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
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    742 years 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      552 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        272 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        222 years 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          2 years 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.

          • @[email protected]
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            32 years 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          82 years 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          52 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        412 years 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      62 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          62 years 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.

    • SeaJ
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      122 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 years 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).

      • TheRealKuni
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        152 years 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          52 years 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
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            42 years 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.

            • @[email protected]
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              42 years ago

              I’d bet $1000 the Switch won’t have regional dimming. It should still look pretty good.

            • @[email protected]
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              52 years 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          2 years 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

  • @[email protected]
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    62 years 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!

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years ago

      I would be okay with 1080p60 with med-high graphic detail on modern games. 1440p comes with a pretty big performance hit.

      • @[email protected]
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        32 years 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

    • @[email protected]
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      12 years 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.

  • @[email protected]
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    72 years 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      152 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        42 years ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          52 years ago

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

          • @[email protected]
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            32 years 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      This may be rose colored glasses talking, but IMO the GameCube wasn’t a failure. It had quite a few iconic titles (SSBM, Animal Crossing, Mario Galaxy Sunshine) and to this day the GC controller is still considered one of, if not the best, way to play smash bros.

        • @[email protected]
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          42 years ago

          Agreed, but it was comparable (in sales) to the Xbox and not too far behind the N64. It certainly didn’t put Nintendo under, but of course you could say the same for the Wii-U. Financially you could argue it was a failure (and be largely correct), but IMO whether a console failed or not is more than just the raw units sold.

          Also, I misspoke in my original comment - Galaxy was on the Wii, not the GC. Must have been thinking about Sunshine.

  • @[email protected]
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    302 years ago

    I just hope they don’t pull the same bullshit regarding the joy-cons and the drift issue

    • @[email protected]
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      132 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        62 years ago

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

        Jokes aside, you make a good point.

      • @[email protected]
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        152 years ago

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

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years ago

      I remember back in the 90s N64 magazines were always posting rumors about the “Dolphin” console that Nintendo was supposed to be developing, which eventually became the Gamecube. Nintendo also was more open back then, with their famous Mario 128 tech demo for example. Also the Nintendo DD rumors were huge as well, which turned out to be a big failure and never released outside of Japan.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 years ago

      I mean, they kind of have to do that, or else you get the Osborne Effect where everyone just waits for the new version, and your business suffers.

      ETA: also, source? They usually say they won’t comment, or that there’s always something new in development at all times. Don’t they?

  • @[email protected]
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    12 years ago

    I hope of has a relative per pixel performance of the Series S but at 800p instead of 1080

    We might actually get some modern ports at lower resolutions if they pull it off.

  • @[email protected]
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    92 years ago

    As long as there’s idiots buying them they will keep releasing closed hardware/software consoles

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      The good thing was that so far they’re consoles have been hacked for home brew for nearly 2 decades now.

    • @[email protected]
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      22 years ago

      As much as I would like that, majority of steam deck users don’t care it’s mostly open, and that would make finding vulnerabilities to allow pirating easier, which companies hate for no good reason. And there is all that iderto drm switch stuff floating around They have little reason to open it sadly, which will always make the steam deck a better option in my opinion

  • @[email protected]
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    32 years ago

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

    • @[email protected]
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      112 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        22 years ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          82 years 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.

    • @[email protected]
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      282 years ago

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

      • TWeaK
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        22 years ago

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

    • @[email protected]
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      182 years ago

      Pattern? Are you implying that the GameCube or SNES were bad consoles? That’s crazy talk.

      • @[email protected]
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        62 years 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.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 years 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

    • @[email protected]
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      32 years 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
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        12 years ago

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

    • TWeaK
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      62 years ago

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