Ever because the Nintendo Change first launched in 2017, followers have been obsessive about what the subsequent model of the console will likely be, whether or not it’s the Change 2, New Nintendo Change, Change Professional – or one thing else completely.
After all, the Change has already been up to date a number of occasions already. We’ve had a barely tweaked model of the unique with improved battery life, but additionally the portable-only Change Lite and extra just lately the Change (OLED) with an upgraded show.
The OLED model is the console that many thought can be a 4K-capable Change Professional, but it surely wasn’t to be. That doesn’t imply that Nintendo doesn’t have an even bigger improve within the works although, and there are already reviews that one other Change is on the way in which.
Right here’s what we all know up to now, 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 unique Change first launched in 2017, which makes it exhausting to place an excessive amount of inventory in any that tout particular dates. Nonetheless, the latest info factors in direction of 2025, which is later than initially anticipated.
Essentially the most credible rumours come instantly from Nintendo, who’ve lastly revealed that an announcement will likely be coming – however not anytime quickly. See beneath:
The announcement will occur by the top of this fiscal 12 months, which signifies that we might be ready till April 2025 for a reputation, specs and extra.
In Might 2023 the corporate warned buyers of an anticipated slowdown in Change {hardware} gross sales over the following 12 months, and famous particularly that it has no plans for brand new {hardware} throughout the upcoming monetary 12 months. That meant no new {hardware} till April 2024 on the earliest.
In January 2024, Bloomberg printed a narrative primarily based on info from Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase that the brand new Change would launch this 12 months. This was 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 pointed in direction of a September 2024 launch.
In February 2024, Video Video games Chronicle reported that Nintendo had reportedly briefed third-party recreation firms that the discharge date of late 2024 had been pushed to the primary half of 2025. That is allegedly so Nintendo might put together higher launch titles for the brand new console.
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 make the most 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 not less than a little 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 probably that the Change 2 or Professional would see a worth improve from the prevailing 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, anticipate 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 large worth improve – but it surely nonetheless undercuts another handheld rivals such because the Asus ROG Ally and the Steam Deck.
What is going to the 4K Change be referred to as?
One apparent query is what the following Change will likely be. Many anticipated the Change (OLED) to be referred to as the Change Professional, and it’s nonetheless attainable that Nintendo might use this identify, or one thing related, 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 doubtless identify harks again to the corporate’s earlier naming conference: the New Nintendo Change. The corporate has used the ‘New’ branding on a couple 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 in fact merely be referred to as the Change 2. One other traditional Nintendo transfer may be to name it the Tremendous Nintendo Change, however that feels a little bit unlikely to us.
Lastly, with Nintendo’s previous, it’s simply as doubtless that the corporate will drop the Change identify completely 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.
That ultimate choice is now trying like extra of a risk. Reddit consumer Keiyatom (by way of NME) shared a screenshot of a YouTube survey, which asks which product customers are doubtless to purchase. It lists the PlayStation 5, the Xbox Collection X and one thing referred to as the Change Connect.
After all, this needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. The identical Reddit thread factors out that YouTube usually throws in faux names to advertising surveys to allow them to get rid of any faux responses.
It might additionally simply be a code identify for the brand new console. Both approach, it doesn’t precisely roll off the tongue, so we’ll wait to listen to extra from Nintendo themselves.
What is 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 concept what may be on the way in which. That’s as a result of so most of the leaks from earlier than that launch pointed to a really completely different system to what was revealed – suggesting that maybe a few of these leaks had been in actual fact for the following upcoming console.
Two earlier Bloomberg reviews declare that Nintendo “has seemed into together with extra computing energy and 4K high-definition graphics,” and quote a number of nameless third-party recreation builders who declare that “Nintendo has requested them to make their video games 4K-ready.”
These predictions had been reiterated in Bloomberg’s September 2021 report, which claims that not less than 11 recreation 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 had been fast to disclaim the report, the latter tweeting that “we have now no plans for any new mannequin apart 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 reviews 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 actual fact, the Change OLED itself comprises some proof that Nintendo may be engaged on 4K help – or somewhat, the dock does. Twitter consumer KawlunDram identified that the brand new dock comprises a Realtek chip that’s specced for 4K help, and that it ships with an HDMI 2.0 cable that additionally helps 4K – each modifications 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 follow 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 take a position that the OLED mannequin was initially supposed to help 4K, however that plans modified.
It’s value 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 question 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. This can be a large measurement improve from the earlier Change, however could 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 increased decision photos extra effectively. This may require help to be enabled inside video games although, so don’t anticipate older Change titles to help 4K output except 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 may be an 8-core chip, however doesn’t say far more – and definitely doesn’t verify a hyperlink to the following Change console.
Reuters additionally reported that Nvidia is engaged on a customized made chip for the brand new Change console.
Nintendo is taking a look at 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 deal with 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 high third of every Pleasure-Con can bend, which ought to enhance ergonomics over lengthy durations of play. After all, this isn’t affirmation that these up to date Pleasure-Cons will ever hit the market, but it surely’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 12 months monetary report, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated the next: “…we goal to keep up relationships throughout {hardware} generations by providers that make the most of Nintendo Accounts and by offering alternatives for them to expertise our IP by different non-gaming channels.”
That would suggest that older Change video games will likely be supported on the Change 2/Professional. That is additional supported by a report from Universo Nintendo, which claims that builders will be capable to improve outdated titles on account of new processing energy.
What we wish to see from the Nintendo Change 2
There will not be a lot info on-line in regards to the Nintendo Change 2, however that hasn’t stopped us from enthusiastic about what we’d wish to see from the next-gen console. After a couple of years with the first-gen console, and our gripes from reviewing the Change (OLED), listed below are the largest modifications that we’d prefer to see within the Nintendo Change 2.
Larger decision show & 4K output
One of many greatest 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 available on the market, absolutely Nintendo might’ve bumped the display as much as not less than 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 actually 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, but it surely 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 prefer 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 offer 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 couple of Change video games, however is way from the capacities supplied by the PS5 and Xbox Collection X.
We’d like to see extra storage accessible on the Change 2 – perhaps not as a lot as 1TB, however 128 and even 256GB isn’t unreasonable – once more, these figures are fairly customary on telephones now. This may 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 prefer to see a giant enchancment when it comes to graphical output. The primary downside of the Nintendo Change is that it isn’t highly effective sufficient to deal with a few of the greatest, greatest video games accessible – and those who do make it to the console normally 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 available on the market is powered by the 5-year-old Nvidia Tegra X1, and cellular 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 carry extra high-end video games to the console, pace up Change releases and customarily make the video games look higher, making it extra engaging to a bigger viewers. Who doesn’t need that?
5G networking
One characteristic we didn’t know we wanted 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 recreation 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 definitely an extended shot. Nonetheless, if it did, together with the core processing potential it might additionally unlock 5G networking.
Think about a Change 2 that you may 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 might be a game-changer for the Change as a transportable 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 will likely actually be a pipe dream…
