Speculation is running rampant regarding a newNintendoconsole rumored to be launched in 2021. While these rumors have largely been unverifiable, their longevity and the age of the Nintendo Switch has given them credence. Fans thus expected Nintendo to hold an event or to make a major reveal of some kind in the relatively near future. Instead, it seemsNintendojust went ahead and confirmed it’s working on a new console as part of document on corporate management policy.
The official name of the document is the “Fiscal Year Ending March 2021: Corporate Management Policy Briefing” and it was published publicly by Nintendo on September 16. Within the document under the “Future Initiatives” heading, Nintendo shows a graphic that mentions its “Next gaming system” to come in the year 20XX. Thisnext-gen Nintendo systemis mentioned only in reference to the continued support for what Nintendo describes as its “Integrated Hardware-Software” model of hardware platforms and software to support them.
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The graphic does add some further context to its plans for future new consoles in that the Nintendo Account system is inherent to the company’s plans going forward. Nintendo’s next console will feature a link to aNintendo Accountmuch like the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, other “services based on our Nintendo Account program that complement [Nintendo’s] business,” are planned for future platforms as well. Further, these types of complementary programs will only be expanded upon.
Suffice to say, this isn’t the console announcement that Nintendo fans were hoping for. In effect, it’s just Nintendo saying that it’s planning to release another console sometime in the foreseeable future. There’s no promise of a new console in 2021 and there are no firm details regarding what form that console will take regardless of when it’s released.Nintendo fanswill have to keep waiting and speculating.
That said, given the scope of the document is Nintendo’s current fiscal year, it can be assumed that Nintendo is at least evaluating its options regarding its next console. A later heading in the document reads “What We Wanted to Communicate Today” and features three bullet points. The very first point is “Maintain consumer trust across generations,” which is particularly interesting given Nintendo’s all but given up support of previous generations tofocus on the Switch. If Nintendo’s thinking about “generations,” it’s clearly looking toward what’s coming next.
To summarize, there’s no news regarding a potential4K Nintendo Switchplanned for 2021 or any other rumored Nintendo Hardware. For the time being,Nintendoplans on doing more of what it’s done with the Nintendo Switch, for better or worse.
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