Nintendo Co. has announced a new Switch gaming device for release Oct. 8, a long-awaited ¥37,980 ($350) gadget that will succeed its popular console and likely catalyze a wave of new software and holiday season sales.
The new device marks the first hardware upgrade to the console originally released in 2017 for ¥29,980. It features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 gigabytes of internal storage and enhanced audio, according to a statement from the company Tuesday.
The Kyoto-based game-maker broke with convention when it introduced the Switch, a hybrid console capable of connecting to a TV at home as well as being used as an independent mobile device. Sales of the machine have been consistently strong. The COVID-19 pandemic combined with runaway hit Animal Crossing: New Horizons supercharged demand throughout 2020.