According to the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is currently moving its production sites away from China, to an undisclosed location in South East Asia. The reason behind this move is the trade war between China and the US, with tariffs now applying to all Chinese-made electronic products. The WSJ is also revealing that two new models have entered production: a new, more powerful system that will resemble the current one; and a second "lite" model that will be sold at a cheaper price and look somewhat different.

The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Nintendo planned to update the Switch this year with two new models. One is set to look similar to the current model with beefed-up components, while the other is expected to be a less-expensive model with a new look.
People involved in the supply chain said production in Southeast Asia has started for the Switch, including the current type and the two new models, suggesting Nintendo is getting ready to introduce them soon. They didn’t give specific volume figures but said Nintendo wanted to have enough units to sell in the U.S., the largest market for videogame consoles, when the new products go on the market.

This has not been confirmed by Nintendo yet and nobody yet knows when these two new models will hit the market. But if this comes true, will The Witcher 3 run at a higher resolution than 540p on the new, more powerful model? Time will tell. Which of these models are you more likely to purchase?

Source: WSJ

 

[gamesquest1]

I'm intrigued as to what the lite model is, I would have a guess it will just be a standalone home console with the portable feature stripped out

I know a few people with switches who barely ever use the portable-ness of the console except for sitting in bed or something, if they can get the price down substantially it would be a cool option for people who dont care about it being portable, or kids who have already broken their screen and their parents dont trust them to have a portable console

 

[Bladexdsl]

so what would be the point of selling a switch lite model

guarantee the switch lite will be just the switch and no dock.

 

[warweeny]

So instead of overpriced hardware from 2011, we get overpriced hardware from 2012?

 

[GoldenBullet]

Would i be in the wrong if I wanted a much more powerful hardware revision? Like new nvidia chip or even a snapdragon 855 with a better gpu?

It would definitely make the "old" switch obselete but wouldn't you want a true handheld that can actually run third party's games without major sacrifices? Nothing like it exists. The switch we have rn can barely run third party titles if it's even ported at all. There are those mini laptops but games are not optimized to run on those as they would on a console. Idk, maybe I'm just dreaming

 

[kumikochan]

Would i be in the wrong if I wanted a much more powerful hardware revision? Like new nvidia chip or even a snapdragon 855 with a better gpu?

It would definitely make the "old" switch obselete but wouldn't you want a true handheld that can actually run third party's games without major sacrifices? Nothing like it exists. The switch we have rn can barely run third party titles if it's even ported at all. There are those mini laptops but games are not optimized to run on those as they would on a console. Idk, maybe I'm just dreaming

if it were an entirely new system in a couple years well yeah no prob but going that route this generation is anti consumer and will leave millions behind with a system that can't run newer games wich would be utter bullshit. No i don't want that

 

[gamesquest1]

guarantee the switch lite will be just the switch and no dock.

i suppose they could also do an SKU with just the "pro" console with no dock for people upgrading from an original switch (assuming the form factor would be compatible with the old dock), idk the OP mentioning the switch lite would be quite different would lead me to believe it would be a completely different take on the switch i.e just a home console minus the screen and battery etc could certainly make it a cheaper console to manufacture, plus the term "lite" implies missing features or considerably smaller form factor, if they just made a switch with no dock it wouldn't make sense for them to strip out the docking ability as it probably costs them all of $1 to add the components needed to do HDMI output even if they sold the dock separately

just doing a dockless system would be possible without making a new revision, just take the dock out and sell it as a basic set or something, then people can upgrade down the line or use the console with their other dock if they have another system, same effect with zero addition design and manufacturing required

 

[Xzi]

So instead of overpriced hardware from 2011, we get overpriced hardware from 2012?

Tegra X1 and Shield TV were first released 2015. You sure you aren't thinking of the AMD APUs in PS4 and XB1? Because those are actually hardware from 2011.

I'm intrigued as to what the lite model is, I would have a guess it will just be a standalone home console with the portable feature stripped out

I know a few people with switches who barely ever use the portable-ness of the console except for sitting in bed or something, if they can get the price down substantially it would be a cool option for people who dont care about it being portable, or kids who have already broken their screen and their parents dont trust them to have a portable console

I don't think they're going to take away Switch's hybrid status, it's the primary selling point. I'm assuming the lite version is going to be more portable and slightly less powerful, but still have the option to play docked.

 

[gamesquest1]

Tegra X1 and Shield TV were first released 2015. You sure you aren't thinking of the AMD APUs in PS4 and XB1? Because those are actually hardware from 2011.


I don't think they're going to take away Switch's hybrid status, it's the primary selling point. I'm assuming the lite version is going to be more portable and slightly less powerful, but still have the option to play docked.

well they took away the 3D with the 2DS which was the original selling point of the 3DS, plus its not like they would be stopping people buying a normal switch, just giving people who don't want that specific feature an option to not pay for the addition hardware they don't want or need. which would in turn bring the barrier to entry down for playing switch titles to drive up their install base and attract further development for their hardware from third parties

 

[Xzi]

well they took away the 3D with the 2DS which was the original selling point of the 3DS, plus its not like they would be stopping people buying a normal switch, just giving people who don't want that specific feature an option to not pay for the addition hardware they don't want or need. which would in turn bring the barrier to entry down for playing switch titles

3D was much more of a gimmick, though. Portables have always been a mainstay for Nintendo, and now that they have the portable market all to themselves, I don't see a compelling reason for them to abandon it. Particularly if they can make the lite version even more portable, which is something people have been asking for since Switch's release. The price I think they can drive down just by continuing to use the old revision of Tegra X1 chips, perhaps even those that didn't make the cut for original Switch, while they put the new revision in Switch Pro.

 

[bowser]

If there's a Switch Lite, it will most probably be a replacement for the 3DS family of systems. So handheld only with no dock. And probably fixed controls with no detachable joy cons. You'll need separate joy cons/pro controllers for multiplayer.

 

[pedro702]

If there's a Switch Lite, it will most probably be a replacement for the 3DS family of systems. So handheld only with no dock. And probably fixed controls with no detachable joy cons. You'll need separate joy cons/pro controllers for multiplayer.

this is what im thinking a switch that will be solid no detachable parts all portable, wich probably can still be put in the dock to stream to the tv if you buy it separadeely and use a pro controller or a joycon set, it would make much more sence, maybe a smaller form factor so if fits easily in the pokcets.

 

[atoxique]

Those were hardware revisions that were only slightly stronger but there weren't running games on those systems that only released on those systems. If you're okay with 100+ games running on newer hardware only while locking out the other users well good for you supporting that anti consumer bullshit then.

Well to be fair, Nintendo actually brought something new with those systems that actually warranted exclusives.
The Game Boy Colour added a colour screen compared to the monochrome screen of the original Game Boy.
The DSi added cameras and was also a proper internet connected device, allowing DSiWare (...and like 3 super obscure cartridge games that one ever heard of)
And lastly the New 3DS added NFC support, extra buttons and an extra analogue stick.
Those additions meant that there were actual reasons for exclusives.

 

[FAST6191]

Wow moving production is pretty significant. Seems like Trump's trade war is actually affecting more than I thought.

I wonder though at the cost of moving production. As they are making not exactly the highest of high tech consumer devices it is not so bad to spin up somewhere else, compared to say cars which would need a lot of quite specialist (and heavy) tooling.

Similarly China is getting quite expensive (see rents in some of their tier 1 cities -- often comparable to big US cities*) so in some ways does not represent the deal it once was. Smaller countries desiring something like the boost China and India got though are then looking like a better deal.

* https://www.expat.com/en/housing/asia/china/shenzhen/flats-for-rent.html -- 7200 RMB is about 1000 USD, 1500 Australian, 900 Euros, 800 GBP and that only gets you 2 Br 1 Bathroom 1 kitchen 67 sqm (some 700 square feet if you prefer to measure in cretin). Guess where Foxconn is located?

This trade war lark might well be having some effect -- it is better to jump than be pushed and all that but I would be a bit hesitant to lay it all at the feet of it.

 

[reddragon105]

Idk, this whole thing seems semi-off to me. You'd think if they were gonna release a new revision anytime soon it would've been announced at E3. Maybe it'll be out around Christmas?

Nintendo generally don't announce new hardware during E3 - they tend to announce them before and then demo them at E3, although they have been known to announce new hardware the week after E3 so...

 

[Stwert]

Two years seems awfully soon to release a hardware upgrade, a variation on current hardware I can totally believe, this is Nintendo after all, they’re famous for it.

But an actual upgrade in performance, that I’m less certain of. Don’t get me wrong, I really hope there is, that’s the one I’d buy, I’m not especially interested in buying another version of what i already have (2 of) but more power? Yup, sign me up for that, I’ma sucker for new tech

 

[Tigran]

WSJ: "We keep saying a new switch will happen, when it does.. even if we are wrong! We are going to be seen as brilliant!"

I mean for fucks sake, the "Switch Pro! Switch Mini." bullshit has been going on since -before- the godamn thing even came out. Will it happen, probably, but I'm so sick and tired of hearing people acting like it's a HUGE thing... because we all know it'll happen sooner or later, but the only mention of it we should give two shits about is when it/they ARE officially announced.


P.S. PS5 Pro... I'm calling it now so I'll be some type of brilliant prophet when it actually happens!

 

[Stwert]

Anyway like i said when there were talks the ps4 pro was doing it that way wich eventually was not the way they went with the system, everybody had their pitchforks ready and people were screaming anti consumer but if Nintendo goes down that route it is suddenly fine. Always the double standards when it comes to them

I think people expect hardware variations with Nintendo, they’ve been doing it since the GameBoy.
Plus people are more accustomed to it in modern systems after Sony and Microsoft pulling the same stunt.

But if they did release a more powerful Switch, and they will sooner or later, it won’t spell an end to the current hardware. This isn’t like the old days, almost all games are built using scalable engines these days, it’s easier for the developers if they port to other systems.

So theoretical “Switch Pro” games will be backwards compatible with original hardware, they’ll just look worse.

It’s not out of the ordinary for Nintendo to release updates that aren’t backwards compatible, but that normally happens much, much later in the lifecycle.

 

[Bladexdsl]

I'm assuming the lite version is going to be more portable and slightly less powerful,

why would they do that the switch is barely able to keep up with todays games as it is. what possible reason would they have to do this (except a really dumb one)

 

[Chizko]

I see Switch "Mini" for Animal Crossing bundle or maybe before, the "Pro" maybe for simultaneous release with the Next Gen.
The "Mini" with passive cooling (the same X1) smaller and more kids proof, the Pro with vapor chamber cooling and overclock or just uses the max original Mhz (the same X1 or its revision on less nm).

 

[kumikochan]

I think people expect hardware variations with Nintendo, they’ve been doing it since the GameBoy.
Plus people are more accustomed to it in modern systems after Sony and Microsoft pulling the same stunt.

But if they did release a more powerful Switch, and they will sooner or later, it won’t spell an end to the current hardware. This isn’t like the old days, almost all games are built using scalable engines these days, it’s easier for the developers if they port to other systems.

So theoretical “Switch Pro” games will be backwards compatible with original hardware, they’ll just look worse.

It’s not out of the ordinary for Nintendo to release updates that aren’t backwards compatible, but that normally happens much, much later in the lifecycle.

according to the WSJ it's not going to work like that and all newer 3th party games will only work on the switch pro while games made by Nintendo will work on both systems. If they would do that i'm not supporting them ever again since i don't condone anti consumer practices