Nintendo Switch 4K may still be on the way

One expert believes the OLED model is a stepping stone to 4K.

Georgia Dixon
Jul 09, 2021
Icon Time To Read1 min read
Nintendo Switch Pro

Nintendo bamboozled us all when yesterday, instead of the long-rumoured Nintendo Switch 4K (or Nintendo Switch Pro, Super Nintendo Switch, New Nintendo Switch, Switch Pro Max, whatever you want to call it), they dropped the far less exciting Nintendo Switch OLED model. Aside from its larger OLED display, new ethernet port, larger internal storage and larger kickstand, it's basically the same Switch we all know and love. So, what gives?

Well, after months of chatting to "people familiar with the matter", all of whom claimed we'd be getting exciting new additions like 4K TV output and a NVIDIA DLSS chip by the end of the year, Bloomberg spoke to industry analyst Serkan Toto to find out what's actually going on.

Unsurprisingly, it looks like Nintendo wasn't immune to the ongoing chip shortages affecting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 30 series.

“This new Switch looks more like an interim model than a real upgrade to me,” Toto told Bloomberg. “This might just be a dummy upgrade until Breath Of The Wild 2 is ready and the component shortage is over next year.”

Hopefully this means a Nintendo Switch 4K model is still on the horizon, however, fans may be waiting a lot longer than originally anticipated to get their hands on a suped-up Switch. Breath of the Wild 2* is slated for release in 2022, so conservatively speaking, that's the earliest we'll see a Pro model.

In the meantime, we've put together a list of everything we want in the next-gen Switch, so here's hoping the next announcement - whenever it may be - will introduce more than just a new display.

*Speaking of Breath of the Wild 2, I urge you to check out this amazing fan-made version created by a guy who simply couldn't wait for the real thing.

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Georgia Dixon
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Georgia Dixon has 10 years of experience writing about all things tech, entertainment and lifestyle. She spends most of her time as Managing Editor of SafeWise Australia and also has bylines on 7NEWS, Stuff.co.nz, in TechLife magazine and more. In 2023 she won Best News Writer at the Consensus IT Awards, and in 2024 she was a finalist for Best News Journalist at the Samsung IT Journalism Awards (The Lizzies). In her spare time, you'll find her playing games and daydreaming about good food, wine, and dogs.