According to the report, the successor to the Nintendo Switch was demonstrated at Gamescom last month in a closed-door presentation. Eurogamer reports that a select group of game developers had an early glimpse of the upcoming Switch iteration, along with technology demonstrations showcasing its enhanced performance. One of these demonstrations featured an upgraded version of 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, aiming for a higher frame rate and resolution compared to the original game’s 30fps. However, it remains uncertain whether the game will be re-released for the new console, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2024. In August, Nintendo also distributed development kits to specific studios for testing, with a promise of a portable mode.
In addition to Eurogamer’s initial report, VGC corroborated the claim by revealing that Nintendo discreetly presented Epic Games’ The Matrix Awakens technology demonstration at the event. This real-time experience was initially released in 2021 to showcase the capabilities of the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, as well as the high-quality rendering made possible by Unreal Engine 5. According to VGC’s sources, the demonstration was utilizing Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology with ray-tracing enabled.
This development raises questions about a potential collaboration between Nintendo and Nvidia on a chip. Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that the inclusion of ray-tracing should not be interpreted as an indication that the raw power of the Switch 2 matches that of current-generation consoles. The Switch 2 must remain portable and conserve battery power, whereas PlayStation and Xbox consoles draw power directly from an electrical outlet.
Earlier reports suggested that the Switch 2 would feature an LCD screen instead of premium OLED displays as a cost-saving measure, in addition to a cartridge slot for playing physical games. While backward compatibility would benefit players, it seems that some third-party developers have expressed concerns about this idea as it may impact their ability to resell games for the new hardware. As we move into the next year, the company has a robust lineup of exclusive titles for the current Nintendo Switch, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and an untitled Princess Peach game. The need for a new Nintendo gaming system became evident during the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which struggled to deliver smooth framerates.
Rumors of a Switch Pro surfaced in 2020, with reports from Bloomberg suggesting that Nintendo intended to leverage Nvidia’s upgraded hardware and achieve 4K resolution. In other news, the European Union introduced new regulations for battery sustainability, which indicated that handheld consoles would be required to have replaceable batteries by 2027. The regulation provided a four-year timeframe for manufacturers to redesign their products, allowing customers to remove and replace portable batteries using commercially available or included specialized tools. Currently, it remains uncertain whether Nintendo’s successor to the Switch will adhere to these rules, as strong opposition from console manufacturers could potentially prevent the regulation from being enforced.
For insights into the most exciting titles that gamers can anticipate in 2023, we discuss some of our favorites in the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is accessible on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you access your podcasts.
