Nintendo has announced that its highly anticipated Switch 2 console will be released later this year, with more details to be unveiled during a Nintendo Direct event on April 2. Pricing for the successor to the popular Switch device has not yet been disclosed.
According to a Reuters report, the Kyoto-based gaming giant confirmed that existing Switch software will be compatible with the new console, though some games may not work seamlessly. The Switch 2 appears to build on the hybrid home-portable format of its predecessor, but initial reactions suggest a more incremental upgrade than a groundbreaking redesign.
“This feels more like a ‘Switch Pro’ than a true next-generation console,” said Serkan Toto, founder of Kantan Games consultancy, predicting a launch after June.
The original Switch, released in 2017, revolutionized Nintendo’s fortunes following the Wii U’s struggles, selling over 145 million units to date. Despite its age, the company expects to sell 12.5 million units of the Switch in the current financial year ending March, aided by hardware updates and hit games like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.
Analysts anticipate strong demand for the Switch 2. “Even with a production capacity of 15 million units for the year, supply is likely to fall short of demand for several months,” noted Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal.
The Switch is Nintendo’s second-best-selling console, surpassed only by the handheld Nintendo DS, which sold 154 million units.
