We already know that both the Xbox Series X and PS5 are due out at the end of this year. What is less certain is the release date of the Nintendo Switch Pro, which is odd, because Nintendo normally loves to iterate on their hardware and let the world know about it.
So, given that that's the case, and the sheer amount of rumours flying around on the internet, it can be hard to figure out when the Nintendo Switch Pro will release, assuming it exists at all.
That being said, the smart money is definitely on there being a second Nintendo Switch, even if it isn't called the Nintendo Switch Pro, so let's get speculating...
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Nintendo Switch Pro release date
There has been a constant stream of rumours regarding the existence of the Nintendo Switch Pro, all of which have been quickly followed by potential release dates. A lot of the rumours actually point to the end of 2020, which is this year, but that seems unlikely for a few reasons.
The first reason, and the most sensible reason to avoid releasing a console at the end of the year, is the fact that the PS5 and Xbox Series X are releasing then. While they might be fine competing with each other, Nintendo has no real reason to release anything at such a busy time.
Looking at the form
It is, at this point, far more likely that we won't see anything until 2021 at the earliest. It makes sense to wait for the release window and initial hype for the next Sony and Microsoft consoles to die down a bit before throwing your hat into the ring again.
That's also exactly what they did with the first version of the Switch, which came out a while after the PS4 and Xbox One, and it's paid off massively.
There are also a few other indicators we can go on. Come with us back to 2001, when the GBA released, then skip to 2003, when the GBA SP released, a mere two years, which we've already passed. So, let's look at the 3DS, which released in 2011, and the New 3DS, which released in 2015.
Assuming Nintendo stick to a similar path, and given that the technology is more complex now, it would make far more sense to see a Nintendo Switch Pro releasing around four years after the original Switch, which released in 2017. Also, while stealth-dropping a game is optional, it seems a far bigger risk to do it with a console. We can expect some hype beforehand, then, so maybe next year we'll see the Nintendo Switch Pro.
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