Nintendo’s been keeping fans on their toes with whispers about the next big thing after the Switch, but don’t hold your breath just yet.
Folks have been itching for news on the successor to the beloved Switch for ages, but official tidbits have been scarce.
Finally, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has spilled some beans, promising an announcement before March 2025. But, before you mark your calendars, he’s made it clear that the upcoming Nintendo Direct event won’t spill any beans about the new console.
In a recent post, the bigwig over at Nintendo mentioned, “It’s been a solid nine years since we let the world know about the Nintendo Switch back in March 2015.” He went on to say that the next Direct will focus on the Switch’s software lineup for late 2024, but sorry folks, no mentions of its successor.
But fear not, the juicy details about the next-gen console are set to drop “within this fiscal year.”
Nintendo’s known for dropping trailers that set tongues wagging, and recent ones have sent fans into a frenzy speculating about the “Switch 2.” And while announcements like the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Z-A have fueled the rumor mill, the company’s kept a tight lid on the new machine.
It’s no secret Nintendo’s been cooking up something new – after all, the original Switch has been a massive hit, selling over 130 million units since its 2017 debut. But lately, blockbuster releases have been few and far between.
Sure, we’ve had Mario Vs. Donkey Kong and Princess Peach: Showtime! this year, but apart from remakes and updates, there’s been a drought of in-house titles. And let’s not ignore the fact that the seven-year-old console is starting to show its age, struggling to keep up with newer games.
Despite demands from fans for a beefier Switch, Nintendo’s taken its time, opting instead to keep things fresh with tweaks like the OLED screen model from 2021.
Nintendo’s financial results for the past year were recently released alongside Mr. Furukawa’s post. Profits are up, but hardware and software sales have dipped slightly. Yet, the Switch still boasts 123 million users despite its age.
And Nintendo’s not slowing down – plans are in motion to expand into other realms, like the upcoming Mario movie and a Donkey Kong Country addition to Super Nintendo World.
As for the Switch’s successor, rumors have been swirling, but Nintendo’s kept mum. Analysts like Piers Harding-Rolls predict a similar form factor and continued success for the next-gen console, expected sometime in the first half of 2025.
So, while we’re not quite there yet, rest assured, Nintendo’s got something up its sleeve, and we’ll be in the know before the year’s out.
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