New Switch model coming in second half of 2019, reports Japanese WSJ

At most it will probably have it's SoC on a 12nm mode to cut down it's power consumption while increasing it's performance.

With that I would be happy to play games like Doom at a near native 720p resolution if possible with a stable 30fps.

Also they won't make a Switch Mini since it would kill the idea of Switch being a hybrid console with detachable controllers

Golvellius said:

A look at this week's MC charts tells us that XB1X sells roughly twice as much as XB1S:
https://www.resetera.com/threads/media-create-sales-week-39-2018-sep-24-sep-30.72505/

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Are you serious with this? We're talking dozens of units per week here. It's a tiny sample size, and considering how weak the Xbox is in Japan most of its users there are probably the sort of enthusiasts who would opt for the stronger console. In its home market you'll have far more casual users.

Gaiaknight said:

if nintendo did that they risk some games not running hell DOOM, Wolfenstein 2, xenoblade chronicles 2 pretty much already push handheld mode to there limit.

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thats not how it works, you can make it smaller while keeping or even enhacing the performance

The only things I realistically see possible are larger display with smaller bezels and an improved battery if somehow also possible. The identity of the Switch shouldn't be tampered with IMO.

ManCityX said:

Of course it will.

They want a smaller, cheaper, more child/casual friendly gaming device in the market.

It won't be exactly as I described but it'll be along those lines.

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Yep.
Regardless of how hard it is, it would be Nintendo's goal to acheive it. And they might sacrifice many other aspects of the machine to make it possible, if they have to. No one is saying they could just straight shrink everything with no compromises. But Nintendo's future strategy is dependent on a cheaper and smaller Switch, that I have no doubt.

Jarmusch said:

not if they use a smaller process

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An entire new process for a different hardware model ? Nah.

Gaiaknight said:

if nintendo did that they risk some games not running hell DOOM, Wolfenstein 2, xenoblade chronicles 2 pretty much already push handheld mode to there limit.

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It would be for kids who are most likely are not going to play those games.

Hope it's a pro model with a new Tegra cpu :) alot of corrent games will benefit with their dynamic res. A new hardwarw gimmick I guess they could add 2 cams for AR support :) or go the route of VR with a 90hz 1080p screen and then a headset "dock" that adds inside out tracking. This might need a new set off controllers though.

impact said:

That's not the way it reads lol, confused me there.

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Poster missed a comma there. See? Commas are important.

"Well, there it is!" :)
Good to know I've got to hold out until end of summer.

Imagine a 2TF switch plus more PPI density. Looking forward to the announcement.

If it can use current dock specs in handheld mode I'll be there day 1. The sometimes spotty performance and prevelance of games with sub-native resolution is my biggest gripe with the system.

PlayBee said:

Are you serious with this? We're talking dozens of units per week here. It's a tiny sample size, and considering how weak the Xbox is in Japan most of its users there are probably the sort of enthusiasts who would opt for the stronger console. In its home market you'll have far more casual users.

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This discussion doesnt have a ton to do with the new Switch hardware so this is the last I'll post on it in this thread

But in its home market, the X is substantially more than 1 in 5 split. Like a lot more

Guys, won't be a lite/pocket model. The original Switch is already a miracle, all the elements are really packed in the chassis, there's no way to shrink the actual console in a pocket model, the only way is using a more efficient Tegra chip and that will cost more to Nintendo, so an hypothetical Switch Pocket would be at $300 price or even more. They need to sell a Pro model first, using the new chip to low the costs and after that, release a pocket model for a lower price.

Gaiaknight said:

if nintendo did that they risk some games not running hell DOOM, Wolfenstein 2, xenoblade chronicles 2 pretty much already push handheld mode to there limit.

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Plus, if they want to use a smaller process of an X1, then they basically get an X2 and if they are going to use the X2 for a smaller Switch, then they could use the X2 for a Pro Switch.

I think that people that expected Pro/XL version from this revision can be disappointed at end,
Switch is still $300 whithout game and 3DS (that has price point from $80-200) is dying so Nintendo will first need much more affordable offer of Switch not more pricey offer.

It's very unlikely a smaller switch will ever exists imo

This sounds about right.

LordKano said:

Doesn't exist

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im sure nvidia can find a way

Benji said:

This discussion doesnt have a ton to do with the new Switch hardware so this is the last I'll post on it in this thread

But in its home market, the X is substantially more than 1 in 5 split. Like a lot more

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The user I quoted was trying to argue that the X outsells the S 2:1. I didn't say anything about a 1:5 split in favor of the S, and there is an extremely large gulf between those ratios.

There's no way the form factor will change at this point. Nada. It might be a better display or optimized/cost-reduced parts, it might even be a better digital control, but that's it.

Man why the hell did I even buy a Switch? I should have just waited. Fuck being an early adopter, it's never a good idea in the games industry.

NateDrake said:

Plus, if they want to use a smaller process of an X1, then they basically get an X2 and if they are going to use the X2 for a smaller Switch, then they could use the X2 for a Pro Switch.

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sure but their priority is surely getting a cheaper machine in the hands of children, is it not? they got good margins on the switch i'd imagine but im struggling to see how they'll cut this 100 bucks next year on this current version

mazi said:

people on era just reading the title and feeling like they have all the information to participate in the discussion?! i don't believe you

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Lol.

LordKano said:

An entire new process for a different hardware model ? Nah.

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You have no idea what you're talking about.
Do some research first.

Hope you're all ready for the 3DSwitch!

PlayBee said:

The user I quoted was trying to argue that the X outsells the S 2:1. I didn't say anything about a 1:5 split in favor of the S, and there is an extremely large gulf between those ratios.

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The entire discussion came from this post

VallenValiant said:

That is definitely untrue. Only 1 in 5 consoles being sold are the mid gen upgrade versions, how can it possibly drive up hardware sales?

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I'm simply stating the idea mid gen console refreshes are a small part of new hardware sales is....not remotely accurate.

Except in the case of Pro over the summer where huge shortages have occurred

YBdisk said:

You have no idea what you're talking about.
Do some research first.

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Damn lol.

Nintendo has released some form of revision for all of their portable divisions within a 2 - 3 year bracket. GameBoy is probably the only outlier, only because of the larger gap between it and the Pocket, but after the latter's launch it's basically biannual releases (including it). Both the DS and 3DS had revisions within that bracket. And consistently multiple variations ongoing.

Late 2019 will sit the Switch at around 2.5 years of its lifecycle. This is perfectly consistent with their previous portable systems. And while the Switch does unusually sit as a successor to both their portable and home console lines, it's undoutably a portable, and thus 2.5 years would make it due.

The question is what kind of revision. In these cases a revision could be an even smaller form factor and other alterations built to reduce manufacturing costs and market the system on a lower economic scale. It could also be a larger model aimed at the enthusiast crowd.

LordKano said:

It's very unlikely a smaller switch will ever exists imo

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Disagree, I could easily see low price option of Switch with around 5" screen just for handheld play that would essentially replace 3DS price point on market.
We will hardly in near future current Switch for around $200 price point, and around $150 maybe never, but Switch Mini/Pocket could easily have $150-200 launch price point.

YBdisk said:

You have no idea what you're talking about.
Do some research first.

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lol good way to spin out of the discussion

If there is a power upgrade that games can take advantage for, I'll upgrade. However, if its a 3DS XL type situation, I'll probably just not upgrade.

enkaisu said:

Man why the hell did I even buy a Switch? I should have just waited. Fuck being an early adopter, it's never a good idea in the games industry.

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Probably shouldn't buy this model then because in a few years a new model will come out. But then I wouldn't buy that one either because then a new model will come out after that.

Jarmusch said:

sure but their priority is surely getting a cheaper machine in the hands of children, is it not? they got good margins on the switch i'd imagine but im struggling to see how they'll cut this version of the switch 100 bucks next year

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Nvidia is done with the X1 and have no interest in shrinking it. The X2 is the natural move for them. Remove the dock from the current model and price drop it. Or only drop it to $249 with a game or two and a Pro retails for $350. Getting the price down by next holiday is a challenge and something they need to solve before Pokemon 2019 releases.

Yeah, I bet this'll either be a more kid friendly version, or be made to be an alternative to be 100% handleheld where the joy on don't come off.

I think expecting power updates is a fools dream.

Benji said:

The entire discussion came from this post



I'm simply stating the idea mid gen console refreshes are a small part of new hardware sales is....not remotely accurate.

Except in the case of Pro over rhe summer where huge shortages have occurred

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That's fine, I'm not trying to argue with you. I just had to point out the ridiculousness of someone comparing Japanese weekly sales totaling a few dozen Xboxes as some sort of authoritative statement on the ratio of worldwide sales.

BrettHeazy said:

Hope you're all ready for the 3DSwitch!

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Going by previous timescales for their handheld upgrades, a slightly updated model in year 2 isn't out of the question, however it isn't going to see any drastic gains in performance and people wanting a 'Switch Pro' should temper their expectations. I'd expect things like a more energy efficient screen, improved battery life, improved cooling and hardware level security upgrades. They are also limited by the dock so the machine's core design won't change; you can't have DS -> DS Lite / normal size -> XL size style changes.

If all they do is improve the screen/make it lighter, thinner, it's a pass for me.

I mostly play docked anyway.

Now if they managed to improve performance 900p games at 1080, maybe 4K hdr support —lmao- etc I'd think about it.

Ars attempts to break down the rumors a bit more https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/10/report-a-new-nintendo-switch-model-will-arrive-in-2019/

They mention specifics to the LCD screen and how the company making them shifted to an OLED release.

Simba1 said:

Disagree, I could easily see low price option of Switch with around 5" screen just for handheld play that would essentially replace 3DS price point on market.
We will hardly in near future current Switch for around $200 price point, and around $150 maybe never, but Switch Mini/Pocket could easily have $150-200 launch price point.

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The OG Switch will progressively drop in price to reach the 3ds price point as time passes so that's not really an issue but a significantly smaller switch really seem out of the picture for a while

enkaisu said:

Man why the hell did I even buy a Switch? I should have just waited. Fuck being an early adopter, it's never a good idea in the games industry.

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That's a 2 and a half year wait for just a revision, assuming that this will even improve the hardware specifications to begin with, like the New 3DS or the PS4 Pro. Unless you didn't get much use out of the Switch, I don't see why it was pointless to get it earlier on

Man HDR would be so good but is there even content that does HDR on non-4K TVs? Would HDR look fine on a 720p Switch screen revision?

gogojira said:

Probably shouldn't buy this model then because in a few years a new model will come out. But then I wouldn't buy that one either because then a new model will come out after that.

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I mean, yeah, at this point it's smarter to just wait until the end of a console's life cycle to buy one these days.

Guys, this will not be a revolution. Expect only it to be thinner, maybe more RAM and storage, maaaaybe better screen and battery.
And that's it.
Nintendo's already super conservative and current switch is already a miracle. This will be no bombshell

SuperFakerBros said:

That's a 2 and a half year wait for just a revision, assuming that this will even improve the hardware specifications to begin with, like the New 3DS or the PS4 Pro. Unless you didn't get much use out of the Switch, I don't see why it was pointless to get it earlier on

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I got it for BOTW and Odyssey and haven't used my Switch since then, so yeah, kinda sucks lol.

NateDrake said:

Nvidia is done with the X1 and have no interest in shrinking it. The X2 is the natural move for them. Remove the dock from the current model and price drop it. Or only drop it to $249 with a game or two and a Pro retails for $350. Getting the price down by next holiday is a challenge and something they need to solve before Pokemon 2019 releases.

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yeah, i mean, its going to be interesting to follow what they'll do. to me the most logical thing would be to release a cheaper version on time for pokemon 2019 but there doesnt seem to be an obvious path to get there

Handicapped Duck said:

Man HDR would be so good but is there even content tgat does HDR on non-4K TVs? Would HDR look fine on a 720p Switch screen revision?

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Hdr does not need resolution. It would look great in 720p

I hope there's a way, presuming this is just an upgraded tablet, for me to JUST purchase the tablet. I'll keep the old one in a dock or something.

Jarmusch said:

yeah, i mean, its going to be interesting to follow what they'll do. to me the most logical thing would be to release a cheaper version on time for pokemon 2019 but there doesnt seem to be an obvious path to get there

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Pretty much. The X1 kind of put them in an odd spot as they can't really maneuver around it. The X2 is the only direction to move and that would bring them to a Pro.