Gaming giant Nintendo has filed a patent for a new device that appears to be very similar to the Switch.
As reported by Game Rant, Nintendo’s patent comes without an official announcement by the brand, but images show a design that seems very familiar, resembling a Switch. This has led many gamers to wonder if this is the rumored Switch 2, which may be significantly more expensive than the first Switch and split into two separate consoles. The difference between the supposed Switch and Switch 2 is still unclear, with theories and hopes swirling around the upcoming console. Looking at the design however, it seems to be another device that is capable of both handheld and console play.
Nintendo’s New Switch-Like Device Moves Around a Few Buttons
The patent shows a silhouette incredibly similar to that of the Switch, but noticeably without Joy-Cons. The device also has no arrow pad on the left, just a joy-stick. The four face buttons and two shoulder buttons remain present, but the home and screen capture buttons have been moved to the bottom of the device rather than the front; the patent outlines that the former is because players will not need the home button much while they are playing. Also on the bottom is the button is the USB port and the speakers. On the device’s top section, the power and volume buttons have been switched in their positioning, with the power now on the left and the volume on the right. The headphone jack and cartridge slot are still present on the top.
The patent itself mentions other features such as a pressure-sensitive touch screen and a potential input for directional movement, but the reduction in the number of buttons on the device will almost certainly spark discourse among the gaming community. The rumors surrounding the device have already been buzzing for some time now, with a supposedly reputable leak occurring earlier this month; the leak claims that a digital-only model will be $400, while a standard edition will be $50 more. In addition, the leak claims that Nintendo aims to release the device on Sept. 24th, 2024.
Whether this patent actually depicts the Switch 2 is still unclear — but it has fans in a tizzy regardless. With all the theories around the upcoming device being thrown around, it will be exciting to see what exactly Nintendo confirms and when.
Source: Game Rant
