Highlights
The Nintendo president confirms plans to focus on Switch for the next couple of fiscal years.
Credibility surrounding the rumors of a new Nintendo console launching next year increases with the emergence of a leaked document and reports of game development for this yet-to-be-announced system.
Considering Nintendo's history of overlapping console generations, it is likely that the Switch will continue to receive fresh software even after the introduction of the upcoming console.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently provided an update on the immediate future of the original Nintendo Switch. Since its launch in 2017, the console has achieved remarkable success, surpassing numerous sales milestones. This achievement can be attributed to the versatility of the Switch and its impressive collection of first-party titles, such as this year's highly anticipated game, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. However, as time passes, fans have started to wonder when Nintendo will introduce a new console.
Rumors about the release date of this speculated Nintendo hardware have been circulating for a considerable period, with industry experts speculating that the rumored Switch 2 could potentially launch next year. Supporting this notion is a leaked document from the FTC's lawsuit against Microsoft, as well as reports indicating that developers were able to showcase Nintendo's new console at Gamescom 2023 in August. It is even rumored that select renowned studios are already working on games for this yet-to-be-announced system, despite the continued presence of the original Switch.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa recently discussed his company's upcoming strategies in an interview with Nikkei. According to Furukawa, Nintendo plans to prioritize the Switch console until the end of the current fiscal year in March 2024. Additionally, he revealed that Nintendo will continue to release new software for the Switch up until March 2025.
Furukawa also mentions that Nintendo plans to capitalize on the success of Tears of the Kingdom and The Super Mario Bros. Movie during the upcoming holiday season. There are also several exciting first-party Switch titles on the horizon. Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be released in October, while Princess Peach Showtime is expected to launch by the end of the current fiscal year in March. Following that, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, both re-releases of past console generation titles, will be released.
It is not uncommon for there to be overlaps between console generations. Nintendo continued to support the 3DS handheld with new titles for several years after the launch of the Switch in 2017. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that new software will be available for the Switch, even if Nintendo releases its next console next year as many predict. Regardless, Nintendo Switch owners can expect continued support until at least March 2025, even if the transition to new hardware begins before then.
Source: Nikkei (via VGC)
