The Wall Street Journal is back to reporting Nintendo Switch rumors once more, following up on their October 2018 claim that Nintendo would be releasing a new hardware revision of the Switch in 2019. Originally, they stated that the Switch would focus on peripheral additions similar to Labo, rather than new hardware, before changing their initial stance to state that a "better" Switch revision was on the way, and would focus on upgraded hardware. This time around, their claim has a few more details--now mentioning two potential variations: a cheaper model which would replace the Nintendo 3DS as the budget option, and an enhanced model, which would be "targeted at avid video gamers".

This conflicts with previous recent statements from both the Nintendo JP president Shuntaro Furukawa and the soon to be former president of Nintendo of America, Reggie Fils-Aime, who separately debunked new hardware rumors by saying "[it] is not Nintendo's current focus".

Right now, as we go into our second holiday, my focus is making sure the current grey and neon Switch continue to have momentum in the market place. You saw systems, whether it’s our own or competitive home console systems, utilize that tactic a bit later in the life cycle. So right now, the current execution of Nintendo Switch with the Joy-Con and all of the capabilities, that’s our focus right now.

The Wall Street Journal further asserts that these two supposed hardware revisions would be "different from the original, and you would be surprised," with both versions launching as early as Summer 2019. According to the WSJ's insider sources, hardware prototypes have already been sent to software developers, who say that the "upgraded" Switch model won't be as strong as the Xbox One X or PlayStation 4 Pro.

Nintendo Co. plans to launch two new versions of its Switch gaming console as early as this summer, people familiar with the matter said, as the company seeks to sustain sales momentum for the product going into a crucial third year.

What are your thoughts? Do you find the Wall Street Journal to be reliable, or have other rumors of new Switch hardware got you convinced? Are you more skeptical, after already hearing the WSJ's initial story, or do you believe that there's no room for doubt after so many claims of a revised Switch model have been circulating across the internet? With sales of the Nintendo 3DS slowing down, and the company having just barely missed the mark on its 20 million sales fiscal year projection, a new "pro" and "budget" model could be just what they need to get more sales rolling.

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[Rahkeesh]

Would be hilarious if the "pro" model is just a software-overclocked version of the current one.

 

[DeslotlCL]

Wow, just got one not too long ago. Talk about bad timing...

 

[Stwert]

You forgot the Wii U

Did it get an extra revision? I thought it was just the two launch models.

 

[Kubas_inko]

Did it get an extra revision? I thought it was just the two launch models.

Wii -> Wii U.
Missed joke

 

[DANTENDO]

NINTENDO ARE YOU LISTENING WE NEED A DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL PORT

 

[SilverWah]

I'm down for a Switch Pro if it's powerful enough and gets better features like better servers and Tegra X2 or better.

 

[Kubas_inko]

NINTENDO ARE YOU LISTENING WE NEED A DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL PORT

That's one thing nobody needs.
Except some...

 

[Stwert]

Wii -> Wii U.
Missed joke

Damn, sorry. Normally I’d have picked up on that but I’m seriously bombed on morphine just now (medicinal, not just because it’s good )

 

[DANTENDO]

Wow, just got one not too long ago. Talk about bad timing...

Just enjoy the games at mo loads of time until a new model arrives prob can complete 5 or 6 games by then and we got yoshi next week if Yr into tht game

 

[piratesephiroth]

A handheld Switch would sell like hotcakes.

 

[DANTENDO]

That's one thing nobody needs.
Except some...

Proper dolby surround should be default in currently playing division 2 and for any shooter you need to kno wher the shots are Coming from I pld without digital sound and you die more frequently

 

[Stwert]

NINTENDO ARE YOU LISTENING WE NEED A DIGITAL OUT OPTICAL PORT

You could buy a breakout box if you’re desperately needing optical out. They’re not particularly expensive.

 

[Something whatever]

The dock would still need to be included otherwise we would get brand confusion (“they said you could play it on the tv!”), and having joy cons locked into the switch prevents any ability to replace or buy new joy cons -something Nintendo would definitely want consumers to do.

I can only think removing HD rumble, the IR sensor, NFC features, and the joy con grip from the joy con, removing the cartridge slot, and the kickstand from the switch itself, and removing the extra ports from the dock to reduce the cost. Though I think most could live without all of those (minus the cartridge slot)

 

[Kubas_inko]

Proper dolby surround should be default in currently playing division 2 and for any shooter you need to kno wher the shots are Coming from I pld without digital sound and you die more frequently

You should use headphone for such games.

 

[spotanjo3]

I don't think anyone in the world was expecting to even be as strong as the original PS4 or Xbox One

That concern me the most but I will wait and see what it looks like and how powerful it is. Will 3rd party happily make a newer AAA games on this ? Thats what I am waiting for. No high hope for me right now. I will sit back and do nothing until they reveal it.

 

[piratesephiroth]

The dock would still need to be included otherwise we would get brand confusion (“they said you could play it on the tv!”), and having joy cons locked into the switch prevents any ability to replace or buy new joy cons -something Nintendo would definitely want consumers to do.

I can only think removing HD rumble, the IR sensor, NFC features, and the joy con grip from the joy con, removing the cartridge slot, and the kickstand from the switch itself, and removing the extra ports from the dock to reduce the cost. Though I think most could live without all of those (minus the cartridge slot)

Nah they don't need to go that far.
Making the device and joycons into a single piece alone will save a lot of money. Plus that automatically removes 2 batteries and 2 bluetooth transceivers.

 

[DANTENDO]

You should use headphone anyways for such games.

I use good turtle beach ones but still can't get true surround especially front and rear can be difficult to predict plus I spent 400 quid on dolby system should be able to enjoy the games on tht

 

[Kubas_inko]

I use good turtle beach ones but still can't get true surround especially front and rear can be difficult to predict plus I spent 400 quid on dolby system should be able to enjoy the games on tht

I can guarantee that you won't be getting optical out. HDMI is already digital.

 

[Deleted User]

if it has a usable battery life, 1080p screen and better specs then ill finally consider buying a switch. if its just a bigger hdd and a bigger screen (but still 720p) then its a hard no, id rather just wait for yuzu to improve

 

[Stwert]

I can guarantee that you won't be getting optical out. HDMI is already digital.

I agree, I’d be bloody amazed if Ninty put any digital output (beyond HDMI) on any console from now on.
But, like I said, there are ways around that limitation if your receiver, or whatever system you’re using, doesn’t have HDMI inputs.