Switch Successor Rumors: New Nintendo Filings Reveal Dual-Screen Device
Source: patentscope.wipo.int, via resetera.com, gamerant.com
Recent rumors about a successor to the Nintendo Switch have gained momentum, and now new Nintendo filings have been discovered, shedding some light on potential new designs and ideas.
Originally filed by Nintendo on November 11, 2022, the filings were made public on October 26, 2023, on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website. While it’s important not to get too carried away with expectations, one particular filing has sparked excitement among Nintendo fans. The revealed concept is a “dual-screen, detachable device” that bears some resemblance to the 3DS.
Design and Description
The electronic apparatus consists of a first device and a second device that can be attached and detached from each other. The first device features a first surface, a first display, and a first connection unit located on the first surface. The second device includes a second surface, a second display on the second surface, a second rear surface opposite to the second surface, and a second connection unit positioned on the second rear surface. The second connection unit can be connected to the first connection unit in either a first orientation or a second orientation, which is the reverse of the first orientation. In the first connection state, where the second connection unit is connected to the first connection unit in the first orientation, the second rear surface covers the first display. In the second connection state, where the second connection unit is connected to the first connection unit in the second orientation, the second rear surface does not cover the first display.
Other Filings
In addition to the dual-screen device, other Nintendo filings hint at the inclusion of a system fan, buttons, and information about how the screen attaches to the device.
However, it’s important to note that filings and patent applications like these do not guarantee an announcement or a future product. Prior to the release of the Switch, Nintendo filed a patent for a handheld system with an oval-shaped design and analog sticks coming out of the screen, which generated online speculation but did not result in a released product.
Companies, including Nintendo, often file patents to protect their concepts and may revisit these ideas later on.
It’s worth mentioning that a dual-screen device has not been a topic of recent rumors surrounding a potential successor to the Switch.
In September, the most recent rumor suggested that a new Switch model had been shown to select developers at Gamescom. There were also claims of a tech demo for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running at 4K and 60 fps.
When he’s not paying off a loan to Tom Nook, Liam likes to report on the latest Nintendo news and admire his library of video games. His favourite Nintendo character used to be a guitar-playing dog, but nowadays he prefers to hang out with Judd the cat.