Earlier this week, Nintendo confirmed that it will announce “the successor to the Nintendo Switch” before the end of March 2025. While this appeared to be a confirmation of the rumored Nintendo Switch 2, the company’s statement simply announced the existence of a “ successor”. and did not indicate whether its next-generation hardware will be a Switch 2.
However, we now have the clearest indication yet that whatever Nintendo is preparing will be a second-generation Switch console. As reported by VGCDuring an earnings call, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked if this successor would be something new and he responded by saying, “Changing the next model is the appropriate way to describe it.”
This isn’t confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be the gaming giant’s next hardware release, but it is an indication that whatever comes next will build on the existing Switch range.
We can safely assume that Nintendo’s next system will also be a hybrid between home console and handheld, and Furukawa’s comment is good news for the chances of the Nintendo Switch successor being backwards compatible with the Switch library.
Furukawa’s brief statement also aligns with several long-standing rumors about the Switch 2 that suggest it will be an evolution of what came before, rather than a full revolution like Nintendo has opted for in the past, such as when it jumped from GameCube to Wii. or Wii U. to the original switch. It’s a safe bet that Nintendo’s next hardware will be an iterative machine.
There are a lot of unsubstantiated claims about the Switch 2 floating around online, ranging from the most recent reports that the console will include redesigned Joy-Con controllers to more fanciful claims that it will be a device with a strong focus on virtual reality. . . Check out our comprehensive Nintendo Switch 2 hub for the latest rumors and expert advice.
Switch 2 won’t be another Wii U
The biggest takeaway from Furukawa’s words is that Nintendo may have learned its lesson after the disastrous launch of the Wii U. The commercially disappointing console launched in 2012, with a big focus on its tablet-style controller, but failed to live up to the sales. success of its predecessor, the Nintendo Wii. It sold about 13.5 million units worldwide, a disastrous drop compared to the Wii’s 101 million units.
Various reasons have been cited for the Wii U’s (commercial) failure, but its central focus on a gimmicky controller, its confusing name (some thought the Wii U was simply an add-on for the Wii rather than a new system), and its Radical deviations from what made the original Nintendo Wii so successful are often claimed to be the console’s main flaws. Fortunately, it looks like Nintendo won’t make the same mistake this time, and its next console will look to capitalize on the current Switch.
The first-generation Switch has become one of the most successful gaming consoles in history, selling a whopping 141 million units as of March 2024. Consumer demand for a hybrid system is strong and Nintendo doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Their next console should be a refinement of the current Switch that offers the same features but with more raw power and a clearer name like Switch 2!
It seems (but is not yet technically confirmed) that Nintendo is thinking along the same lines, and its Switch successor will be at least somewhat similar in design and functionality to its predecessor. Now we just have to wait for its full reveal, but at least now we have a deadline for more details.
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