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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

That's according to Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Tokyo-based game industry consultancy Kantan Games, who contributed his forecast for 2024 in GamesIndustry.biz's annual analysts predictions feature.

Although the company is yet to comment publicly, Nintendo's next-generation console is widely expected to launch this year, after VGC reported that development kits are in the hands of developers as the platform holder prepares its plans.

According to Kantan Games' Toto, the console could launch at $400 – $100 higher than the Switch launched at – and there's a chance its games could adopt the $70 pricing of PS5 and Xbox Series X.

"The time is finally here for a Switch successor, even though I can say a 'Pro' model actually did exist and certain developers were already working with the dev kit," Toto wrote. "I believe the next hardware will drop [in 2024] for $400. There is a high chance that games will cost more, too: $70."

According to the industry consultant, Nintendo's next console will again have portable functionality, as VGC reported last year.

"The next system is also likely to be an iteration rather than a revolution. Nintendo might add some bells and whistles to the device, but it will be similar to the current Switch.

"And because there is Pokémon, and Pokémon is associated with handheld gaming, there is no way on earth Nintendo will drop the portability feature for their next big thing."

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa declined to comment on plans for the company's next console in November, as it announced Switch had cleared 132.46 million lifetime sales.

Despite unusually strong performance for a console entering its seventh year on the market, Switch hardware sales are clearly in decline, especially in the major markets outside of Japan.

In Nintendo's last fiscal year, Switch sales declined by 22% compared to the previous year, and if it reaches its current target of 15m for this year, that will represent a further decline of 16.5%.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

 

[Sethbacca]

Smartest move Nintendo has made in ages if true. Stop reinventing the wheel and focus on games.

 

[SCB3]

Makes sense, I predict it'll be like DS to 3DS with some kind of Innovation, not sure what it could be other than some sort of Pseudo non headset-VR with the Joy-Cons like some patents suggest

 

[lughnasadh123]

"Do that again, only better" is the only mantra they need with this formula.

 

[Brock2621]

Backward Compatibility will seal the deal this thing will sell out the gate

 

[Punished Miku]

Just get your digital purchases carrying over, physical BC, and larger memory and I could live with that.

I'd be happier if its something crazy and new no one has seen yet.

 

[64gigabyteram]

they've got a great form factor, no reason to try and muck it up again like they did for wii and wii u

 

[Chukhopops]

Serkan Toto

Instantly filed in the bullshit category, this is the guy who was sure there would be a Switch Pro a year or two ago.

Also said that there would be a Zelda remaster end of 2023 and that Sony would buy FROM in 2022.

 

[tusharngf]

 

[Draugoth]

The appeal of the Switch comes from it's low price, it would need to justify being priced at $400.

 

[Bernoulli]

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

Graph has bias: FY24 hasn't finished yet, and wouldn't have included recent holiday sales either.

Only thing I agree with with the analyst is launch this year imminent, but that's fairly obvious. Not sure they can go up to $400 / $70

 

[Robb]

Switch 2 will "likely be an iteration rather than a revolution"

Not that I dislike Nintendo and their quirky off the wall ideas/concepts, but an improved Switch is exactly what I want. It's too good to not keep going with.

 

[ThaGuy]

This has been Nintendo's way of console development since forever and I've mentioned this before.

Revolution: NES
Evolution: SNES
Revolution: N64
Evolution: NGC or GCN

Now what extra they are adding to the next switch is what will be interesting.

 

[Imtjnotu]

 

[DragoonKain]

So... Switch 1.5?

 

[MR ARCADE FOREVER]

I predict a wireless suppository for total immersion in a complete new feel of experiencing games...

 

[Holammer]

Watch Nintendo as they incorporate elements on the N64 & GC controllers into the new device.
A huge Fisher-Price A button, the bean buttons and a flimsy stick in the middle.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

If this is backwards compatible i may buy my first Nintendo console since the Gamecube tbh.

 

[Woopah]

Graph has bias: FY24 hasn't finished yet, and wouldn't have included recent holiday sales either.

Only thing I agree with with the analyst is launch this year imminent, but that's fairly obvious. Not sure they can go up to $400 / $70

To be fair they do say "FY24 (H1)"

 

[tr1p1ex]

Of course they won't drop portability. It's not just about Pokemon either. Their handheld business has clearly been the better business since the Gameboy launched. IT had the much bigger install base. While their console business, save for the Wii blip, slipped further into the toilet with every generation.

I don't believe there was a Pro model. Or at least I believe the Pro model was the OLED all along. Never made any sense to me to release a faster Switch mid gen. IT's not Nintendo. I think his info got lost in translation. I could be wrong. But I was saying all along (while these rumors were going wild) that they were not going to release a Pro model that had much faster specs and did 4k gaming. And I was correct.

 

[Krieger]

Imagine paying $400+$70 to collect all the new pokemon and they look like this:

 

[UltimaKilo]

Wow, this guy is so smart! GAF: we should band together and create a consultant firm. We can also just throw out stupid speculation!

 

[ReBurn]

Smartest move Nintendo has made in ages if true. Stop reinventing the wheel and focus on games.

Exactly. They need to stop reinventing themselves with each hardware launch. They found something that works and they should stick with it.

 

[NickFire]

IMO, it would be insane to go beyond an iteration this time. The company has made huge profits from Switch, and they own their own lane in the hybrid console space. If they drop the hybrid model they'd be conceding a game even though their opponent never showed up.

 

[ReBurn]

Imagine paying $400+$70 to collect all the new pokemon and they look like this:

Maybe they'll ray trace a few puddles and shadows. Since that's all it takes to get people to pay $500 + $70 it should be an easy sell.

 

[SCB3]

Imagine paying $400+$70 to collect all the new pokemon and they look like this:

And then imagine buying its DLC and the other version, twice.....

Yea I did that

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Super Nintendo it is then.

With a new price point and price increase for games (rarely go on sale), Nintendo will be very profitable.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

This has been Nintendo's way of console development since forever and I've mentioned this before.

Revolution: NES
Evolution: SNES
Revolution: N64
Evolution: NGC or GCN

Now what extra they are adding to the next switch is what will be interesting.

Every evolution sold less than the revolution on that list.

 

[Lokaum D+]

at that price point hardware must be good

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

at that price point hardware must be good

Well probably around PS4

 

[tr1p1ex]

Switch form factor has always screamed trojan horse VR to me.

Labo VR was the proof of concept.

 

[Robb]

I predict a wireless suppository for total immersion in a complete new feel of experiencing games...

Time to re-introduce the Wii Vitality sensor.

 

[ThaGuy]

Every evolution sold less than the revolution on that list.

I kinda expect the same for the switch 2 honestly. I never said it was a successful move especially looking at the Wii to Wii U transition.

 

[justiceiro]

Cool, all we needed, more speculation, now from news outlets.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Nintendo Switcher! - I can't wait for the gender reveal party!

 

[Mr Hyde]

The Switch 2 needs to have full BC, both physical and digital, otherwise I won't give a flying fuck about this system.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Well probably around PS4

isnt PS5 U$ 449 ? y should i be OK with a U$ 400 PS4 ?

 

[DonF]

the industry has changed, the landscape of portable consoles is not the same, but we all know that nintendo doesnt care about that and will do whatever they fuck they want.

there is no analyst that can analyse nintendo.

 

[tr1p1ex]

The Switch 2 needs to have full BC, both physical and digital, otherwise I won't give a flying fuck about this system.

like the Switch?

 

[touchfuzzy]

"Basically the same with better graphics" is really all I need to keep me happy for the next 6-7 years.

 

[analog_future]

Lines up with all the information that's been made available thus far.

It's going to be a Switch with better hardware/DLSS.

Sounds great to me. No need to reinvent the wheel here.

 

[PatientGamer]

Will their graphics exceed PS4/Xbox One this time?

FWIW, If they bring the software this will likely be a day 1 purchase for my family.

 

[tr1p1ex]

of course the customer says they want a faster horse. They don't know what else is possible.

 

[K' Dash]

Yup, that sounds like the right move.

we just need the name to be Switch 2 and ride the wave again.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

of course the customer says they want a faster horse. They don't know what else is possible.

What do you mean? Everyone wants a Switch with better specs. That's all...what else is there to be done?

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

isnt PS5 U$ 449 ? y should i be OK with a U$ 400 PS4 ?

Because it a portable, and will be the only way to play Nintendo games going forward.

something something games sell hardware something.

Another way to look at it is, A PS4 would probably cost you $200 to make, now throw in a controller, screen, dock to connect to your TV and you have a Switch 2.

 

[Hudo]

Just show me 3D Mario. I play games, not hardware.

 

[Mr Hyde]

like the Switch?

Never cared for the Wii/ Wii U-era so Switch was a clean slate for me, just as it was for Nintendo. And the Switch brand (and hybrid concept) is too good to give up for something entirely new.