Nintendo has been a gaming giant for many years, and expectations of what the new Nintendo Switch 2 could bring are extremely high.
Anticipation and expectation make for a combination that creates desire in those waiting for a specific product or service. This is how many gamers are beginning to feel about the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. This new gaming console should arrive soon, but it’s not ready to be released yet, which means the folks at Nintendo don’t even know when it will make its way to the market.
What is the Nintendo Switch?
For any non-gamers in the audience, the Switch is a hybrid console. Before this console arrived, gamers typically had at-home stationary units, like the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 4, but also had handheld consoles, such as the Nintendo DS. The Switch changed that with a hybrid system that can be played in handheld mode or at home on a connected screen.
This approach to gaming has been hugely popular since the Switch first appeared in March 2017. Now, nearly seven years later, a new version is expected.
How popular is the Switch?
Nintendo has sold 132.45 million units of the original Switch since it first launched. This makes it the second-most successful console behind the Nintendo DS. The portability and versatility of the Switch make it extremely popular. Players can hook this gaming console up to their TV or tablet to play on larger screens or play directly on the console screen, which easily fits into a large pocket or backpack, making on-the-go gaming enjoyable.
What games are most popular on the Switch?
Some might think that high-level games with advanced graphics are all the rage right now, but Nintendo sales results show that games involving classic characters, such as Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, are among the most popular for the Switch. These games allow several players to enjoy the game together, making the Switch an excellent device for some party fun.
Why is a new Nintendo Switch 2 necessary?
Although Nintendo stock rose 200% when the Switch gained popularity, the past year hasn’t had the same story. The Switch is nearly seven years old, and during the past year, sales dropped, and along with that, profits and revenue fell. The dip of nearly 19% in profits is a sure sign that something new needs to come to the market.
Hopefully, this profit loss is an indication that the new Nintendo Switch 2 will arrive sometime soon.
How much longer do we have to wait for the new version?
It takes time, programming, and development to bring a gaming console to the masses. The new version of the Switch must perform at a higher level than the original, which might be difficult. The most recent news about the upcoming Switch 2 comes from Serken Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, when he told CNBC:
“I think the new device will come out in 2024, probably in the second half of the year. The original Switch is now almost seven years old, sales are going down… So it’s absolutely high time for a new Nintendo system this year.”
Could the new Switch come sooner?
Currently, experts predict the release of the new Nintendo Switch 2 will take place in the fourth quarter of 2024. Of course, this could change once Nintendo announces its December-quarter results from 2023. If sales are down, this new device might come out even sooner, as early as the Spring or Summer.
Regardless of when the new device arrives, it’s expected to be hotly popular, much like many smartphone upgrades.
Do we know anything about the Switch 2?
Although many experts speculate what this new console will be, nobody knows for certain. Some expect this new device to be a whole new system, not just an upgrade to the older version. Others say Nintendo should make drastic improvements to the specs after seven years, which suggests a real successor to the current Switch.
The success of the new Nintendo Switch 2 will be directly impacted by its performance and availability. If this new model isn’t an incredible improvement over the current model, many current users might not change to the upgraded version. Still, the gaming world is always looking for the next and better version of current systems. This new Nintendo console should be a huge hit, especially if it doesn’t come out until the fourth quarter, which is when the holiday rush for the Switch 2 could immediately boost sales.
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