Nintendo Reveals Timeline for Next-Gen Console Announcement, Sets Expectations for June's Nintendo Direct

Following a period of speculation, Nintendo has provided an update on its plans for the successor to the Switch, indicating that an official announcement will be made by the end of the current fiscal year. In a statement accompanying the release of its full-year financial results, Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed that the reveal of the next console will take place by March 31, 2025. Additionally, Furukawa noted that the Nintendo Direct presentation scheduled for June will focus exclusively on the Switch software lineup for the latter half of 2024, with no mention of the upcoming console. Although the extent of the H2 2024 lineup remains uncertain, Nintendo's decision to skip Gamescom suggests a relatively modest showing. Contrary to earlier predictions of a 2024 release, reports from February suggested that the launch of the new console, tentatively referred to as the Switch 2, may be delayed until 2025. While it is still possible that Nintendo may announce and release the console before March 31, 2025, the language used in Furukawa's statement implies that only the announcement is likely to occur within this timeframe. Furthermore, Nintendo's financial forecast for the upcoming year does not indicate a significant release before April 2025, with predicted net sales for the year ending March 31, 2025, expected to decline by 19.3% year-on-year to ¥1.35 trillion ($8.7 billion). Recently, Chinese peripherals manufacturer Mobapad claimed to have obtained details regarding the Switch 2's hardware, including redesigned Joy-Cons and an enhanced 1080p display.