Rumors about an upgraded version of the Switch, Nintendo's wildly popular hybrid portable/home console, have been rampant for a while now. Recently, even more information has been hinting at the upgrade, once commonly referred to as the Switch Pro, and is being called the Super Switch in reference to the hypothetical system by. These new rumors also seem to imply that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 will release alongside the Super Switch.
A recent rumor about the Switch Pro seemed to leak the name of the upgraded Switch console and hint at it releasing next fiscal year, so either late this year or early 2022. Initially fans were speculating that the visually impressive Monster Hunter: Rise would be a Super Switch launch title, but the planned release of a Switch bundle including the game mostly dismissed those rumors. Now some rumor mongers ae latching onto the idea, or support past statements, that the new system will be announced to release alongside Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2.
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Breath of the Wild was easily one of the most popular games on the Switch. A massive open world, atmospheric ambience, and tweaks to the classic Zelda-formula made for an experience that felt fresh and familiar at the same time, and many fans are still exploring the world of Breath of the Wild now almost four years later. Naturally, the excitement around Breath of the Wild 2 is high, and many eager fans are wondering what to expect from BotW2 this year. And if the rumors end up being true, being released alongside the rumored Super Switch could have some drastic implications for the sequel.
The rumors about all the possible new hardware in the Switch Pro or Super Switch are widely varied, and there are some leaks about a new Switch's details that have many players excited about the possibilities for higher fidelity in games. In a game that's likely to be as large as Breath of the Wild 2, increased hardware performance could allow for larger game areas, longer draw distances, and more impressive effects. The artistic direction in the first game goes a long way in making the game look great even on the less powerful Switch, but improved graphic fidelity would only improve upon an already impressive visual.
It is worth noting that there are some who say that the Switch Pro might not be able to provide more impressive games, but even if the system boils down to an improved, hopefully OLED, screen and a bigger hard drive, it would still be a big deal. The hard drive space can be a big limiter for both developers and players. While it is possible to increase storage space via external memory, many consumers were frustrated by the Switch's small hard drive, and for a game like Breath of the Wild 2, this would mean capacity for a bigger game world without needing external storage, and a more dense world. Some areas of the original are relatively sparse compared to other releases from around the same time like The Witcher 3.
Commercially, the move would make sense. Releasing Breath of the Wild 2 alongside a new Switch would go a long way in helping move a new system off of shelves. Again, with the original still one of the platform's biggest titles, reproducing that success with a potential Switch Pro or Super Switch would be a good move on Nintendo's part. And if it is indeed coming in the next fiscal year, fans can expect more news in just a few months, depending on if it's an early or late fiscal year release. While there are many points to be made for and against a Switch Pro or Super Switch, it would fit with the console timelines consumers have seen before.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is in development for the Nintendo Switch.
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