Japan’s Nintendo announced on Thursday that it will launch the Switch 2 console, the successor to its popular Switch device, later this year.
The Kyoto-based gaming firm did not disclose the pricing for the new console and indicated that further information would be shared during a Nintendo Direct event scheduled for April 2.
The company confirmed that existing Switch software will be compatible with the new device, although some titles may not function optimally.
Consumers and investors have been eagerly anticipating details regarding the new console, which seems to adhere closely to the strategy established by the hybrid home-portable Switch.
Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy, remarked, “The reveal lacked the impact of the original Switch.” He further noted, “What we observed resembles more of a ‘Switch Pro’—an enhanced version that is larger—rather than a true Switch 2,” suggesting that the launch is likely to occur after June.
The Switch significantly improved Nintendo’s fortunes following the underwhelming performance of the Wii U console, achieving sales of over 145 million units.
Nintendo has prolonged the life cycle of the Switch, which debuted in 2017, through hardware updates and successful titles from franchises such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.
The company anticipates selling 12.5 million units of the aging Switch console in the financial year concluding in March.
