For months now, rumors, leak, and credible reports have all said that the Nintendo Switch Pro (or whatever it is officially called) is a real thing. Everything from a potential mention of the Switch Pro's screen by Samsung to purported specs have all been mentioned, all from a variety of sources. Indeed, truly, the only company to not really acknowledge it thus far is Nintendo. In fact, even when recently asked about the rumors, Nintendo gave a very non-committal answer.
Many thought this reveal would happen at E3 (though Nintendo did clarify that it was focusing on software mostly releasing in 2021). Other rumors put the Nintendo Switch Pro reveal as still happening this year, perhaps through another direct or just a surprise tweet out of the blue. Stranger things have happened, but there's a couple reasons why Nintendo may have, or at least should have, decided to wait until 2022 to bring out the Pro.
The Nintendo Switch Pro Has the Perfect Launch Game in 2022
With the Switch Pro's rumored price being in the ballpark area of $399 and the continued dominance of the plain ole Switch and Switch lite on the market, specs alone are not what's going to sell the Switch Pro. Indeed, there will be those who purchase it for the sake of a new, more powerful Switch, but it's going to come down to what it has to offer for that power. And the perfect game to launch alongside the Switch has a release window of 2022, Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.
Whether it's a true Nintendo Switch Pro exclusive or just an upgraded experience, releasing the Switch Pro alongside Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is likely to bump sales significantly. A bundle of the two would practically appeal to all Nintendo fans, so it makes sense to hold its upgraded system for a time when both it and Breath of the Wild 2 are ready.
The Nintendo Switch's Continued Dominance Bides Time
If there's anything to be learned from the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it's that there's a lot of demand but not a lot of supply for tech. Shortages, scalpers, and more have made getting hands on the PS5 and Xbox Series X nearly impossible, and at the same time, the Switch itself has outsold the PS5 and Xbox Series X at nearly every turn. In short, it is inevitable that the launch of the Nintendo Switch Pro will be as troublesome for fans worldwide, but it has one advantage: clearly, there is no reason to rush.
With the Switch's dominance in sales, the Switch Pro isn't something that is needed quite yet (arguably, at least). Biding time, building up consoles and production, and launching it alongside a game as big as a potential Switch upgrade itself will all help that launch in some way. As such, whether or not those rumors and reports were accurate about Nintendo's plans for 2021, it may not take a big push to postpone it a little longer.
The Nintendo Switch Pro has not been officially announced.