There are many theories about the upcoming Switch 2 console, but a recently published Nintendo patent sheds some light on what we can expect. The patent, filed in late 2022 and published in October of this year, describes a new portable gaming device with some significant differences from its predecessor.
This new handheld device does away with the Joy-Cons and instead features a joystick to the left of the screen and four face buttons to the right, as well as two shoulder buttons on the top. The home button has been moved to the bottom of the device, along with the USB port, speakers, and a button for capturing screenshots and gameplay recordings.
The top of the device is similar to the original Switch, but with the volume rocker and power button positions swapped. There’s still a headphone jack and a cartridge slot, but it’s unclear if the new console will be able to play games from the original Switch.
While some speculate that the Switch 2 will prioritise power over portability to compete with PlayStation and Xbox, this patent suggests that the new console will be a handheld/home console hybrid, much like its predecessor.
The patent suggests that the Switch 2 will have some significant changes and improvements in terms of design from the original Switch. However, it remains to be seen what other features and capabilities the new console will have.
Rumours have it that the Switch 2 could debut in the second half of 2024, and developers have access to hardware for Nintendo’s next console. The console may use an LCD screen to reduce costs. Nintendo aims to keep costs down to accommodate more storage, and the console is expected to retain the slot for cartridges, while a recent rumour suggests that it could ditch it. It is uncertain whether the new console will be backward compatible, but Nintendo has hinted at finding ways to keep current Switch users interested as they transition into the next generation.