Despite the many global and economic issues caused by the pandemic, 2020 was an excellent year for Nintendo. After outselling the 3DS and selling over 79 million units, the Switch might just shape up to be one of Nintendo's all-time greats. With the Switch Lite also selling well, the rumors, speculation, and theories surrounding the Nintendo Switch Pro have been at an all-time high.

The Switch Pro is rumored to be announced sometime this year as the more powerful successor to the base Switch model. Specs range on everything from a 7-inch OLED screen to improved processing power and resolution display when connected to the TV docking station. All of the rumors are exciting for Switch owners who are often frustrated by the consistent dipping frame rates and the long load times when compared to Nintendo's console competition with Xbox and PlayStation.

While previously released titles will run and look great, the real excitement comes in the form of the new games coming to the Switch that will take advantage of its hardware. With better hardware comes better games, so plenty of Nintendo fans are waiting on bated breath for any news on the state of the hardware upgrade and its future titles. The lack of any official information, however, might also mean that there's an unforeseen downside that comes along with the Nintendo Switch Pro.

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(Switch) Pros and (Joy) Cons

nintendo switch high production levels

There are really only two options for Nintendo to choose from when deciding how to make games once the Switch Pro releases. One sees all future titles being released for all Switch platforms and the other has the more hardware intensive games coming out as Switch Pro exclusives. Both of these options have their own pros and cons, and it's important to note that there's really no right or wrong answer for which way Nintendo should go.

On one hand, releasing everything everywhere makes a lot of sense. With 2020's huge boom in Switch sales due to the pandemic, plenty of people just dropped more than $300 on a new Nintendo console. Asking consumers to pay a large sum of money again for a functionally similar device just to play the latest games might not go over so well. Yes, there are plenty of excellent games on the Switch already, but not everyone has another $300 to spend on a new Switch. There were similar questions being asked back when Microsoft and Sony revealed the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro, but both companies made it clear that the new consoles would simply be more powerful versions of the base model.

Releasing games on the base model Switch intended to make the most out of the more powerful Switch Pro hardware, however, might not be a great idea. There are already plenty of games that don't run well on the Switch, so publishing even more hardware-demanding games to the platform would likely make the current frustration already felt for the Switch grow even larger. Plenty of studios struggle with cross-console consistency, and when not properly paid attention to, some games just aren't playable on older hardware despite being released on it.

Because of that, it might be the better move for Nintendo to announce exclusive games for the Switch Pro despite the potential negative feedback it might receive. Any ill-will for that would be trumped in comparison to the anger felt by upset consumers over barely playable games.

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Switch Pro Games

Nintendo Switch Pro Exclulsive Games

 

Luckily, whichever way Nintendo chooses to go in terms of Switch Pro games, the games themselves will most likely be held to the high standard that all of its other first-party games consistently meet. New hardware will mean far more possibilities for studios looking to make interesting games on the beefier system. Already, fans have seen what studios are able to do with the new, more advanced hardware on the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. It's likely that game makers are gearing up to capitalize on what the new Switch Pro can do.

There isn't anything particularly mind-blowing about the projected specs for the Switch Pro, but even if all the upgrade did was improve the resolution and make the Switch games run better, most fans would be happy. The Switch is certainly starting to show its age and lack of processing power with games like Persona 5 StrikersLittle Nightmares 2, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World the Game running noticeably better on other platforms. While still playable, the upgrade will allow studios to really bring their A-game to the Switch.

Nintendo is currently set up in an excellent position in terms of game releases for the new console. Just about every single one of its tentpole franchises has been critically and commercially successful releases. Now that it's been several years since the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildMario Odyssey, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate released, fans are greatly anticipating their follow-ups. It's likely that when Nintendo finally officially announces the Switch Pro, it'll also announce a big franchise game to launch with the console. Whether that game will be exclusive to the hardware is still unknown, but only time will tell.

Nintendo Switch Pro is rumored to be in development.

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