Nintendo Reportedly Plans to Release Next-Gen Console During Second Half of 2024::Nintendo will release its next-gen console during the second half of 2024, according to a new report.

  • TheRealKuni@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If it is still convertible between handheld and console, and is fully compatible with Switch titles, Nintendo might have finally gotten a transition to a new console right. I don’t need another TV-bound console, but I would gladly take a more capable Switch.

    They usually got generational transitions correct with their handhelds, but always flubbed it with the consoles. Hopefully now that they’re one and the same there won’t be a problem.

    • garretble@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It seems like a no-brainer to just make a better Switch, so I’m hoping for the same things as you. I really hope they see that the best thing they can do is the most “boring” thing: just make it more powerful. Give it maybe a better screen and more battery life. Maybe update the joycons (but still use the form factor because people have multiple joycons and wouldn’t it be nice to just use the things you already have?). But also let me play all my switch games. And maybe recent releases (uhh Zelda) could easily work on this system with better framerates.

      Stuff like that is all I need. We tried the Wii, and it was fun for a time. The Wii U was interesting but obviously not the right choice. But the Switch idea is so excellent it just seems like they’d be fools to try and change it up significantly.

      • Techmaster@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It seems like a no-brainer to just make a better Switch

        so Nintendo’s next console will be a fishing rod with 3 buttons that uses a smart watch as its display.

      • sk1nnyjeans@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Especially when the Steam Deck also exists now, it seems important for nintendo to stay in that area now that they’ve entered it.

      • Electricblush@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        This is what scares me the most.

        I absolutely agree that they need to “play it safe” this time.

        But for their consoles they have had a “it’s not worth launching something unless it’s really innovative” philosophy for quite some time. And if they decide on some bonkers idea that screws with my simple wish, a better switch, I think I’m going to be disappointed.

        And I say this as a guy who has loved Nintendo and their products since I got my NES back in the 90s. I stood in line to get the Wii at launch, heck I even liked my Wii U. (Even if it was under powered and confusingly marketed, I liked that they tried to do something new…)

        But this time Nintendo, just stick to a good, solid, backwards compatible , iteration on your original idea.

        • garretble@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I loved my Wii U. I was actually skeptical of the Switch initially, and for the first time didn’t buy a day-one Nintendo console. I played BotW on my Wii U and waited for that Splatoon 2 bundle for the Switch before I bought one. Of course, now I love the Switch.

        • PopOfAfrica@lemmy.one
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          1 year ago

          I do not say this to disparage the man, but since Iwata passed, Nintendo has been much more of a standard corporation. I think they will just do a traditional switch successor this time.

        • AnotherOne@feddit.de
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          1 year ago

          I think it will definitely ve backwards compatible(the wii could play gamecube games, the wiiu could play wii games, the 3ds could play ds games etc.) Nintendo has always supported at least one system jump except for wiiu to switch (for formfactor reasons) but switchgames are so small i dont think fitting them into their next console would be as challenging/impossible as shoving a disc drive into the switch.

          • Redditiscancer789@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            …what are you talking about. Nes wasn’t compatible with snes, snes not compatible with N64, N64 not compatible with GameCube. GameCube was compatible with wii/Wii u but Wii u wasn’t compatible with the switch. Their track record shows they are very hit and miss, especially since they have the new mentality of porting games to their online service.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      GameCube to Wii was fine.

      As for being fully compatible with the Switch, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be if they are doing another ARM based system. The Switch is not exactly difficult to emulate anymore considering phones have been able to do it for a couple years now.

      • phx@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        Phones are generally ARM based so I’m not sure that’s a convincing argument.

        However, Steam Deck, which is AMD64 based seems to also be able to manage Switch stuff pretty well from what I’ve seen online so there’s that.

        Really, though, I kinda wish Nintendo would step back from core hardware - or at least move to a partnership on that - and look more at production of software + accessories. Most of their innovation could still be captured with new accessories and games are where the really shine, but I do feel like the exclusivity is kinda a bit overdone and core hardware is always lacklustre (thorough they do still in optimisation for their own titles).

    • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      It says in the article.

      Apparently this new next-gen console can be used in portable mode, like the Nintendo Switch, and has an LCD screen as opposed to an OLED screen in order to keep costs down. It also comes with a cartridge slot for physical games, VGC said.

      • TheRealKuni@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I probably should’ve read the article before commenting, but as a Lemming I have kept some of my worst Redditor tendencies.

        Shame about LCD vs OLED (the OLED Switch is seriously beautiful), but understandable I suppose. I just hope they get backwards compatibility and library retention/management right.

        • scratchee@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          If it’s a hit maybe they’ll come out with a very slightly fancier model with oled later, just like the current switch

        • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          There are high quality traditional LCDs that are viable bang-for-the-buck alternatives to OLED. There are, of course, poor quality LCD screens as well (looking at you, Steam Deck).

          I’ll remain optimistic.

          • TheRealKuni@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            There are high quality traditional LCDs that are viable bang-for-the-buck alternatives to OLED.

            Ain’t that the truth. I didn’t realize the screen on my iPad wasn’t OLED at first, until I noticed some very localized backlight bleeding around white against black and looked it up. There are magical things to be done with regional dimming.

            • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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              1 year ago

              OLED’s one of those things you notice more with larger screens in dark rooms. Even in a well lit shop it’s hard to see much difference between OLED and a decent LCD.

              I would think VR is the only real great use of smaller screen OLED.

    • ashok36@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      My guess is that it won’t be. Nintendo is a toy company. They’ve never once just done an iterative version of a console. There’s always some new gimmick, usually based around input, that they have to fuck with that makes everything incompatible.

        • ashok36@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          NES - The original

          SNES - Changed the controller

          N64 - Changed the controller

          Gamecube - Changed the controller, moved to discs

          Wii - Changed the controller, added motion controls

          WiiU - Changed the controller, added screen to controller with ‘console’ kept as a separate box

          Switch - Integrated the screen and the console into one form factor

          Meanwhile, look at the XBOX platform. After going to the 360 controller, the form factor of ‘standard’ gamepad + separate console box has been the same for 3 generations now without any significant changes other than more powerful hardware. The Kinect was an attempt to encroach on Nintendo’s motion-controls turf but it, like the Playstation Move, withered on the vine when first party products intended for them turned out to be turds.

      • Exec@pawb.social
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        1 year ago

        GB ( -> GBC) -> GBA -> DS -> 3DS were all backwards compatible with the first previous system

    • samus12345@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      All they have to do is make a more powerful Switch and they’re golden. But this is Nintendo, so…

      • TWeaK@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        They might make it more powerful, but the latest version of the OG Switch has an OLED screen, this will not…

      • raptir@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        The WiiU wasn’t even terrible, but was the only console release that could be considered “bad.” I’m not sure what pattern they’re talking about.

    • Clown_Tempura@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I mean the Switch is no masterpiece, it’s just the perfect storm of good games and accessibility that people crave. If that continues, it stands to reason the successor to the Switch has a chance to break the curse. And is it really a curse? The Gamecube fucking rocked.

      • Jmr@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Even if its great like the Gamecube. If Nintendos curse still holds true the next one will flop

        • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          All they gotta do is release a more powerful (backwards compatible) console just like the Switch and call it the Nintendo Switch 2.

          Don’t call it the New Nintendo Switch.

          Don’t call it Nintendo Switch U.

          Don’t call it Nintendo Switch XL.

          Just Nintendo Switch 2.

          That’s it. Nothing more.

      • BoldRaven@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I still love my Wii U and use it to play games that run like crap on the switch. It’s a more powerful system

    • SupraMario@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Or SwitchU or something and it falls flat…knowing nintendo, this is exactly what they will do. They’re like the microsoft of consoles, releasing a solid console every other generation.

      • Techmaster@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        The Microsoft way would be to build the most powerful console on the market, but forget to make any games for it.

      • itsaghostcar@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        And here I was thinking the Xbox was the Microsoft of consoles. 😅

        Jokes aside, you make a good point.

  • baatliwala@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I have a sneaky suspicion today Nintendo were only driven to make this because of the Steam Deck. If it didn’t exist they’d be more than happy to continue with the current Switch for a few more years.

    • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Tears of the Kingdom has shown that the Switch is at it’s limits here. It runs and it’s playable, but it’s perilously close to not being.

      7 years is about right for a hardware generation. PS4 and Xbox One had that too, and they had a mid-gen performance refresh to boost the longevity. Base PS4 games were borderline unplayable by the end.

      • TwilightVulpine@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Tears of the Kingdom is a miracle of engineering. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity did a lot more to show that the console isn’t keeping up with its own ambitions anymore.

        That said I don’t think generations need to last the same forever because technological advancement doesn’t happen at the same rate forever. The PS4 isn’t being obsolesced by insufficiency, but rather by extravagance and marketing interests. Many games still run just fine on the PS4 to this day, even Jedi Survivor is being backported to it.

    • 👁️👄👁️@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      No it’s because the switch is underpowered and like 7 years old lol. As my as I love my Steam Deck, they’re not even in the same market.

    • lemmy___user@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      There was a rumor that Nintendo was developing a Switch Pro that was intended to release in 2020, but due to the chip shortage they had to scrap the chipset upgrade and that became the Switch OLED. I love my Steam Deck but I’m pretty sure this has been in the works for a while.

    • Bardak@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      I don’t think that’s the case they probably have had at least a small team working on this before the Steam deck was announced. I don’t think the audiences overlap that much to be honest and the two devices have different use cases.

      The steam deck is just a powerful hand held computer (relative to other gaming hardware is pretty weak though) that runs PC games with all the ups and downs that come with that. I think there are number of steam deck buyer that are not that familiar with the underlying hardware that are going to be disappointed when new games are not going to run acceptably on it. Where as for the switch/switch 2 games will at least run acceptably

    • TWeaK@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      In this case competition is no bad thing. I’m sure the next version of the Steam Deck will be well worth it.

  • Sparking@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Hopefully switch game prices will go down. Eventually they will turn off internet support and I can finally hack it.

    • Takumidesh@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If you have a release switch just do it. The switch is cheap enough that if you get banned and really really really want to play am online game, then you can just buy a used one without a dock or joycons.

      I have a fusee exploited switch that I installed atmosphere on like 4-5 years ago. Pirate tons of games and haven’t been banned.

      All you need to do properly follow the steps, and don’t play pirated games on sysnand/online

      I even used atmosphere on sysnand for a few years and was fine.

      Worst case the console is banned and you just buy a new one with all the money you saved not spending $60 on used Nintendo games, and the banned console is still good for literally everything except playing the few online games.

    • chetradley@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Whether I get their next console depends entirely on them keeping the NSO games and backwards compatibility with switch games.

      • MrBusinessII@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        That and the state of their controllers. I have 7 pairs of joy cons and only 1 pair haven’t gotten drift yet, mostly cause I just got em with the TotK edition switch. These controllers have been the worst I’ve dealt with for any system especially considering how much they cost.

  • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I doubt it’ll keep up performance wise with x box and playstation, but it can probably do pretty well just updating to newer mobile hardware vs the 7 or 8 year old chips they use right now.

    • qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      No way it will every reach a current gen console because of the thermal restrictions of how small it is and the battery not being able to power a chip that is capable of modern games with 4/HDR/etc. But I’m sure if they use a modern efficient SoC it can push out some pretty good graphics.

      • halvo317@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Steam Deck is pretty similar size and weight. I don’t see why Nintendo gets a pass on glorified mobile phone specs.

        • TORFdot0@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Steam deck is way bulkier and heavier at 1.6 lbs vs .9 lbs and 1.9 inches thick vs .55 inches thick

          • halvo317@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            The 1.475 pounds is only 0.575 pounds heavier. 60% of the weight of a can of soda. It’s only 2 inches on the controller grips. It’s only 0.8 inches in the middle. Both very reasonable sacrifices to make for significantly better performance.

  • _pete_@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I can’t be the only one thinking finally

    The Switch was reasonably powered at launch but now feels positively antiquated compared to the Steam Deck and the like, there is no way I would buy any third party games on it right now when I’ve got a PS5 sitting right next to it.

    All I need is a good spec bump to get games running at 1440p / 60fps in docked mode to make me happy!

      • _pete_@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Oh yea, you could do 1080p or even 800p like a Steam Deck in handheld mode and I think that that would be fine, on a TV it should be > 1080p tho

    • Zerophnx@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      1080p games upscale really well on even my few year old cheaper TCL Roku TV. If we could get 1080p 60 FPS more steadily, that would be good enough, and I’d imagine most of their audience wouldn’t care about the extra pixels.

    • TWeaK@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      It’s not even that, it’s got an LED screen rather than an OLED.

    • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      I doubt it. Next year the Switch will be 7 years old. That’s firmly in “next generation” territory.

      The new console should be backwards compatible (and if Nintendo have any sense at all, boost framerates for Switch games), but I wouldn’t expect new games to keep coming out for the old Switch once the new one picks up a decent number of users.

      • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Yeah but Nintendo doesn’t seem interested in pushing hardware. Just being well “Nintendo”

  • pureness@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Steam Deck + Switch = Switch 2. Probably better hardware, and not much else besides some nifty software gimmicks