Nintendo
Nintendo's got a more powerful version of its wildly popular Switch console, and it's set to debut this year, according to a new Bloomberg report.
The new Switch model is capable of producing 4K visuals on a TV, according to the report, and has a larger screen that uses OLED technology.
Moreover, it could be available as soon as this fall: Manufacturers are reportedly scheduled to begin production this July. According to the report, Nintendo is working with Samsung to source the OLED screens that will go into the new version of the Switch.
Currently, there are two models of Nintendo Switch: The original version that launched in March 2017, and a less expensive Switch "Lite" that launched in September 2019. Both consoles have sold briskly since launch — as of December 31, 2020, just shy of 80 million Nintendo Switch units have been sold, according to Nintendo.
Julian Stratenschulte / Picture Alliance via Getty Images
Rumors of a new, more powerful version of the Nintendo Switch have been circulating for years.
Initially, those rumors were paired with word of a less expensive, handheld-only version of the Switch. That eventually came to fruition as the Nintendo Switch Lite.
Thus far, Nintendo hasn't confirmed the existence or development of a more powerful Switch — a Switch "Pro" model, if you will. Both Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furakawa and Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser have said the Nintendo Switch, as a platform, is "at the midpoint" of its life cycle, which leaves the door open for new versions of the popular console.
One thing is clear: It's unlikely that a more powerful Switch would power games that couldn't run on the original Switch that launched in 2017.
Nintendo has a vested interest in catering to its massive market of Switch owners, and the company's leadership has repeatedly said it expects several more years of life for the Switch as an overall platform.
Given that it's been two years since the last iteration of the Switch, and Nintendo's now competing with graphical powerhouses from Sony and Microsoft, 2021 would be a smart time for Nintendo to launch a more powerful version of its very popular console.
Nintendo representatives did not respond to a request for comment as of publishing.
Got a tip? Contact Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@insider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.
NOW WATCH: Why electric planes haven't taken off yet
See Also:
- 'Super Mario 3D All-Stars' brings 3 classic games to Nintendo Switch — here's how to buy the collection before it's gone for good in April
- Google insiders reveal why the company's ambitious plan to create major video games fell apart
- A brand-new Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch was just unveiled, and it's the open-world game fans have been waiting years for
SEE ALSO: https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-things-to-expect-from-gaming-in-2021-2021-1
