As rumors of a potential price cut on Nintendo Switch consoles continue to swirl around, the gaming giant finally addresses the speculations, confirming that there will be no such cuts until at least early 2024, GameRant reports.
While the news could have left some fans disappointed, it has sparked a fresh wave of curiosity about the future of the wildly popular gaming device.
Next-Gen Nintendo Switch Rumors
The internet has been rife with rumors of a possible successor to the Nintendo Switch for some time now. But despite various leaks and insider rumors, the Japanese company has remained tight-lipped on the subject, leaving fans to speculate and imagine what might come next.
Rumors of impressive hardware upgrades have also been making the rounds. In September 2022, we reported that the Nintendo Switch 2 might boast an LCD screen from Sharp, a powerful Nvidia Tegra system-on-a-chip, and even support for 4K resolution.
While none of these hardware features have been confirmed, it is enough to excite gaming enthusiasts.
Talks of a Possible Price Cut
With rumors of a new console stirring, many fans have been speculating about the possibility of a price cut on current models. After all, a newer version of the Switch would need to distinguish itself from its predecessor.
But with the OLED Switch currently priced at $349.99, GameRant tells us that any new console would likely come in at $400 or higher. If Nintendo can lower the prices of its existing models by $50 or more, it could make a potential Switch sequel all the more appealing to cost-conscious gamers.
No New Consoles Until 2024
In a recent Q&A session, President Shuntaro Furukawa confirmed that there would be no price cuts on Nintendo Switch hardware this fiscal year. That means the current prices for the Nintendo Switch, its OLED upgrade, and the handheld-only Lite will remain steady until at least April 2024.
Why the lack of price cuts? Despite certain production materials becoming less expensive, Furukawa stated that manufacturing costs for the Switch remain high. This makes it tough to determine if and when price cuts will be feasible.
The need for more information about Nintendo's next console makes it challenging to speculate about the situation. Furukawa has also shared that there will be no hardware announcements during this fiscal year.
Despite the uncertainty, there's no denying that the Nintendo Switch has been a massive triumph for the company. We reported a few days ago that the Switch had sold 125 million pieces of hardware as of March 2023, a slower growth rate than the previous year, but that software sales (which reached the 1 billion mark on sales) had exceeded estimates.
It will be interesting to witness how the console evolves in the coming years. In the meantime, fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Nintendo Switch hardware prices will not budge this year.
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