Photo: creative commons

Alex Bowser

Science/Tech Editor

akb6244@psu.edu

The highly-awaited Nintendo Switch Pro is making headlines again in the gaming community with recent information creating a buzz about the upcoming console being potentially one of the best releases yet.

Other than the 2019 release of the Nintendo Switch Lite version, the current version of the Nintendo Switch has remained unchanged since its release in March of 2017, nearly four years. Now, fans of the console are getting excited, with new leaks saying the new Switch is coming soon, rumored to actually be called the Super Nintendo Switch.

According to recent leaks from Nate Drake, an industry leader and a well-regarded Nintendo leaker, the new console is planning on being in stores by the end of 2021. However, with the pandemic still in the way, it’s possible that there will be a delay for early 2022 at the latest.

In addition, the new console is said to be a significant upgrade from its original. The model will have 4K resolution, and use Nvidia’s DLSS which allows for the switch to support high performance image quality and maintain its frame rate. Even though the current model has 1080p output while docked and 720p in handheld mode, this is still a rather significant change.

For smaller handheld gaming devices, the Switch is one of the only ones still maintaining its popularity and its specs. The fact that they are upgrading the Switch even further is pretty big for the technology side of it all, not to mention the rumored upgrades made to its portal mode compared to its current specs.

The new Switch will be “like a PS4 with DLSS and a more capable CPU,” according to Drake. The idea of having a handheld PS4 has excited many awaiting the new Switch’s release, which Drake also calls a “meaningful upgrade,” when referencing the 4K high resolution.

As for the name, the Nintendo Switch Pro may not be officially called the Nintendo Switch Pro. Rather, it has been rumored to actually be called the Super Nintendo Switch, which is a nod to the 1990’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

However, it should be noted that a couple of months ago, Doug Bower, who is leading Nintendo in America, debunked past Switch Pro rumors with the explanation that because the Switch Lite had been consistent in its performance in the market and was doing well, the company was therefore not focused in working on a new Switch console.

Though there haven’t been any countering words on Drake’s point, it should still be noted how these are all rumors. The company hasn’t released any information on their plans for a new console, including the 2021 date. Still, taking a look at the current state of the industry, there are some predictions we can make.

In order to counter the launch of the new Sony PlayStation5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X, Nintendo might have to jump in order to maintain their popularity. In addition, The company released their Lite version of the Switch two years after its counterpart in order to keep the audience and potentially get more people on board with their product. With this in mind, it should be expected that they come up with something else two to three years after the Lite.