Nintendo boss responds to latest Switch Pro reports: ‘We’re always looking at tech’

Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has responded to the latest reports indicating that the company is set to release an upgraded Switch hardware model this year.

Speaking to The Washington Post, the exec emphasised how well the current Switch model is doing in its fifth year, but said that technology advancements were something that the company constantly considered.

“We are always looking at technology and how technology can enhance gameplay experiences. It’s not technology for technology’s sake,” Bowser said.

“It’s how specifically can technology enhance a gameplay experience. And then where do you apply that technology? Do you want to apply it on current existing hardware or platforms, or do you want to wait for the next platform? And then what’s the right gameplay experience with that? There’s a host of factors that goes into it, and it’s something we’re always looking at.”

The US president’s comments follow a recent Bloomberg report claiming that the company intends to imminently announce a new model for Switch.

Last month the publication claimed the redesigned hardware will retail for over $299, replace the existing flagship model, and release “in September or October”. Bloomberg also claimed the new Switch could be announced ahead of last week’s digital E3 show, but no such news arrived.

The upcoming Switch hardware update – dubbed ‘Switch Pro’ by analysts – will reportedly feature Nvidia’s DLSS technology and an improved screen.

According to another recent Bloomberg report, Switch Pro will include a new 7-inch Samsung OLED screen, as opposed to the 6.2-inch and 5.5-inch LCD screens of the current standard model and the Switch Lite respectively.

In the Washington Post interview, America boss Bowser highlighted the upcoming slate of games and the diverse audiences they would cater to.

“As we enter into our fifth year, Nintendo Switch really is redefining what a console life cycle can look like, and the vibrancy of that overall life cycle with a strong cadence of content,” Bowser said.

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The exec also pointed to how the company is looking to expand with partnerships outside of video games, such as the recent Japanese theme park launch with Universal Studios.

“We view ourselves as an entertainment company that is focused on very unique entertainment experiences,” Bowser said.

“At the hub of that is our integrated hardware and software model, and that model has allowed us over decades to generate the characters, the deeply immersive worlds in the IP we all know and love so well, but we also know that there’s an opportunity to introduce more people to that IP now.”