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A recently leaked document from the ongoing legal dispute between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Microsoft suggests that the successor to the Nintendo Switch could hit the market as early as 2024.
The Nintendo Switch, which debuted in 2017, has been a massive success, but gamers have been clamoring for a more powerful system capable of running modern games.
The Nintendo Switch’s Success Story
The Nintendo Switch has been instrumental in reviving the company’s reputation, which had taken a hit due to the lackluster performance of the Wii U.
The console, coupled with early blockbuster titles like Super Smash Bros. Infinite, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Odyssey, helped Nintendo regain its footing in the gaming industry at a time when many believed it was being overshadowed by its competitors.
The Alleged 2024 Release
The document titled “Defendants’ Proposed Post-Trial Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” from the FTC vs. Microsoft case is the source of this potential revelation.
The 153-page document primarily discusses various facts and definitions pertinent to the FTC’s attempt to prevent Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard. However, on page 92, the document states, “Nintendo is expected to release the successor to the Switch as early as next year.”
This statement is made in the context of the competition between Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, indicating that the Switch is nearing the end of its life cycle, unlike the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
A Grain of Salt
While this single line could be a game-changer, it’s important to remember that this information does not come directly from Nintendo. Moreover, Doug Bowser, an executive of Nintendo of America, dodged the question regarding Switch 2. Therefore, it should be taken with a grain of salt.
However, given the competitive nature of the gaming industry, it’s plausible that Microsoft has accurate insights into Nintendo’s plans.
Many Nintendo fans have been calling for an upgrade due to the relatively low specs of the Nintendo Switch, which can lead to performance issues with more demanding games. If the new console is backward compatible with Switch games and offers significant performance improvements, it could potentially attract a large user base.
This would also open up possibilities for high-performance titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring to be ported to Nintendo.
