Soundwave said:
Nintendo does release revisions very fast ... 3DS XL came very early in the product cycle. Beyond that I think the Switch was actually planned for fall 2016, they missed it just because of software, but the hardware is old, so much so that there's already the successor chip (Tegra X2) available. This was not the case with the PS4/XB1, there was no 16nm variant of those chips available for mass production in 2013, 28nm was what they had to choose because there was no other choice. I'm actually not talking about a "bigger Switch" is size, I'm saying the screen could be made a bit bigger ... but that's not going to radically make it cost $100 more or something. LCD screens are cheap these days, especially since Nintendo is not exactly using things like high end Retina type displays. They are using displays that may as well be on budget $120 Chinese tablets. More models make Nintendo more money too. That's just how it goes ... like I said between 2003-2014 they released 11 different portable models in 11 years. They do that because it makes them money. Not because they're on some search for the "perfect SKU" ... that's not the goal. There is no "perfect SKU". Different users have different needs, your goal as a company is to exploit that and make money. There will be 4, 5 different Switch models before the 2022 ends, quite possibily even more to be honest. You will see a ton of different versions. I don't even think Nintendo is "just thinking" about this stuff. If you could walk into their R&D lab right now, I'd bet money you would see physical, actual playable Switch models, some with bigger displays, some with the Tegra X2 already inside of them. These already exist, I'd bet money on it, their R&D team was done with what we're playing today ages ago in design terms. They've likely had access to the X2 silicon since last year easily and probably the first thing they did was put that chip into the existing Switch chasis and start playing around with it. Mobile chip tech also scales much, much faster in cost than desktop components (like what Sony/MS use). Every iPhone is like double the previous one without increasing in price like every 12-14 months. This is a whole different ball game folkes. |
Yes, Nintendo released versions of DS and 3DS very fast because there were need for that, because DS and 3DS has relatively small screens on launch, while Switch already has big screen on launch, that actually much bigger than 3DS XL screen.
Comparisons with PS4Slim/XB1Slim (espacily for Scorpio/Pro) doesnt make any sense, beuse XL versions in Nintendo case are always more expensive than regular version.
You again still missing main point that I wrote about XL model of Switch so fast: "I dont see in any case XL version so soon beacsue there is no need for bigger and more expnasive Switch so soon, when fact is that Switch already has huge screen for handheld gaming console and huge difference compared to 3DS XLs 4.9" screen or any previous handheld, and when Switch already has price of $300. Compared to that when 3DS XL was launch had regular 3DS had screen of just 3.5" and regular 3DS had price point of $170, so totally made sense to release so fast bigger and more expansive 3DS, but there is no same point with Switch because like I wrote Switch already has big screen and already has much higher price point. Nintendo could make XL in 2018. but there is no or point for that, but they will definitely need smaller, cheaper Switch when 3DS dies".
Also you dont know how good deal Nvidia gave Nintendo for X1 chips (buy infos they gave them very good deal) and how many X1 chips Nintendo has. Most likely eventually Nintendo will move on Tegra X2, but I dont see that next year.
I agree that Switch will have multiple hardwares that will be part of platform, but I am certain we will not have XL version next year and probably not even in 2019.







