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Nintendo Announces "OLED Model" Switch For October 8 Launch

by Donald Theriault - July 6, 2021, 9:09 am EDT
Total comments: 17 Source: Nintendo

Bigger screen, same shell... and is that a LAN PORT?

The long-rumored Switch with larger screen has finally been revealed.

Nintendo have announced a "Switch (OLED model)" for release on October 8 at a MSRP of US$349.99/C$449.99. It will launch in two combinations: a white dock / Joy-Con model, and a black dock / red and blue Joy-Con model.

Aside from the new screen tech, the Switch OLED will have a 7" handheld screen, 64GB onboard storage, a wider portable mode kickstand, enhanced portable speakers, and the dock will have a LAN port for online play.

Talkback

RABicleJuly 06, 2021

They are fucking with us. Is the joycon drift fixed at least? Is the oled screen 1080?

nickmitchJuly 06, 2021

Ok, but when are they announcing the New Nintendo Switch Pro SP?

Not at all a product for me, but I dig the white and black aesthetic.

mereelJuly 06, 2021

Perfect. Well, if it were also fanless, this would be perfect. I didn’t want some base-splitting New Nintendo 3DS moment again. This looks like Nintendo is holding off on the Switch 2 for a few more years. Just the news I was hoping to hear. I’m buying this Day 1 btw.

broodwarsJuly 06, 2021

Great. Now people can play their Indie Shovelware and Wii U ports on a crystal-clear OLED screen.

Oh, you play Switch games on your TV? Well, fuck you.

Mop it upJuly 06, 2021

If I understand this correctly, it's still the same exact hardware?

Quote from: Mop

If I understand this correctly, it's still the same exact hardware?

That's my understanding. Which means I can stick with my launch Switch and not spend even more money on video games this fall. Phew! The big disappointment to me is that the Joy-con issue sounds like it's still not getting fixed.

broodwarsJuly 06, 2021

Quote from: Kairon

Quote from: Mop

If I understand this correctly, it's still the same exact hardware?

That's my understanding. Which means I can stick with my launch Switch and not spend even more money on video games this fall. Phew! The big disappointment to me is that the Joy-con issue sounds like it's still not getting fixed.

I have a hunch that Joycon drift is a larger manufacturing issue with modern controllers & not just a Nintendo thing. I got 2 Dualsense controllers with my PS5 back in February, and one of them started drifting within a month, so I'm not sure it's an issue Nintendo knows how to address yet.

EnnerJuly 06, 2021

Well, see ya next year, new SoC rumors!

While I would've bought in to a half-step upgrade, I'm glad to see that Nintendo has opted not to repeat the mistakes it made with the New 3DS line of systems where few were happy with the upgraded processing power (the few being the newcomers who could enjoy the steadier performance in games such as Monster Hunter Generations).

This does have me question as to the timing of the Switch's successor. A 2023 release would put it in line with the gap between the Wii and the Wii U. By 2023, the old, circa 2015 Nvidia Tegra System-on-a-Chip in the Switch would be 8 years old technology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegra#Tegra_X1. This is a gut feeling that makes no sense, but I'm thinking maybe Nintendo would rather avoid Metroid Prime 4 being a split-gen title as a matter of pride (of it being promised Switch-only/first title). Not that Nintendo ever showed that much reverence for the Metroid series for it to put the next generation of Nintendo hardware on hold, but maybe?

Then there's the chance that maybe Nintendo would want to coast on the Switch's success through 2023 and not release a successor to 2024. The money-making would probably make sense to Nintendo, but this notion has me nervous given the performance issues/quibbles in games such as Bowser's Fury and the Monster Hunter Stories 2 demo.

Quote from: Enner

This does have me question as to the timing of the Switch's successor. A 2023 release would put it in line with the gap between the Wii and the Wii U. By 2023, the old, circa 2015 Nvidia Tegra System-on-a-Chip in the Switch would be 8 years old technology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegra#Tegra_X1. This is a gut feeling that makes no sense, but I'm thinking maybe Nintendo would rather avoid Metroid Prime 4 being a split-gen title as a matter of pride (of it being promised Switch-only/first title). Not that Nintendo ever showed that much reverence for the Metroid series for it to put the next generation of Nintendo hardware on hold, but maybe?

Then there's the chance that maybe Nintendo would want to coast on the Switch's success through 2023 and not release a successor to 2024. The money-making would probably make sense to Nintendo, but this notion has me nervous given the performance issues/quibbles in games such as Bowser's Fury and the Monster Hunter Stories 2 demo.

Yeah, this is the new point of fascination for me: what does the Switch OLED appearing in 2021 mean for the timing for a "Switch 2"? I think it's clear that Nintendo has ambitions to keep profiting from the Switch as long as it can, but the length of time they sat on the Wii was clearly a lesson that there is such a thing as "too long" to stretch things out. Still, I would imagine that a "blurring" of generations (strong backwards compatibility, cross-gen titles) would let them deliver a Switch 2 SKU in 2023, or even in 2022.

steveyJuly 06, 2021

Quote from: nickmitch

Ok, but when are they announcing the New Nintendo Switch Pro SP?

Next year, dev kits are already out for it according to 'sources'.

NeoThunderJuly 07, 2021

Can a switch pro only fit in a switch pro dock?

EnnerJuly 07, 2021

Quote from: NeoThunder

Can a switch pro only fit in a switch pro dock?

The dock can be purchased separately and it doesn't look drastically different from the first dock. I think it's safe to assume that the two docks are interchangeable with the two dockable Switches.

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterJuly 08, 2021

IGN confirmed it at some point.

Super KYTim89July 09, 2021

This newer Switch is a byproduct of the pandemic and tthe microchip shortages. Sony and Microsoft are dealing with the same issue. Although the performance of the Switch will eventually jeprodize third party support as Series X and PlayStation 5 games become exclusive in a few years.

nickmitchJuly 12, 2021

Quote from: Enner

Quote from: NeoThunder

Can a switch pro only fit in a switch pro dock?

The dock can be purchased separately and it doesn't look drastically different from the first dock. I think it's safe to assume that the two docks are interchangeable with the two dockable Switches.

The Verge confirmed the new dock is usable on current models.

ThePermJuly 15, 2021

Wasn't October 7th or 8th the day Switch was announced?

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