Switch firmware hints at future dual-screen model

[midian182]

Rumor mill: It’s unclear when another Switch will arrive, but when it does, there’s a chance it’ll feature two screens. References to a new model of the console were discovered in the Switch’s latest firmware update, which also mentions its secondary display.

The discovery was made by vulnerability researcher Mike Heskin, who searched through the Switch’s 10.0.0 firmware update and tweeted the highlights of his findings.

The 10.0.0 update introduces several new features, including the ability to transfer games from the internal memory to an SD card. It also adds button remapping, News bookmarks, new avatars, and more.

Heskin notes that the firmware brings “preliminary support” for a new model of Switch, codenamed nx-abcd, which lines up with similar codenames used for other Switch machines, including the original (nx-abca) and Switch Lite (nx-abcb).

Heskin tweeted that “there's evidence of a secondary display of sorts being added exclusively on this model.” Whether this would be for a clamshell-style design resembling the 3DS/2DS or something totally different is a mystery, but it certainly sounds interesting.

Firmware 10.0.0 adds preliminary support for a new hardware model: "nx-abcd".
3 of the 5 new DRAM profiles are for this new hardware type and there's evidence of a secondary display of sorts being added exclusively on this model.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

— Mike Heskin (@hexkyz) April 14, 2020

At the start of the year, an industry analyst said he was convinced Nintendo would launch a Switch Pro this year, which would support 4K resolutions, use bigger cartridges, and feature more powerful components. A Digitimes report appeared to support this belief, claiming Nintendo would start volume production on a new Switch in Q1. But Nintendo later disappointed fans when president Shuntaro Furukawa said: "Please note that we have no plans to launch a new Nintendo Switch model during 2020."

Will the new Switch look closer to this?

While it wouldn’t be the first time a company lied about a product, it does appear that Nintendo is being honest here. We’re even less likely to see a 2020 model given Covid-19 disruption is causing shortages of the current Switch.

There undoubtedly will be another version of the Switch; it’ll just take a long time to get here. We’ll have to wait until then to see if it has one screen or two.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/84835-switch-firmware-hints-future-dual-screen-model.html

 

[Shadowboxer]

So the switch lite was technically a new “switch” model but it doesn’t work on a tv. So it doesn’t actually switch! Maybe Nintendo are making something that can play “switch” games that doesn’t have such a stupid name?

 

[Digitalzone]

I want something portable but from Sony, maybe Microsoft. Not from Nintendo as I never got the their approach and portfolio. Not to mention, Switch is overpriced piece of crap.
"Nintendo, on its support website, describes dead pixels as “a characteristic of LCD screens” "
Okay, remember when I got my first Samsung LCD there was 100% guarantee of no dead-pixels or refund.

 

[amstech]

Not to mention, Switch is overpriced piece of crap.

It's pretty awesome actually.
We love ours, although we haven't used it to play in portable mode yet.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

#1 I'm glad I waited to buy one.

#2 If the Alienware UFO comes to market before the Switch DS, I'd go for that instead.

 

[ZedRM]

#1 I'm glad I waited to buy one.

I'm glad I have two already, one for the family room and one for me personally.

#2 If the Alienware UFO comes to market before the Switch DS, I'd go for that instead.

Why not get both(if you can afford it)?

 

[Fearghast]

I want something portable but from Sony, maybe Microsoft. Not from Nintendo as I never got the their approach and portfolio. Not to mention, Switch is overpriced piece of crap.
"Nintendo, on its support website, describes dead pixels as “a characteristic of LCD screens” "
Okay, remember when I got my first Samsung LCD there was 100% guarantee of no dead-pixels or refund.

On Sony or M$ you get same games like you do on PC - only worse versions of them (image, sound, controlls, flexibility).
On the other hand Nintendo usually attracts more creative developers and a lot of their games you sadly won't find anywhere else.

 

[ZedRM]

On Sony or M$ you get same games like you do on PC - only worse versions of them (image, sound, controlls, flexibility).
On the other hand Nintendo usually attracts more creative developers and a lot of their games you sadly won't find anywhere else.

Good point!