Summary
A prematureNintendo Switch 2page appeared on the website of a Japanese retailer. While likely a placeholder, the listing adds to the recent influx ofsignals that Nintendo’s next console is on the horizon.
The Switch 2 has effectively been Nintendo’s worst-kept secretfor a while now. And though the long-lasting effects of the global pandemic are suspected to have pushed back the company’s release plans by a year or two, the current consensus among industry insiders is that Nintendo’s next console will likely launch sometime in 2024.
The latest piece of circumstantial evidence substantiating that theory comes from Meccha Japan, a retailer specializing in international exports of Japanese electronics, fashion, and collectibles. The company’s website was recently updated to include aNintendo Switch 2 page, as spotted by Reddit user RexVandham. The listing itself is largely devoid of details, although it does indicate that the console is expected to release this year, as underlined by the product’s placeholder availability date: December 31.
The possibility that Nintendo has already started briefing retailers about its next console’s availability cannot be ruled out completely, although the likeliest explanation for this listing is that it’s merely a placeholder. That notwithstanding, this is far from the first recent indicator that the Switch 2 is inching closer to launch; earlier this week, a GDC survey revealed that a substantialnumber of studios are already developing games for the Switch successor. The volume of responders who claimed to be doing so suggests Nintendo has already started sending out the Switch 2 dev kits at some point in 2023.
That time frame also dovetails with the recent rumors that theSwitch 2 made an appearance at Gamescomback in August. Nintendo is said to have used the trade show as an opportunity to show the console to some of its closest partners behind closed doors, runningThe Matrix AwakensUnreal Engine 5 demo and an upscaled version ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Summer 2024 Release Remains a Possibility for Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendohas often released new hardware during the holiday season, as was the case with the DS, Wii, and Wii U. But the Switch itself hit the market in March 2017. And given how the company’s latest console is on the brink of pushing eight nowadays, the idea that its long-awaited successor could be unveiled around its seven-year anniversary certainly sounds plausible. Should that come to pass, a summer 2024 market debut would be on the cards for the Switch 2, at least if the five-month gap between its predecessor’s announcement and release is anything to go by.
Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo’s newest system features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. Improvements to visuals, audio, and connectivity make a strong impact on highly detailed gameplay and setup is extremely easy.
