The Nintendo Switch 2 has yet to be officially announced, but the rumor mill continues to churn. All signs point to the Japanese gaming giant being working on a successor to the ever-popular Nintendo Switch, although everything from the release date to the name remains a matter of speculation for now.
We’re hoping for big improvements in performance, an OLED display and the ability to output in 4K to compete with the best TVs. However, the latest rumors point to some pretty disappointing specs, meaning we might not have to expect it quite the upgrade we were hoping for. With that in mind, we thought it was the perfect time to round up the best and worst rumors we’ve seen so far about the Switch 2 (or whatever Nintendo ends up calling it).
The best Switch 2 rumors: New Mario games, more storage and comparable price
First of all, it’s positive that we may not have to wait long for a second-generation Switch. The majority of reports point to a planned release window of 2024, but sources with “knowledge of Nintendo’s next-gen console plans” (via VGC) suggest that Nintendo is targeting a release date in the second half of the year.
However, a new rumor suggests that a release could be on the horizon as early as late summer. Another analyst report suggests that a March or April release could be possible as it would help Nintendo counteract the PS5’s current sales momentum. It is said that the Switch 2 will be released around the same time as the PS5 Pro.
Whenever it hits shelves, the Switch 2 is expected to launch with a new 3D Mario, and later in its lifecycle could see the biggest Mario Kart game yet. A reputable insider claimed in August that Nintendo is developing the Mario game using the Unreal 4 game engine. This initial leak was made even more credible by a report that claimed the system would launch with a new 3D Mario title. Looking even further into the future, the Switch 2 will have a new Mario Kart game in its second year of its lifecycle called Mario Kart. It is said to be the “most expensive game Nintendo has ever produced.”
In terms of promising spec upgrades, onboard storage was estimated at 512GB, which would be a significant increase over the 32GB and 64GB of the original Switch and Switch OLED respectively. There was previously speculation about a possible co-processor chip that would be housed in the Switch 2’s dock to boost the console’s performance and video output when docked and connected to a 4K TV. While it’s a nice upgrade, rumors about it have died down, so we’re not holding our breath.
Zippo claimed over the summer that the Nintendo Switch 2 would cost $399. That’s $50 more than the premium Switch OLED. This puts the price of the Switch 2 at the same level as the Xbox Series S, but is in line with the increasing hardware costs. An industry analyst later confirmed the price of $399 in an interview with GamesIndustryBiz.
The worst rumors about the Switch 2: LCD display, low-performance specs, no backwards compatibility
Over the last few generations of consoles, Nintendo’s hardware has consistently lagged behind the competition in terms of raw performance, and a new leak suggests that the Switch 2 will be no different.
According to RedGamingTech, the Nintendo Switch 2 will feature an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 10 streaming multiprocessors (SMs), and 8GB of RAM. While that’s an improvement over the current Switch, it’s still miles behind the performance you see on the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
To make matters worse, Sharp, the maker of the current Switch displays, has stated that it is working on a new LCD panel for a “new gaming console” – presumably the Switch 2. Later reports from VGC and tipster NateTheHate added fuel to the rumors that the Nintendo Switch 2 could have an LCD display to keep production costs down. That would be a disappointing step in the wrong direction for Nintendo. The Switch 2’s return to an indoor display after its predecessor, the Switch OLED, could be a dealbreaker for many gamers.
Equally concerning is another rumor that suggests the Switch 2 may not have backwards compatibility for Switch games. Admittedly, Nintendo has botched the issue in the past by leaving its older games behind paid subscription services like Nintendo Switch Online or closing online stores on outdated consoles. That doesn’t make it any less daunting, and Nintendo would have to have an excellent starting lineup for a next-gen Switch if it doesn’t plan on leaning on its older and established library of games.
