Nintendo plans new Switch hardware for 2019 release, report says

The Nintendo Switch. (Nintendo Photo)

Nintendo is gearing up to release a new version of the smash hit Switch console as soon as next summer, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. 

Citing information from suppliers and others with direct knowledge of the plan, WSJ reports Nintendo is still deciding the hardware and software features it wants to include in an updated console. An updated display is one possibility, and by incorporating the latest technology, Nintendo could build a thinner and brighter screen.

Nintendo representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Nintendo Switch debuted last year and is already one of the most successful gaming consoles of all time, with sales nearing 20 million units. The device, which doubles as a handheld and traditional console, helped Nintendo bounce back from its previous console launch, the Wii U, which wasn’t as popular with gamers.

The console flew off the shelves out of the gate in March 2017, but sales have started to level off. With an updated Switch, Nintendo could take advantage of the hype surrounding the console and several anticipated game releases.

The success of the Switch has been a boon for Nintendo’s bottom line. The company posted net sales for its most recent quarter of $1.51 billion, a 9 percent increase from the year before, and operating profits of $275 million, up 88 percent over last year.

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