Nintendo's Next Console After Switch Will Release Before 2100

This should surprise no one, but Nintendo is not going to exit the hardware business anytime soon. As part of the company's latest corporate management briefing, the firm revealed that it's working on new hardware, and that it will be released before the end of the century--which is to say, by 2099 or earlier.

A slide confirms that Nintendo's "next gaming system" will launch sometime in "20XX," which means it will be released before the year 2100. Realistically, whatever this system ends up being, it will surely be released long before the end of the century, but Nintendo isn't ready to commit to any dates. You can check out the graphic below, and note the amusing fact that Nintendo decided to completely omit the Wii U--that console sold a relatively meager 13.56 million units. This made it the worst-selling console Nintendo ever made, with the exception of the Virtual Boy. However, the system's failure ultimately led to the Switch, which outsold its predecessor in 10 months. That's quite the comeback.

The 3DS has been completely discontinued as of last week. The system was released in 2011, and the last major title released for the system was 2019's Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. The only Nintendo systems still in production are the Switch and Switch Lite. With the Lite essentially acting as its dedicated handheld, the need for a completely separate format seems to be gone. We'll see if that remains the case once Nintendo faces competition from the next-gen systems.

The Switch is currently riding high with more than 61 million units sold worldwide as of June 30. The console is keeping up its momentum, too, as it recently set a new US record for the highest dollar sales of any console in history for an August month.

Nintendo is expected to release an enhanced Switch model in 2021, and whatever console comes next would follow sometime after. Nintendo's console cycle periods usually run for 5-6 years, but Nintendo believes the Switch might enjoy success for a longer period than that.

In other Nintendo news, the company has also reaffirmed that the Mario movie from the makers of Minions remains scheduled to release in 2022. The company may also be working on other non-gaming entertainment extensions of its franchises.

Nintendo has also confirmed that more than 200 million Nintendo accounts have now been created worldwide, while the Switch Online service now has 26 million subscribers. The SNES classic Donkey Kong Country 2 was recently made part of the list of SNES games available to subscribers.

Major Switch titles still coming in 2020 include Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. The system recently saw the release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, with more still to come on the Mario front, including the impending release of Super Mario 3D World on the system next February. 3D All-Stars has been selling very well. Nintendo also released Kirby Fighters 2 this week, which came as a surprise to just about everyone. As far as third-party titles, Capcom seems to have things covered for now. Monster Hunter Rise and Monster Hunter Stories 2 are both on the way, and they look exceptional.