Bloomberg: new Nintendo Switch model to be released by October, possible reveal ahead of E3
Bloomberg are back with another fresh batch of rumours regarding the elusive new, beefed up Nintendo Switch model we’ve been hearing ramblings about for quite a while now. According to their latest report, this new model could very well be revealed ahead of E3 2021 (which kicks off on June 12th), so as to allow for publishers to showcase their games at the event.
The price is going to be one of the most discussed points about this new model. At the moment, it does seem likely this new model will cost more than the original one ($299.99). Several reasons for this: the use of pricier components, and rising labour costs in China. Also, suppliers are seemingly expecting their per-unit revenue from business with Nintendo to increase.
Apparently, Nintendo are planning to phase out the OG model over time in favour of this new, beefed up model (similar to what to what they did with the Nintendo 3DS and the XL variant). However, it’s not clear how long Nintendo would keep shipping new units of the OG model. Meanwhile, the Lite model would stay as Nintendo’s “budget” option ($199.99).
According to Bloomberg’s report, production of the new Nintendo Switch model will kick off in July (this does fit with a previous report, which stated that mass production for the LED screen would kick off in June, with assemblers getting them in July), and will peak in Q4 (October-December).
Nintendo are seeming going ahead with production despite widespread semiconductor shortages that have been impacting many industries this past year. Suppliers are confident that they will be able to fulfill Nintendo’s orders despite those shortages, due to the production lines being better prepared, and Nintendo using components that are subject to less competition than those used in competitors’ machines.
Still, it’s not like the Nintendo Switch isn’t impacted by those shortages. During the latest meeting with investors, Shuntaro Furukawa explained that the company wasn’t able to produce as many units of the Nintendo Switch as it wanted, due to demand remaining (unusually) high. This is apparently due to display driver ICs and Bluetooth chips being in short supply.
At the moment, very few people know the commercial name of this new Nintendo Switch model; only key people at Nintendo do.
Previous reports from Bloomberg stated that the new Nintendo Switch will be equipped with the following:
- 7-inch OLED screen by Samsung (still 720p)
- an upgraded Nvidia chip with DLSS capabilities and 4K output
Will Nintendo really announced the new Nintendo Switch model of E3? The good news is that we don’t have much longer to wait before finding out: E3 does kick off in roughly two weeks, after all!
Source: Bloomberg
