Rumor: Smaller, cheaper Switch model in the works for FY2019

Maybe I should boost my bold prediction to 55 million!

https://gearnuke.com/nintendo-planning-launching-smaller-cheaper-switch-end-of-fy2019-rumor/

Although Nintendo had a very strong year, they didn’t end on as strong of a note that they were expecting. The Japanese gaming giant was forced to reduced their yearly expected sales down to 17 million at the earnings release for the period between April 2018 and March 2019. They were previously hoping for 20 million units between the same time-frame.

Do note Nintendo CEO Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned late last year that their initial internal goal of 20 million was certainly “not easy”.

To combat this Japanese publication Nikkei reports that Nintendo will be bringing a cheaper, smaller Switch variant to the market sometime in the 2019 Financial Year (April 2019 to March 2020). The report mentions this variant of the Switch will be more “portable” and “easy to carry around”, probably something to replace the 3DS? Or maybe a Switch that’s fully portable without the docking ability?

It was also mentioned that this Switch will come at a cheaper price, something the shareholders have been requesting for a while. This will however have to be done without compromising on functionality.

And Nikkei is definitely a reliable source. The final paragraph seems to indicate that this new Switch will still be able to be docked.

I think this will be correct priced at $200-250, likely closer to $250. Then next year both models get a price cut and mid-gen upgrade model is released in response to next-gen at $350.

$250 for a Switch is still too expensive.

Definitely a good move.

The screen is already to small for mp games, don't make it smaller! Also fix the joy con analog issues first before making a newer switch.

Meh. If you’re an existing owner, nothing in the article suggests it’s worth your money to concern yourself with the redesign.

Probably will happen and there’s likely a good number of people who would get that. I’ll stick with the one I got now because I like the bigger screen and the ability to dock to my TV. I think the only reason that I’d get a different Switch would be if/when they come out with a more powerful “Pro” version.

TBH, I think more people would clamor for a bigger more powerful model, with the regular base price dropped.

I don't think a smaller model is appropriate, especially since they aren't done with 3DS yet. The Switch is a hybrid, no matter what people on here say - and you can see this clearly in the types of games it tries to deliver. A smaller screen will not do favors to many of its big titles.

Nah. With Pokemon and Animal Crossing coming this year, and with 3DS on its last legs, a budget model is more important. You say they're not done with Switch yet, but they only have one more game announced for it, Pokemon has moved on, and they just had to slash their 3DS forecast by 35% for hardware and 19% for software. It's a dying platform, and despite Nintendo's PR they've been done with it for a while. You're right that a stronger model would bring more hype, but it makes way more sense to do that next year so it can be as close to next gen as reasonably possible without making battery life even worse. Next year it'll be more reasonable to use 7mn tech, which could let them more than double Switch's power. Releasing this year wouldn't even be able to get them up to XBO in docked mode unless you're ready for a $450 price tag.

I thought Nintendo said they weren’t done with the 3ds

How much smaller can they get?

Why not a slightly larger screen but better cost efficient hardware?

Thank God I have 2 Switches.

@xantufrog I agree

That's like the exact opposite of what they should do...

My launch Switch is already better and this is for those who don't own a Switch anyways.

@Bread_or_Decide said:

@VERTIGO47 said:

How much smaller can they get?

Why not a slightly larger screen but better cost efficient hardware?

Thank God I have 2 Switches.

@xantufrog I agree

Good god I used to have that. The Red/Gold Famicom Anniversary design. It was given as a gag gift to me. I turned it on once with NES re-release GBA Metroid in it. I physically had to move it closer to my facd to see what the hell was going on. Nice bright light. But that was it. Then I gave it away. lol

@VERTIGO47 said:

@Bread_or_Decide said:

@VERTIGO47 said:

How much smaller can they get?

Why not a slightly larger screen but better cost efficient hardware?

Thank God I have 2 Switches.

@xantufrog I agree

Good god I used to have that. The Red/Gold Famicom Anniversary design. It was given as a gag gift to me. I turned it on once with NES re-release GBA Metroid in it. I physically had to move it closer to my facd to see what the hell was going on. Nice bright light. But that was it. Then I gave it away. lol

I never understood why that thing even existed.

Rumor: The rumor that Nintendo is considering a smaller, cheaper Switch is bullshit.

/thread

This source is usually correct.

As I said, it makes more sense to release an upgraded version next year, not this year. It would be stupid to do it this year because it's too early to for a reasonable upgrade at a reasonable price. They also need to get under $250 to make sure that Animal Crossing and Pokemon do work, and they can't do that with the current model.

Pass. My Switch still works and I use it as a home console; not a portable.

Impossible to make the joycons smaller. Besides the Switch is too small anyway, needs a 7.9 screen to be honest

i won't buy it.

I doubt it will sell as well as a normal switch. But the option is nice for people that want it.

well the controllers would be built on the system. so theyd proably wont be joycons. just normal buttons like a 3DS

Only downside about no detachable joycons is when they start to drift you are SOL

Hopefully the build quality is good though so it’s a non issue.

I was hoping for a pro model but this is cool too (I might need a third job >_>)

@Bread_or_Decide: I think this was around the time that the Ipod Touch came out. Seems like the logic was to bring out an even more portable gaming device to compete with that.

Imo really overpriced though, since the SP was cheaper and had more features. Even worse the DS launched soon after at a not substantially higher price. Cool novelty item for collectors now I guess, but so tiny.

I would jump on board if this rumour is correct. Bayonetta 3 and metroid prime collection are both keeping my attention.

What I would like to see Nintendo do is make a successor to the 3DS with software that is forwards compatible with the Switch. In other words, you would have a "Switch Lite" or whatever with its own line of software that is compatible with either the Switch Lite or the Switch, but he Switch Lite wouldn't be able to run Switch software. This would give people a smaller, cheaper, more portable-friendly Nintendo console without fragmenting the customer base.

With non-detachable joycons on a Switch Mini then that would mean that they would probably put a proper d-pad on it which might be a plus for some.

Uh, what?v That would totally fragment the customer base way more than just a cheaper Switch. I don't even understand the point of your idea.

remove the big ass bezel to increase screen size and increase the resolution to 1080p and 4k video output support (Netflix, Hulu, youtube, etc) in dock mode.

thats it

If the portable switch has OLED like the vita did than I will probably buy it (probably get another job to afford it)

There's no point to having a 1080p screen at all. The games still aren't going to be able to run at 1080p so they would all just look a lot worse.

The point of it would be to make it cheaper, so it won't be OLED. (Also Switch has an objectively better screen than Vita in every way except contrast.)

@dark_drag765:

It not “than” it “then”. “Than” it is for more comparisons. “Then” it use to describe what follow. ?

Smaller screen is a bad idea.

Something like this could do very well I'm sure, plus would no doubt be a fair bit cheaper without the dock and joycons.

I don't want removable joycons I wouldn't use it as a home console docked. I'm sure a revised cheaper version would boost sales even more.

@robert_sparkes: Some games require joycons though

@mandzilla: it's possible, I would also think they will release different colors as well, like the joy cons

@techhog89:

The vita screen just looks prettier because the colors... sorry but an oled would do Nintendo wonders. Many of the Samsung phones have them.... they would probably have to sell it at a loss but it would be to the consumers delight... if they do release a pro model hopefully it has one

Not saying the vita is better than the switch (whoever thought of detachable joycons to prevent being locked into a console with bad thumb sticks is a genius.)

Placebo. The now ancient OLED in Vita doesn't produce colors as accurately as a quality IPS like the one in most Switch units. Blacks are better but that's it. Obviously Samsung screens beat both, but those are using top-of-the-line new screens in devices that cost more than 3x as much as Switch and 4x as much as Vita at launch. It's a bad comparison. And selling at a loss when you don't have to is how you run a company into the ground.

So... they want to make a Switch Vita basically.

Hey well somebody made a concept art for that too lol.

I think so yeah. Not a bad idea really, the Vita could have been a big hit if it had a lineup like the Switch among other things.

@mandzilla said:

@FireEmblem_Man said:

@mandzilla: it's possible, I would also think they will release different colors as well, like the joy cons

Hey well somebody made a concept art for that too lol.

It reminds of all the different variant colors of Gameboy and Gameboy Pocket

@mandzilla said:

@FireEmblem_Man said:

@mandzilla: it's possible, I would also think they will release different colors as well, like the joy cons

Hey well somebody made a concept art for that too lol.

Too small.

They could make it out of cardboard. They love cardboard. It would still cost the earth though. Nintendo must have magical cardboard.

You cows are the ones obsessed with cardboard, so I think Sony should make the PS5 out of it. You talk more about it than any Nintendo fan ever, so I can only assume it's out of envy.

@techhog89: thats the only assumption you could possibly make? Not that the labo was a huge source of mirth to me?

I can't see Nintendo changing anything just yet when it's selling like hot cakes.

@DocSanchez: Considering the fact that it's been a whole year, yes.

@techhog89: It hasn't. It's been 9 months, and you underestimate just how much enjoyment can be had laughing at people who defend crap like that.