Highlights
- Nintendo may have showcased or discussed the Switch 2 console behind closed doors at Gamescom 2023, according to recent rumors.
- The success of Nintendo's games at the event, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4, contributed to their return and potential reveal of the Switch 2.
- While specific details and a full reveal are still uncertain, insiders and past reports suggest that the Switch 2 could be announced in 2023 and released in 2024, potentially featuring a camera and VR or AR functionality.
The Switch 2, or whatever Nintendo ends up calling its next console, possibly made an appearance at Gamescom 2023, a newly emerged rumor suggests. This claim is just the latest in a long string of Nintendo Switch 2 reports that have been surfacing online with increasing intensity since spring.
After skipping the first two post-pandemic iterations of the Cologne, Germany-based trade show, Nintendo returned to Gamescom 2023 as both an exhibitor and award nominee. It ended up cleaning house by winning four of the show's seven non-platform-specific categories. That success was largely driven by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which won Best Audio, Best Gameplay, and Most Epic awards. The quadruple was completed by Pikmin 4, which was awarded the title of the Most Wholesome game at the event.
Nintendo might have also used the trade show as an opportunity to showcase the Switch 2 behind closed doors, according to a newly surfaced rumor shared by Windows Central's Jez Corden. Corden reports that it's unclear whether the new console actually made an appearance at the event or was merely discussed, but notes that Nintendo's private presentation was allegedly open to both select developers and media outlets. Industry insider NateTheHate—AKA NateDrake—partially dismissed this rumor, taking to Famiboards to claim that no members of the press attended a closed-door Nintendo presentation at Gamescom 2023.
Assuming Nintendo truly began showcasing its next gaming system at trade shows, even if only off the record, it might not be long until the console gets treated to a reveal. Some recent Switch 2 rumors already suggested as much, with several insiders claiming that Nintendo's new hardware could be announced as early as 2023. Nevertheless, the console isn't expected to hit the market before 2024, according to a number of past reports.
This Gamescom rumor coincides with a report that the Switch 2 will feature a camera. The claim originates from an established industry insider known for Atlus-specific leaks, who suggested that the console could hence even offer VR or AR functionality, although without fully committing to that prediction.
As for the system's more plausible features, the Switch 2 is widely expected to inherit its predecessor's hybrid form factor, allowing for both handheld and TV play via a dock. The console is also likely to offer backward compatibility with the Switch, with Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently hinting as much, having said that the company is planning to offer a smooth transition experience to owners of its next-generation system.
Source: Gamescom, NateDrake/Famiboards
