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More like Switch LOLED mode, AMIRITE???
It turns out that rumors of a beefier Nintendo Switch, which many had dubbed “Switch Pro” or “Super Nintendo Switch” (an infinitely superior fake name), may have been overblown. While Nintendo could certainly have another surprise waiting in the wings, the company’s Tuesday reveal of a “Nintendo Switch (OLED model” appears to be the new hardware that rumors had hyped up.
While the upgraded Switch launching on Oct. 8 does sport an OLED screen and improvements to the hybrid console’s kickstand, onboard storage, and audio, it’s seemingly not opening Nintendo’s beloved console up to a whole new class of games. Though the addition of an ethernet port to the console’s TV dock does suggest a forthcoming bigger push for cloud-based games, as we’ve already seen with Hitman 3 and Control.
The new Switch’s biggest upgrade is right there in the name: A 7-inch OLED screen that should deliver a sharper and more vibrantly colorful image when people play their games in handheld mode. But there’s no mention in the trailer or on Nintendo’s product page of 4K support (or any other resolution boost).
This revised Switch will also sport a kickstand that locks in at multiple angles and is wider than the original, as well as internal storage that’s been expanded to 64GB (from 32GB, aka you’ll still definitely need an SD card) and non-specifically “enhanced audio.”
Arguably the biggest upgrade, at least for those craving a wider assortment of Switch-playable video games, is the addition of an ethernet port to the console’s TV dock. Cloud-based gaming from services like Stadia or Luna isn’t all that reliable over WiFi, but a lot of the hiccups of cloud gaming disappear (or at least become manageable) with a wired internet conection.
The revised Switch is also roughly the same size as the original model, with a screen that’s only 0.8 inches larger than the original 6.2-inch screen. So that revised Switch dock, sold separately, could theoretically give owners of the original Switch access to the same upgrade. (This is pure speculation; Nintendo hasn’t confirmed that the new dock will be sold separately, or if it supports any earlier models of hardware.)
So it’s not the “Switch Pro” that some rumors had pointed to. This new Switch is seemingly meant to replace earlier models of the hardware, addressing technical shortcomings that have become increasingly apparent in the four years since the original Switch launched.
Nintendo’s gonna teach kids how to make games on a Switch
Maybe Nintendo did or does have a more powerful Switch in development. It could be that the same supply chain disruptions that have made the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles so tough to find also led Nintendo to scale back its plans. Or maybe all the rumors prompted speculation that ultimately fell flat.
Whatever the truth is, Nintendo’s long-rumored announcement of a new Switch is here. The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) will retail for $349.99 when it arrives on Oct. 8.
