Nintendo has reportedly scheduled a Switch redesign in July, as it aims to release an upgraded replacement for its four-year-old gaming console in September or October.
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The new console, which will likely come at a higher price than €245, could be announced before the E3 conference that starts on June 12, to allow publishers to showcase their full range of Switch games at the global event, but no official announcement has been made yet. It will be sold alongside the Switch Lite (€163), with the standard Switch being phased out.
The console's remanufacturing will begin as early as July, with production scheduled to peak in the October-December quarter. This comes despite widespread shortages that have affected the supply of parts across everything from cars to TVs, headphones and gaming consoles, including the Switch itself.
A Nintendo spokesperson declined to comment.
See also: Nintendo: The legendary 3DS console is out of the game
Nintendo needs a refresh as it competes with rivals Sony Group Corp. and Microsoft Corp., which released new consoles in November. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles boost the visual fidelity, speed and performance of their predecessors, and both have been in very limited supply since their launch. The company’s response will be to upgrade its flagship console with a 7-inch Samsung Display Co. OLED screen and a faster Nvidia Corp. graphics card, making it capable of 4K output when connected to a TV.
Nintendo shares rose for six straight days before Thursday, bringing it closer to all-time highs, due to apparent anticipation for the upcoming announcement of the new Switch.
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Suppliers are confident they can fulfill Nintendo's orders despite ongoing chip. Its production lines are better prepared for potential component shortages, and the parts Nintendo uses are subject to less competition than those in its rivals' more powerful consoles.
However, the company's ability to meet consumer demand is not guaranteed. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in a press conference earlier this month that demand for the Switch remains high and the company has not been able to produce as many units as it would like.
