Nintendo Moves Switch Manufacturing Out Of China, Two New Models Reportedly In Production

Yeah, not buying this until there is an official announcement still. Sick of all these "insider rumors". Anyone can say anything, it's just speculation. Until there is something concrete or an official announcement, this is silly.

Whether this is true or not, speculating about it is definitely fun. It would be kinda weird for nintendo to not drop a new model at e3, though, if they have one in production right now. Though nintendo can be weird 🤔

I'm sure it'll happen eventually, would be weird if they didn't, but I kinda agree with Mr. Bowser that the chat should be about the games for the time being. They're putting a lot of effort into making a quality library of games and it shows.

Having said that, I will totally be on board with a Switch "Pro" if they do decide to do that in the future.

I'm sure that these 'rumours' are perpetuated by Nintendo's competitors to 'harm' the sales and overall success of the Switch. Best ignore and deny any speculation until Ninty actually 'reveal' something themselves (if it's even true, which I don't think it is).

@Heavyarms55,

A lot of sources though,not saying it's a given by any means,but Nintendo would be mad not to release a cheaper model to cater for 3DS owners and families looking for a cheaper way of owning multiple Switches all tied into their "Family Online accounts".

Nintendo would never announce a new switch before end of financial year. They'd want people to snap up as many current SKUs as possible. I'm hanging out for a new model, so hurry up Ninty!

@Kit,

I very much doubt that,and remember the Nikkei 3DS revision rumour,Nintendo clearly stated there was no update coming which contradicted the Nikkei rumour,a week later the 3DS XL was unveiled.

"There’s conductive reasoning, there’s deja vu, there’s language processing, there’s deja vu, there’s critical thinking, there’s deja vu…" - Bing Bong.

In simpler terms, full source names and positions or GTFO. And no, if such people are real, I DON'T care much if they would risk getting fired and sued upon identity disclosure. Judging by their actions, neither do they.

If anything, they will probably wait until the festive season to release updated/budget versions of the switch.

@Kit

Maybe you can put a tinfoil hat on your Mii

It feels like this revision stuff has been going around practically since the darn thing came out. They'll probably continue to do so until Nintendo eventually does make an upgraded version. When it eventually does happen it's going to be a "boy who cried wolf" situation. I don't think it's any sort of conspiracy of competitors trying to harm sales, just people trying to be the person who "leaked" it happening and hoping they get lucky because it's a matter of "when" and not "if" it'll happen. In the end Nintendo will tell us when they are ready, not before.

Slightly improved hardware? I don't get the point unless it's at least 40-50% better. This just sounds like New 3DS again but we'll see.

These rumors have been around since BEFORE the original Switch launch.

I'm taking this with a grain of salt of this size:

Nintendo will not announce a new Switch before all details of the XBOX "scarlett" or PS5 have been released. So E3 2020.

@johnvboy regardless of the market to cater to, we audiences are in the absolute dark about how Nintendo would even possibly market this thing. None of the wet dreams conceptualized in the fandom to date have looked possible without compromising a part of Switch's identity and MSP. If anything, it would sound more probable for Nintendo to unveil the pseudo "Switch Mini" as a "4DS" indeed - or, jokes and twin screens aside, either come up with a new name or even resurrect Game Boy brand. Knowing Japanese companies' penchant for meaningful single letters in edition titles, it could be some kind of Nintendo Voyager S or Game Boy [Ultra] S, the S simply referring to Switch software compatibility. I suck at naming, but you get the idea.

Of course this new "entry model" would need to be actually cheap, too. The current EM for kids, as per the officials' recent reminder, can be snatched for eighty bucks with a game on board. Will getting rid of JC rails and plastic stands (or even HD Rumble and gyroscope if we're feeling extreme, although that might muddle out-the-box compatibility with even more titles) really drop the price to competitive levels for 2DS target market and their parents? How negligible are the costs of the innards (including Tegra X1 and RAM planks), the battery and the cooling fan in this context? Asking without sarcasm in this case.

@Damo "If source names were revealed, then they'd get the sack"

I think the bulk of my second paragraph in the comment discusses this very topic. If source names don't want to get sacked, why do something that could legally get them sacked? Bribe? Spite? Mere stup- ahem, naivety? It sure can't be "fame" in such a context. In any case, making conscious use of it is not a practice for journalism to be proud of. It's tabloidism, not journalism.

Just let one of them be able to run KH3 please

In other news the sun will rise in the morning. Come on please can we stop inflating people's ego by reporting this stuff.

Will Nintendo make an upgraded version of their console like they have with nearly every console they have made.... YES. Even I could tell you that!

Switch Pro and BOTW sequel... Need to start saving now. Actually more excited about an updated Switch than next gen Xbox and playstation.

These new Switch revisions have stronger rumors than the Witcher 3 now, it seems like. I think they really are in production and we'll hear about them within months. I just hope they found a way to add more power to Switch than the New 3DS had versus regular 3DS. It would be incredible to get more games running at 60fps in portable mode. I'd also love shorter load times and much more internal memory.
It would be wise to release a cheaper Switch with no Joy con. You'd still be able to connect old joy con wirelessly for multiplayer, but a cheaper Switch could have just one motion sensor, no IR camera, etc. Not including a dock would save money too. The cheaper Switch should still be dockable though, I think. Maybe a simpler connector cable would work if the new form factor doesn't allow use of current docks. It seems like these cuts could get it down under $200 U.S. It should still have a cartridge slot since that's such a cheap part and allows everyone to play the massive existing game library or share cartridges with siblings and friends. It will be interesting to see what Nintendo is doing.

Fake news people!

I'd like to just pause and commend Nintendo on being able to keep things secret. The next Xbox is still 16 months away, and pretty much all the magic has been leaked out of its hypothetical backside

Leading up to the reveal of the Switch, the world had ZERO idea what the hell it actually was--- nothing more than a vague concepts from generic patent blueprints. No one saw K. Rool, Joker, or Banjo coming AT ALL in Smash Ultimate. Metroid Prime sequel? Not a peep till the reveal trailer! And now new Switch models are over the horizon--- how do they change the formula? No dock bundled? Native Bluetooth? Less bezel? Double the battery life? No one has a clue!

This is super rare in gaming nowadays, and I think it should be commended.

I'm glad they're moving production out of China.

Here's hoping they choose cleaner, safer, less violent production lines as their alternatives.

There are two new versions of the Switch coming, 'Lite' and 'Pro' both with the new revised joycons - no more drift!!

If this is true an e3 where Sony didn't turn up and the entire gaming press was looking for big news to splash on front pages might have been the opportunity to announce.

If its true and Nintendo didn't use e3 it would be the most Nintendo marketing decision ever! Swear the company hates making money, or been valued well.

If they are in production and possibly be replacing the older hardware Nintendo wouldn't announce it until near launch as they still need to sell their stockpile of the current model.

I still expect 1 to be very similar with just a shake up internally. I still don't understand the so-called Switch Mini as if Joycons can't be removed and it can't be docked then it is not a 'Switch'.

And moving some production from China most likely for the Units going to USA makes sense due to the heavy tarrifs on Chinese goods.

Nintendo isn't moving production because they're making a new model but because of tariffs imposed on China by the Trump administration. Not to turn this into a political debate, but the short version is that Trump is winning the trade war, and there's nothing China can do to retaliate.

I don't see where exactly Mr. Bowser "dodged" that question. For me, it was a nicer version of: "NO, now f*** off!" 😁

@Tsurii
What happens after one hour? Does it shut itself off?

@Freddo

End of the financial year in Japan is in April so that is not it. If any they probably don't want people to hold off for 6 months until the holidays if they really are releasing new models around than.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

There once was a time when electronics were all Made in Japan. It's time to go back to Japan, China is sinking like the Titanic soon.

In the end, looks like Trump did the right thing in fighting against China, other countries should do the same.

China is becoming the biggest economy in the world thanks to borderline slavery, so many people talk that people in the past were cruel, slaving people, but here we are, using computers, phones and videogames made by Chinese workers that have terrible working conditions, long working hours and low payments that are the closest thing to legal slavery we have, even using those computers and phones to complain about a slavery that ended more than one century ago.

Also, it's thanks to China that factories all over the world left their countries to move there, and leave people unemployed because those workers have rights, stop blaming immigrants, they didn't take our jobs, China did.

I can't take it!
I thought that when a reveal didn't happen at E3, surely it must be a ways off yet!!

And now THIS!!!

@victordamazio
Bulldozing China's production of electronics was probably not Trump's intention, dude.
And China didn't "take" our jobs in the west, our own capitalists gave them to China. As well as they poured all the money for the end products out of western countries and into China, while shaving off a few percentages for themselves in the process.

IF there is some new models in the works. Nintendo will just do their usual left antics and drop it out of nowhere. Remember the 2ds xl?

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, Nintendo has always revised its handhelds.

More power could be either an overclock, made possible by shrinking the APU (and so lowering the heat output), or perhaps a move a newer Tegra chipset. The Switch uses a Tegra X1, so upgrade options would be the X2 (which isn't much quicker), or the Xavier.

The smart money would be on an overclock.

@Heavyarms55 I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to buy it until AFTER it’s announced and released anyway.

Oh that dodge by Mr. Bowser! I almost guarantee those new models are just going into shipping now, heading to Japan warehouses where they’ll want to get the initial run sold off before Q3, if it’s coming this year at all and they’d be stupid to not release while they have the momentum and the competition free hardware environment. They’d probably have to announce before mid-July to get August rolling with new Switch plastic. I know I want to buy a new Switch this Summer

Nintendo will make new hardware. It’s just a matter of when, and that could be anyone’s guess. If it’s still selling really well, there’s little reason to. You usually do that when momentum starts to slow.

These rumours have been around for years now. Stop reporting on them. Especially if they are from Stock news sites or market "experts". They don't care about games, only about stocks.

Question now is: is it still a good idea to buy a new switch now or is it worth the wait? 🤔

Rumours of new Switch hardware have been swirling around for months now,

This is just a case of consumers whining about a new Switch model and the media picking up on it. If Nintendo is considering a new model, it's most likely because people won't shut up about it.

Some game consumers have more money than common sense. You buy a new console and then you want to buy it again.

Just buy it. You can always wait for new stuff, because it's always right around the corner.

Good to hear I was never a fan of products that have the label "Made in China."

@MoonKnight7 "You usually do that when momentum starts to slow."

Or, if it's meant as a gift for a child, as a smaller cheaper Switch Mini would be as a replacement for the 3DS Family so Nintendo can move on from manufacturing hardware that isn't getting any new games, then you release it at the holidays.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/06/nintendo_reiterates_it_has_no_games_to_announce_for_3ds_but_says_its_still_an_important_device

They'll announce it a few weeks before. Like Nintendo does every September with it's holiday hardware bundles.

A few of us still get it, a lot of the new guys really seem opposed.

@MrBlacky 'I don't see where exactly Mr. Bowser "dodged" that question. For me, it was a nicer version of: "NO, now f*** off!"'

I agree. I don't see how it was a dodge. If anything, his response was refreshingly brief and direct compared to the 5-minute non-answers that Reggie typically gave.

Post-e3 direct incoming? With switch-pro and -lite reveal? And 3ds winter lineup?

I bought a brand new 3DS like a week before the 3DS XL was announced because of a comment by miyamoto saying they were happy with current hardware as is. I even ignored a game store employee who said a bigger model would probably come out. Lesson: Nintendo’s always got new plastic in the pipe and it sometimes comes right after they say it isn’t, lol.

I'm all for companies pulling manufacturing out of China. They have really crappy labour rights (pretty much nonexistent) and workplace safety standards (again, pretty much nonexistent). Move the manufacturing of the Switch to an actual democratic country that treats its workforce with dignity and respect. It's pretty much the reason I never shop at Walmart, and even when I absolutely have to, I always look for products made in Canada or countries that have good human rights records and credible labour rights.

@nhSnork @nhSnork,

I would suggest that both the "Wall street journal" and "Nikkei" are far too credible for this not to have some truth in it,of course only time will tell,but if the rumors are true I would expect one of the models/revisions to be announced sooner than later.

@johnvboy I've observed Nintendo reps always use very literal and pre-thought-out wording to evade giving straight answers. What exactly did the 3DS XL "update"? Nothing-- it was a parallel model that offered an alternative sized screen. New 3DS was the update which didn't come for couple years later. I also remember maybe a like a year ago Reggie (when he was still around) specifically made a point of saying in an interview that Nintendo had no current plans for a "Switch 2.0". And most outlets just reported it as he if had ruled out any new models in development, failing to pick up on the fact that logically, a hardware revision would be a Switch 1.X. What he actual said in literal terms, was they didn't have Switch's successor in development, which of course it wouldn't be as Switch had only been released the year before. He was clearly playing word games, so I interpreted it as meaning a hardware revision was indeed in the works. I also picked up very early on that a Virtual Console wasn't coming to Switch (at the time it was still conventional thinking that it would be) when I noticed a rep answering a question about it while specifically avoiding the term "Virtual Console" instead saying "classic games". Nintendo is pretty easy to decode if you know what you're looking for.

This should have been a Rumor Buster article right? The president of Nintendo is saying NO NEW SWITCH MODELS ARE COMING! The WSJ is spreading this "news" in order to get people afraid and not buy a Switch now. You know what's actual news? The Switch is still selling, despite all this crap. Por qué el editor es tan boludo, y le da bola a pelotudezes como esta?

@Heavyarms55 To be fair, Nintendo never steps on their own momentum, their new consoles models are generally shadow dropped not far out from their release to not hurt their current sales. You cannot really blame them for that it is a smart business move.

We get pre-fab molds for cases and other protective accessories for nearly every big smartphone months ahead of time, but not an alleged new model that is in production for the best selling handheld console?

@Dan_Dan I think it is going to be closer to Xmas.

I believed and accepted that E3 would be all about the games. That way, any new hardware wouldn't overshadow the awesome announcements.

While I won't fully believe the Switch revision rumors until we hear the news straight from Nintendo, the multiple reports definitely suggest that something on the hardware front will be revealed before long.

We know the cheap model needs to be out by November for Pokemon. It's very possible like 2DS they launch together day and date, so we might not hear about it until October, or even November.

Otherwise they are fond of random August hardware drops. No sooner than Aug, no later than Nov is our timeline on this.

@Yorumi But Chinese made electronics have such high QC!

Then again....bad as Chinese QC is, I can't wait for the Made in Singapore version...... I think we can safely bet it's not going to be made in Korea or Japan at 10x the price. Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Philippines are the usual choices.

@Heavyarms55 True, but once we're into hard supply chain details it's definitely out of "rumor" territory. It's facts we don't have details on.

It's kind of like the people that were saying "We don't know that the NX is going to be a hybrid, in fact there's no way Nintendo would do that!" the week before the NX reveal.

Good to see Nintendo respond to the potential US tariffs on China-manufactured products. I thought it would take up to if not more than a year for them to shift hardware production to somewhere else, but it's good to see that they were more prepared. Hopefully Sony and Microsoft have done or are preparing to do the same thing - I don't want any of them to repeat "599 US dollars!" for PS5/Xbox Scarlett due to potential tariffs.

It will be interesting to see what the new Switch revisions are.

@Gurtelytis Knowing Nintendo's history with post E3 announcements, I'd say chances are extremely high... at least for the Switch models. I wouldn't bet much money on 3DS announcements considering that a Switch Lite would be a clear indication they've put the final nail in the 3DS's coffin. But never say never.

BTW...

The 3DS XL was announced on June 21 2012, roughly 2 weeks after E3 2012. If any new Switch revision is going to be released during the summer, it should be announced very soon.

@BacklogBlues If you really want to get technical, they never revised GBC. But your overall point is definitely valid.

@thatawesomedude,

Of course they do,you have to read between their well worded statements,for example "We have no new hardware to reveal at this years E3 event",now to some this will mean no new hardware planned,where others will take it to mean there may be new hardware soon,but they are just not going to reveal it at the E3 event,Nintendo are masters of this.

likely limited editions.

If I am not willing to trade the full home experience for the Switch "Cut down, hybrid" one at home now... I really not going to care next year when I have a shinny new PS5 under my TV.

Make a less expensive 100% handheld version with better battery life. The hybrid thing only really works with Indies and the few 1st party we get a year anyway.

I'm quite excited to hear about these two new models (or even one, for that matter) from Nintendo itself soon. There have been more than enough reputable sources reporting on this for it not to be true, IMO. I actually don't have a Switch yet, but with SMM2 just a couple weeks away, I'll definitely be getting one sometime this year. Just holding off for now, to see what the new options will look like.

@Pod However, our jobs were given to China because workers don't have rights there, while they have here.

It took a while for someone to do something, instead of giving less rights to our workers, tax China.

@Mountain_Man Nothing China can do to retaliate except getting soybeans from Russia instead of being the USA's largest market. I'd expect more bailouts.

@BacklogBlues I think you're confused. There was a Game Boy Light in Japan, but it was the standard monochrome version. There was no lit revision of the GBC.

@BacklogBlues Also, even looking at the GBC as already being a revision like the New 3DS, the New 3DS still got a revision (New 2DS XL). GBC is in its own boat.

@victordamazio
Again, I'm not sure the point with the taxes was destroying China's ability to compete OR to help production move back to America or the west. The point wast pressuring them into establishing a more favorable trade agreement, so the west could be responsible for the blossoming Chinese middle class being slammed back twenty years.

What this news piece is reporting is instead that production is being moved to China's China, a mythical "South East Asia" without even the name of any nation being specified, because around those parts, workers have even fewer rights and lower wages than in China.

Everybody wins!

@Mountain_Man I think it goes deeper than that, China might be the reason for most of their security problems.

@Heavyarms55 Ain't the first time we've heard this kind of stuff. Probably won't be the last.

Nintendo has a habit of hyping a game giving a release frame date, then delaying the launch for months,, and in the case of Animal Crossing the wait, 9 months from now.

This will not because they need more time to get it right, its because they are using it as a launch title for the new console.

@johnvboy I've thought it likely for a while. That doesn't mean I give the rumors any more credence. We have countless people speculating all the time!

@zool This seems plausible. Maybe the Mini this holiday with Pokémon and the Refined full size next March with Animal Crossing. I just commented on the Dragon Quest bundle being released in September means the refined model isn’t coming this holiday season.

I mean they could maybe reveal it November for release after thanksgiving but I think a new limited edition of the existing model being released basically during the shopping season means they’re sticking with the current model for one more rodeo.

And March gives people 3 months to enjoy their Christmas purchase which is about the minimum amount of time for people to not feal like they were hosed when a new model is announced... barely.

@USWITCH64 day 1 switch owners sure hope it is, anyways.

I’d say the new models are a certainty and an announcement this important to Nintendo’s business must be carefully timed. No one can argue the Switch isn’t anything less than a massive success and Nintendo are now taking that momentum and capitulating on the Switch’s position in the industry. There’s really nothing like it (which is why Phil Spencer sees Ninty as an ally more than a direct competitor).

It would make perfect sense to let the games shine at E3 and reserve the hardware for another announcement otherwise its a massive missed opportunity.

I’m thinking the announcement of new hardware will come by the end of the year with new units available in 2020.

The bump to specs will seriously see some magical possibilities come to light. Im sure existing games that are quite demanding now will end up looking and playing better than ever.

As someone who has immense love for their Vita and was gutted when Sony turned their backs on it, its a really exciting time for Nintendo and for the Switch.

@eSocrates you could be right. 👍

@Heavyarms55,

Nintendo tend to keep quiet about console revisons to very near release,this is so they do not hurt sales of the existiong model,Microsoft took a dip in Xbox One sales when they announced the Xbox One X quite a while before it was released.

@johnvboy I not only understand that but agree with the idea.

That said, I still am not buying into these nonsense rumors until we have something real to back them up. Anyone can say anything. It's just speculation. I don't care whoever's uncle says he works on the supply chain for Switch manufacturing or what.

We all make fun of that old me "trust me, my uncle works for Nintendo" - this is that. But being reported by so-called news. Anyone can say anything. It's just speculation while that's fun, that's all it is.

@Heavyarms55,

Without a doubt there are crazy rumours flying around E3 time,and a lot of them are just Nintendo fans wish lists,but rumours from the Wall street journal and Nikkei...and to some extent the original Eurogamer Switch link have to be taken a little more seriously.

Still not saying I believe in any of this,but I would not be surprised to see the rumours come true,I just have a feeling we will get some announcment in the coming weeks.

@johnvboy With enough people speculating, someone is going to be right. So when something happens and it turns out one of the rumors was true... They got lucky. I just don't buy into these anymore unless there is something more than "industry insider says" or "people involved with X stated" etc.

If this happens, I'm not expecting any major changes. Better battery life, more base memory, stronger stand are the kind of things that would happen, similar to the New 3DS. More power is possible, but I have yet to see Nintendo commit to such ideas in the New 3DS, plus exclusives games like New 3DS' and the DSi's never really made it big, even with handheld Xenoblade Chonicles.

The biggest change others have brought up would be improved Joy-Cons, akin to the Wii Remote Plus. Just something with more accurate gyro-controls that don't drift much, and other QoL improvements. The only problem with that would be marketing what is essentially a better version of the new and old Joy-Cons, unless they just quietly launch improved versions to phase out the older ones.

@dazzleshell You're right about the docking feature-- there's no way they wouldn leave the ability out entirely-- they'd at least off a mini-one sold separately. But if the idea is to provide an a cheaper entry option, built-in Joy Cons do make sense, especially since it would provide the opportunity do include a D-pad. Remember, there's no reason a Switch-Mini wouldn't still connect wirelessly woth separate standard Joy Cons, so no features would be permanently lost, they'd just require separate purchases.

It’s already possible to create the switch mini