Nintendo Crushes Fans' Hopes And Dreams
The Switch had the best launch of any Nintendo console and has already moved more units in 2021 than both the PS5 and Series X. The ability to transition between a docked console and a portable device combined with Nintendo's extensive games library set the system up for success, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.
Rumors about a "Switch Pro" have circulated for a while now, and many thought its release might be just around the corner. Fans have been all too eager to share the changes they'd like to see in a newer model, including a Joy-Con drift solution, faster processing, and a bigger hard drive. Above all, they wanted to game in 4K when docked. Instead, Nintendo underwhelmed players by announcing a Switch with an OLED display, a few other minor upgrades, and a $50 price hike.
But maybe the "real" Switch Pro is still coming? Nintendo says no.
Nintendo does not have plans for another Switch
Bloomberg published an article questioning Nintendo's choice to raise the price on its new console, pointing out that this isn't typical of console markets that traditionally slash prices. The article stated "upgrades are estimated to cost around $10 more per unit, meaning Nintendo is improving profit margins and relying on its rich library of games to keep sales brisk."
Nintendo responded with a tweet denying the claim that the Switch OLED would have a higher profit margin than the original Switch. It then stated: "we also want to clarify that we just announced that Nintendo Switch(OLED Model) will launch in October, 2021, and have no plans for launching any other model at this time."
This comes as a huge blow to fans who were hoping the OLED model was just a precursor to a "true Switch Pro" which would have 4K and all the other features they really wanted in a new Switch. It's possible Nintendo will still come around to its fans' pleas for higher resolution and frame rates, but it doesn't seem like it will be happening any time soon.