The head of Nintendo USA has revealed future plans for the company and their next console (which we're all calling the Nintendo Switch 2).
Head of Nintendo USA, Doug Bowser (yes, that is his real name), was recently interviewed by the AP regarding all things Switch 2. He didn't reveal anything massively exciting (or speak to the rumors claiming the Switch 2 is coming in 2023), but he did provide some interesting responses. Here's a brief overview of the future Doug Bowser envisions for Nintendo.
- If you still haven't bought the original Switch, we would advise you to skip and go with the upgraded Switch OLED instead.
Head Of Nintendo USA Speaks On Switch 2
Doug Bowser was asked directly when the Switch 2 might be released, and while he couldn't be too direct in his answer, he did hint at the truth of the matter. This will probably come as a disappointment to you, but we read his answer as: the Switch 1 still sells very well so a Switch 2 isn't coming soon, and it won't be released until they have a new gimmick to integrate into the product. Here was his answer verbatim:
As we enter the seventh year for the Nintendo Switch, sales are still strong. I think we still have a very very strong lineup coming. As Mr. Furukawa (Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa) said recently, we’re entering uncharted territory with the platform. It’s exciting to see that demand is still there. So nothing to announce on any future console or device, but we are still feeling very bullish about Nintendo Switch.I should be careful about what I personally would like to see (in a new Switch). But what I can share is that one of the reasons that even going into year seven we feel very confident that the Switch can have a strong performance over the next few years is that it is still truly that unique device that you can play in a variety of ways, at home, on the go. One of the things we look at always is how can we surprise and delight. How can we introduce new unique ways of playing. That’s always in front of our mind.
When he says he has "nothing to announce on any future console" we believe him. It sounds to us like Nintendo are waiting for sales to die down. It also seems like they would only release a new console if it provided users with a "new unique way of playing".
We think most fans would rather they just get a more powerful Switch, but admittedly Nintendo have been very successful in the past with their innovative console designs. Maybe the new Switch will be half portable, half hologram? Who knows. But what we do sadly now know is that it isn't coming soon.
It's not all doom and gloom - the Switch is still getting games like this: