What elements of next gen could the Switch's successor implement?

[Soundwave]

Pyro as Bill said:

Soundwave said:

That's never going to happen, Nintendo is never making another "big box home console" ever again. 

Maaaaaaybe they'll do a micro-console with no screen eventually as a minor release, but that will be years after the proper hybrid form factor. The hybrid form factor is the sweet spot for Nintendo, they're never going back to non-portables as a major part of their business ever again I don't think.

The best you might get is maybe a "premium" higher end Switch SKU that is more like a mini-laptop that folds out and can really stretch its legs in terms of power. 

The hybrid can still come 2-3 years later and swallow up the dedicated home console sales.

The portability is the star of the show, Nintendo's had really a miserable better part of 25 years now trying to sell a home-only console, it just doesn't work for well for them. When you make a a home only console people expect things like a modern online infrastructure, all the modern 3rd party titles, or you need a miracle craze like Wii Sports/Fit were. 

It's just too hard for Nintendo to manage that, the hybrid concept gives them the differentiator from the PS/XBox brands they need while integrating the market strength of portables which quite frankly has been their stronger side for decades now. 

If Nintendo wants to do something more along the lines of what you're suggesting, maybe a premium high end Switch that it more akin to a mini lap top could work. That could have a higher end chip and then in a couple of years the chip could be die shrunk to fit a more normal size handheld I guess. 

Last edited by Soundwave - on 13 June 2020