Ever because the Nintendo Change first launched in 2017, followers have been obsessive about what the subsequent model of the console might be, whether or not it’s the Change 2, New Nintendo Change, Change Professional – or one thing else totally.
In fact, the Change has already been up to date a number of instances already. We’ve had a barely tweaked model of the unique with improved battery life, but additionally the portable-only Change Lite and extra lately the Change (OLED) with an upgraded show.
The OLED model is the console that many thought would be a 4K-capable Change Professional, nevertheless it wasn’t to be. That doesn’t imply that Nintendo doesn’t have a much bigger improve within the works although, and there are already stories that one other Change is on the way in which.
Right here’s what we all know to this point, and our hopes for the options Nintendo would possibly pack in.
When will the Nintendo Change 2 be launched?
Nintendo Change 2 rumours have been popping up persistently because the authentic Change first launched in 2017, which makes it arduous to place an excessive amount of inventory in any that tout particular dates. Nonetheless, the newest data factors in direction of fall 2024.
In Might 2023 the corporate warned traders of an anticipated slowdown in Change {hardware} gross sales over the subsequent yr, and famous particularly that it has no plans for brand spanking new {hardware} throughout the upcoming monetary yr. Which means no new {hardware} till April 2024 on the earliest.
One thing is on the way in which although – even the UK authorities unintentionally teased it. A doc from the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the continued acquisition of writer Activision by Microsoft features a temporary observe on Nintendo Change On-line, with a curious line that the service “is barely out there on the Nintendo Change system and [redacted].”
That wording signifies that the Change Lite and OLED fall underneath ‘Change system’, suggesting that no matter was redacted is a significant subsequent step console – and one which’s far sufficient alongside in growth that Nintendo needed to disclose it as a part of the CMA’s evaluation.
In January 2024, Bloomberg printed a narrative primarily based on data from Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase that the brand new Change would launch this yr. That is additional corroborated by a leaked press launch from Altec Lansing and leaks from SoldierDelta on Discord (by way of Laptop computer Magazine), each of which level in direction of a September 2024 launch.
Eurogamer reported that Nintendo confirmed off the {hardware} at Gamescom, so a 2024 launch would make sense.
Nintendo itself has additionally acknowledged that there’ll be new {hardware} finally. Throughout a shareholder assembly in June 2023, president and CEO Shuntaro Furukawa was requested in regards to the firm’s transition to its subsequent technology of {hardware}, and answered that the corporate will attempt to reap the benefits of the 290 million Nintendo accounts to make a “clean transition” to the brand new {hardware}.
As for Nintendo’s official phrase on the launch of the Change’s successor? It’s launching in ’20XX’. In order that’s solely a 77-year window then. That comes from an investor presentation given in late 2021 – however it’s a minimum of a bit extra affirmation that Nintendo does have extra {hardware} on the way in which, in case you weren’t positive.
For reference, the Change Lite launched in September 2019, with the Change (OLED) following in October 2021.
How a lot will the brand new Nintendo Change price?
Whereas we don’t know for positive, it’s most definitely that the Change 2 or Professional would see a worth enhance from the present Change fashions.
The common mannequin is priced at £259/$299, whereas the OLED model is £309/$349. If an improve comes with options like 4K help or extra highly effective graphics, count on it to price greater than both.
Leaker SoldierDelta steered that the console will price $449 for the standard mannequin, and $400 for a digital solely model. If that is true, that could be a massive worth enhance – nevertheless it nonetheless undercuts another handheld rivals such because the Asus ROG Ally and the Steam Deck.
What’s going to the 4K Change be referred to as?
One apparent query is what the subsequent Change might be. Many anticipated the Change (OLED) to be referred to as the Change Professional, and it’s nonetheless doable that Nintendo might use this identify, or one thing comparable, to point that the brand new mannequin is extra highly effective, however nonetheless part of the identical console technology. Just like the Change (OLED), it might additionally merely nod on to its key new spec and go by the identify Change 4K.
A extra seemingly identify harks again to the corporate’s earlier naming conference: the New Nintendo Change. The corporate has used the ‘New’ branding on a number of of its 3DS upgrades, so might repeat the trick right here.
If as an alternative Nintendo sees this as an entire new technology, it might after all merely be referred to as the Change 2. One other traditional Nintendo transfer is perhaps to name it the Tremendous Nintendo Change, however that feels a bit unlikely to us.
Lastly, with Nintendo’s previous, it’s simply as seemingly that the corporate will drop the Change identify totally and go for one thing completely new. The SNES and the Wii U are the one two dwelling consoles which have borrowed their predecessors’ names, and solely a type of labored out. We’d not be capable of predict the identify of Nintendo’s subsequent console in any respect.
What’s going to the Change Professional’s specs be?
Whereas there haven’t been many direct leaks or rumours in regards to the subsequent Change’s specs because the OLED mannequin was introduced, we nonetheless have some thought what is perhaps on the way in which. That’s as a result of so lots of the leaks from earlier than that launch pointed to a really totally different system to what was revealed – suggesting that maybe a few of these leaks have been actually for the subsequent upcoming console.
Two earlier Bloomberg stories declare that Nintendo “has regarded into together with extra computing energy and 4K high-definition graphics,” and quote a number of nameless third-party sport builders who declare that “Nintendo has requested them to make their video games 4K-ready.”
These predictions have been reiterated in Bloomberg’s September 2021 report, which claims that a minimum of 11 sport firms “starting from massive publishers to small studios” – together with Zynga – have already got 4K Change dev kits, which had apparently already been handed out by the point the OLED mannequin was introduced.
Each Zynga and Nintendo have been fast to disclaim the report, the latter tweeting that “we’ve no plans for any new mannequin aside from Nintendo Change – OLED Mannequin.”
That report (and denial) got here earlier than the OLED mannequin hit retailer cabinets although, so it’s solely pure that Nintendo would wish to downplay any stories into future consoles, because it wouldn’t wish to disrupt gross sales of that {hardware}, so take any official assertion right here with a agency pinch of salt.
In reality, the Change OLED itself accommodates some proof that Nintendo is perhaps engaged on 4K help – or somewhat, the dock does. Twitter consumer KawlunDram identified that the brand new dock accommodates a Realtek chip that’s specced for 4K help, and that it ships with an HDMI 2.0 cable that additionally helps 4K – each adjustments from the unique Change.
Now, that doesn’t imply that the Change OLED is about to get a firmware replace for 4K help. In any case, whereas the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip inside technically helps 4K@60fps, in apply it’s not highly effective sufficient to ship that on many demanding Change video games.
As an alternative, this seems to be like good proof that Nintendo is readying its provide chain for 4K {hardware} – and, certainly, additional motive for some to invest that the OLED mannequin was initially meant to help 4K, however that plans modified.
It’s price clarifying that if 4K is included, it’s anticipated to solely be for the console’s TV output – with the hand held show more likely to both stay at 720p, or get a slight improve to 1080p.
An EDN report claims that Nintendo was seeking to undertake a Mini LED panel equipped by Taiwanese producer Innolux, which might assist drive higher picture high quality and improved battery life – little doubt each priorities for Nintendo’s upgraded Change.
One other report from Bloomberg claims that the brand new Change can have an 8-inch LCD show, somewhat than an OLED one. It is a massive measurement improve from the earlier Change, however might come as a disappointment to those that needed the highest-quality panel.
The 4K help might be powered by a brand new Nvidia chip that may use the agency’s DLSS (Deep Studying Tremendous Sampling) tech, which makes use of machine studying to render larger decision photographs extra effectively. This can require help to be enabled inside video games although, so don’t count on older Change titles to help 4K output until devs take the time to patch it in.
There’s proof of this in leaks from Nvidia code which level to an API named ‘nvn2’ – which is important as a result of the equal for the Change was named, you guessed it, ‘NVN’.
The code factors to help for Nvidia’s Ampere GPU structure, which helps DLSS – together with ray-tracing, although this latter feels much less more likely to make it into Nintendo’s {hardware}.
The leak additionally references T234 – aka Tegra234, the code for Nvidia’s Orin System-on-Chip – and T239 – presupposed to be a customized model of that chip, beforehand rumoured to be within the works for the Change Professional. T239 has popped up once more since in an e mail from an Nvidia worker, noticed by a Redditor. It hints that it is perhaps an 8-core chip, however doesn’t say way more – and positively doesn’t verify a hyperlink to the subsequent Change console.
Nintendo is next-gen designs too. As picked up by Polygon, Nintendo filed for an fascinating Pleasure-Con-related patent in Japan, and it seems to be like it might sort out a stress level of the present Change. That stress level is consolation over lengthy durations in handheld mode, and hardcore Change avid gamers will know what we’re speaking about right here.
Nintendo appears to concentrate on the problem, and is contemplating fixing it with upgraded, flexible Pleasure-Cons. As seen within the beneath picture from the patent, the brand new prime third of every Pleasure-Con can bend, which ought to enhance ergonomics over lengthy durations of play. In fact, this isn’t affirmation that these up to date Pleasure-Cons will ever hit the market, nevertheless it’s good to see Nintendo actively engaged on enhancements.
Some feedback from Nintendo appear to counsel that backwards compatibility is on the playing cards. Throughout an finish of yr monetary report, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned the next: “…we purpose to keep up relationships throughout {hardware} generations by way of providers that make the most of Nintendo Accounts and by offering alternatives for them to expertise our IP by way of different non-gaming channels.”
That would suggest that older Change video games might be supported on the Change 2/Professional, although we don’t know if this may apply to each bodily and digital downloads.
What we wish to see from the Nintendo Change 2
There will not be a lot data on-line in regards to the Nintendo Change 2, however that hasn’t stopped us from excited about what we’d wish to see from the next-gen console. After a number of years with the first-gen console, and our gripes from reviewing the Change (OLED), listed here are the most important adjustments that we’d wish to see within the Nintendo Change 2.
Larger decision show & 4K output
One of many largest drawbacks of the Nintendo Change is the 720p show; positive, the console can output in full 1080p HD when related to a TV, however in a day and age the place there are 4K smartphones in the marketplace, absolutely Nintendo might’ve bumped the display screen as much as a minimum of 1080p?
Whereas the Change (OLED) sticks with a 720p show and 1080p docked output, we’d love for the Nintendo Change 2 to improve to a 1080p show and 4K TV output to essentially showcase how superb Change video games like Tears of the Kingdom and Tremendous Mario Odyssey look.
Then once more, there’s a stability between battery life and show high quality, which leads us to our subsequent level…
Higher battery life
The battery life on the Nintendo Change isn’t dangerous by any means, particularly when in comparison with gaming laptops, nevertheless it might at all times be higher. There’s a plethora of nice Nintendo Change energy banks and useful equipment that’ll lengthen the battery lifetime of the console, however these come at a price; they’re heavy and hulking, and in the event that they don’t connect on to the console, it’s one other accent to hold round.
2019 introduced a mildly up to date model of the Change with small enhancements to battery life, however the OLED improve didn’t ship any additional enhancements. We’d wish to see one thing extra substantial within the Change Professional. Are we being too grasping by asking for 10 hours of play on a single cost? We don’t assume so.
Oh, and we’d like to see the introduction of fast-charge expertise to hurry up the recharge time and permit forgetful avid gamers to present the console a fast top-up earlier than heading out.
Bigger on-device storage
The Nintendo Change comes with 32GB of built-in storage, which went as much as 64GB on the OLED mannequin, each expandable by way of microSD card. That’s sufficient for a number of Change video games, however is way from the capacities supplied by the PS5 and Xbox Sequence X.
We’d like to see extra storage out there on the Change 2 – possibly not as a lot as 1TB, however 128 and even 256GB isn’t unreasonable – once more, these figures are fairly normal on telephones now. This is able to permit avid gamers to retailer a big library of video games with out having to put money into a microSD card, which is actually required with the first-gen Change.
With storage costs dropping every single day, we don’t see this as a lot of an ask, particularly by the point the console seems in a pair years’ time.
Improved energy
In addition to bigger storage, we’d wish to see an enormous enchancment when it comes to graphical output. The principle disadvantage of the Nintendo Change is that it isn’t highly effective sufficient to deal with among the largest, greatest video games out there – and people who do make it to the console often seem later than on different platforms. We think about this partially because of the time it takes to correctly optimise the sport for the comparatively low-powered console.
Each Change mannequin in the marketplace is powered by the 5-year-old Nvidia Tegra X1, and cell processing has come on a great distance since that chip was developed. It’s about time Nintendo packed extra highly effective silicon into the Change Professional.
A bump in graphical energy would convey extra high-end video games to the console, pace up Change releases and customarily make the video games look higher, making it extra enticing to a bigger viewers. Who doesn’t need that?
5G networking
One characteristic we didn’t know we would have liked till it was supplied is 5G help. Chipset producer Qualcomm has a chip referred to as the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1, which powers the 5G, Android-based handheld sport console the Razer Edge, which might play video games domestically or stream them from the cloud.
The G3x – or a future technology of the chip – might feasibly energy the Change, although it’s actually a protracted shot. Nonetheless, if it did, together with the core processing potential it might additionally unlock 5G networking.
Think about a Change 2 that you would use to play on-line or obtain new video games from wherever, with out having to fret about connecting to a Wi-Fi community. It could be a game-changer for the Change as a conveyable platform, and massively enhance its place for on-line gaming.
Then once more, on-line gameplay and networking has by no means been Nintendo’s sturdy go well with, so this may increasingly actually be a pipe dream…
