It’s February 2024 and you can’t look anywhere on the internet without seeing a new “leak” regarding Nintendo’s next major video game console (or folks arguing over yellow paint), but at least a couple of these bear mentioning thanks to the validity of their respective leakers.
A collection of tidbits that’s been floating around in the last couple of days comes from Portuguese website Universo Nintendo, which is notable because it’s been on the money with leaked details about past Nintendo Directs and was even responsible for revealing the title of SEGA’s upcoming Sonic x Shadow Generations before it was revealed at the recent PlayStation State of Play.
Universo Nintendo has claimed that the Switch 2 will not only be backwards compatible with original Switch games, both for digital purchases and for physical cartridges, but will also give developers the option to “enhance” their original Switch games (presumably with software updates) to take advantage of the added power. The outlet also says that a Nintendo Direct is happening next week, along with a Pokémon presentation this month and finally a hardware reveal event for the Switch successor next month.
Rumors via Universo Nintendo:
– Switch 2 is gonna have backwards compatibility with OG Switch titles
– Both for physical and digital games
– Devs can enhance their Switch 1 games to take advantage of the added processing power
– Reiterates a Direct is coming next week, and the…— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) February 11, 2024
Another report, this time from major business and technology news outlet Reuters, has claimed that NVIDIA will be supplying a custom-designed chip for Nintendo’s next console. It comes as NVIDIA is reportedly in the process of building a new business unit dedicated entirely to creating custom chip solutions for different computing and technology firms.
Not too long ago, Bloomberg was also jumping in on the Switch 2 leak train with a claim that the console will feature an 8″ LCD screen.
Of course, without any official word from Nintendo themselves we really don’t know anything of substance about what its future hardware plans are, or whether a Nintendo Direct is indeed on the way as folks love to claim every February.
The closest we’ve come to a genuine update on the hardware front is a quote from Nintendo of America’s president, Doug Bowser, saying, “Our goal is to minimise the dip you typically see in the last year of one cycle and the beginning of another. I can’t speak to the possible features of a new platform, but the Nintendo Account is a strong basis for having that communication as we make the transition.”
