Nintendo’s next-gen console: What we know so far
Monday, July 31, 2023 at 11:26PM 
Photo: Nintendo
A new leak claims that Nintendo is working on its "next-gen" console, which will be another hybrid device like the Switch. However, it will have an LED screen instead of an OLED one to cut down on production costs. The leak also suggests that the console will launch in the second half of 2024, with developers already having access to devkits.
This launch window matches a previous rumour and Nintendo's own statements. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told investors they should not expect new hardware until after the fiscal year 2023, which ends on March 31, 2024. This also aligns with the typical console generation cycle, as the Switch celebrated its sixth anniversary in March.
Furukawa also recently hinted that Nintendo is ready for a "smooth transition" to new hardware, confirming that an upgrade is on the way.
The news comes as Switch sales are dropping. Shipments for 2022 were down by more than 22 percent, and Nintendo predicts another 15 percent decline for FY2023. A report from Nikkei earlier this year also supported a similar timeframe based on Nintendo's talks with its parts suppliers.
The leak did not reveal much else about the console, except that it will have "a cartridge slot" for physical games, which may or may not be different from the current Switch's port. The console's specs are still unknown, but we can hope for more powerful processors.
The Switch has struggled to run some recent games, such as Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo’s latest AAA release, runs well on the old system, but it may benefit from a boost in performance and graphics.
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