A dataminer has reportedly discovered new information about a Nintendo Switch Pro. Just this past month, Nintendo President of America Doug Bowser said in an interview that a Switch Pro wasn't on the company's agenda, citing the massive success of the standard and Lite models as the rationale behind not needing one. The Nintendo Switch is selling incredibly well, as it has sold a total of 68.3 million units as of September 2020. It's one of Nintendo's best-selling consoles, and it's likely to surpass its handheld predecessor, the Nintendo 3DS.
Though the Switch had a relatively slow 2020, there are still excellent titles already confirmed for the system, such as the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4. Even then, 2020 still had a handful of great Nintendo games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the company's current juggernaut, and Pikmin 3: Deluxe. There were also some solid indie titles on the system, such as Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Hades.
As reported by GameSpot, dataminer SciresM says that Nintendo's most recent firmware update mentions an updated Switch console, and its code name is Aula. As SciresM mentions, this firmware update also contains information regarding a Realtek chip. This chip would likely be used to support 4K graphics, a key component of enhanced performance. Reportedly, there is also the use of an OLED screen for an improved display. Another significant improvement is longer battery life and a better cooling system.
Considering the recent interview with Doug Bowser, it felt as if there wasn't much hope for the possibility of a Switch Pro. It also made sense because of how well the standard Switch and the Switch Lite are both selling. However, with the many other purported Switch Pro leaks, it seems that the idea of a Switch Pro isn't that far-fetched after all. All alleged leaks should be taken with skepticism, but it feels virtually inevitable at this point. This way, there would be two alternatives to the standard version with both a Switch Lite and a Switch Pro.
A Switch Pro would also help Nintendo compete with Sony and Microsoft's highly coveted new consoles. Nintendo has always been a company to do its own thing, but maybe a Switch Pro would appeal to gamers who prefer a more powerful system and experience. The PS5 is the hot topic of video game conversations at the moment, and, even though the Switch is selling remarkably well, a Nintendo Switch Pro could help Nintendo make its way back into those conversations.