Nintendo Knew It Struck Gold: Switch 2 Has Been In Development For 6 Years Already

It's routine for console manufacturers to look ahead to their next line of products, but the Nintendo Switch 2 is an impressive six years in the making. The new console was only officially revealed in January, but was showcased extensively in April's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, but it would appear that Nintendo has been convinced of the console line's potential for many years, according to court documents from Nintendo's lawsuit against Genki.

As noticed by Insider Gaming, formal hardware development for the Nintendo Switch 2 began in 2019, six years ago and two years after the original Switch launched in 2017. The court documents also give an overview of what is now publicly known about the Switch 2, including its improved specs, larger screen, and new features. The full court filings from the Nintendo v. Genki lawsuit can be read via CourtListener.

Nintendo Was Confident In Switch's Design, Switch 2 Development Began In 2019

The Hybrid Console Was Clearly The Way Forward

Nintendo has a knack for innovation, for better or worse, so the company moving forward with a Switch successor so soon after it released is quite telling. The Switch 2's biggest gimmick is arguably the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, but the console's form factor is nearly identical. While the original Switch's portability certainly limited its capabilities in many ways, it felt like a long time coming for Nintendo. The company's commitments to both handheld gaming devices and home consoles were married into one piece of tech.

Even Nintendo likely couldn't predict that the Switch would go on to become one of the best-selling gaming devices of all time – only trailing the Nintendo DS in handhelds, and Sony's PlayStation 2 in home consoles. The court documents don't make it especially clear what the Switch 2's early hardware development looked like – it's possible that Nintendo experimented with the form factor for a while – but almost immediately "planning its successor console" does exude confidence.

The Switch 2 Is Poised For Success Similar To Its Predecessor's

All The Reasons You Bought A Switch, With More Processing Power

It seems Nintendo knew it had a winning formula six years ago. Even with all the chaos surrounding Switch 2 pre-orders, they sold out with many hopeful consumers left empty-handed. The pre-order scramble and subsequent waiting for restocks feels reminiscent of the 2020 launch of the PlayStation 5, which is currently on pace to surpass the PS4 in unit sales. If Nintendo can keep this momentum, there's a chance the Switch 2 will smash records like its predecessor.

Nintendo is no stranger to success (and failure, looking at the Wii U), but it's clearly struck the perfect balance between its once separate branches of handheld and home console gaming. With the original Switch's limited specs, there was an obvious opportunity to build on its success, and it would seem Nintendo decided to do just that six whole years ago in beginning hardware development of the Nintendo Switch 2.

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