Nintendo Switch “Pro” Reportedly Set For 2021 Release Date

Various outlets are reporting that sources close to Nintendo have informed them that a new version of the Nintendo Switch will be released in 2021.

This report originates from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News which says that sources close to Nintendo’s supply chain have informed them that the company finally intends to release a more powerful version of the Nintendo Switch. A report by Bloomberg also mentions “people familiar with the matter” who have relayed similar information.

The reports differ slightly in some areas in regard to certain specifics, but the basic ideas remain the same. Each claims that Nintendo intends to release a more powerful version of the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2021 in an attempt to combat/capitalize on the interest generated by the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Bloomberg indicates that Nintendo has looked into the possibility of a 4K Switch while Economic Daily News simply mentions that the new Switch will be designed to offer improved visuals.

To say that we’ve heard these reports before would be an understatement, but there are a couple of things about this round of Switch Pro rumors which lend them a little more weight.

The first is the timing of the rumored release. Earlier rumors suggested that Nintendo may release a more powerful Switch ahead of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but it does make sense that they would release such a model slightly after other next-gen consoles, especially given the production and software delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Software is actually the other interesting factor here. The Bloomberg report indicates that Nintendo intends to launch this new Switch model alongside a suite of major games which seemingly helps explain why the Switch’s 2020 release schedule is looking kind of light. Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4 seem like obvious candidates for that lineup, but there are also reports of a major new Super Mario game that have been floating around for a little while.

So is any of this true? Well, we’ve been down this road before, but it seems inevitable that Nintendo will release an “improved” version of the Nintendo Switch at some point given that they tend to release upgraded models of their handheld devices, and the Switch has been treated as a handheld device by Nintendo at least in terms of the franchises it supports.

The 4K rumors feel like a bit of a stretch, but a new Switch model that will be released sometime in 2021 does seem likely. In any case, we’ll keep you updated on any new details.