as those looking at the next Sony or Microsoft consoles could bypass the Switch Pro, viewing it as an unnecessary incremental upgrade rather than a genuinely needed purchase.

The products below are affiliate links, we get a commission for any purchases made. If you want to help support ISKMogul at no additional cost, we really appreciate it.
10976 posts

About author
ISKMogul is a growing video game publication that got its start covering EVE Online, and has since expanded to cover a large number of topics and niches within the purview of gaming.
Articles