Nintendo Reportedly Demoed Switch Successor To Devs At Gamescom

We’re more than six years into the Switch's lifecycle. While the console has proven capable of providing great games still to this year – looking at you, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – you’d be hardpressed to find a player who isn’t ready for Nintendo’s next console. While rumors continue to swirl about what the Switch successor could be and when it might be released, new reports from Eurogamer and Video Games Chronicle say the company showed it to developers behind closed doors at Gamescom last month. 

Eurogamer says its sources say Nintendo showed partners tech demos designed to demonstrate how well the Switch successor runs. Specifically, one of the demos shown was reportedly a “souped-up version” of the Switch launch title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Eurogamer notes this was just a tech demo and not an indication that BOTW will be re-released. 

VGC corroborates Eurogamer’s story with its own sources, adding that Nintendo also showed developers Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, The Matrix Awakens, released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in 2021, “running on target specs for [Nintnedo’s] next console” as well. VGC also mentions the BOTW demo as well, noting that the Switch successor ran the 2017 game at a higher framerate and resolution than the original release. 

VGC says The Matrix Awakens ran on the Switch successor using Nvidia’s DLSS technology, which upscales resolution and “advanced ray tracing.” The publication’s sources say the visuals were comparable to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S’ capabilities, although it notes this does not mean the Switch successor will be as powerful as these consoles. 

Nintendo has not formally discussed its plans for a new console after the Switch, although other reports have indicated it will be portable like the Switch and is targeting a release in the second half of 2024. 

This follows reports from last February where Nintendo said the Switch was in the middle of its lifecycle. However, this could indicate that if Nintendo were to release a new console next year, it might still support the Switch for some time. Only time will tell. 

Despite its age, the Switch is doing just fine for Nintendo, crossing 111 million units sold this summer. Nintendo recently revealed four new pastel Joy-Con controllers, a new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle, two Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch lite consoles, and a Mario Red Switch OLED for Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

[Source: Eurogamer, Video Games Chronicle]

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