StarTopic Future Nintendo Hardware & Technology Speculation & Discussion |ST| (Read the staff posts before commenting!)

[Skittzo]

at least from my news feed

What news feed? All his posts are still up in this thread.

 

[ILikeFeet]

See my last post. You’re likely very wrong.

I feel like your take is more based on assumptions rather than anything concrete since this is probably the first time Nintendo will be doing anything like this

Wait, so why would Nintendo release Drake and a new OLED model so close to each other?

they done it before, so I wouldn't be shocked to see them do it again

Irony will be when DF says the game looks and runs up to standard but announces drops to 720p in docked mode which will cause uproar.

footage looks amazing
"is this drake footage!?"

DF says it's actually 720p
"meh the game never looked that great"

 

[iNess]

For me, the biggest clue to the future of Nintendo is its Twitter banner on the official Japanese account.

https://twitter.com/Nintendo/header_photo

I will go against the recent statements of the DF, the so-called Nvidia leaks, and since they are trying to force a fake news as real, if they focus on the Tegra T239, it would be a SOM or, for the forum, a SoC that is finishing testing in the Today to enter production in factories, some say that the OLED was going to have this chip, if that were the case, it was impossible to launch the OLED in 2021 with a chip that has not yet entered mass production in 2022. In that case, it would be that Nintendo advance a revision without its core that was not ready yet? If we focus on the year 2020, it was a year in which, due to sanitary measures, many facilities were closed for a long time. In the case of video game development, they focused on teleworking to navigate the temporary closures in the offices, but it is possible that the Investigation and development of Nintendo saw its activities suspended almost entirely, since taking a laboratory home is delicate, what this team should have done is the Investigation part, and the development postponed. In the research part, it is normal to test various parts, including various processors, and I think perhaps from various companies.

Anyone who knows business knows that no company limits itself in commercial agreements and even more so when you are the one who buys the parts, so it is not impossible to change the manufacturer of the GPU.

Therefore, the development of the tangible successor console should have been directly affected by the sanitary measures, hence the benefit in sales has allowed Nintendo to conveniently extend the life of Switch. And for me the OLED was always planned as a revision that improves the screen, sound and connectivity. There is something I call the convergence moment that Xbox has already started and that Nintendo may choose to follow soon, and that is the distribution of its software without a tangible Nintendo-branded processing system, in other words the sale of a service with a controller.

 

[Josh5890]

As far as timing goes, I think we will have a good idea of when to expect the Drake by April's financial report. Nintendo will probably announce by then if the new system is releasing in 2023 or early 2024

 

[ArchedThunder]

Speaking of Zelda ports and remasters, WWHD and TPHD would be some good early cross gen titles. Direct ports on regular Switch, 4k/60fps on Switch 2, maybe with some extra enhancements like higher res shadows and pushed put draw distance.

 

[ILikeFeet]

As far as timing goes, I think we will have a good idea of when to expect the Drake by April's financial report. Nintendo will probably announce by then if the new system is releasing in 2023 or early 2024

why not just wait until E3. especially with the show's big comeback

Speaking of Zelda ports and remasters, WWHD and TPHD would be some good early cross gen titles. Direct ports on regular Switch, 4k/60fps on Switch 2, maybe with some extra enhancements like higher res shadows and pushed put draw distance.

if they're gonna use something to tout the virtues of the new hardware, I think they should do more. Twilight Princess could be completely relit for example

 

[Dakhil]

The way MS and Sony do it is pretty much exactly what we expect though. Full BC with select games getting enhancement patches (Paid or free, the method is irrelevant).

Almost full backwards compatibility, to be technically correct, since there are some PlayStation 4 games that don't work on the PlayStation 5, but only on the PlayStation 4 (same deal with Xbox One games with respect to the Xbox Series X|S).

 

[Brofield]

* Hidden text: cannot be quoted. *

Hope springs eternal

Finally, I don't know why a lot of people expected a Q1 Switch 2/Pro release when barely any reputable sites discuss the possible or have info surrounding it.

For me, I was expecting/hoping for another release outside the holiday period just because it might have been that little bit easier to acquire. Sure, Switch was selling out in March/April/May 2017 regardless, but at least it was just enthusiasts who could get their hands on one, rather than fight with parents at Black Friday trying to get one for their little Jimmy or Sally for the holidays.

I can't be dropping CAD$600+ on myself in November when I gotta be worried about Christmas gifts for other people in that same time frame. Means I'm gonna be likely missing out on the features I want to see on Switch 2 until March 2024 anyways. My patience waiting for new hardware has run thin but I'm going to be insufferable being on the outside looking in if it launches when I'll have next to no money for myself.

 

[Skittzo]

Just for the sake of covering all bases, is there anything in those leaked images that suggests it might be faked in some way? From a cursory glance it looks legit but we've had extremely high effort fakes before.

Grinch leak comes to mind.

 

[ArchedThunder]

Almost full backwards compatibility, to be technically correct, since there are some PlayStation 4 games that don't work on the PlayStation 5, but only on the PlayStation 4 (same deal with Xbox One games with respect to the Xbox Series X|S).

I think you can reasonably call this full BC. The only Xbox titles that aren’t BC are Kinect titles, not sure what the deal is with those PS4 ones though.

why not just wait until E3. especially with the show's big comeback


if they're gonna use something to tout the virtues of the new hardware, I think they should do more. Twilight Princess could be completely relit for example

I was just going with the idea of them being easy titles for them to release. If they did more significant changes I’d want WW to also be relit to look more like the original.

 

[Josh5890]

why not just wait until E3. especially with the show's big comeback

Two things

1. As excited as I am to see E3 return properly, I'll believe it when I see it.

2. I don't expect a blow out in April. It would probably be like April 2016 when Nintendo said "we are launching the new system with Zelda in March 2017. Please be excited."

 

[Tentacle-tropes]

Speaking of Zelda ports and remasters, WWHD and TPHD would be some good early cross gen titles. Direct ports on regular Switch, 4k/60fps on Switch 2, maybe with some extra enhancements like higher res shadows and pushed put draw distance.

I would also say a touch up on certain textures & effects. Some places look a little crusty still.

 

[Paxie]

Thinking about it, now that we know H1 2023 is completely off the table, what about the devs who were told about the 2022/2023 launch? Are they just fucked?

 

[DariliumA]

Just for the sake of covering all bases, is there anything in those leaked images that suggests it might be faked in some way? From a cursory glance it looks legit but we've had extremely high effort fakes before.

Grinch leak comes to mind.

Font seems off and it uses the only artwork released while other special editions have often had different artworks used. Other than that, nothing.

 

[Josh5890]

I think you can reasonably call this full BC. The only Xbox titles that aren’t BC are Kinect titles, not sure what the deal is with those PS4 ones though.

I was just going with the idea of them being easy titles for them to release. If they did more significant changes I’d want WW to also be relit to look more like the original.

IMO 99% backwards compatibility is good enough for me. I'm pretty sure that therehasalways been one or two stragglers over the course of time with each system.

 

[Raccoon]

Thinking about it, now that we know H1 2023 is completely off the table, what about the devs who were told about the 2022/2023 launch? Are they just fucked?

they're fucked but with covid I personally doubt it will negatively affect nintendo's third party relationships

especially since developers probably knew long before we did. think about how all the murmurs about this this dried up and when. I could be misremembering but I'd say it's been dead for almost a year now, no?

 

[Chijin_08]

Could Nintendo still release Drake next year even with a SE OLED? Also, Is it true that Switch v2 is being discontinued?

Again maybe holiday 2023 if I’m being really optimistic but my personal belief is march 2024

 

[Raccoon]

In what way did they try the an iPhone model? In what way are they doubling down on gens? Sony said there were gens too & had to walk back that statement really quick.

I was making the big assumption that whatever was meant to be this year would've been "iPhone-like" and whatever we get in 2024/2025 will be "PS5-like"

It's more that Iwata's talk about a phone model was taken as gospel and not just executive jargon used for the sake of comparison, Switch still has 4 separate models to choose from that launched across 6-7 years

this is a good point too. if we get a super cheap TV model late next year switch will definitely qualify as family-like

The way MS and Sony do it is pretty much exactly what we expect though. Full BC with select games getting enhancement patches (Paid or free, the method is irrelevant).

They did? A mid gen revision is not the iPhone model. It's what they've done with all of their handhelds in the past.

Again just speaking from a technological perspective there is no way forward- if they want BC- than to enact Iwata's plan. It simply isn't technically possible.

maybe I have a different conception of what "iPhone model" entails or, more likely, a misunderstanding of what current consoles offer. I'll try not to approach the subject again

 

[ILikeFeet]

I was just going with the idea of them being easy titles for them to release. If they did more significant changes I’d want WW to also be relit to look more like the original.

I'd rather just take a straight port of the Wii U version then. I don't like the GCN look

 

[Brofield]

The sequel for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is now in development for the Nintendo Switch family of systems

There will be no Switch 2 prior to 2029. There will be no Switch 2 ever.

/s just in case; I just needed this out of my system

 

[ArchedThunder]

I'd rather just take a straight port of the Wii U version then. I don't like the GCN look

Icky, WWHD ruined the aesthetic.

 

[Skittzo]

Font seems off and it uses the only artwork released while other special editions have often had different artworks used. Other than that, nothing.

Hmmm the artwork is an interesting point. If someone had access to a box that had new screenshots, which I'm sure a real TotK SE would have, why would they not also share those screenshots?

Could be a demo box or something I guess. Not the final version of the box.

 

[Raccoon]

There will be no Switch 2 prior to 2029. There will be no Switch 2 ever.

there are a myriad of technical leaks that indicate that won't be the case but this is what I was hoping for

a ten year switch dynasty with one spec bump somewhere in the middle then something totally different. VR? AR? something I could never conceive? instead we're stuck talking about the switch withering away like usual then being replaced with the same sequels (or in the case of mario kart, maybe another port!), and the whole nintendo machine plodding along forever like this

I sometimes forget that I'm 22, but moments like this remind me how limited my perspective is. maybe following nintendo news was always going to be something I did pretty much once and then left behind as it repeated itself. it's been a pretty heavy week

 

[Goodtwin]

he big elephant in the room is still the proven existence and status of T239 which very much feels locked for a 2023 release.

Nvidia had their Shield TV equipped with the Tegra X1 in 2015, probably the first product to use it. Then Google Pixel C early 2016. The Tegra X1 had been produced nearly two years before Switch released. Everything surrounding Drake and it being the processor could very well be spot it, but its simply our timeline is out of line. Perhaps development kits start rolling out early 2023 with first half 2024 release target. I cant lie, I am still hoping for a Switch 2 launch at the same time as Zelda TotK, but if that doesn't happen TotK will still be a great game and will likely be the pinnacle of what the Switch can pull off.

 

[Raccoon]

Hmmm the artwork is an interesting point. If someone had access to a box that had new screenshots, which I'm sure a real TotK SE would have, why would they not also share those screenshots?

Could be a demo box or something I guess. Not the final version of the box.

I think this could very well be the final box. Splatoon 3's box only has some key art and basic background patterns, showing very little about the actual game it's themed around




This is for the best I feel because the special editions don't come with the game.

In fact, I remarked a little while ago that May 12 was two weeks after the start of Golden Week, an appealing sales time for Nintendo. Guess when the Splatoon 3 OLED came out...

 

[ReddDreadtheLead]

Sure but this would essentially be a philosophy change, not just changing some plans.

It would suck too.

That’s exactly my point.

Likely two things happened here:

A) people vastly misunderstood what Iwata was talking about as meaning or implying something else(Smartphone model) and they meant something much simpler.

• Have an account system for future systems
• Ensure that software purchased on one system can be played another system with little to no issue
• Streamline development pipeline to focus on an architecture that is similar and can make adjustment from one to another in case of a position of a failure to be much easier and quicker to implement for their development teams, aka flexibility.
• Reduce chances of a software drought, aka the N64 is a prime example, and thus ensuring playerbase remains active.

This of course has nothing to do with a Smartphone model or some iterative model, it has all to do with how they can take and deliver goods to the consumer with this new development platform that they dubbed internally as NX going forward. This is not that different from the PlayStation or the Xbox, so basically Nintendo is following the Xbox/PlayStation model of forward compatibility with software and backwards compatibility with software, while also looking for ease of development that those platforms have for developers and give flexibility mostly to their first party studios and third parties can benefit by extension of this flexibility. The partnership with DeNA is still working out and the account system is what is going forward.


TL;DR people interpreted something completely wrong about the plan from 2014, Iwata’s Manifesto is still currently in motion and currently in effect. Nothing has changed, but people greatly misunderstood it.



Or

B) nintendo decided midway that the original plan that Satoru Iwata had for the NX platform was not really viable in the current market and so they shifted to have a more traditional cycle of console release with a current state of affairs. A cycle that likely happened around 2019/2020 for their decisions of future iterations of the platform. As a result, what we see now is something that is completely different from what Iwata said of some smart phone model and its compatibility with software. So while it is whack in this case, Nintendo reevaluated their own options, and sought a different approach of doing it, and basically emulated and/or copied from someone else a successful method for their own purposes. IOS/AND was the example that they were looking for, but is no longer viable, considering that the development of new hardware at a quicker cadence is actually expensive and getting even more expensive on top of that, it would make it more difficult and more confusing not only for the third parties but also consumers.


TL;DR Nintendo midway shifted their whole focus and discarded Iwata’s plan. This is now Furukawa’s Manifesto and he’s running the show how he wants it and how he sees it as appropriate.





I’m gonna let you decide which is the one they chose or which is what happened because I’m pretty sure that what happen is that people greatly misunderstood everything that Satoru Iwata said almost a decade ago. And I’m gonna get a comment about how that’s not true, but there’s literally more supporting the contrary that they’re following the smart phone model or anything like that, there’s more supporting they are following something that is eerily similar to how PlayStation/Xbox model of forward and backwards compatibility compatibility of software and flexibility of development and ease of adjustment at times. All with an account system. Like those other consoles.

 

[Deleted member 2]

For me, the biggest clue to the future of Nintendo is its Twitter banner on the official Japanese account.

https://twitter.com/Nintendo/header_photo

I will go against the recent statements of the DF, the so-called Nvidia leaks, and since they are trying to force a fake news as real, if they focus on the Tegra T239, it would be a SOM or, for the forum, a SoC that is finishing testing in the Today to enter production in factories, some say that the OLED was going to have this chip, if that were the case, it was impossible to launch the OLED in 2021 with a chip that has not yet entered mass production in 2022. In that case, it would be that Nintendo advance a revision without its core that was not ready yet? If we focus on the year 2020, it was a year in which, due to sanitary measures, many facilities were closed for a long time. In the case of video game development, they focused on teleworking to navigate the temporary closures in the offices, but it is possible that the Investigation and development of Nintendo saw its activities suspended almost entirely, since taking a laboratory home is delicate, what this team should have done is the Investigation part, and the development postponed. In the research part, it is normal to test various parts, including various processors, and I think perhaps from various companies.

Anyone who knows business knows that no company limits itself in commercial agreements and even more so when you are the one who buys the parts, so it is not impossible to change the manufacturer of the GPU.

Therefore, the development of the tangible successor console should have been directly affected by the sanitary measures, hence the benefit in sales has allowed Nintendo to conveniently extend the life of Switch. And for me the OLED was always planned as a revision that improves the screen, sound and connectivity. There is something I call the convergence moment that Xbox has already started and that Nintendo may choose to follow soon, and that is the distribution of its software without a tangible Nintendo-branded processing system, in other words the sale of a service with a controller.

hol up

 

[Skittzo]

I think this could very well be the final box. Splatoon 3's box only has some key art and basic background patterns, showing very little about the actual game it's themed around




This is for the best I feel because the special editions don't come with the game.

In fact, I remarked a little while ago that May 12 was two weeks after the start of Golden Week, an appealing sales time for Nintendo. Guess when the Splatoon 3 OLED came out...

Ah interesting. I actually haven't bought a special edition for a long time (probably not since the Pikachu yellow GBC???) so I didn't realize they don't usually come with screenshots. Makes sense when they aren't paired with the game, as you said.

 

[Derachi]

I just woke up

lmao are you kidding me

 

[Brofield]

there are a myriad of technical leaks that indicate that won't be the case but this is what I was hoping for

a ten year switch dynasty with one spec bump somewhere in the middle then something totally different. VR? AR? something I could never conceive? instead we're stuck talking about the switch withering away like usual then being replaced with the same sequels (or in the case of mario kart, maybe another port!), and the whole nintendo machine plodding along forever like this

I sometimes forget that I'm 22, but moments like this remind me how limited my perspective is. maybe following nintendo news was always going to be something I did pretty much once and then left behind as it repeated itself. it's been a pretty heavy week

Yeah, I get it.

A ten year Switch Dynasty, but with new hardware that had absolutely no crossgen games...why would Nintendo shoot themselves in the foot like that? Do they up and expect 110+ million existing Switch owners to upgrade at the drop of a hat? That user base doesn't evolve overnight, and yet I think we all have a right to be wary over watching the Switch suddenly fall off a cliff like the Wii when 3rd parties are simply unable to focus resources on porting games that will not run on the Switch as is while the XSX and PS5 come into their own. I've already come to accept that Gamecube is never coming to Switch via NSO with it's current power, and I'd sooner hope for a remaster of Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg coded by Yuji Naka himself behind bars as opposed to Chibi Robo being resurrected as a full-price remake.

I still forget at 31 and even with the benefit of hindsight, I keep making the mistake that Nintendo will be a little more forthright and predictable I swear they could find a happy balance between announcing games two months out or 6 years away, but here we are.

I'll still probably follow the thread like the dad from Coraline, but at least I have a personal deadline for when I will mute this thread in its entirety for what little sanity I have remaining.

 

[ShaunSwitch]

I want to do a little logic experiment for those interested, I will preface this by saying that I am neither here nor there with regards to believing switch will launch H1 2023, I feel any release schedule between H1 2023 and Q3 2024 is possible at this point, it's very difficult to call with all the information we have, but I will say I think dismissing H1 2023 at this point is premature.

The logic experiment is simple. If we didn't have this TotK OLED leak, and Nintendo did a switch 2 presentation IN February, complete with V2 being discontinued and OLED being price dropped would you dismiss the possibility of a TotK edition OLED?

The reason I ask is that a last hurrah special edition is a great way to clear a bunch of Mariko components to a demographic who are not interested in the latest and greatest. If the OLED were to occupy a position £100 cheaper than Drake, it would still be an attractive proposition to non enthusiasts for a period of time and gives Nintendo time to clear stock whilst ramping up drake production. Its only the fact we have the OLED leak now rather than later that is causing people to dismiss a drake launch close to the special edition, I also have an arguably worse example.

Limited Edition Smash 3DS XL Announced August 13th 2014, Release October 3rd 2014.

New Nintendo 3DS Announced 29th August 2014, Released October 11th Japan.

Nintendo announced superior 3ds hardware mere days before the release of special edition smash 3ds hardware. August 29th was a Friday, Two weeks earlier Reggie states that Nintendo had no new plans for 3ds hardware at this time, for some it was probably too late to cancel pre orders, but I'd argue special editions target a different demographic anyway if it weren't for one issue.

For those who have played smash, how much do you use the C stick? Smash 3ds did not support the circle pad Pro on the original 3ds, it was only supported on the new 3ds using the little rubber nub. The game also had better load times and connectivity on the new hardware.

You may argue this situation is significantly different because it was a mid gen refresh but if you are also suggesting drake will have no Nintendo exclusives in the first two years then the situations are comparable.

What I am suggesting is that anything can realistically happen right now, so it's too early to dismiss a drake reveal early next year. I think I have illustrated Nintendos decision making is less than transparent, whilst I don't see Switch 2 having a 2 week gap between reveal and release, I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed shortly before or after the TotK OLED.

Only Nintendo knows what the plan is and why they are making the decisions that they are, but it sure is fun speculating on their decision making process and we are in for one hell of a Ride over the next 6 months.

 

[ReddDreadtheLead]

* Hidden text: cannot be quoted. *

Plot twist: it doesn’t

 

[Nintendojitsu]

Requiem for a dream never hit so hard.

 

[ILikeFeet]

Plot twist: it doesn’t

Nvidia's influence is too strong

 

[Skittzo]

I want to do a little logic experiment for those interested, I will preface this by saying that I am neither here nor there with regards to believing switch will launch H1 2023, I feel any release schedule between H1 2023 and Q3 2024 is possible at this point, it's very difficult to call with all the information we have, but I will say I think dismissing H1 2023 at this point is premature.

The logic experiment is simple. If we didn't have this TotK OLED leak, and Nintendo did a switch 2 presentation IN February, complete with V2 being discontinued and OLED being price dropped would you dismiss the possibility of a TotK edition OLED?

The reason I ask is that a last hurrah special edition is a great way to clear a bunch of Mariko components to a demographic who are not interested in the latest and greatest. If the OLED were to occupy a position £100 cheaper than Drake, it would still be an attractive proposition to non enthusiasts for a period of time and gives Nintendo time to clear stock whilst ramping up drake production. Its only the fact we have the OLED leak now rather than later that is causing people to dismiss a drake launch close to the special edition, I also have an arguably worse example.

Limited Edition Smash 3DS XL Announced August 13th 2014, Release October 3rd 2014.

New Nintendo 3DS Announced 29th August 2014, Released October 11th Japan.

Nintendo announced superior 3ds hardware mere days before the release of special edition smash 3ds hardware. August 29th was a Friday, Two weeks earlier Reggie states that Nintendo had no new plans for 3ds hardware at this time, for some it was probably too late to cancel pre orders, but I'd argue special editions target a different demographic anyway if it weren't for one issue.

For those who have played smash, how much do you use the C stick? Smash 3ds did not support the circle pad Pro on the original 3ds, it was only supported on the new 3ds using the little rubber nub. The game also had better load times and connectivity on the new hardware.

You may argue this situation is significantly different because it was a mid gen refresh but if you are also suggesting drake will have no Nintendo exclusives in the first two years then the situations are comparable.

What I am suggesting is that anything can realistically happen right now, so it's too early to dismiss a drake reveal early next year. I think I have illustrated Nintendos decision making is less than transparent, whilst I don't see Switch 2 having a 2 week gap between reveal and release, I wouldn't be surprised if it was revealed shortly before or after the TotK OLED.

Only Nintendo knows what the plan is and why they are making the decisions that they are, but it sure is fun speculating on their decision making process and we are in for one hell of a Ride over the next 6 months.

While you're right of course that anything can happen, I think the major issue with launching a new console at the same time as a special edition right now would be the shipping and supply logistics.

Nintendo has become pretty efficient at cutting down on shipping costs, which is why they usually wind up shipping multiple products at once (i.e. amiibos along with games completely unrelated to that amiibo). I find it unlikely that they'd intentionally raise their shipping costs or handicap the amount they can ship of the new console by also at the same time shipping a bunch of special edition OLED models. Unless the amount of the latter is so small as to not make an appreciable difference.

Interesting thought experiment though.

 

[Serif]

Just woke up.

Finally a special edition for an OLED that I want, gonna be lame to only own it for like several months to a year until Switch 2 is out. That's just how it rolls I guess. Teetering on the edge of buying this to replace my launch unit.

Knowing about Drake is a curse.

 

[NintenDuvo]

Darn it so does this mean the tears of the kingdom OlED is the one the funcle mentioned going into production?

 

[ShaunSwitch]

While you're right of course that anything can happen, I think the major issue with launching a new console at the same time as a special edition right now would be the shipping and supply logistics.

Nintendo has become pretty efficient at cutting down on shipping costs, which is why they usually wind up shipping multiple products at once (i.e. amiibos along with games completely unrelated to that amiibo). I find it unlikely that they'd intentionally raise their shipping costs or handicap the amount they can ship of the new console by also at the same time shipping a bunch of special edition OLED models. Unless the amount of the latter is so small as to not make an appreciable difference.

Interesting thought experiment though.

You raise a good point, I wish we had special edition total shipment volumes to get an idea how many they do move. With it being limited edition the name itself implies volumes are limited.

I don't believe Nintendo will immediately stop production of OLED models immediately once Drake units are being manufactured. I think they will continue manufacturing them for however long it takes to ramp up drake manufacturing. So here I would argue whats the difference if the boxes on the container are for regular OLED models or Special edition OLED models? Drake is going to be heavily supply constrained in the first three months regardless of shipping I think.

 

[the_marmolade]

People who are disappointed with Zelda OLED I wouldn't be so down 2023 is the prime time we hear information on the next Nintendo Console from multiple outlets and journalists as Dev would need to get hands-on with the kit for the late 2023/2024 launch.

 

[Skittzo]

You raise a good point, I wish we had special edition total shipment volumes to get an idea how many they do move. With it being limited edition the name itself implies volumes are limited.

I don't believe Nintendo will immediately stop production of OLED models immediately once Drake units are being manufactured. I think they will continue manufacturing them for however long it takes to ramp up drake manufacturing. So here I would argue whats the difference if the boxes on the container are for regular OLED models or Special edition OLED models? Drake is going to be heavily supply constrained in the first three months regardless of shipping I think.

It depends on what the bottleneck is, manufacturing or shipping. Considering how long they've had to plan for it I'm not sure if I'd assume manufacturing would be the bottleneck, but maybe that's unavoidable.

It's an interesting thought.

 

[Hidden04]

I will say that the Drake is still on the cards for next year simply due to the fact that the Special Edition Zelda console is made way in advance and I really doubt it's the basis for a entirely brand new production line that was just created this month.

 

[AxkilAvenger]

Just woke up.

Finally a special edition for an OLED that I want, gonna be lame to only own it for like several months to a year until Switch 2 is out. That's just how it rolls I guess. Teetering on the edge of buying this to replace my launch unit.

Knowing about Drake is a curse.

Switch 2 news should be rolling out before this Zelda oled is released so don’t make up your mind just yet

 

[Derachi]

Also I’m just gonna say

I don’t think we can rule out that this is fake.

I mean, the evidence is in the pictures themselves: they have a Switch OLED (playing Pokémon) with noticeably customized, printed-art-having Joy-Cons. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that this person has the equipment to have Joy-Cons printed on. All they’d need to do is print up a box using existing assets and whatever Zelda-like font they can find, and they’re good.

 

[LoneRanger]

The good thing about Zelda TOTK leak is that it will surely be released in may 12th.

That’s fantastic news.

Sadly new HW may slip to 2024, its sad for those promised third party ports.

 

[lexony]

I still feel like that it is possible that they‘ll launch a new Switch at the end of 2023 but the Zelda+Drake Dream seems to be as dead as my dream figuring out how to make myself invisible.

 

[Discostew]

I will say that the Drake is still on the cards for next year simply due to the fact that the Special Edition Zelda console is made way in advance and I really doubt it's the basis for a entirely brand new production line that was just created this month.

Well, the ZOLED is really just an OLED with a different paint job on both casing and packaging. Same guts of the OLED they've had for the past year or so. Heck, what is the possibility that the ZOLED was planned to release alongside TotK before the game got delayed to next year?

 

[Serif]

I don’t think we can rule out that this is fake.

That's what I assumed at first with the dock reusing the Triforce crest from the gold 3DS.

Then I saw one of the joy con with a 'Zonai crest' made up of a closed lotus flower and two ancient eye symbols. We haven't seen that crest before that's exactly what I would expect it to look like based off all the imagery and theorizing. If fake, then well done.

 

[Raccoon]

hopefully the increase in materials spending will be something cool like the return of NB Block and not something lame like inflation or stockpiling

 

[Skittzo]

That's what I assumed at first with the dock reusing the Triforce crest from the gold 3DS.

Then I saw one of the joy con with a 'Zonai crest' made up of a closed lotus flower and two ancient eye symbols. We haven't seen that crest before that's exactly what I would expect it to look like based off all the imagery and theorizing. If fake, then well done.

Yeah I'd agree that if it's fake it's extremely high quality. But we've had really good fakes before. We'll see I guess.

 

[Selarmor]

So with H1 2023 now dead (assuming the leak is real), I'm guessing this is what happened:

1. A Mariko-based, Pro-style device was cancelled years ago.
2. Drake was pushed back from H1 2023 to a later date (likely Holiday 2023 or 2024).

Nate heard about the latter (H1 2023 no longer happening), saw DF's off hand comments about the former, and jumped to the conclusion that the 2023 device was outright cancelled, largely because he never understood that the device he knew about and Drake had to be the same device.

I might just buy the TotK special edition and turn my launch Switch into a homebrew device, even knowing Drake is still coming. I want to try playing Switch games on PC.