Alleged images of the Switch 2 have appeared online that could offer a first look at Nintendo’s highly anticipated console.
Originally shared on a Chinese website, the photos show a device with a larger 8-inch screen, thinner borders around the display, and magnetic Joy-Con controllers.
They also show two UBS-C ports on the top and bottom of the device. As some have previously speculated, they could allow you to connect two Switch consoles for a dual-screen setup.
On the other hand, the extra port could be for added connectivity for connecting accessories or for improved docking capabilities when you want to play on your TV.
According to Chinese sources, factory prototype imagines of Switch 2 have leaked.
— Stealth (@Stealth40k) September 18, 2024
I'd take this with a massive grain of salt.https://t.co/XnHfjlq5QC pic.twitter.com/hhrFhLzmab
Although Nintendo has not confirmed any details about the Switch 2, the new images align with other reports about the upcoming console. At first glance, the console shown in the pics looks identical to the current Switch, including the game card slot at the top. This suggests it may be backwards compatible with older Switch games.
Adding to the fire, the same website also leaked the hardware’s specs, corroborating an earlier leak.
According to Wednesday’s information, the Switch 2 will include 12GB of RAM (versus 4GB on the original Switch), support for HDMI 2.1, and 256GB of internal storage (compared with 32GB).
Speculation has been growing that Nintendo could unveil the Switch after it was revealed that developers had recently been called to the company’s US offices. With the Tokyo Games Show set to begin in Nintendo’s native Japan later this month, now seems like the ideal time to make a big announcement.
So, not to be a conspiracy theorist, but a LOT of developers seemingly got invited to visit Nintendo yesterday. This is far from the only example.
— Laura Kate Dale - Mastodon "@LauraKBuzz@tech.lgbt" (@LaurakBuzz) September 17, 2024
Sure feels like, maybe, devs might have been getting a look at some hardware ahead of it getting a public reveal... https://t.co/o76VeF1XJr
Nintendo also has a tradition of holding Direct presentations in September, where it typically shows off major games. In May, Nintendo said it would announce the successor to the Switch within the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2025.
Previous reports have suggested the new console could use an LCD panel, like its predecessor’s, to cut costs. Most experts also agree that it will sport an 8-inch display and come with improved controllers. It isn’t expected to be a radical departure from the original Switch in design — the real upgrades will lie under the hood.
The Switch 2 is expected to sell for between £349.99-£379.99. By comparison, a Nintendo Switch OLED with a sharper screen currently costs £309.99.
Released in 2017, the original Switch has broken records, shifting more than 143 million units. That makes it the third best-selling video game console of all time, behind only the PlayStation 2 (155 million) and the Nintendo DS (154 million).
