Nintendo Teases Switch Successor for 2025, While Xbox Commits to New Console Cycle

Nintendo has finally broken its silence on what comes next for its wildly popular Switch console, confirming today that a successor is officially in the works and set for a proper reveal later this fiscal year. In a statement by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, the company promised to unveil the long-awaited next-gen hardware “within this fiscal year,” which ends in March 2025. Though no specs or firm release date were offered, and no E3-style Direct is planned for June, this marks the most concrete acknowledgment yet that Nintendo is preparing to usher in its next gaming era.

The Switch, now in its seventh year on the market, has defied expectations with its longevity and upside-down hardware cycle. Debuting in March 2017, the hybrid system has sold over 139 million units worldwide, becoming the third best-selling console of all time. Naturally, speculation around its successor—often rumored to be a more powerful, backward-compatible handheld/home console hybrid—has reached a fever pitch. Furukawa’s confirmation now lends real weight to those rumors.

Meanwhile, across the aisle, Xbox isn’t staying silent either. Microsoft’s head of gaming Phil Spencer has publicly stated that the company is “invested in the next generation of hardware,” and plans to share “exciting roadmap updates” later this year. This comes amid ongoing speculation about Xbox’s long-term multiplatform strategy, especially following the surprise release of several Xbox exclusives on PlayStation and Switch earlier this year.

With both Nintendo and Xbox laying the groundwork for next-gen hardware, and Sony still relatively quiet following the PS5 Pro leaks, the stage seems set for a new console war to kick off in 2025. Industry analysts predict that 2024 will serve as the final chapter of the current hardware cycle, with each platform holder positioning their next systems to define the future of gaming.

Nintendo fans should keep their eyes peeled for an eventual Nintendo Direct in late 2024 or early 2025. Until then, the countdown to the next generation officially begins.