Nintendo Switch successor reportedly targeted for a 2024 launch, with dev kits being distributed

Nintendo’s key partners are now said to have development kits for the company’s next system in their possession, with the console receiving a rumored release window of the second half of 2024.

The details:

• According to VGC's sources, the rumors of the Switch's successor launching next year may be true, and that it will be similar to the console in that it will be portable. It's said to use cartridge-based games, but it's unclear whether it will be backward compatible. Nintendo has previously stated that it intends to convert a large portion of the Switch's 100+ million userbase to the newer platform, but third-party publishers have expressed concerns about older titles potentially harming sales of next-generation releases.
• Development kits for the new system are now said to be in the hands of some of the company's key partners, and due to its mid-cycle console release, it's expected to have a much larger launch lineup than the Switch. Nintendo may follow a similar release schedule to the Switch, with major titles arriving regularly so that it has a diverse selection ready for the holiday season.
• Despite its planned release years after its competitors PlayStation and Microsoft, shortages that plagued the first couple of years of both console releases have caused many titles to be developed with last-generation consoles as well, resulting in hardware that is not yet fully utilized in many games. This means Nintendo could potentially take advantage of the unusual situation to get the new console off to a strong start.

More gaming news:

• Riot Games' new fighting game, Project L, will be playable at EVO 2023, with a 2v2 mode shown off ahead of time. It will be available for all event attendees to try out on the show floor, and we expect to hear opinions from some of the world's best fighting game players.
• Virtuos is reportedly working on a remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. According to a former studio employee, the game will be developed using a hybrid of Unreal Engine 5 and the original game's Gamebyro engine, with an expected release date of late 2024 or early 2025.