Nintendo has not announced a release date for a new Switch console yet

As of now, Nintendo has made no official announcement about when a new Switch will launch. The company typically keeps hardware plans confidential until they are ready to reveal them publicly. What we know is based on Nintendo's past patterns, statements from company leadership, and industry speculation — not on confirmed plans.

Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa said in early 2024 that the company would announce new hardware information within the current fiscal year (which runs through March 2025 in Japan). That statement is the closest thing to a timeline Nintendo has given, but it does not may provide an announcement will happen or when a release would follow.

Key Takeaways

  • Nintendo has not set an official release date for a new Switch console and typically announces hardware only when it is ready to ship within months.
  • The current Switch launched in 2017, and Nintendo's past consoles have had lifespans of five to seven years before a successor arrived.
  • Nintendo's leadership said new hardware information might come in the fiscal year ending March 2025, but this does not mean a release date or even a formal announcement.
  • Rumors about specs, features, and pricing circulate constantly online, but none come from Nintendo and should not be treated as fact.

How Nintendo's past console launches can give you a sense of timing

Nintendo does not announce consoles years in advance. The company typically reveals a new system a few months before it ships, giving developers and retailers time to prepare without leaking details for years. The Switch itself was announced in October 2016 and released in March 2017 — a five-month window.

Looking at Nintendo's history: the Wii launched in 2006, the Wii U in 2012, and the Switch in 2017. That is roughly five to six years between major console generations. If that pattern holds, a new console would arrive sometime between 2022 and 2023 at the earliest — but the Switch has already passed that window and continues to sell well, which can delay a successor.

The Switch has also had mid-cycle updates: the Switch Lite (2019) and Switch OLED (2021) were released without replacing the original model. A new console might follow the same pattern, or Nintendo might jump straight to a full successor. There is no way to know which path the company will take.

What Nintendo has actually said about the Switch's future

In May 2023, Nintendo's president stated that the Switch's lifecycle was not yet over and that the company was still focused on the current system. In early 2024, he said Nintendo would share information about new hardware within the fiscal year — a statement that left the door open but made no promises about timing or even whether an announcement would definitely happen.

Nintendo rarely comments on unreleased products. When executives do speak, they tend to be vague. The company's strategy is to control the narrative completely by announcing only when it is ready to show the product and name a release date in the same event.

Why rumors and leaks should not be treated as confirmed information

Tech blogs, YouTube channels, and social media accounts regularly publish "leaks" and rumors about Nintendo's next console. These posts often claim to have insider information about specs, release dates, or features. Almost all of these are speculation, educated guesses, or outright fabrication. Nintendo's hardware plans are kept extremely confidential, and genuine leaks from inside the company are rare.

A rumor that sounds detailed and specific — naming a processor, a screen size, or a launch month — is not more credible because it includes those details. Specificity can actually be a sign that someone is guessing or inventing rather than reporting something real. The only source you should trust is an official Nintendo announcement through the company's website, social media accounts, or a press event.

What to watch for when an announcement might actually come

If Nintendo does announce a new console, the company will likely do so through one of these channels: a Nintendo Direct video presentation (which Nintendo streams on YouTube and announces in advance), a press release on Nintendo's official website, or a major gaming event like E3 or Gamescom. Nintendo does not leak its own announcements through rumors or tip off journalists ahead of time.

When an announcement does happen, Nintendo typically reveals the console's name, basic specs, design, and a release date or release window — all at once. The company does not tease a product for months. If you see a "leak" that claims Nintendo will announce something soon, treat it as speculation unless it comes from Nintendo itself.

How to stay informed without chasing rumors

The best way to know when Nintendo announces something is to follow the official Nintendo channels: Nintendo's website (nintendo.com), their social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, or to sign up for their email newsletter. These are the only sources that will give you real information the moment it is released.

Gaming news sites like IGN, Polygon, and Kotaku will also report on official Nintendo announcements immediately. If you follow any of these outlets, you will hear about a new console the same day Nintendo announces it. You do not need to follow rumors or speculation to stay informed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Switch being discontinued?

No. Nintendo continues to sell Switch consoles and release new games for the system. The company has not announced any discontinuation date. A new console arriving would not necessarily mean the Switch stops being sold immediately — Nintendo sometimes sells multiple generations at once.

Will my current Switch games work on a new console?

Nintendo has not said. Historically, Nintendo's new consoles have not played games from the previous generation — the Wii did not play GameCube games, and the Wii U did not play Wii games. The Switch OLED did play all existing Switch games, but that was a mid-cycle update, not a new generation.

How much will a new Switch cost?

Nintendo has not announced a price. The original Switch launched at $299. Without an official announcement, any price you see online is guessing. Even when Nintendo does announce a new console, the price usually comes at the same time as the release date.

Should I buy a Switch now or wait?

That depends on whether you want to play Switch games now. If you do, buying one today gives you years of games to play. If you are only interested in playing on the newest hardware, waiting makes sense — but Nintendo has not given a timeline, so you could be waiting a long time.

Where can I find real Nintendo announcements?

Nintendo's official website (nintendo.com), their YouTube channel, and their social media accounts on X are the only reliable sources. Major gaming news outlets will report official announcements immediately, but the original source is always Nintendo itself.