This is nothing new and not inherent to the architecture. It's basically forward and backward compatibility in one, like the Game Boy and the Game Boy Color.

Any company not looking at building a hardware and OS platform with scalability at the heart has no business in the business. To have any chance of success going forward, major hardware and OS makers have to have a tech that can scale not only over time, but across everything from mobile to high end. Having the ability to build a platform with a Phone, a Tablet, a Laptop, a Set Top Box, and a PC is the only way a company can reach large scale success. This is the only way they can give the consumer the options they needed to reach a large market share, and give the developers an easy avenue for building apps that run across all of them with ease.

Nintendo Switch absolutely has to scale with time. Offering the original hardware with more efficient chips and longer battery life, along with higher powered and more user friendly units will give them a very effective fleet of devices. If Nintendo does make Sitch scalable like they should, and offers it as a phone, a handheld, and a home computing device, then they have a great future aheadof them. If they allow developers to bring the wide variety of apps available on iOS and Android, then they will build a userbase that will keep them very successful for years to come.

Maybe they can expand it by using a bigger GPU. Both Tegras, the X1 and X2, have 256 shaders. Nintendo's version of the Tegra could feature a bit more than that (although I doubt it), but in any case it will probably be made using the 14/16nm process.

In two-three years the 10nm process will be already on the market, and that could allow Nintendo/Nvidia to pack more shaders (of the same architecture) paired with newer ARM cores while keeping the same overall power envelope.

Then, in another two or three years, they could launch a Switch 2 with a completely new and more powerful design/architecture, while ensuring that it's backwards compatible. And then repeat the same.

Maybe the Nintendo Switch 2, has a new nvidia chip..... sounds logical.
But lets just wait for the Switch to release before thinking about a new switch shall we?

Involving?

evolving.

Tbh if I was AMD I'd be a bit concerned because I could see this partnership being a long lasting one especially if NS becomes a big success as it gives Nvidia a nice foothold in both the console and portable space (I predict at least 20m NS units sold minimum if priced right) and a possible long term client for their mobile SOC. The partnership may end up enticing competitors giving AMD serious competition in the console market again.

Hm, I don't like having to upgrade my system every couple of years, but with the way console gaming is now, this may become the new way to play :p

1) Yes Nintendo are probably locked in with nvidia, if the switch is a success. It means The Switch 2 (in 2021?) will be a nvidia mobile chip too.  If the Switch doesnt do well.... nintendo goes back to 2 consoles approach and does a traditional console, probably useing a amd chip.

2) "The partnership may end up enticing competitors"... No way.  Its 4 years lateron, and 1/3rd the power.  Nintendo is Nintendo, they can make a system like this and sell it, but it would hurt MS or Sony if they did this.

Scorpio is going to be 6 Teraflops... rumors say Switch is 600-750 Gflops (when docked, less than that when not).

Scorpio could be 10 times the power of the Nintendo Switch (when docked).

I'd be shocked if it didn't. It's Nintendo we're talking about here. It's normal for them to keep upgrading the hardware.