The whole picture: Nintendo is widely expected to unveil an upgraded version of its Switch handheld later this year. When it arrives, it can be branded in such a way as to pay homage to an earlier Nintendo console, the legendary Super NES.
The new handheld, formerly rumored to be the Nintendo Switch Pro, could mark the market as the Super switch. Why the Super Switch, you ask?
It’s no secret that Nintendo has something for anniversaries. Nintendo celebrated the 35th anniversary of its Super Mario Bros. franchise late last year, and a quick review of the calendar confirmed that 2021 is the 30th anniversary of the launch of the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
The Pro moniker has been played out a bit at this point, given the number of smartphones and tablets it currently uses. The Super name will be something fresh and a throwback to a classic, though that really won’t matter much, as Nintendo’s handheld platform has been hot since the first model was launched in early 2017.
Even Nintendo’s retro mini-consoles have resonated with gamers. The NES Classic surprised everyone and the sequel, the SNES Classic, was just as sought after. At the last survey, Nintendo sold 5.28 million units worldwide, although the figure has not been updated in almost three years.
Image courtesy of Michael San Diego, Nathy Cella