Former Nintendo employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang have shared their insights on the upcoming Nintendo console, offering predictions on when it might be announced and what features it could entail.
In a video outlining their forecasts for 2024, both Ellis and Yang concurred in predicting that the successor to the Switch would be unveiled in the first half of 2024. Yang specifically anticipates an announcement in Q1, spanning January to March of this year.
She suggested that the timing of the reveal might align with Nintendo’s next financial year, commencing on April 1, 2024. Yang reasoned that, based on past hardware release patterns, an official announcement before the fiscal year’s end could strengthen the company’s position with shareholders.
Adding his perspective, Ellis expressed his belief that Nintendo’s management now places greater emphasis on shareholder considerations, taking into account their opinions and sentiments. He highlighted this shift as a notable departure from the company’s approach in the past.
Concerning the release timeline of the upcoming console, Yang envisions a June or July revelation, with marketing efforts intensifying in April and May. She anticipates potential stock constraints for the Switch successor at launch, but she believes these issues will be resolved before the holiday shopping season. Ellis generally aligns with Yang’s expectations on the release date, speculating that the console could be available by September 1.
Regarding the nature of the Switch successor and the enhancements it may bring compared to the current model, Ellis draws a parallel to the transition from DS to 3DS, emphasizing a substantial shift. Yang envisions a form factor akin to the Switch but with enhanced power. Both agree that the console will retain its handheld capabilities while also being compatible with a television docking system, similar to the current Switch.
Yang and Ellis share a consensus on the next Nintendo console supporting backwards compatibility. Ellis goes further to predict the existence of two models a standard version supporting digital backwards compatibility through eShop purchases and a “higher-end” variant equipped with a physical cartridge slot for games exclusive to the newer console.
Ellis noted that Nintendo is mindful of appealing to a broad audience, suggesting that offering a lower-end version at a more affordable price could be a strategic move for Nintendo. In contrast, Yang disagreed with this prediction, expressing her belief that multiple SKUs might lead to brand and messaging confusion, and she doesn’t foresee Nintendo taking that approach.
Discussing the pricing aspect, Yang indicated that the upcoming Nintendo console is likely to launch at $400.
Turning to game predictions, Yang and Ellis both anticipate Mario Kart 9 being a pivotal launch title for the next Nintendo console. While the game hasn’t been officially announced, the speculation is grounded in the undeniable success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In other news related to the next Nintendo hardware, a video game analyst recently forecasted that the Switch 2 would be priced at $400, with games costing $70.
Reports in July indicated that Switch 2 development kits had been distributed to developers, suggesting a planned launch in 2024. Digital Foundry delved into the potential hardware specifications of the Switch 2, constructing a PC that closely approximated its power. Their findings suggested that the Switch 2 could potentially run Death Stranding at 1080p with approximately 35 frames per second.
While Nintendo has not officially announced a successor to the Switch, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser emphasized that the objective of any new system would be to “surprise and delight.”