Nintendo is rumored to be working on a larger version of its popular Switch handheld gaming console. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo is planning to release a new Switch model with a larger Samsung OLED display in the hopes of boosting demand in time for the holidays. By June 2021, Samsung Display plans to begin mass production of 7-inch, 720p-resolution OLED panels, with a million units’ monthly target. These displays will be shipped to assemblers around July, who will begin shipping final units before the holiday rush begins.
According to the report, the original Switch has been out for five years, while Microsoft and Sony have released new consoles this year. As a result, the company is launching a larger version to keep up with the high growth spurred by breakout hits and competitors’ supply issues.
Nintendo has yet to confirm the existence or advancement of a more efficient Switch – a Switch “Pro” model if you will – so far. Both Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furakawa and Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser have stated that the Nintendo Switch is “at the midpoint” of its life cycle, indicating new versions of the popular console are possible.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa previously stated in February that a new Switch would not be announced: “anytime soon.” However, if the report is accurate, Samsung’s involvement indicates that the company may be planning to release a new device in the near future, rather than just a proposed design. The report quoting Yoshio Tamura, co-founder of display consultancy DSCC, states that “the OLED panel will consume less battery, offer higher contrast and possibly faster response time when compared to the Switch’s current liquid-crystal display.”
It also claims that, contrary to previous reports, Nintendo will not provide users with 4K graphics, instead opting for a 720p resolution similar to the Switch and Switch Lite. This is because the firms’ collaboration will be mutually beneficial. Getting a customer like Nintendo will “firm up production plans” for Samsung.
