Nintendo's Furukawa Refutes Switch 2 Developer Briefings and Multi-Screen Patent Speculations
Nintendo President Refutes Switch 2 Rumors
In the swirling sea of speculation about the future of Nintendo's hardware, President Shuntaro Furukawa has firmly denied that the company briefed developers on a so-called "Switch 2," and he has also refuted the significance of a recently uncovered multi-screen patent. This statement comes as a direct contradiction to earlier reports from Eurogamer and Video Games Chronicle (VGC), which cited sources claiming insider knowledge of Nintendo's plans.
The rumors gained traction when documents revealed during the US Federal Trade Commission's legal proceedings against Microsoft alluded to discussions between Activision Blizzard and Nintendo about forthcoming console plans.
However, in a private earnings call reported by Japan's Mainichi newspaper, Furukawa labeled these reports as "inaccurate."
The notion of a multi-screen handheld device, spurred by a Nintendo patent application, has also been downplayed by Furukawa. He indicated that the details within the patent do not necessarily correlate to a new product in development, calming the waters of speculation about an imminent dual-screened device (not that anyone thought that it was legitimately the direction Nintendo was going to be taking the Switch 2 anyways...).
While Nintendo traditionally stays silent on rumors, it's notable when the company takes a stand, especially considering it has previously denied reports that were later confirmed. For instance, prior to the official announcement of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Switch OLED bundle, Nintendo remained mum despite widespread conjecture.
Further fueling the conversation, many have stated that development kits for a new Switch model have been sent to select partners, with whispers of a launch as soon as the second half of 2024. Dr. Serkan Toto, a reputable industry consultant based in Tokyo, suggested that given the projected decline in hardware and software sales for the current Switch model, a new hardware launch within the next two years would be a logical move for the gaming giant.
As the industry awaits Nintendo's next steps, the company has something to celebrate with the Switch surpassing 132 million units in lifetime sales, a figure that reflects its enduring popularity. While Nintendo's official stance on the next console remains a mystery, this denial might just be another instance of the company's tight-lipped approach to unreleased products... Because let's be honest - The Nintendo Switch 2 is already the industry's worst-kept secret.
~Smash
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