What a Switch Pro, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo’s R.O.B. have in common

Nintendo is preparing a new model of its Switch hardware for the first quarter of 2021, according to a report out of Taipei newspaper Economic Daily News (via VGC). I can’t confirm the rumor, but my feeling is unchanged since we started hearing about the Switch Lite. The company that released six 3DS models probably has several more Switch revisions in the works. These upgrades give Nintendo a chance to get its most loyal fans excited to spend money on hardware again. It’s an old trick that the company has turned to since the NES, and it’s one that Sony is using with the PlayStation 5 when it talks about believing in generations.

The latest Switch Pro rumor claims the system will come with an improved display. I’ve written before about my hopes for the next Switch system. And an HDR 120Hz 720p panel would make a big difference. I also hope the Switch gets an SSD and more memory to help with ports from PC and other consoles. But the Economic Daily News report also talks about upgraded “interactivity” for the Switch. And that’s the key takeaway — at least from the business and marketing perspective.