It kind of tracks, when you think about it. There is nothing out there about next-gen Nintendo hardware, like not even a whiff. If it was coming in early 2024, we'd be hearing reports and rumors about it. If Nintendo is pivoting to a souped-up Super Switch to get an extra 3 years out of the Switch, that actually makes sense. And explains lack of buzz around new hardware. Maybe the "canceled" Switch Pro that DF reported on in January is actually just taking Nintendo a lot longer to do, based on chip shortage and component prices being higher than they wanted. Maybe they had to scale down the spec upgrade to make it profitable to sell at $399. And it also tracks with the report that Nintendo was letting suppliers know they were increasing Switch orders, and increasing their forecast for Switch going into year 7. Which is unheard of in the console lifecycle of any system.
It fits in nicely though if they are making a Switch model with upgraded specs. It could be fully BC, and just run games better out of the box, or with minimal work. Exclusive software could happen, but wouldn't be crucial if it doesn't. One X and PS4 Pro never had exclusive software, they just ran games way, way better, depending on the game. Like, Nintendo could even do a new dock that is based on the OLED dock template, but make it so in TV mode, it outputs at 4K for video apps/ certain games. Or upscaled to checkerboard 4K in TV Mode, like PS4 Pro did.
Seriously, this all tracks, and makes sense. Nintendo not doing E3, and not dating or talking about any games after July this year, holding onto everything. Could be prepping for some kind of live in-person thing that they put on themselves. Like a global version of Nintendo Live. Or a new Nintendo Switch Presentation, like they held for the original Switch in 2017 to unveil it. Sony used to do that for hardware announcements. I think the last one was in autumn 2016, they held a Playstation Meeting to unveil the PS4 Pro.
A genuine Switch Pro/ Super Switch, like a meaningful hardware upgrade, would definitely cause Switch sales to stop declining, and outside of a successor, would be the only way at this point in the cycle to increase hardware sales YoY.
I'm imagining:
-$399, no bundled software - (might have to be above $400 but just depends on how things go this year)
-64GB SSD (tiny by modern standards, but Switch games are tiny compared to the other consoles, and right now the load times on Switch are continually worsening as games get bigger)
-4K DLSS in TV Mode (on a game-by-game basis, but all video apps will support it)
-battery life will be about the same as OG Switch/ possibly slightly worse due to the higher spec
-no OLED screen (cut costs to hit $399 target price)
-Analog triggers
-fully BC with all existing Switch software/ NSO and save cloud data fully carries over with Nintendo Account
-no exclusive games for now, but could happen in the future
-fully compatible with all Switch accessories/ controllers
-existing key titles being updated to run better as part of the initial "launch lineup" - (tracks with what NateDrake said he was hearing from developers/ contacts back in summer 2021)
-Metroid Prime 4 (also on OG Switch) intentionally not being shown off until the Super Switch is unveiled, as it will be the headline launch title/ technical showpiece for it, Holiday 2023.
-announce in August (around GamesCom), for the minimum amount of time needed for marketing and pre-sales activity, so that sales of existing models don't evaporate. - (Explains skipping E3 this year, even though E3 is back. It would have just been too early to show it based on their timeline).
-coincide with Nintendo Selects/ Player's Choice line of older Switch titles brought back $29.99-$39.99 (Arms, 1-2 Switch, Odyssey, Super Mario Party, BotW, Xenoblade 2, Octopath 1, etc to start)
