It seems like the successor to the Nintendo Switch becomes closer to a real thing every day. Earlier this month, there were reports that say that the Switch successor was showcased to developers at Gamescom 2023. However, this may not have been the first time Nintendo showed off details to development partners. Internal emails from the FTC v. Microsoft case has revealed that Activision was briefed on a next-generation Nintendo Switch last year.
According to The Verge, Activision executives, including CEO Bobby Kotick met with Nintendo executives in December 2022 to discuss a next-generation Switch. Chris Schnakenberg, Head of Activision’s Platform Strategy and Partner Relations outlined his thoughts on the next-generation Switch in an internal email chain inside a document labeled “NG Switch Draft.pdf”
“Given the closer alignment to Gen8 platforms in terms of performance and our previous offerings on PS4 / Xbox One, it is reasonable to assume we could make something compelling for the NG Switch as well,” Schnakenberg wrote. “It would be helpful to secure early access to development hardware prototypes and prove that out nice and early.”
The summary and preparation materials were sent to Bobby Kotick ahead of the December 15 meeting with Nintendo CEO and President Shuntaro Furukawa. Kotick went on to testify in the FTC v. Microsoft hearing where he regretted not bringing Call of Duty to Switch. The FTC and Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley questioned Kotick about Call of Duty on Switch which led to the reveal that Microsoft signed an agreement to bring Call of Duty to a future Nintendo console. Kotick said that Activision didn’t have any specs on the next Nintendo console.
Reports suggest that a new Nintendo Switch is being planned for a 2024 release. During Gamescom in August, the look developers got included some tech demos of how games run on the new system. This included an improved version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. VGC also reported that Nintendo also showcased The Matrix Awakens tech demo running on the hardware Nintendo is targeting for its next-generation Switch. The demo reportedly used Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology with ray tracing enabled which means that Nintendo’s next console can play the latest AAA games.
Whether or not that’s the case remains to be seen.