2 New Nintendo Switch Models In Production, Report Claims

There are reportedly two new Nintendo Switch models coming soon, and both are in production right now.

Nintendo hasn’t officially announced new hardware at the moment, much less new Switch models. A new report from The Wall Street Journal (via GameSpot), however, claims that Nintendo has moved its production of Switch consoles to a new location in Southeast Asia, and that two new Switch models are under production in that location at the moment.

Two new systems

The WSJ report said these two new systems are different from the one currently available in the market. One of them is expected to come in the same form feature as that of the existing model, but with some beefier specs inside. The other model is expected to have a different look and lower specs, obviously designed for more casual players who like to take their games with them on the go.

Nintendo hasn’t confirmed the existence of these consoles yet, but it hasn’t denied them either. GameSpot reported that Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, during a recent earnings call, said, "As a general rule, we're always working on new hardware and we will announce it when we are able to sell it." His words didn’t deny the new consoles, giving room for speculation.

More like a successor

According to an earlier WSJ report (via GameSpot), the lower-end Switch model is a cheaper version of the Switch intended to be a “cheaper option for casual gamers.” A report from Japanese newspaper Nikkei said this model is “designed for portable use,” and is expected to come this fall.

The reports claim that Nintendo intends to release the lower Switch model as a “successor” to the 3DS line of handhelds. The 3DS has been packaged as a budget-friendly handheld gaming device designed to appeal to youngsters. The lower-end Switch is also designed for handheld play, and is meant to be child-friendly with titles that are expected to appeal to youngsters too -- like “Pokemon Sword and Shield.”

Nintendo is said to lower the costs of producing the lower-end Switch by removing certain features such as controller vibration. Yet, despite the portable handheld design and the lower specs, it is said to be compatible with the dock for playing with a TV at home.