For years now, rumors have persisted that Nintendo is going to release an upgraded version of its Nintendo Switch console, often referred to as the Switch Pro. Some fans have been holding out hope for the Switch Pro model, though such a product still has yet to materialize. And unfortunately for anyone hoping to see a Switch Pro or another console from Nintendo, they'll be waiting until after next spring at least.
This was confirmed in a report by Nikkei, indicating that Nintendo has no plans on producing a new Switch model this fiscal year. The current fiscal year ends March 2023, so the soonest Nintendo could launch a new Switch console would be at some point after that. This means anyone in the market for a Switch console will have to settle for one of the currently-available models.
At the time of this writing, there are three different Switch models for consumers to choose from. There's the standard Nintendo Switch console and the Switch Lite, which removes the system's ability to function as home console in favor of being a purely handheld device. And then there's the Switch OLED, which is the latest and most expensive version of the Switch to hit the market. The Switch OLED uses an OLED screen and comes with a dock with built-in ethernet capabilities, but otherwise isn't pushed as all that significant of an upgrade from the standard Switch model.
Nintendo Switch games lag behind the competition when it comes to performance, which is why many have been calling on Nintendo to release a mid-gen Switch Pro upgrade. Such a console would presumably be able to run games at a steadier frame rate than the current Switch can, not to mention be able to deliver games at higher resolution. Despite consistent rumors that the Switch Pro is in the works, though, it still has not been announced.
It's been over five years since the Nintendo Switch first launched, and so some may think that it would make more sense for Nintendo to move forward with a proper Switch 2 console, or whatever the successor ends up being called. However, Nintendo has previously stated that the Switch is about halfway through its lifespan, so a mid-generation upgrade may make more sense.
Nintendo Switch hardware sales are slightly down compared to last year, and a Switch Pro console could be just what's needed to get those numbers up again. A Switch Pro console or a Switch 2 may happen eventually, but fans shouldn't expect any announcements at any point in the near future.
