Rumour: This year Nintendo will release two new versions of its Switch console
One enhanced, one budget
It's been a couple of years since Nintendo released the Switch, and it's fair to say that in that time a lot of people have fallen head over heels in love with the home-portable console hybrid. But much like we've seen the Xbox One X and the PlayStation 4 Pro coming out, it looks like there's going to be a more powerful Switch on the way this year. And, in a wonderfully Nintendo move, there's going to be a cheaper one as well.
That's according to an article on the Wall Street Journal, which cites sources close to the Nintendo supply chain. And, to be honest, it makes an awful lot of sense. After all, Nintendo followed a similar pattern with the 3DS - there was the original console, then a more powerful version with more buttons, and the podgy looking 2DS for those who didn't want to shell out as much but still like Pokemon.A cheaper Switch is going to be a godsend for some, and it makes sense at this point in the console's life cycle - the original Switch has never been much cheaper than £250 with a game, so dropping a cheaper version feels like a really good idea. There's likely to be a lot of kids getting one for Christmas 2019, let's put it that way.
The addition of a more powerful Switch is an interesting one. It's certainly going to make a lot of people happy, and Nintendo's console iterations have often corrected a lot of problems - look at the New 3DS and how it added a second analogue stick to the original design - and you wouldn't imagine that the big N is going to build a new console for no reason, that's not the Japanese giant's style.
While the enhanced version of the Nintendo Switch might answer some of the build problems of the original, we also expect it to have a nicer screen and a good deal more processing power. Don't expect PS4 or Xbox One levels of capabilities, but some of the games that chugged on your original Switch - we're thinking mainly of the slightly wonky ports we've seen - should be much smoother on the newer version.
That said, expect anything Nintendo itself makes to work just fine on both the original and the new cheaper version of the Switch - it's unlikely that Nintendo will willingly fracture the market for its own games just yet, although stranger things have happened (like the Virtual Boy and the WiiU).
Of course, we're very much in the hearsay stage of this rumour right now, but it certainly has the feeling of one that might well be confirmed in the not too distant future. We'll be sure to keep you updated as and when we hear more, but do let us know in the comments section what you think about these potential new developments.
