Nintendo Confirms Development of Switch Successor, Promises Full Reveal This Fiscal Year

After years of speculation, Nintendo has officially confirmed that the successor to the wildly popular Switch console is in development, with a full reveal expected later this fiscal year. The confirmation came directly from Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, marking the first time the company has acknowledged the device publicly.

“Since the launch of Nintendo Switch in March 2017, we’ve been able to continue our business with the support of many fans,” Furukawa stated in a message shared via the official Nintendo of Japan Twitter account. “We will make an announcement about the successor to Nintendo Switch within this fiscal year, which ends in March 2025.”

While details remain scarce, this announcement puts to rest countless rumors about the so-called “Switch 2” that have circulated for more than two years. Industry watchers had speculated that Nintendo might skip the traditional console upgrade cycle it has followed in the past, opting instead to iterate on the hybrid design. However, confirming a new hardware generation suggests a more significant evolution in the company’s platform strategy.

Furukawa also teased that Nintendo Direct will return in June, but clarified that the presentation will focus on games scheduled for the latter half of 2024 and “will not include the new hardware.” This means fans hoping for an early glimpse of the next-gen console will need to wait a bit longer.

The Switch, which launched seven years ago, has sold over 139 million units worldwide and continues to perform strongly. However, with technological gaps widening between Nintendo and competitors like Sony and Microsoft, pressure has mounted for Nintendo to offer more power and long-requested features.

Fans and industry experts alike will be watching Nintendo closely over the coming months. The company has historically guarded its new hardware plans carefully, often surprising the industry with unique innovations like motion controls and hybrid form factors. Whether they continue this tradition or take a more iterative approach remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: the next Nintendo console is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.” Stay tuned as TheGamerScene brings you all the latest updates on Nintendo’s biggest release in years.