No New Nintendo Switch is Coming in the Near Future

The Nintendo Switch is on a tear lately. In 2020, the pandemic pushed Switch sales to new heights. The console’s success didn’t start last year, however. The latest Nintendo console hit a few huge milestones in the last fiscal quarter. To fans, that might mean a big update is coming to further the profitable run. To executives, however, that means staying the course. The word that no Nintendo Switch console is coming in the near future surprised a lot of people. Still, that doesn’t mean that it’s never going to happen. We all know at some point a new, improved Switch will hit the market. Given recent successes and continued uncertainty, it just doesn’t seem like now is the time.

Why No New Nintendo Switch in 2021 Makes Sense

For a lot of people, finding a Nintendo Switch is fairly easy. Just months ago, however, a Coronavirus Nintendo Switch shortage made it nearly impossible. The fact of the matter is that producing consoles right now is just too difficult. Factories are not up to full speed following COVID-19 waves around the world. Plus, you’re not just building every part of a console in-house. Computing chips, glass for screens, plastics, and more come from other distributors. Those same distributors are experiencing their own difficulties in manufacturing right now.

Despite all of this, Nintendo just experienced its best fiscal quarter since 2008. The success of the Switch is so strong, in fact, that shortages are still occurring in Japan. Because of this, production woes, and an uncertain market, no new Nintendo Switch is on the horizon. In reality, this makes sense. Some of us who bought a Switch early in its life cycle might want a new console. If that’s the case, then we’ll always be around for a new console upgrade. The newcomers, however, are still enjoying the Switch and Switch Lite. Overall, it just makes more sense to hold a new version of the console for a later date. Preferably, the new console iteration could release at a time where things aren’t so messy.

Predicting the Next Console Release

Image Credit: Nintendo

Vaccination efforts worldwide are leaving many optimistic for 2022. That’s a strange thing to think given we’re only a month into 2021, but the world will take a while to return to a semblance of normality. Until then, a new Nintendo Switch console just isn’t in the cards. That said when would make the most sense? In my eyes, the most logical rollout is alongside Breath of the Wild 2. I know Nintendo fans are hopeful that we’ll see the sequel to the latest Legend of Zelda game this year, but I don’t see that happening.

The first game encountered so many delays that the sequel will likely follow in its footsteps. Developing a game under remote work conditions and added pressures from a global pandemic aren’t conducive to productivity. Overall, it’s more likely the game comes out in 2022, and wouldn’t that be the best time to unveil a new Switch with 4K, improved Joy-Cons, and other great features?

If you have a prediction about the next Switch console, then let us know in the comments! Thanks for reading Comic Years for all things gaming, comics, and pop culture.

Featured Image Credit: Nintendo

Taylor is the Gaming Editor of Comic Years and a lifelong fan of video games. He holds two degrees in Political Communication and wrote a Master's Thesis on resistance movements, race, and the exploitation of college athletes. His wife and two Toy Australian Sheppards keep him sane.