Nintendo could launch Switch successor in second-half of 2024

Nintendo's upcoming console may have an LCD screen and dedicated cartridge slot for loading physical copies of games.

Nintendo new console | Nintendo | Nintendo new console launch date

There is no word if the new console will be able to run existing titles. (File Photo)

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Nintendo is gearing up to launch its next-generation console sometime in the second half of 2024. The gaming console will have a portable form factor like the Switch, which is a hybrid device.

While details about the upcoming console at scarce, a recent report from VideoGamesChronicle suggests Nintendo might opt for an LCD screen instead of an OLED panel to bring down the price.

The dedicated cartridge slot might allow users to load physical games, but it is still unclear if it will be backwards compatible and run existing Switch titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which sold more than 10 million copies in just 3 days. The report also suggests that development kits for the upcoming console are already with partner studios.

NikkeiAsia earlier reported that the development of the new console seems to be “going smoothly”. Earlier this year, Nintendo’s President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed reports circulating about the next-generation console, saying it hoped to provide a smooth transition from the Switch to a new platform.

Nintendo Switch sales figures have declined in the last few years. (Express Photo)

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The switch comes with 32GB internal storage, which might not be not enough for newly launched titles, but there are no details if Nintendo plans to upgrade the storage space or processing power.

The company’s current console – Switch, is one of its best-selling consoles of all time. Nintendo refreshed the original model in 2021, but apart from the OLED screen, the company did not make any major changes to the hardware.

However, sales have slowed down in the last few years, with the company selling only 18 million devices last year compared to 23 million sold the year before that.

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Earlier this year, DigitalFoundry hinted that Nintendo has apparently scrapped plans to Switch Pro in favour of Switch 2, which was expected to offer 4K gaming when connected to TVs and external monitors.