Original Article: [https://gamerant.com/nintendo-switch-5-years-hardware-successor-unnecessary/](https://gamerant.com/nintendo-switch-5-years-hardware-successor-unnecessary/)
As a life long gamer, I have to disagree with GameRant, here.
From a business standpoint, I understand the argument. The console is selling well, and the games are selling well. Fantastic. From that perspective I can see how Nintendo would choose not to release a new console at this moment.
But from a consumer perspective, I feel it is nearly time for a next gen console from Nintendo. I love my Switch and I still play it…hell, I spent hours mucking about Diablo 2 Resurrected just yesterday (fantastic game btw). My family and I consistently play Jack Box and Mario Party, and I’m a sucker for Donkey Kong. BUT, the console IS showing its age. Yes, even the recently released OLED model (which is the model I own). That shiny screen can’t hide the severely downgraded graphics of some games, bad load times in others, and slow eShop performance. Not to say that the system hasn’t been an incredible technical surprise with such titles as DOOM, DOOM Eternal, Skyrim, The Witcher 3, and Diablo 3. There clearly has been some incredible ports and first party games for the little console.
The article goes on to mention the games that are slated for release this year. With those games in mind, I can see the Switch squeaking by for a sixth and final year. It is my own belief that we’ll see a new console announcement this E3, with Breath of the Wild 2 as a launch title. I would go further to guess that Breath of the Wild 2 will have a dual release on both the current Nintendo Switch, as well as it’s successor, such as we saw with Twilight Princess on the Wii and GameCube.
What are your thoughts?
EDIT: It seems my terminology has caused some confusion. For that I apologize. When I speak of a “next gen” Nintendo console, I simply mean the Switch’s successor. I am aware that Nintendo places itself in a different realm in terms of competing with Sony & Microsoft, and thus is not solely focused on graphical fidelity or bleeding edge tech.