Highlights
- The Nintendo Switch 2 may launch sooner than expected, as recent leaks suggest a demo was shown at Gamescom with improved specifications.
- The original Switch lacked raw performance compared to non-portable consoles, but the Switch 2 is rumored to have beefier specs.
- Rumors indicate that the Switch 2 will have backward compatibility, allowing games from the original Switch to work on the successor and potentially perform better.
Nintendo Switch 2 may be closer than previously thought, especially after this year’s Gamescom. There have been a few leaks regarding the upcoming console with the most interesting coming from behind closed doors at Gamescom where Nintendo allegedly showed developers the Switch 2. The new console is expected to launch next year, but the company has not shared any details on it yet. The Switch 2 will come with beefier specifications compared to the original console that launched over six years ago.
Nintendo rocked the handheld gaming space with its Switch back in March 2017. It presented an exciting and engaging opportunity for people who wanted to game on the go, be it alone or with others. However, one thing it lacked was raw performance, especially compared to the non-portable consoles from the competition, Sony and Microsoft. Furthermore, in the past couple of years, the handheld gaming market has exploded with the likes of the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Ayaneo consoles. Nintendo's fans have been eagerly waiting for a successor to the original Switch.
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Valve Steam Deck
Having a portable console that mainly serves a purpose at home might seem strange, but the Valve Steam Deck showed that this is how many people choose to play video games.
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Asus ROG Ally
The Asus ROG Ally is the ultimate handheld system for PC gamers. Relying on the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the ROG Ally can handle any game thrown at it. The 7-inch 1080p Full HD display with FreeSync Premium on the system provides gamers with a crystal clear and smooth gaming experience. The advantage of the ROG Ally is that it can run most Windows-compatible games and is compatible with Xbox Game Pass titles. It also comes with 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally also features an ergonomic design that makes gaming for long periods enjoyable.
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Nintendo Switch
$300 $345 Save $45The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts easily into a home console.
The most recent news regarding the upcoming console comes from Gamescom where developers got to see a demo of the Switch 2. According to the report, the tech demo was held privately to show how well the console runs. Developers were shown an upgraded version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild supposedly running on hardware with the specifications targeted for the Switch 2. This suggests that Nintendo is moving closer to the launch of the Switch 2 which was originally expected in the later part of next year.
While it is unclear if Breath of the Wild will be re-released for the next Switch, it does fall in line with previous rumors suggesting backward compatibility for the Switch 2. This means games that have been developed for the original Switch will work on the successor as well, and should perform better.
On top of that, another report states that Nintendo showcased The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo running on the targeted specifications of the Switch 2 using Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The graphics were said to be on par with the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. It should be noted that it is unlikely that the new Switch will have the same raw power as the much bigger and beefier PS5 and Xbox Series X.
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Sony PlayStation 5
$450 $500 Save $50The Sony PlayStation 5 console is one of the most popular gaming machines currently with a fast SSD, a custom AMD APU, and 16GB of GDDR6 console memory, making it one of the best options on the market. It also happens to have a surprising number of console exclusives and currently trades at a discount at multiple retailers nationwide.
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Microsoft Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X boasts the fastest CPU and GPU configuration currently available for a current-generation console while offering 1TB of fast SSD storage for users out of the box.
It comes with an Xbox Series S|X controller, a power cord, and documentation along with a trial for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the box.
Rumors surrounding the upcoming console have suggested a late 2024 launch, but the latest reports suggest that it could be that Nintendo is planning on launching the console sooner. Reports from a couple of months ago stated that Nintendo is planning to launch the Switch successor in the second half of 2024, but some key third-party developers have already received dev kits for the Switch 2. Now, with the alleged Gamescom demo, the Switch 2 could arrive in the first half of next year.
This comes as great news for those who have squeezed all the juice out of their original Switch for years and are now looking to see what Nintendo has in store for them. But for those still rocking the original, Nintendo has quite a few new titles coming this year and early next year like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a Super Mario RPG remake, and a new WarioWare. Super Mario Bros. Wonder releases on October 20 while the Super Mario RPG remake is planned for mid-November. WarioWare: Move It! is coming out on November 3.