- Pronouns
- they/them
speak for yourself. i worship jeff grubb. not for his insights though, for his fabulous hair
-
Hey everyone, staff have documented a list of banned content and subject matter that we feel are not consistent with site values, and don't make sense to host discussion of on Famiboards. This list (and the relevant reasoning per item) is viewable here.
StarTopic Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (New Staff Post, Please read)
- Thread starter Dakhil
- Start date
HankyPanky
Like Like
well that's the nail in the coffin release this FY or any reveal this year. best bet is sometime around Feburary we get the proper blow-out and confirmed coming with Zelda.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I see what god has done for him and his hair and I want god to do that for me
- Pronouns
- She/Her
manfromthedam
Semi Undercover Game Music Guy
Drake and Metroid Prime in early 2023, Zelda in May? Or Drake in May?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Nah Prime probably isn't being revealed until Prime 4 marketing kicks off. Maybe E3 next year if such a thing exists.
May with Zelda seems like the best bet.
D
Deleted member 887
Guest
Define "early", and how much of this thread do you read? It's my turn to summarize the last 478 pages of speculation thread, but I just wanna know where I stand first, haha
Link_enfant
Fashion Dreamer
- Pronouns
- He/Him
There is still a timeline where Drake releases before Zelda though. Just wondering which game they could push alongside it if that’s the case, but we’ll probably have a January direct for this.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I agree but I couldn't answer you that. Pikmin 4 could work but it's a little niche. If it's announced this year, Fire Emblem is a (distant, unlikely) possibility.
kvetcha
hoopy frood
- Pronouns
- he/him
Last edited:
IamPeacock
Piranha Plant
- Pronouns
- Him / His
I'm leaning towards a March launch. Have Pro/2 a few month of sales, before releasing Zelda 2.
Maybe Pikmin 4 in March, Zelda in May.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Nah I feel like if anything this heavily points to a May launch for both.
May gives them a lot more breathing room in terms of announcement and press events after this holiday is over.
Serif
𝕽𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑
Every day we inch closer to the release of the hardware from the Nvidia leak, which has been worked on for a while. That hardware has to come out at some point, and 6 years after the original Switch seems reasonable.
Bloomberg's reporting of 11 devs + publishers with devkits also implies that release timing cannot be super far, like 2024-2025, that would be a very long time to have devkits. Nate has been corroborating the info about devkits with 4K DLSS for a while.
These are a few of the sources, with the data breach being king, that I stake my faith on for H1 2023.
I personally don't think May is early, but Tears of the Kingdom + Switch Ultra just seems right.
What other hardware launches have happened in May?
I do apologize if my post is viewed as frustrating or an inconvenience but I appreciate that a couple of you are willing to help me understand rather than be dismissive.
I've been in and out as there is a lot of words and sometimes my adhd gets in the way. I've seen some of the posts from a user named polygon but I didn't see everything so I don't know his supposed source. I guess I can make this easier for you and ask if there is a source within a factory or something else?
Oh okay. The Nvidia leak part seems to be something I missed. I think my hesitancy comes from just supply issues that the industry has been dealing with and if Nintendo can overcome that with a new system, ya know? I don't doubt the reporting about devkits. It's such a weird and specific report for me to doubt it lol.
D
Deleted member 1324
Guest
I wasn't insinuating it would replace the native software we currently have but it will surely expand the worldwide gaming audience once someone can buy a controller / HDMI stick and play almost every videogame on the market for a monthly fee. A lot of people will laugh at the idea of paying $300-$500 for a dedicated games console in 2022. I don't like it but that's the way it is unfortunately.
I really enjoyed the Direct... PIKMIN FUCKING 4 OMG lol. It looks glorious, the first visuals from Drake? The PBR shaders, lighting quality, texture / shadow quality and geometry all looked way, way above Pikmin 3 imo of course doable on 2017 Switch but gorgeous on Drake!
YugamiSekai
T239 vs. Picross 4K
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm thinking between the GCN remasters, along with maybe native versions of cloud ports and other various games most likely being made for the system from bigger 3rd party companies, they could probably easily fill up a special Drake direct and that leaves quite a few options to have it's first main launch game, at least until Tears of the Kingdom releases.
Mr Swine
Like Like
- Pronouns
- He
Honestly I don’t see Nintendo doing an early reveal next year. Nintendo will undoubtedly reveal it close to Zelda but will announce and focus on selling an ToTK Oled bundle for one last big push before Drake takes over for the rest of the year.
Hence why no big games where announced at this direct and cloud versions of resident evil games
Hence why no big games where announced at this direct and cloud versions of resident evil games
LobstrsaurusRex
Rattata
I want Drake in May just so I have an excuse to say "It's Dray Day"... I'll see myself out now
Last edited:
Drake in May launched with Zelda is my new dream
The OP probably contains/points to more specifics, but the general gist is that Nvidia got hacked earlier this year, and some of the source code that leaked onto the Internet from that contained (seemingly semi-inadvertently) an in-progress version of a next gen NVN API, as well as some details about the hardware. Few specific details on timeline were included, but what was there seems broadly in alignment with the devkit rumors.
PashArcade
Rattata
- Pronouns
- They
Ah nice, either way I'm glad we don't have to wait all the way for Holiday 2023, my launch Switch is old
So I kinda knew this but I guess I forgot it came from Nvidia's hack somehow. I know there is corroborating information that devkits exist and a rough estimate to the specs are out there that Nate has heard about, but I haven't exactly seen something that would point to an "early" release next year. Is this just an assumption because of Zelda, which is what I would do haha? I'm trying to discern if this is a very educated assumption based on a lot of crumbs or if there is a smoking gun of sorts.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Again, the OP is a trove of good information that will answer your question.
Suffice it to say, Nate and Mochizuki had both heard from developers that the launch window for this was late 2022 to early/H1 2023. The progress of the API supports this window so we've had little reason to doubt it.
The OP is way too busy to keep my attention unfortunately. There is just a lot going on which is why I tried to ask questions that would give me a very dumbed down answer which I've gotten thankfully haha. Like I knew the basics but not all of the nitty gritty stuff, but the answers here have sufficed
.
D
Deleted member 887
Guest
This is true, the OP is very useful but also... very rich in data and highly targeted to the kind of people who already occupy the thread.The OP is way too busy to keep my attention unfortunately. There is just a lot going on which is why I tried to ask questions that would give me a very dumbed down answer which I've gotten thankfully haha. Like I knew the basics but not all of the nitty gritty stuff, but the answers here have sufficed
The problem with summaries is it starts to get opinionated and not everyone agrees with the summary.
Kise Ryota
Then I'll say "I told ya"
I doubt Nintendo's strategy has Zelda and the next Switch tied together. A much better version of the game running on the next hardware would obfuscate sales of the switch version. We can see it with the crossgen games where the PS5's versions have sold much more than PS4's, even with the huge difference in installed base. I believe people in general just prefer to wait until they can get the new hardware so they can play - for the first time - that hyped game with the best quality possible. It's different when you don't have this option (of the game running better elsewhere) and further on arises a new [and much better] way to play that game you loved (be it with the game you have already bought, or even having to buy the "same" game again (and again, and again... GTAV)).
IMO the next hardware doesn't need to be launched with the next Zelda. It will sell great just by the hype of the enthusiasts, be it in the end of 2023 or somewhere in 2024 (the latter being my bet). Nintendo will let Zelda sell the best it can [on the old hardware], without making consumers have to choose between play it on the old hardware or wait until they get the next one. There will be no doubts for consumers because there will be no choices.
Just a fraction of the Switch's users will be able to get a Switch 2 in the first 6 to 12 months. Why make the version they can sell the most (by far) to look so bad (in comparison with the next-gen one) at its release date? I wouldn't do that.
And I didn't even talk about selling an upgraded version of tears of the kingdom for switch 2 yet...
Yes, it's Nintendo. If sony is doing shits like this, I can totally see nintendo doing that too.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I totally know I can be wrong; Nintendo is unpredictable (for the good and the bad). It's my first post here and I know most (or all) of you won't like it at all LMAO
But it's ok.
IMO the next hardware doesn't need to be launched with the next Zelda. It will sell great just by the hype of the enthusiasts, be it in the end of 2023 or somewhere in 2024 (the latter being my bet). Nintendo will let Zelda sell the best it can [on the old hardware], without making consumers have to choose between play it on the old hardware or wait until they get the next one. There will be no doubts for consumers because there will be no choices.
Just a fraction of the Switch's users will be able to get a Switch 2 in the first 6 to 12 months. Why make the version they can sell the most (by far) to look so bad (in comparison with the next-gen one) at its release date? I wouldn't do that.
And I didn't even talk about selling an upgraded version of tears of the kingdom for switch 2 yet...
Yes, it's Nintendo. If sony is doing shits like this, I can totally see nintendo doing that too.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I totally know I can be wrong; Nintendo is unpredictable (for the good and the bad). It's my first post here and I know most (or all) of you won't like it at all LMAO
But it's ok.
HankyPanky
Like Like
i don't feel like BOTW2 being an enhanced title is a big deal for the base version as I don't think it'll look drastically different. plus if there's one SKU it's a safe buy whichever hardware you have. play the enhanced version if and when you upgrade.
to the average person 4k 60fps with a few extra effects, draw distance etc will look much the same as the base game. it's the enthusiast crowd they'll be looking to capture at launch.
to the average person 4k 60fps with a few extra effects, draw distance etc will look much the same as the base game. it's the enthusiast crowd they'll be looking to capture at launch.
Simba1
Bob-omb
Nintendo doesn't care what version of Zelda will sell more (current Switch hardware or next gen Switch hardware), especially because its same game that will work on every Switch unit, but Nintendo care about people pay attention and wanting to buy next gen Switch.
Offcourse that next hardware does not need to be launched with Zelda, but Nintendo always launching new hardware (even more simple revisions like OLED) with some big or bigger game to promote that hardware.
Also, Nintendo launched Wii with Zelda TP, Switch with Zelda BotW, and now are very good chances they launching basically next gen Switch hardware with new Zelda.
New hardware doesn't make current Switch version of game bad, its just mean that new hardware is better place for playing big and new games.
There will not be separate or upgraded version of game with different price point, it will be same game (most likely same cartridge) with difference that game will be changed to work/look better on stronger hardware.
Last edited:
Simba1
Bob-omb
Nate said that Metroid Prime is 2022. games,
with no announcement yet, is it possible that Nintendo pushed Metroid Prime further to be part of Drake "launch" window!?
This is probably the thing I'm most afraid of with Drake. I don't think they would do it for games that release after the system comes out, but I could see them charging a fee for games that release before then. I don't think it's very likely, but it's definitely possible imo
Kise Ryota
Then I'll say "I told ya"
Well, they'll care if consumers aren't able to buy the next hardware because they can't make enough of it. And if a considerable number os consumers choose to wait for that... it will impact the game sales.
I think this one is too early to be so sure.
Kise Ryota
Then I'll say "I told ya"
Yeah, personally I think it's very possible they will sell an upgrade for games released before the hardware. For the other games that will still be cross-gen (releasing on both at the same time), I don't see them doing it.
Serif
𝕽𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖌𝖆𝖉𝖊 𝕬𝖓𝖌𝖊𝖑
Re: charging a fee for upgrades - think it depends how they position it.
As far as I know Sony has never charged for PS4 Pro enhancements, but is charging for some PS5 upgrades. (Don't own either, so I don't know how the upgrades work)
We know from the Nvidia leak that Drake is a next-gen Switch, specs and architecture wise. But if they market it at the beginning as a Switch Ultra (i.e. "Pro" model), joining the Switch family and playing the same games, I don't see them charging. If the whole point of the device is an enhanced Switch, then just take my $450 upfront or whatever, don't ask for more money.
Maybe if they come up front and call it a Switch II then I can see them charging. Still, many Nintendo evergreens are $60, I'm more likely to pay that full price if the upgrade were free tbh.
As far as I know Sony has never charged for PS4 Pro enhancements, but is charging for some PS5 upgrades. (Don't own either, so I don't know how the upgrades work)
We know from the Nvidia leak that Drake is a next-gen Switch, specs and architecture wise. But if they market it at the beginning as a Switch Ultra (i.e. "Pro" model), joining the Switch family and playing the same games, I don't see them charging. If the whole point of the device is an enhanced Switch, then just take my $450 upfront or whatever, don't ask for more money.
Maybe if they come up front and call it a Switch II then I can see them charging. Still, many Nintendo evergreens are $60, I'm more likely to pay that full price if the upgrade were free tbh.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This is extremely unlikely, considering everything we've heard about this device suggests it will be treated like another member of the Switch family and not a next gen product.
If the main purpose of this is to upgrade your existing games to 4k as it seems to be then they will not charge for those upgrades.
Kise Ryota
Then I'll say "I told ya"
Oh, that would make sense indeed. But I don't see a "pro" version coming. For me, it's going to be a next-gen hardware. That's what I believe.
The problem comparing with xbox is that microsoft has to do something different (more "pro consumer") because they are facing a juggernaut (sony). Nintendo has no competition.
Simba1
Bob-omb
I disagree, people that can't buy next gen Switch 1st few months, will simple buy game and play it on Switch hardware they have,
and than later that same game that they bought will be playable on next gen Switch hardware they will maybe buy later.
With infos we have, next gen hardware will be part of same platform not completely separate platform,
same games (at least if we talk about Nintendo) will be released across all Switch devices, so different price point doesnt make too much sense.
Saying that, Sony and MS raised price games for their platforms, there is no guarantees that Nintendo will not do something similar.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Not to reignite this... but there are more choices besides "pro" and "next-gen"
Nate has mentioned that many of his contacts have been told Drake is a Switch. Based on what Nintendo had been saying publicly about their future strategy as far back as 2014 they want to have a single software ecosystem in perpetuity, not separating their consoles into new generations periodically like they used to.
Most of us (I think?) believe that this all indicates that Drake is an iterative upgrade product. As in, it's part of the Switch family like the Lite and OLED model are, but it will have upgraded specs and get exclusive games. In 7 years maybe we'll see a new member of the Switch family, even more upgraded with newer exclusive games.
Basically, the smartphone model for upgrades, just spread out over a longer time period.
D
Deleted member 887
Guest
What is extremely likely is that Nintendo will not set a policy that applies to all publishers on their platform. So it will be up to each dev whether or not you get charged.
What Nintendo does for First Party games will depend on how they position the device, but I suspect that they'll offer a very small number of "Drake enhanced backports" for free early on in the system's life as console sellers, and leave the rest of the backlog untouched.
Also note: I expect that Drake will offer some kind of "boost mode" where some games receive performance improvements without requiring a patch. I expect a number of these to be available day 1, for that list to expand over time, but for it to not cover the whole backlog.
OP
OP
Just to add, probably games running at dynamic resolutions and/or running at unstable frame rates.
Kise Ryota
Then I'll say "I told ya"
Let's agree in disagree here then
I see the switch 2 (next-gen) running the same games from the current one, but with marginal improvements (basically because of stable framerate and fixed resolution). Then we have space for upgrades (free or not) with much better visuals and double the framerate.
I remember what Iwata said in 2014, and I see that not as a smartphone model. He just said that it would be easier [for them] if the next hardware could share code without having to do everything from scratch (ARM vs x86 for example). That's what the next switch will probably be for the first time for them [without having to have the old hardware inside the new one].
But I see you guys have a different view of what's nintendo's strategy for the future. But I have to say I don't believe this is what they will do. Time will tell.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fair enough! We'll see probably relatively soon.
LoneRanger
Chain Chomp
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Prediction time…
Instead of February Direct, we will get an special event revealing next Switch HW. It will be mid february, after FE Engage releases. Details will include
Next Switch HW launching on May 12th with new Zelda.
Pikmin 4 full reveal (late july)
Next Tokyo EPD project (DK or Mario)
Xenoblade 3 expansion
Metroid Prime 1 Remaster + 4 Teaser
RDR2
Borderlands 3
Exclusive Resident Evil + native VII/2R/3R/VIII/4R ports
Howarts Legacy (Switch version release date)
Metro Exodus
Instead of February Direct, we will get an special event revealing next Switch HW. It will be mid february, after FE Engage releases. Details will include
Next Switch HW launching on May 12th with new Zelda.
Pikmin 4 full reveal (late july)
Next Tokyo EPD project (DK or Mario)
Xenoblade 3 expansion
Metroid Prime 1 Remaster + 4 Teaser
RDR2
Borderlands 3
Exclusive Resident Evil + native VII/2R/3R/VIII/4R ports
Howarts Legacy (Switch version release date)
Metro Exodus
My Tulpa
Bob-omb
Its not really “bullshit reasons” though. The reason is they don’t think their game will sell enough to a Nintendo console userbase to bother with porting.
That’s not going to change with Drake, I hope people are prepared for that lol. Drake isn’t going to drastically change the multiplat port landscape for Switch. There will still be cloud releases.
You are right about the “bullshit excuses” though. Those will always happen. Devs and publishers just don’t like admitting their game has probably too low demand…so they come up with every bullshit excuse in the book to avoid saying that.
- Pronouns
- he/him
Has there been much talk of prices? For instance, this next whatever coming in at $350, OLED dropping to $300, and then the OG getting discontinued?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Most of us think it's probably going to be between $399 and $499. I personally don't se a price drop happening for other models.
Last edited by a moderator:
