Nintendo is betting on the 2025 release of a bigger, better version of its blockbuster Switch console to keep up the success of the third best-selling games machine of all time.

But the Japanese giant is keeping players waiting for full details of the Nintendo Switch 2, showing off the console's appearance in a slick video Thursday but delaying any detailed information until an April 2 livestream.

In the just over two-minute video, Nintendo showed off a console that looks similar to the original hybrid Switch, which can be handheld or connected to a TV screen.

Nintendo's announcement was "just what was expected and what folks wanted. A bigger, more powerful Switch," Mat Piscatella, an analyst at market research firm Circana, posted on Bluesky.

"It should sell very well, and be a big boost to the existing market, but (I) don't see expanded reach," he added.

Players have long been hungry for news on a follow-up to the original Switch, which has sold more than 146 million units worldwide since hitting shelves in 2017.

That makes the Switch the third-best-selling console ever after Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's DS.

With sales of the original Switch falling, though, Nintendo had promised to unveil the new console by the end of March this year.

At the same time, the Kyoto-based company has been diversifying into theme parks around the world and funding films based on its games and characters, such as "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," 2023's global second-place box office performer.

"However, Nintendo still generates approximately 91% of its revenue from its Nintendo Switch business, which shows the importance of the Switch 2," said Darang Candra, an analyst with games market research firm Niko Partners.

Candra said the long life of the first Switch was Nintendo's attempt to create a precedent, getting out of the rat race of rapid updates to hardware.

"Development costs and timelines have increased significantly in recent years in a way that may not be sustainable, particularly as the games industry sees a downturn in the last year," he added.

That appears to be in line with expectations from some lovers of Nintendo's games.

"The fans of Nintendo love what Nintendo does at its core — which is creating new content for existing and well-loved franchises that players have played since they were kids," said LottieRoseGames, a 29-year-old streamer specializing in "Animal Crossing."