Rumors about a new, more powerful model of the Nintendo Switch seem like a permanent part of Nintendo discussion at this point. Even though Switch users got an alternate model in the form of the Switch OLED recently, fans are still holding out for something more powerful than that. What's more, every so often, some new leak seems to confirm that Nintendo has another console in development, sparking hope that it'll get released soon. Nintendo has said that it wants to focus on the Switch for a while longer, but until Nintendo releases a successor to the Switch, hype for a theoretical Switch Pro is here to stay.
Nintendo's plans for the Switch may not keep a Switch Pro from releasing, however. On the contrary, it seems likely that the Switch could live alongside a more expensive but more powerful Nintendo console. Nintendo has a long history of offering a variety of consoles that gives it the necessary experience to market both the Switch and the Switch Pro. What's more, the Switch's flexible design would make it distinct enough to coexist with a new traditional home console from Nintendo. The Switch's ongoing life may have the power to overlap with Nintendo's next console, rather than pushing the Switch Pro's debut further away.
Learning From Nintendo's Handhelds
Selling the Switch alongside a new Nintendo console seems plausible because of Nintendo's extensive work in handheld console development. Until the Switch rolled around, Nintendo spent decades developing handheld consoles like the Game Boy, the Nintendo DS, and the 3DS alongside classic consoles from the SNES to the Wii. Juggling two different console markets is no easy feat, but Nintendo certainly made it look easy. Both of Nintendo's console lines flourished for many years through reliable hardware and strong games before they fused to form the modular Switch.
Although the Switch brought Nintendo's era of twin console lines to an end, Nintendo could still restart the tradition. As the Switch starts to age, Nintendo could double down on its modular design through games and software updates that encourage handheld play. By pushing the original Switch's portable aspects, Nintendo could make more room for another console that isn't modular and instead has hardware that can stand up to the PS5 and the Xbox Series X. The hugely successful Switch would still get the chance to live on, and Nintendo would also be freed to work with a more powerful console.
Demand for Nintendo's Next Console
It wouldn't just be wise to add a new console to the Nintendo family soon; it may be necessary. The hype and excitement that surrounds every Switch Pro leak and rumor shows that there's a strong market for a new Nintendo console, and as the Switch ages, it's bound to see more and more unfavorable comparisons to Sony and Microsoft's newest consoles. The Switch is great, but it simply doesn't have the processing speed or rendering power to match its next-gen rivals. At the same time, Nintendo's strong game lineup for 2022 suggests that the Switch still has a lot of life in it. Nintendo might be able to address both issues by supporting two consoles at once like it used to do.
Fans of the Switch definitely have some reason to remain hopeful for a new console in the near future. A recent Nvidia leak appears to hint at a Nintendo Switch 2 with major software improvements, including ray tracing capabilities and Nvidia's DLSS system. These could simply be early plans for a console that won't see the light of day for a few more years, or it could foretell another major Nintendo announcement that's in the pipeline. Hopefully the latter is the case. The Switch is great, but its later years of life could be even brighter if it's paired with a powerful home console like the rumored Switch Pro.
