Nintendo Switch Pro release date rumours: Latest news and features

By Joe Julians

Published: Tuesday, 21 December 2021 at 12:00 am

Just what is happening with the Nintendo Switch Pro console? The upgraded version of the popular gaming hardware that is said to run in shiny 4K was hotly rumoured but then along came the new OLED model instead! But could the Nintendo Switch Pro still be coming?

Nintendo released the OLED on 8th October 2021 and it joined the original Nintendo Switch console that launched four years ago. The smaller Switch Lite came sandwiched in between the two. There’s no shortage of Switch consoles to choose from, then.

Sony’s PS5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X launched in 2020 and both of those consoles have speedy SSD storage and stunning 4K graphics so to keep up with the competition it makes sense for Nintendo to release its own powerful new machine to keep up with the curve. There are still plenty of rumours and leaks but nothing concrete about it has emerged and considering we have only just got the OLED, that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

Check out our Nintendo Switch OLED review if you want to know whether that is worth an upgrade to.

But what about the Pro?

Nintendo Switch Pro release date

The Nintendo Switch Pro release date is yet to be confirmed, with Nintendo not even confirming the console’s existence in the public sphere.

The Nintendo Switch OLED console arrived on 8th October, but alas it was not the Pro – it doesn’t have 4K support or a new processor. We had hoped for news at E3 2021 but Nintendo Direct came and went with nada to report Pro-wise!

So as it stands, Nintendo Switch hasn’t announced or confirmed a Switch Pro console. The higher-ups in Nintendo have also avoided answering the question when pushed for a release date.

What we do know is Nintendo recently confirmed the current console is “mid-way” through its life cycle. As the original Switch console is four years old now, that had people thinking we’d have longer to wait.

A report from Bloomberg claimed that Nintendo intends to begin assembling the upgraded Switch consoles this month, with a view to selling them from September or October 2021 onwards. That now looks like it was OLED rather than the Pro.

In short, we have nothing concrete to tell us that a Pro version of the Switch is coming now. There is a strong chance that it never was and it was always the OLED that the leaks were about. And given the chip shortage situation with new consoles, we can’t see that pushing the Pro up Nintendo’s priority list – for now at least.

Nintendo Switch Pro price

With no official release date there’s no confirmed price yet. With the OLED costing $349.99 and £309.99 in the UK, we’d say expect a price increase. The new model would have better hardware and performance and be seen as the premium model.

Bloomberg Intelligence predicted that the Nintendo Switch Pro could get closer to the $400 mark. “I still think Nintendo can drive strong demand even at $399.99,” analyst Matthew Kanterman said. He’s not the only one guessing that’s the price point either. Watch this space should the console ever come to light.

Nintendo Switch Pro specs

There have been several reports on what to expect from the Nintendo Switch Pro and many think that even with the new OLED model it is still coming. Most push for support for 4K resolution, even more so now the OLED model doesn’t, and a better battery is also expected.

The current Switch has 32GB storage, the OLED 64GB. The battery life has already been improved on the Switch from 6.5 hours to 9 in the last update too.

Dataminer @SciresM claimed to have found a firmware update with more details suggesting the Pro would have the same processor, but the chipset would give higher performances by using higher clocking speeds and a better cooling system. They also said there would be a new-look, OLED display and 4k in docked mode.

We have no idea how true this is, but it gives you an idea of what sort of leaks and expectations there are.

OatmealDome, a known data-miner, found evidence of a new Switch dock that will support 4K visuals. That rumour seems to be backed up by Animal Crossing World, a fan-run website that spotted some recent Animal Crossing screenshots, posted by Nintendo, that appeared to be taken in 4K resolution.

The new console will keep the dual-gaming function that the Switch is famous for, allowing you to play games on your TV or in a handheld fashion.

The general assumption is that the Nintendo Switch Pro will work better and faster than its predecessor, whichever mode you choose to play your games in. Some fans are hoping that extra-speedy SSD storage might be included, allowing the console to cut down dramatically on loading times.