Nintendo is reportedly planning to release an updated model of the Nintendo Switch console in the second half of 2019. According to the Wall Street Journal Japan, Nintendo plans to iterate on the still popular console in order to retain competitiveness in the current market. The new version of the Nintendo Switch could even be released as early as the summer next year, though clearly much remains to be decided by Nintendo.
No firm changes are said to be confirmed for the new Switch, though an updated display that would enable the device to be brighter, thinner, and have an extended battery life is apparently being considered. Nintendo could go in vastly different directions with a mid-generation console iteration, either strengthening the Switch's hardware power to improve its visuals for a Switch Pro or making the system smaller and more travel-friendly for the on-the-move Nintendo fan with a Switch Mini.
Fans aren't the only ones curious to see just what direction Nintendo plans to go on with the next Switch hardware update. The Wall Street Journal says that sources at third-party publishers are looking for direction on the future of the Nintendo 3DS, with respect to whether the Nintendo Switch will further target the handheld market with its new hardware.
New SKU models are not uncommon among video game consoles, though Nintendo tends to move faster than other hardware manufacturers. The PlayStation 4 stood alone for three years before the PlayStation 4 Pro was released, and it's looking like another 3-4 years before Sony launches its next console. The Xbox One went even longer before the Xbox One X iteration was released. A late 2019 launch would prove about two and a half years since the release of the Nintendo Switch.
Considering the 2018 holiday season is fast approaching, however, it's unlikely that Nintendo will officially confirm this announcement anytime soon. Knowing that an iteration on the Nintendo Switch is coming before too long would put a damper on sales.
Nevertheless, until official confirmation from Nintendo comes through nothing is certain. And don't expect official word on a new Nintendo Switch version any time soon. That said, if anyone is planning on buying a Nintendo Switch in 2018, maybe consider whether putting it off for another year is an option.
Source: Wall Street Journal