Hello, fellow gamers. It’s time for another Blurb, and today, I thought I would write a little about the rumoured Nintendo Switch Pro. Now, I’m not an expert on the subject, and none of my opinions or suggestions should be considered gospel truth. What follows are some thoughts I’ve had since reading the online rumours.
Switch Pro Rumours Â
The internet is filled with rumours regarding a supposed upcoming Nintendo Switch Pro. In the past, I never gave much credence to rumours concerning Nintendo, but due to a large number of recent leaks and rumours that have proven to be accurate, perhaps I’d be wise to pay more attention this time around. Â
The most prominent rumour is that the Switch Pro will have an updated Samsung OLED display with a 720p resolution and the ability to support 4K UHD graphics. Personally, I don’t think native 4K support is a real prospect for a revised Switch system. If Nintendo is going to dabble with 4K, I think they’ll do so by implementing it into a whole new console. But as seen with the New Nintendo 3DS line, Nintendo may seek to provide a new Switch model with modest performance upgrades.
Mistakes that Nintendo must avoid
The mistake Nintendo will be keen to avoid is dividing the Switch userbase. Software compatibility within the Switch family is essential. Even though the Pro may enjoy one or two exclusives, I can’t imagine either Nintendo or other developers abandoning such a large userbase. Rather than produce scores of new exclusive titles, developers could incorporate exclusive Switch Pro features into new and current Switch titles. Imagine Breath of the Wild remaining the same game but updated to take advantage of the consoles upgraded processing and graphical capabilities.
DLSS What?
Regarding 4K upscaling, rumours suggest that the Switch Pro will use NVIDIA DLSS technology. DLSS ( Deep Learning Super Sampling) works by adapting a game’s visuals to look crisper/sharper on higher non-native screens such as 4K UHD TV’s. I’ve spent time watching videos from Digital Foundry on the subject, and even though the tech can produce crisper images on larger displays, I’m not sure it will cause a mass rush of current Switch owners to upgrade. I can see Nintendo gradually replacing the existing Switch with the newer reiteration, similar to how they replaced the original 3DS with the New 3DS. Â
I also think the rumoured upcoming Switch will continue to support current Joycons too. I think it would be foolish for Nintendo to introduce an enhanced Switch that’s incompatible with existing Joycons. I’m convinced that Joycon usage and support will remain as it is. It would be nice, however, if Nintendo could do something about the drifting issue.
Could a Switch Pro be for you?
So, which kind of gamer would seek to purchase a Switch pro on day 1? Will it be a must-buy for the audience at Ladiesgamers? I’m not sure. If you’re primarily a handheld player, then the new, slightly larger and more energy-efficient OLED screen may tempt you to upgrade. The OLED should also provide other minor visual enhancements, such as slightly higher vibrancy of colours. Can you remember the slight difference in colour between the OLED and LCD Vita screens? The irony with Sony is that they replaced the OLED with a slightly inferior LCD. At least if rumours prove to be accurate, Nintendo is switching from LCD to OLED.
But I don’t think LCD to OLED will warrant a day one purchase for many unless you’re bothered by the current model’s bezels. Imagine a Switch screen that makes use of the existing screens outer casing? The more I think about it, especially with a slight GPU and DLSS visual boost, the more enticing it sounds, but not everyone is a tech nut like me.
The Switch Pro will be a tempting proposition for avid TV Mode gamers, especially if they care about frames per second and want that little extra visual fidelity. Saying that, from what I’ve seen of DLSS, I don’t think the improvement will be enough to entice hardcore TV playing graphics fanatics. If this is the case, then I think Nintendo would be wise to concentrate more on enhancing handheld features.Â
What are your thoughts?Â
Interestingly, I asked others via the Ladiesgamers discord about the kind of features they would like to see in an enhanced Switch and our leader Yvonne would like to see a bigger screen and better battery life. And C.J wants to see the return of Streetpass!
C.J’s suggestion intrigues me, for most gamers rattle on about resolution and FPS. Still, a beefer Switch could enable Nintendo to re-introduce additional features that could benefit from better GPU performance. For instance, could they add a new and improved Miiverse to Switch? Could they include chat features from the Nintendo online into the system’s firmware? And even though I didn’t get much use out of Streetpass, many gamers clocked hundreds of hours using that particular function.Â
The team at Ladiesgamers would love to know what you would like out of a Nintendo Switch Pro. Feel free to share your hopes and dreams in the comment section below.
This is Jonah signing off.
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