Nintendo Officially Announces Next-Gen Switch, Teases Holiday 2024 Launch

After months of speculation and leaks, Nintendo has officially confirmed that its next-generation console—a successor to the wildly popular Nintendo Switch—is on the way. In a surprise announcement made via a video presentation early this morning, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the new system is currently in its final stages of development, with a targeted release window set for Holiday 2024.

While Nintendo refrained from revealing the console’s official name or detailed specs, Furukawa did say that the new hardware “builds upon the hybrid DNA of the Switch” and will “offer a new level of play that we believe fans of all ages will be excited to experience.” This suggests the company isn’t abandoning its handheld-console hybrid concept but is instead doubling down on what made the Switch such a success when it launched in 2017.

Rumors surrounding the next Switch have been circulating for over a year, with reports pointing to a larger OLED display, upgraded internal components including a custom NVIDIA chipset, and new features aimed at backward compatibility. While Furukawa did not confirm any specific features, he promised that more information, including game showcases and hardware details, will be revealed in a dedicated Nintendo Direct later this summer.

The announcement comes at a pivotal time for Nintendo. Despite the Switch still posting strong sales — recently surpassing 132 million units sold — software releases have slowed significantly in 2024. Flagship franchises like Zelda and Mario have already had major recent entries, leading many to believe that Nintendo has been holding back content for the incoming platform.

Reactions from fans and industry analysts have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Nintendo’s decision to make the announcement ahead of summer game showcases. “This move sets the stage for a massive holiday season,” says Daniel Ahmad, a senior analyst at Niko Partners. “Nintendo is clearly aiming to dominate the conversation going into 2025.”

With the Holiday 2024 release window officially on the calendar, the countdown has begun. All eyes now turn to Nintendo’s summer showcase, where the future of the company — and the next step in hybrid gaming — will finally come into focus.