After reports of Nintendo planning to launch two new Switch models and the launch of Nintendo Switch Lite, new report by DigiTimes reveals that Nintendo is planning to release another Switch model in 2020. The new model will reportedly have a magnesium alloy body and an update to the CPU.
The two Nintendo Switch models described are the updated model that has a better battery life than the original version and the Nintendo Switch Lite, a cheaper model that is only portable and does not allow connecting to televisions. These models were released in August and September of last year.
While there is no information other than what the new Switch’s body will reportedly be made of and the update to the CPU, some people such as Dr. Sekan Toto, CEO of Katan Games believe the next model will be the “Switch Pro.” Dr. Toto told GamesIndustry.biz that “there’s no doubt in [his] mind that Nintendo will launch a ‘Switch Pro’ in 2020 after the summer holidays to counter the roll-out of the PS5 and next-gen Xbox later in the year.” Dr. Toto thinks that the new Switch model will be $399, with “4k support, bigger cartridge sizes, and of course, beefed-up components.”
Others such as IHS Technology analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believe the opposite. Piers told GamesIndustry.biz that the likelihood of a new Nintendo Switch model like a Switch Pro “has significantly diminished since the launch of an improved flagship Switch and the Switch Lite.” A spokesperson for Nintendo Switch of America told Polygon that there is “nothing to announce on this topic.”
While Nintendo’s future hardware plans remain to be seen, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa says that the company is interested in AR and researching new technology that they can incorporate into their future games. There are also reports of two new Wii U ports that will be coming to the Nintendo Switch that may be coming later this year.