Nintendo (NTDOY 2.61%) has long been rumored to be readying an upgraded version of its popular Switch video game console. A report published by Bloomberg on Tuesday says that the company will be turning to NVIDIA (NVDA 5.23%) for hardware to power the device. The Bloomberg report also suggests that the new video game console will launch this year at a price point between $350 and $400.
The upcoming console will reportedly feature an upgraded, 7-inch, organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) screen and be capable of rendering images at 4K quality when plugged in for TV mode. Bloomberg's report suggests that Samsung will provide the screen components for the console refresh.
Image source: Nintendo.
While the new chips in the rumored Switch upgrade probably won't result in substantially improved performance for previously released games, the upgraded hardware could pave the way for significantly improved visuals for upcoming games that are tailored to support the new chipset. Nintendo's hit system can function as both a home console and a high-end portable gaming device, and this selling point has proven to be a hit among gamers.
With more than 80 million consoles sold since the system launched in March 2017, the Switch is already one of the most successful video game platforms ever, and it looks like the device still has strong sales momentum. Nintendo has one of the most most valuable software catalogs in the gaming industry, and the company is generating impressive profits by porting previously released hits to the Switch and debuting new content for the system. Extending the platform's lifecycle with an upgraded hardware release looks like a winning move.
