The rumors about the upcoming Nintendo Switch Pro are heating up, as the system will reportedly be revealed before E3 2021 and launch later this year. Numerous sources have reported on an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch, which is something that has been expected since the console first launched in 2017.
The big three console manufactures have had vast success with mid-life cycle upgrades for their systems, such as the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. Nintendo skipped this with the poorly selling Wii U, but the DS and 3DS line of systems had several revisions throughout their lifespan. The Switch has already had two hardware revisions of its, with the Switch Lite being a handheld-only system, and the Switch V2 with improved battery life having been rolled out in 2019. There have been rumors of a 4K-capable Nintendo Switch upgrade being in development, which has earned the unofficial moniker "Nintendo Switch Pro."
E3 2021 is just around the corner, and Nintendo could be finally ready to reveal the Switch Pro. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo is set to announce the new system before E3 begins on June 12, in order to give publishers a chance to show off their games on the new hardware during their E3 showcases. This new system will reportedly enter production over the summer, with an expected launch window of September or October 2021.
There is a global semiconductor shortage happening at the moment, which Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has commented on in the recent past. If these rumors about Nintendo's new system are true, then the Switch Pro could see the same shortages and scalper-driven stock buyouts as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Sources close to Bloomberg have commented that the Switch Pro will likely cost more than the base unit, which will be phased out in favor of the new model over. The Switch Lite is expected to remain in circulation, however.
The Nintendo Switch has seen incredible sales since its launch, but it's now facing fresh competition from the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A more advanced model that can play games in 4K resolution could be what Nintendo needs to keep up over the next few years. The popularity of the base Switch model is such that Nintendo is unlikely to shift focus away from the system anytime soon. Assuming the reports are correct, the Switch Pro will simply run the existing and upcoming games library better and have more impressive visuals. E3 2021 is only a few weeks away, so it will soon be clear if the latest murmurs about the Nintendo Switch Pro are legitimate or not.
Source: Bloomberg