Kyoto-based Nintendo Co. is set to start shipping its new Switch in July, according to Bloomberg. The upgrade for the Nintendo game console will be released in the fall, most likely in September or October.
The game console is now four years old. The replacement is expected to be revealed before the game industry event, which is scheduled to take place June 12 through 15, according to CNET.
Nintendo executives are not yet commenting. However, analysts are already touting the merits of the upgrade.
“An upgraded Switch can be extremely valuable in extending the lifecycle of the platform,” analyst Matthew Kanterman said. “Both Sony and Microsoft have had success with mid-cycle upgrades as a means to drive growth from live services and, as this becomes a greater driver for Nintendo, not fragmenting the user base across different platforms would be advantageous.”
It is expected to cost more than $299, the price of the original one. The new Switch will be sold along with the $199 Switch Lite. The standard Switch will eventually be phased out.
The commercial name of the new Switch has not yet been released. Nintendo, similar to other companies, has also been affected by the worldwide semiconductor shortage that’s impacted cars, televisions, headphones, and games consoles.
