What is Nintendo’s Next Handheld Console? A Sneak Peek Into the Future of Portable Gaming

As one of the most influential companies in the gaming industry, Nintendo has consistently set trends with its consoles and handheld devices. From the iconic Game Boy to the wildly successful Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide. With the continued success of the Nintendo Switch, fans are left wondering: What is Nintendo’s next handheld console?

In this blog, we’ll explore what we know (and what we can speculate) about Nintendo's future plans in the handheld console market. Could we see a successor to the Switch? Or perhaps a completely new direction? Let’s dive in.

1. The Current State of the Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has been one of the most successful consoles in Nintendo’s history, blending handheld portability with home console power. Its hybrid design allows players to seamlessly transition from playing on the go to gaming on a big screen at home. Launched in 2017, the Switch quickly became a fan favorite, bolstered by a strong library of first-party games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

However, as technology continues to evolve, fans have started to wonder what comes next. While the Switch OLED model and Switch Lite have kept the system relevant, questions persist about what Nintendo will do in the future.

2. The Switch Successor: Will It Be Another Hybrid?

It’s almost certain that Nintendo will follow up on the Nintendo Switch with a new handheld system, but will it continue with the hybrid model? Based on current trends and Nintendo’s past approach, there are strong indications that a Switch successor will retain this feature.

Nintendo has found great success with the Switch’s ability to transition between handheld and home gaming, and there’s little reason to believe they will move away from that formula. The hybrid concept is still relatively fresh, and fans have embraced it. Plus, the Nintendo Switch Pro rumors have been circulating for a while, suggesting that the company could enhance the Switch’s power with a more robust version that offers improved graphics, faster load times, and better performance.

The big question is whether Nintendo will improve the hardware for better 4K support, advanced graphics, and faster processing speeds. The Nintendo Switch Pro might allow for smoother gameplay, especially for graphically demanding games, ensuring that Nintendo remains competitive with the powerful consoles from Sony and Microsoft.

3. Nintendo Switch 2: A Natural Evolution

A natural evolution of the Switch might be the Nintendo Switch 2, an upgraded version of the hybrid system. This next-generation console would likely feature improvements such as:

• Improved Display: A higher-quality OLED screen, potentially with a higher resolution or a better refresh rate.
• Enhanced Performance: Upgrades to the processing power, leading to smoother graphics and more stable frame rates. The Switch currently operates with a custom Tegra X1 chip, so an upgraded version might use a more powerful chip from Nvidia or AMD.
• Better Joy-Con Controllers: One of the criticisms of the current Switch is the Joy-Con drift issue. Nintendo may refine the design or use a more durable mechanism to resolve these issues.
• 4K Gaming: While the Switch is currently limited to 1080p in handheld mode, it can output 4K resolution when docked to a TV. The Switch 2 might support true 4K graphics natively, especially for the more powerful versions of the console.

4. The Return of the Nintendo DS Family?

While the Nintendo Switch has dominated the scene, there’s always room for speculation. Nintendo has a rich history of handheld gaming with consoles like the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. After the 3DS family was discontinued in 2020, many fans began wondering if Nintendo would return to its handheld roots in a more traditional sense.

The rise of mobile gaming has certainly impacted the market for dedicated handheld consoles, but Nintendo is known for its innovation. A new Nintendo DS-style device could tap into a nostalgia market, offering dual screens, stylus input, and backward compatibility with DS and 3DS games.

However, considering that the Switch’s hybrid design has proven to be such a hit, it's unlikely Nintendo will return to strictly handheld or dual-screen designs for its next major device. But it could still make a revival of the handheld-only market for players who prefer simpler, more affordable gaming options.

5. Cloud Gaming and Portable Devices: A New Frontier

With the rise of cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, Nintendo could also explore this avenue in future handheld consoles. Imagine a future Nintendo handheld console that could stream games from powerful servers, allowing you to play games like The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Final Fantasy XV without the need for local processing power.

This would open up a whole new level of gaming, as players wouldn’t be limited by hardware performance, but instead by internet connection speeds. It would be interesting to see if Nintendo embraces cloud gaming as part of its next handheld console, especially since the Switch can already access cloud-based versions of some games.

6. The Nintendo Switch Online Expansion

Another possibility is the expansion of Nintendo Switch Online, which is Nintendo's current subscription service. Nintendo could introduce an upgraded version of the Switch Online app that supports a broader library of classic games. A new handheld device could be designed to play both current titles and retro games from older Nintendo consoles, including the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games that are already part of the Switch Online expansion.

7. When Will Nintendo Reveal the Next Handheld Console?

As of now, Nintendo has not officially announced its next handheld console. With the success of the Nintendo Switch, it's likely that any successor will be several years away. However, if history has taught us anything, Nintendo isn’t afraid to surprise its fans with unexpected innovations.

Considering Nintendo’s penchant for keeping information about upcoming projects under wraps, fans will likely need to wait for a proper announcement before getting concrete details about the next handheld console. Until then, we can only speculate and enjoy the legacy of the Switch.

Conclusion: The Future of Nintendo’s Handheld Consoles

While we don't know exactly what Nintendo’s next handheld console will look like, it's clear that the company has a strong track record of innovation and exciting new ideas. Whether it’s an upgraded Switch 2, a new traditional handheld console, or a combination of both, one thing is for sure: Nintendo’s next handheld will continue to shape the future of gaming.

Until that time comes, we can look forward to more updates on the Nintendo Switch, as it remains one of the most versatile and fun consoles available today.

For the latest updates and news about Nintendo and its future consoles, stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for what might come next!