Nintendo Plans To Launch Next Switch This Year With LCD, Omdia Says (bloomberg.com) 45
Nintendo plans to launch a new 8-inch LCD-equipped Switch game console this year, well-regarded analyst firm Omdia said Friday [unpaywalled-link]. Bloomberg: The new device from the Kyoto-based games maker will be responsible for a doubling in shipments of so-called amusement displays in 2024, Hayase said in Tokyo on Friday. His research focuses on small and medium displays and he bases annual forecasts on checks with companies in the supply chain. Nintendo's seven-year-old Switch has sold over 132 million units and is approaching the end of its life cycle. The company has been tight-lipped about any potential successor, but expectations have narrowed to this year's holiday period for the release of the next generation.
New Console (Score:4, Informative)
The news here is they won't be using an OLED screen for the new console. This can be viewed as a step backwards from the Switch OLED.
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Didn't the Switch (non-OLED) launch with an LCD panel?
I'd bet they launch with an 8" LCD, then there will be another OLED model released later to get fans to buy a second one. Nintendo is pretty good at that.
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If they had a target BOM cost they were trying to hit, then they might have had to go cheaper on some components than the current model. The current switch has been on the market for something like 7 years. The way they where able to introduce the OLED was probably due to per-unit manufacturing costs coming down thanks to the sheer volume of units produced and tech advancing.
To be able to include newer processor, faster RAM, etc and still be able to hit $300 retail (or whatever) plus the desired profit ma
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Yeah. I would also expect Nintendo might actually go for a 1080p LCD screen (instead of the 720P LCD/OLED that the current Switch has). Nintendo probably has a target price and they can currently get an LCD to their spec that meets that price.
1080P OLEDs might be harder for Nintendo to get at the price they want, but likely will drop in price in a few years.
Remember the Steam Deck launched with an LCD as well, and only got OLED a few months ago. (The Steam Deck has a 1280x800 screen).
Mass manufacturing isn'
Re: New Console (Score:1)
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This can be viewed as a step backwards from the Switch OLED.
Everything comes at a cost, both in terms of dollars and ultimate product life. Given the way some people use their Switch and how not everyone is rich, there's definitely a reason for a non-OLED switch to exist, especially given the 20% price difference right now between the LCD and the OLED version.
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I hope that owners of the current one can play the new games, just at a lower resolution or detail level. And they make Mario Maker 3.
Will it run Switch 1 games? (Score:3)
If not
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If they are trying to "double the shipments" of devices in 2024, the only way they're going to get significant numbers sold is if it runs Switch 1 games in addition to Switch 2.
Supposedly, it will. This is based on reading a statement by Nintendo about how they view it as necessary for their existing online account system to run on any successor platform. Take that as you will, it's certainly not proof.
But traditionally, Nintendo consoles have been backwards compatible with the previous generation. The Switch was the first that wasn't since the GameCube. Prior to the Switch, the GBA, DS, 3DS, Wii, and Wii U all had some form of backwards compatibility with earlier consoles. The Sw
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it will greatly slow adoption if it isn't
Up until Nintendo puts out a new Zelda or Pokemon game on it. Then it will sell like hot cakes.
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This is based on reading a statement by Nintendo about how they view it as necessary for their existing online account system to run on any successor platform.
Hmm... that's probably why Wii store points couldn't be carried over to the WiiU store. Apparently, money is money... unless it's digital.
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But what can they offer? (Score:3)
Re:But what can they offer? (Score:5, Interesting)
PC handhelds already have superior specs for those who want them, and one you hit a retina display quality graphics can't really improve in handheld mode, meaning that most of the gpu will be going towards docked mode.
IMHO, Nintendo has not been trying to go after the high end since the Wii, so superior specs are kind of a moot point. It seems they've actively targeted a non-traditional gamer market while maintaining a ton of exclusive content that, on average, is higher quality than Sony has available (I don't XBox).
I have a Switch, a PS5, and a gaming PC; when I want a story-driven, long form game, I will often grab my Switch controller before I grab my DualSense or my keyboard and mouse because I have a wealth of story-driven Switch games available.
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They also target family gaming. Something the other systems really don't.
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I play PS5 or X when I want the latest and greatest.
I fire up the switch when company is over for Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Golf, or Jackbox. Being able to have the whole extended family just pull out their phones and play silly games is awesome.
The closest thing the PS4 had was the That's You and Knowledge is Power games. Which do run on PS5, if a bit crankily.
Two words (Score:3)
I still miss my GBA's 10 hour battery life. And the stories I've heard of what a Neo-Geo pocket color could do with a single AA are mindblowing.
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PC handhelds already have superior specs
Only for you. For many people the "spec" they care about is if it can run the latest Mario game. I have a steam deck. I also have a Switch. They are both still actively used for a reason despite one being as you say "superior".
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I imagine you refer to Steamdecks. Steamdeck are more expensive, heavier, bulkier, with less batteries.
Nintendo has great games and a fair number of licenses that I want to play and that won't release on other systems.
Not that I am saying that steamdeck users are idiot or anything. If you have a huge steam collection, that probably can make sense. But I'll probably be getting a Switch 2 on release!
With LCD (Score:2)
Great. Because I was really getting tired of lugging my old Switch around with that bulky CRT.
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Plus, a color screen on the Switch 2 would be nice. That monochrome orange phosphor can really be wearing on the eyes.
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If they put out one without a display I'd probably buy it. I play Switch games exclusively on my TV.
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Talk about what processor/gpu it has.
Why? This is a Nintendo product. That is the one thing that is irrelevant. If you want to masturbate over power specs buy a PC handheld like an ROG Ally
I won't buy it (Score:1)
Re:I won't buy it (Score:4, Interesting)
You don't want 4K on a handheld screen, you want 4K on the TV. You want the handheld to have have the best possible battery life, and a lower-resolution screen is how you do that.
Re: I won't buy it (Score:2)
Well you could put a bigger battery on a device to give it longer battery life. And use a newer process node to make a chip that has more memory bandwidth at a similar power draw.
Of course then people will complain about a huge price hike. Can't please everyone.
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I'd like a 1080p panel instead of a 720p, especially at 8"
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Right, but you do want it to hit 4K when docked. Otherwise, 1080p on big screen is meh.
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But if nintendo is not going to improve on the specs, I don't want one.
If you're buying a Nintendo for specs you're doing it wrong. The "spec" here is that it'll run new games. That's the reason to buy one. The device itself is irrelevant.
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I wanted something that was better than the switch, not a downgrade.
It is better than the Switch in that it will play games that won't be released on the Switch. If you are after better hardware then you should not be remotely looking at a Nintendo device.
The thought/potential future of nintendo not shipping with an OLED display is insulting.
That's just dumb ignorance. There are many reasons to not want an OLED. For one your device will last longer, and for another your device will be 20% cheaper (the current price difference between a Switch and OLED Switch. Complaining about OLED specs of screens means you shouldn't be buying a Nintendo device. Nintendo is a
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Do you get your news anywhere else?.. (Score:3)
Literally no credible commentator or leaker has even suggested such a thing. In fact, most of the information strongly suggests we are getting something at least pretty close to a portable PS4 which is a significant spec improvement.
Only on /. would you see a headline so bad that it would make it sound like the Switch 2 is going to just have a slightly nicer screen than the Switch 1.
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I was looking forward to the switch 2 and actually budgeted for it. But if nintendo is not going to improve on the specs, I don't want one. I'm tired of paying for minimal incremental improvements and I'm tired of being manipulated. I want a 4k oled screen and I want it to support 4k.
The Game Cube was the last time Nintendo tried to go head-to-head with Sony and MS on specs and it was one of their worst performing consoles, sales wise. The Wii was famously derided by one developer as being "Two Game Cubes duck taped together." and was one of the best-selling consoles ever.
And I think that is great. Nintendo has always excelled at excellent game play and timeless graphical design that didn't depend on the latest hardware to run. Better to focus on excellent software than break the bank t
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