• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Nintendo On Possible Next-Gen Console: We Wish to Extend The Switch Life Cycle As Much As Possible

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman

Remember the Nintendo shareholders meeting on June 26, where Nintendo mentioned the Switch production, slowed down due to Covid-19, is going back to normal soon? Now, the Kyoto cards game company published an official report of the meeting. Various questions were asked at the meeting including how work conditions at Nintendo changed with the pandemic. Our peers at Famitsu most notably pointed out Nintendo was asked about prospects regarding a next-gen console.

The question was first answered by Nintendo’s Representative Director and President Shuntaro Furukawa:
Shuntaro Furukawa:
“Our current console, the Nintendo Switch, is living its fourth year now, but its popularity is still increasing. We believe there are two factors behind this. First there’s how we have two hardware with different characteristics, the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite. The other reason is the fact we only have the Nintendo Switch as a platform, so we can focus all of our firm’s development resources to make software for it. We want to make the most out of these factors and extend the Nintendo Switch’s life cycle as much as we can.”

Ko Shiota, one of Nintendo’s Senior Executive Officers, added the following:
Ko Shiota:
“Our consoles are based on how to make fun software for our customers rather than high specs. Nintendo Switch can be played on both TV or on the console’s screen itself, so compared to other consoles, customers get more occasions to play. New ways for game machines to interact with the customers’ daily lives have been discovered thanks to the Nintendo Switch. We see that all the time on social media, with customers sharing videos of their families and children all playing together. It made us realize once again the value of our game consoles. We will keep all of this in mind while thinking about how to develop our consoles in the future.”

Famitsu explained how in these meetings, questions regarding next-gen consoles prospects often pop up but are rarely directly answered because they company can’t say anything yet. Hence why these indirect answers. Famitsu believes the probability of a next gen console by Nintendo getting announced soon is low, but mentioned it’s interesting to imagine what Nintendo could do for a next-gen console based on these answers.

Lastly, it’s not like Nintendo ruled out a “Switch pro” though as a “Switch Pro” could technically still be considered the “same platform”. Moreover, in an interview with Games Industry, Dr Serkan Toto also said in January 2020 he has no doubt a “Switch Pro” will be launching this year. That was before the pandemic ravaged the world though so who knows what would happen now.
 

Coolwhhip

Neophyte
IpDAgCi.gif
 

Jubenhimer

Member
Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all begin work on their next systems shortly after the current one releases. So while Nintendo says they have no plans to release the Switch successor anytime soon, that doesn't mean it won't be released in the future. 2023 at the earliest is when you should see a Switch 2 of sorts.
 

supernova8

Banned
Honestly I didn't expect there to be so much demand for Switch (I actually thought it'd be a failure) but can only say hats off to Nintendo.

Do wish it had been a tad more powerful though. Framerate for BOTW is absolute dogshit in some places. Especially Hateno Village.
 

Thaedolus

Gold Member
“Hey this thing we spent all this money on is selling gangbusters and making us super rich, should we do something else?”

“Nah.”

“k you’re right.”
 

-Arcadia-

Banned
The longer Switch goes, the more likely its third party ports will drop to zero, as next-gen proceeds.

Maybe that's okay for the majority of Switch users, though? It isn't Doom that's bringing home 20 million sales in one shot, it's Nintendo games, and the current environment is fine for that.

Plus, the longer they take with Switch 2, the more realistic the chance that we could see next-gen ports.
 

Silvawuff

Member
Sony and Microsoft will firmly have their boxes in the wild before Nintendo will make any move with new hardware. If anything I bet we'll see an N64 mini before a Switch 2/Pro.
 

Kataploom

Gold Member
You need to make games if you want a game system to have a long life span.

They've had Pokemon Expanssion and Animal Crossing (and idk what else) for first half, will also have BOTW 2, Paper Mario and Pokemon Snap for second half and most probably other stuff since they don't use to announce way too early as other publishers before releasing.
 
Last edited:

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
Good. The Switch doesnt need to worry about next gen consoles. It will be just fine as it is.

A lot of games will be cross gen for another couple years so you'll still have developers targeting base current gen consoles and if they do that it's still possible to port games to Switch.

Then of course Nintendo has all its own games. More Pokemon, more Zelda, more Mario, etc.

All I want from Nintendo is a revised Switch with more battery life. Otherwise it is perfect. If they were really concerned they could do a 4K Switch that plugs into the wall and is not portable...but they don't need to

Had to google that game... lol
It's a fun game. Very similar to Nier Automata (same developers I think)...story wasn't the greatest but combat is fantastic.
 
Last edited:

McRazzle

Member
Yes, but marketing for a new console is more expensive and risky than for an existing and already popular one, that's what I mean.
Their marketing budget this year is the same as Switch's launch year.
I don't know what they're doing with it, unless they are holding it back to combine with next years marketing budget.
 

cryptoadam

Banned
I think they can have a pro next year. Bump up clocke and ram and instal DLSS. Then have 349 249 149. Pro OG lite.

Then 2 years after that switch 2.
 

ZywyPL

Banned
Switch is what, 3 years old? It still has at least twice as much lifespan to go, the games and consoles themselves sell like crazy, Nintendo would be dumb to jump on a new generation anytime soon. They will as always wait for the market to be saturated enough with PS5/XBX, when people will start looking for something fresh and new, and that's when they'll hit, again with huge success.
 
One massive advantage they have is working with Nvidea, who have their next gen GPU's on the horizon and will no doubt want to continue with the current profitable relationship they have.

With a couple more years to get efficiency gains, Nvidea should hopefully able to provide Nintendo with a Switch 2 that will be able to keep pace with XSX and PS5.

I predict a New Switchi Colour next year, and Switch 2 in 2023.
 

Rudius

Member
The next Switch should support VR in some way. The Quest already shows that a good experience can be had in mobile hardware. Just slide the tablet in some "gear VR" adapter or offer a slimmer, wireless, lightweight HMD, just with screen and sensors. The controlers can be 3D tracked joycons. Do that and I will certainly buy it.
 
Last edited:

Dick Jones

Gold Member
I don't understand the need for a Switch Pro. Nintendo don't care about the power race, the ds released after the Vita showed it handheld wise. It will continue for about a decade as a Nintendo first party and indie machine. I believe Nintendo will release a new console well within that time that will relegate the Switch to handheld 3ds status.

People know what they are getting with Nintendo and if you want a powerhouse machine you don't know Nintendo. They sold cardboard for €80 and people bought it. Why bother increasing production costs (decreasing profit margin) when the masses buy it based on its name.
 
Wouldn't mind if it went past the traditional 5 year limit they tend to have.

The power doesn't bother me at all to be honest. Seems that Nintendo are struggling to get games out for the Switch as it is to move forward in 2 years time.
 

azz0r

Banned
I know its been this way for a while, but Nintendo really has slipped into "its lane" as the handheld leader. It doesn't need to compete on the next-gen wars anymore.
 

Soodanim

Gold Member
I don't understand the need for a Switch Pro. Nintendo don't care about the power race, the ds released after the Vita showed it handheld wise. It will continue for about a decade as a Nintendo first party and indie machine. I believe Nintendo will release a new console well within that time that will relegate the Switch to handheld 3ds status.

People know what they are getting with Nintendo and if you want a powerhouse machine you don't know Nintendo. They sold cardboard for €80 and people bought it. Why bother increasing production costs (decreasing profit margin) when the masses buy it based on its name.
  • Precedent (New 3DS)
  • Consumers want it (Pro consoles)
    • They want better performance
There was always a chance.
 

Knightime_X

Member
I expect next to no next gen games on this console.
Imagine resident evil 8 on switch.

360p 10fps lowspec gamer settings just to BOOT.
 

TLZ

Banned
They want to extend the Switch's life as much as possible. An enhanced pro version can do exactly that.
 
Top Bottom