Nintendo has shown off the Nintendo Switch successor to select people during Gamescom 2023

Jez Corden, editor of Windows Central, recently alluded on his personal ‘X’ account that rumors suggest Nintendo showcased a successor to the Nintendo Switch to select media and industry insiders during Gamescom 2023. This implies that more details about this console might soon be unveiled.

Nintendo had previously remained reticent about the successor to the Nintendo Switch, merely indicating that its successor wouldn’t be entering the market imminently. However, prevailing discourse suggests the next-gen console might debut in the market in the first quarter of the upcoming year. Thus, it’s anticipated that Nintendo might disclose specific details about this successor before the end of this year and commence sales in the next year’s first quarter.

Reflecting upon the Nintendo Switch, which was officially released in March 2017, Nintendo initially verified in mid-March 2015 that a new gaming console, codenamed ‘NX,’ was under development. In late October 2016, the name ‘Nintendo Switch’ and its specifics were unveiled. The formal announcement event was held in January 2017, with the official market release in March of the same year.

If the successor to the Nintendo Switch follows a similar trajectory, it signifies that Nintendo might reveal details about this new console in the latter half of this year. Following the influx of game developers working on new titles for this console, it could be expected to launch in the market during next year’s first quarter.

Prior rumors indicate that the successor to the Nintendo Switch will maintain its versatile design, functioning both as a handheld and a standard home console. The existing cartridge mechanism is likely to be retained, ensuring backward compatibility with current games, and possibly even with existing game peripherals. The primary upgrade is presumed to revolve around computational performance, seemingly on par with the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One series. As for the display, it might persist with an 8-inch design, complemented by a more generous storage capacity, potentially up to 512GB.

Beyond the Nintendo Switch successor, there are whispers that both Sony and Microsoft might be gearing up to introduce new gaming consoles. However, these might simply undergo minor specification tweaks rather than substantial iterative upgrades.