History of Nintendo Switch in Timeline
The Nintendo Switch is a video game console developed by Nintendo, released on March 3, 2017. It was released in the middle of the eighth generation of home consoles, succeeding the Wii U. The Switch competed with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It also competes with ninth generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
2004: Release of Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS was released in 2004 contributing to Nintendo's record revenues in 2009.
2006: Release of Wii
The Wii was released in 2006, contributing to Nintendo's record revenues in 2009.
2009: Nintendo's Peak Revenue Year
In 2009, Nintendo had record revenues, net sales, and profits as a result of the release of the Nintendo DS in 2004 and the Wii in 2006.
2011: Hideo Kojima Presents the Idea of "Transfarring"
In 2011, Hideo Kojima presented the idea of "transfarring", allowing players to take a game from a home platform to a portable one, which became the basis of Sony's cross-buy program. Kojima compared the notion of the Switch to his idea of "transfarring".
June 2012: Nintendo Withdraws from Turkish Market
Nintendo withdrew from the Turkish market back in June 2012 when then-distributor Nortec Eurasia closed.
2012: Nintendo's First Loss as a Video Game Company
In 2012, Nintendo posted its first loss as a video game company prior to the introduction of the Wii U.
2012: Initial Conception of the Nintendo Switch
In 2012, shortly after the release of the Wii U, the initial conception for the Nintendo Switch began as Nintendo evaluated new hardware possibilities.
2014: Lowered Financial Forecasts Due to Weak Hardware Sales
In 2014, The New York Times attributed Nintendo lowering financial forecasts to weak hardware sales against mobile gaming.
March 17, 2015: Partnership Between Nintendo and DeNA Announced
On March 17, 2015, Nintendo announced its partnership with DeNA, revealing the existence of the console under the codename "NX", described as a "brand new concept".
July 2015: Kimishima Named Nintendo President
Following Satoru Iwata's death in July 2015, Tatsumi Kimishima was named as the president of Nintendo, and Shigeru Miyamoto was promoted to Creative Fellow.
2015: Nintendo Exits Brazilian Market
Nintendo exited the Brazilian market in 2015 due to high tariffs.
2015: NES Golf Easter Egg
Prior to the 4.0 update, players discovered that the Nintendo Switch's firmware included an Easter egg allowing players to play the NES Golf game via a built-in emulator. Journalists and players believed this to be a tribute to Nintendo's former president Satoru Iwata, who passed away in 2015. Golf was programmed by Iwata, and the game could only be accessed if the system clock was set to July 11 and the Joy-Con are moved similarly to how Iwata would move his hands in his Nintendo Direct presentations.
April 2016: Nintendo Announces NX Worldwide Release
In April 2016, Nintendo announced its plan to release the NX worldwide in March 2017.
October 2016: Mixed Analyst Response to Nintendo Switch Announcement
In October 2016, market analysts had mixed reactions to the announcement of the Nintendo Switch. Some expressed concerns about addressing the issues from poor Wii U sales, while others believed the Switch would fit well in the Japanese market and transition to Western markets.
October 2016: Nintendo Switch Reveal Trailer Success on YouTube
In October 2016, the reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch became Nintendo of America's most-viewed video on YouTube within 24 hours and was the top trending video on YouTube for about a day.
October 20, 2016: Nintendo Switch Unveiled
On October 20, 2016, the Nintendo Switch was unveiled as Nintendo's response to financial losses from poor Wii U sales and competition from mobile games.
December 2016: Nintendo Switch Shown on The Tonight Show
In December 2016, Miyamoto and Fils-Aimé showcased the Nintendo Switch on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with Fallon playing Breath of the Wild live.
2016: CD Media Becomes Nintendo Distributor in Greece and Balkans
CD Media became Nintendo's official distributor in Greece and the Balkans since 2016.
2016: Nintendo Plans for Switch Profitability
During its 2016 fiscal year earnings report, Nintendo affirmed that the Switch would be profitable from launch, as the company saw the console as a key earnings driver for 2017 and beyond.
2016: Nintendo Issued the Switch's First Month's Performance
In 2016 Nintendo issued the Switch's first month's performance in their fiscal year results.
2016: Nintendo's Shipping Expectations
Prior to launch, Nintendo anticipated shipping two million Nintendo Switch units by the end of the console's first month, and assured that its supply chain would be able to meet demand following the launch period to avoid the shortage situation with the NES Classic Edition in late 2016.
January 2017: Journalist Concerns and Analyst Opinions on Nintendo Switch Pricing and Launch Titles
Following the January 2017 press conference, journalists expressed concerns about the Nintendo Switch's high price and limited launch titles, while analysts believed the pricing indicated a robust console with potential for success, driven by games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The analysts highlighted that the Nintendo Switch would fill a gap in the market.
February 2017: Nintendo's VR Solution Concerns
In February 2017, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that the company had been "studying" virtual reality solutions but had concerns about comfort and whether existing VR solutions were fun or social.
February 2017: Nintendo Switch Demonstration Events and "Unexpected Places" Campaign
In February 2017, Nintendo promoted the Switch through demonstration events at gaming conferences like PAX South, South by Southwest, and RTX. They also launched an "Unexpected Places" campaign, setting up living-room-style spaces in the United States to allow people to try out the console.
February 28, 2017: Nintendo Switch Street Date Broken in UAE
On February 28, 2017, retailers in the United Arab Emirates broke the street date for the Nintendo Switch release.
March 3, 2017: Nintendo Switch Worldwide Release
On March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch was released worldwide in most regions, positioning itself in the eighth generation of home consoles, succeeding the Wii U and competing with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
March 2017: Planned Worldwide Release of the NX
In April 2016, Nintendo announced that it planned to release the NX worldwide in March 2017.
March 2017: Nintendo Plans Other Methods for Registering Friends
In March 2017, Nintendo said that they had plans to provide other methods for registering friends, including through third-party social media and via Nintendo Network IDs.
March 2017: Tech Insights Corroborates Tegra X1 SoC
In March 2017, an analysis by Tech Insights corroborated pre-release reports that the Nintendo Switch's SoC would be a standard Nvidia Tegra X1, composed of four ARM Cortex-A57 and four ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores along with 256 Maxwell-based CUDA GPU cores.
March 31, 2017: Nintendo Reports Strong Switch Sales in First Month
On March 31, 2017, Nintendo reported their 2016 fiscal year results, stating that more than 2.74 million units of the Nintendo Switch had been sold worldwide in its first month, surpassing their target of two million. Retailers also reported strong initial sales and attach rates for software and accessories.
April 2017: Production Increase to Avoid Supply Shortages
Following the initial sales report numbers in April 2017, Nintendo sought to produce 18 million Switch units in its 2017 financial year to avoid supply shortages, particularly near the 2017 holiday season.
May 23, 2017: Nintendo's stock price soars due to Switch success
On May 23, 2017, the success of the Switch's launch caused Nintendo's stock price to reach its highest levels in seven years, representing an increase of over 100% from the previous year.
August 2017: Gamevice sues Nintendo over Switch design
In August 2017, Gamevice, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Nintendo, alleging that the Switch's design infringed on its patent for the Wikipad.
September 2017: Potential Production Bottlenecks
In September 2017, Fils-Aimé said that Nintendo's 2017 production target for the Switch could be hampered by bottlenecks in individual components.
September 30, 2017: Nintendo Reports Strong Switch Sales for Quarter Ending September 2017
In a financial report released in October 2017 for the quarter ending September 30, 2017, Nintendo reported worldwide sales of the Switch at 7.63 million units, with expectations to sell more than 14 million by the end of the current financial year. Several games had also achieved at least one million in sales.
October 2017: Gamevice voluntarily dismisses lawsuit against Nintendo
In October 2017, Gamevice voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against Nintendo regarding the Switch design.
October 2017: Partial Bluetooth Support for USB Headphones
In October 2017, a system update partially resolved the issue of Bluetooth headphone support by enabling support for wireless USB headphones when the receiver is connected to the USB port on the console when docked.
October 2017: Shifted Production Rate and Shipping Plans
In October 2017, it was reported that Nintendo had further shifted the production rate for the Switch up to 2 million per month, with plans to ship 20 million units by the end of the year.
October 2017: Save Game and Profile Transfers Added
In October 2017, save game and profile transfers between Switch consoles were added in the 4.0.0 system update.
October 2017: Software update enables video capturing and sharing
In October 2017, the 4.0 update to the Nintendo Switch's software enabled capturing and sharing video from select games.
October 2017: Super Mario Odyssey Sells Over Two Million Copies in Three Days
Shortly after the September 2017 financial report, Nintendo reported that Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch sold more than two million copies within three days of its release on October 27, 2017.
October 27, 2017: Super Mario Odyssey Release
The Financial Times reported that the company was seeking to produce 18 million Switch units in its 2017 financial year as to avoid "customer tantrums" with poor supply levels, particularly near the release of Super Mario Odyssey on October 27, 2017.
November 9, 2017: Hulu Released in the United States
On November 9, 2017, Hulu became the first video streaming application released for the Nintendo Switch in the United States.
November 2017: Nintendo Switch Among Top-Selling Items During November 2017 Sales
During the November 2017 Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales, the Nintendo Switch was one of the top-five selling items, outpacing the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
December 12, 2017: Nintendo Announces Switch Sales Exceed 10 Million Units Worldwide
On December 12, 2017, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch had sold over 10 million units worldwide, reaching its sales goal for the 2017 fiscal year within nine months. They raised the sales expectation to 14 million units for the fiscal year.
December 2017: Nintendo Switch Becomes Fastest-Selling Console in the US in First 10 Months
By the end of December 2017, Nintendo of America reported that the Nintendo Switch was the fastest-selling console in the United States in its first 10 months, with 4.8 million units sold, including 1.5 million units in December 2017 alone.
December 2017: Western release of Arena of Valor
In December 2017, Arena of Valor was released in Western markets on mobile platforms.
2017: Plans to Reveal Nintendo Switch Features
In 2017, Nintendo planned to hold events to share more details about the features of the Nintendo Switch.
2017: Nintendo Increases Switch Production and Sales Projections
In 2017, due to strong initial sales, Nintendo increased its production capacity for the Nintendo Switch, projecting to sell at least 10 million consoles during the 2017 fiscal year. They also aimed to ensure sufficient inventory for holiday sales and expected lifetime sales comparable to the Wii.
2017: Nintendo Switch Marketing Campaign
In 2017, following the Super Bowl ad spot, Nintendo implemented a marketing campaign to highlight the Nintendo Switch's various use cases among different gaming audiences, running ads during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, the 2017 Kids' Choice Awards, and on Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, and Comedy Central.
2017: Switch Launch and Wii U Discontinuation
In 2017, the Nintendo Switch was launched, effectively taking over the roles of both the Wii U and 3DS. Shortly before the Switch's launch, the Wii U was discontinued, but the 3DS remained in production as an entry-level option.
2017: Switch as Key Earnings Driver
Nintendo saw the Switch as a key earnings driver for 2017 and beyond, affirming its profitability from launch during its 2016 fiscal year earnings report.
2017: Investor Presentation of Fiscal Year Results
On the presentation of the 2017 fiscal year results to investors, Nintendo's newly named president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that they anticipate producing 20 million Switch consoles over the 2018 fiscal year.
December 31, 2017: Nintendo's most profitable quarter since 2009
Nintendo's quarter ending December 31, 2017, became the company's most profitable quarter since 2009, with year-to-year revenues increasing by 177% due to the success of the Switch and its mobile gaming strategy.
January 2018: Nintendo Labo Announcement
In January 2018, Nintendo announced Nintendo Labo, a child-oriented platform that combines games with do-it-yourself cardboard projects, called Toy-Con, that interact with the Switch console and Joy-Con controllers.
March 2018: Gamevice initiates second patent infringement lawsuit against Nintendo
In March 2018, Gamevice launched a second patent infringement lawsuit against Nintendo and sought to block imports of the Switch into the United States.
April 2018: Exploit Chain Discovery in Tegra Chip System
In April 2018, two separate groups discovered a method to use an exploit chain in the Tegra chip system to boot other software on the Nintendo Switch. This exploit could not be patched through a software update.
April 26, 2018: Korg Gadget Released
Korg Gadget, a music production app, was released for the Nintendo Switch on April 26, 2018.
June 2018: Netflix Conversations Ongoing
In June 2018, Fils-Aimé said that conversations to bring Netflix to the Switch were "on-going".
June 2018: Nintendo Partners with Disney Channel for Nintendo Switch Family Showdown
In June 2018, Nintendo announced a partnership with Disney Channel to produce Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, a televised competition where families competed in challenges using various Switch games, which was scheduled to air in August 2018.
June 2018: Hackers Run Developer Software Menu on Non-Developer Switch Units
In June 2018, two hackers found a way to run the Nintendo Switch system's developer software menu on non-developer units. This allowed users to load games onto SD cards or create custom avatars, including NSFW pictures, which violated Nintendo's terms of service, leading to bans.
June 2018: Nintendo quarterly profit jumps
Nintendo's quarterly profit jumped by 44% in the first fiscal quarter of June 2018. Their net profit totalled $274.9 million during April–June 2018 due to new games being released for the Switch, such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
July 2018: Hardware Changes to Block Exploits
Around July 2018, Nintendo quietly released Switch units with minor hardware changes and updated firmware to block exploits that allowed extracting ROM images from game cards and software.
July 2018: Nintendo Reportedly Fixes Tegra Vulnerability in Newer Switch Units
Nintendo reportedly fixed the Tegra vulnerability in newer Nintendo Switch units as of July 2018. Users also determined Nintendo has the capacity to permanently ban specific consoles used to obtain software via this exploit from the Nintendo Network.
August 2018: VR Functionality Testing Discovered in Firmware
In August 2018, a Twitter user found files on the Nintendo Switch's firmware suggesting that Nintendo was testing VR functionality for the Switch. The user was able to activate the hidden "VR Mode", which split the screen into two displays.
August 2018: Nintendo Switch Family Showdown Televised Competition
In August 2018, the Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, a televised competition produced in partnership with Disney Channel, aired, featuring families competing in challenges based on various Nintendo Switch games.
September 2018: Nintendo reaches highest quarterly result in 8 years
During July–September 2018, Nintendo's operating profit increased by 30% due to strong sales of the Switch and its games, helping the company achieve its highest quarterly result in 8 years.
September 2018: Nintendo Switch Online and NES Controller Style Joy-Con Release
In September 2018, Nintendo introduced Nintendo Switch Online along with NES Controller style Joy-Con controllers.
September 2018: Hackers Run Unauthorized ROMs on NES Emulator
Shortly after the release of Nintendo Switch Online in September 2018, hackers and modders figured out how to run unauthorized ROMs on the Nintendo Switch NES emulator.
November 8, 2018: YouTube Application Released
A YouTube application was released for the Nintendo Switch on November 8, 2018.
December 2018: Nintendo Switch success in US console sales
Starting in December 2018, the Switch maintained its position as the best-selling console in the United States based on NPD Group data.
December 17, 2018: InkyPen Launched
InkyPen, a comics and manga subscription app, launched exclusively on the Nintendo Switch worldwide on December 17, 2018.
2018: Nintendo Plans to Ramp Up Switch Production in 2018
Following the financial report, in 2018, the Wall Street Journal asserted that Nintendo anticipated continuing to ramp up production of the Switch in its 2018 fiscal year, with plans to produce between 25 and 30 million units or more depending on the 2017 holiday sales.
2018: Nintendo Switch Marketing Plans
In 2018, Nintendo planned to continue their marketing campaign for the Nintendo Switch, emphasizing that it was not just a short-term launch effort, but a 15-month campaign with further plans extending into 2018.
2018: Voez Update
In 2018, the game Voez received an update that added TV mode support. Initially, the game required touchscreen controls and lacked TV mode support.
2018: Anticipated Console Production
Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa stated in 2018 that they anticipate producing 20 million Switch consoles over the 2018 fiscal year keeping the momentum of its sales in that year.
February 28, 2019: Izneo Released
Izneo, another comics and manga subscription service, was released for the Nintendo Switch on February 28, 2019.
March 2019: Nintendo's yearly profit jumps
During the fiscal year from April 2018 to March 2019, Nintendo's yearly profit increased by 39%, and annual sales rose by 14% to $10.7 billion, driven by strong software sales for the Switch.
March 2019: Labo VR Kit Unveiling
In March 2019, Nintendo unveiled a new Labo VR kit, which uses a cardboard headset and viewer placed in front of the console's screen, combined with attached accessories.
April 2019: Firmware Update Increases CPU Clock Speed
In April 2019, the 8.0.0 firmware update was released, allowing the CPU to clock up to 1785 MHz in certain games during loading to improve load times.
June 2019: Moving Production Out of China
In June 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was starting to move some of its production of the Switch and two hardware revisions of the Switch outside of China and into Southeast Asia to limit the impact of new United States tariffs on electronics made in China.
July 2019: Class action lawsuit filed against Nintendo over Joy-Con drift
In July 2019, a class action lawsuit was filed against Nintendo concerning a joystick defect in the console's Joy-Con controllers, known as "drift."
July 2019: FCC notification and reports of new Switch models surface.
In July 2019, a notification from Nintendo alerting the Federal Communications Commission of changes to the Switch's hardware were used as evidence for a new model. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and The Nikkei also claimed Nintendo had plans for two new models of the Nintendo Switch.
July 2019: Nintendo Switch Lite Announcement
In July 2019, the Nintendo Switch Lite was announced. It is a revision of the Switch designed for handheld play and featuring integrated Joy-Con and a smaller screen.
July 17, 2019: Announcement of Updated Nintendo Switch
On July 17, 2019, Nintendo announced an updated version of the Nintendo Switch under model number "HAC-001(-01)" using the Tegra X1+ SoC.
August 2019: FUZE4 Released
FUZE4, a text-based programming language app, was released in August 2019.
September 2019: SNES Games and Wireless SNES Controllers Release
In September 2019, SNES games were added to Nintendo Switch Online, and wireless SNES Controllers were released.
![2 Pack Wired SNES Gamepad, iNNEXT SNES Controller Fully Compatible with Original SNES/SFC - [Plug and Play] (Gray/Purple)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513QB7vfy3L._SL500_.jpg "2 Pack Wired SNES Gamepad, iNNEXT SNES Controller Fully Compatible with Original SNES/SFC - [Plug and Play] (Gray/Purple)")
September 2019: Release of Updated Nintendo Switch in the United Kingdom
In September 2019, the updated version of the Nintendo Switch was released in the United Kingdom.
September 20, 2019: Release of Nintendo Switch Lite
On September 20, 2019, the handheld-only version of the console, the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released.
October 10, 2019: Gamevice lawsuit against Nintendo terminated
On October 10, 2019, the patent infringement lawsuit by Gamevice against Nintendo was terminated, with no violations found.
October 2019: Ring Fit Adventure Release
In October 2019, Nintendo released Ring Fit Adventure, which includes a Leg Strap for mounting a Joy-Con and the Ring-Con. The game interacts with player exercises.
November 8, 2019: Pokémon Sword and Shield Switch Lite Released
On November 8, 2019, a special Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield branded version of the Switch Lite, themed around the Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta, was launched.
December 2019: Nintendo Denies New Model Release in 2020
In December 2019, Nintendo denied any intent to release a new Nintendo Switch model in 2020, despite earlier reports and rumors.
December 2019: Nintendo obtains injunction against Team Xecuter hack distributor
In December 2019, Nintendo successfully obtained an injunction against a distributor of a hack made by Team Xecuter that allowed Switch users to run copyright-violating copies of games.
December 21, 2019: Nintendo reports on Switch Lite sales
In the Q4 fiscal earnings report ending December 21, 2019, Nintendo's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, mentioned that approximately 30% of Switch Lite sales came from existing Switch owners, and there was a higher percentage of female consumers purchasing the Lite compared to the full-size Switch.
2019: NC Games Ceases Operations
NC Games, Nintendo's local game distributor, silently went defunct around 2019.
March 2020: Gamevice patents deemed unpatentable
By March 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office had reviewed Gamevice's patents and deemed all of its claims to be unpatentable, a ruling in favor of Nintendo.
March 2020: Joy-Con drift lawsuit sent to arbitration
In March 2020, the court agreed to send the Joy-Con drift case into arbitration as outlined in the EULA for the Switch.
April 2020: System Update Adds Memory Transfer Functionality
In April 2020, the 10.0.0 system update allowed most update data, digital games, and other downloaded content to be swapped between the internal memory and a microSD card.
August 2020: Increased Sales Target
In August 2020, Nintendo reportedly raised their target for the fiscal year from 22 million units sold to 25 million units, due to increased demand from the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
October 2020: Nintendo sues Team Xecuter members
In October 2020, after members of Team Xecuter were arrested, Nintendo filed another lawsuit against one of the arrested members, Gary Bowser, on charges of trafficking and copyright infringement.
November 2020: Increased Production and Sales Targets
In November 2020, Nintendo asked its assembly partners to boost production of the Switch by 20% and raised its target goal of Switch sales for the 2020 fiscal year from 25 million units sold to 30 million units.
2020: Analyst Estimates for Nintendo Switch Sales by 2020
By 2020, analysis firms estimated that the Nintendo Switch could sell up to 40 million units, despite concerns about its high price and potential risks.
2020: 3DS Discontinuation
In 2020, the 3DS, which had remained in production as an entry-level option after the launch of the Nintendo Switch, was discontinued.
2020: Impact of Global Chip Shortage on Console Production
In 2020, the global chip shortage began impacting console production. DigiTimes claimed Nintendo planned to release a model with an improved CPU and magnesium alloy body in the second half of 2020.
February 2021: Nintendo States Switch is in the Middle of its Life Cycle
In February 2021, approximately four years after the console's release, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that "The Switch is in the middle of its life cycle".
March 22, 2021: Funimation App Launched in the UK and Ireland
On March 22, 2021, the Funimation streaming app launched for the Nintendo Switch in various other countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland.
May 7, 2021: Blue Nintendo Switch Lite Released in Europe
On May 7, 2021, a blue color version of the Nintendo Switch Lite was released in Europe.
July 6, 2021: Nintendo Announces Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
On July 6, 2021, Nintendo officially announced a new Nintendo Switch model, the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, featuring a 7-inch OLED display, 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio, a magnesium alloy body, and a wider adjustable stand. It also ships with a new dock that includes a wired LAN port.
July 2021: Nintendo Announces Nintendo Switch OLED model
In July 2021, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch OLED model, after Bloomberg stated Nintendo was preparing to release a higher-end Nintendo Switch model with an OLED screen and the ability to output a 4K resolution, and the model would release in late 2021.
August 2021: Nintendo Switch sales streak ends
In August 2021, the Nintendo Switch's 33-month streak as the best-selling console in the United States ended.
September 13, 2021: Nintendo Reduces Price of Original Switch in Europe
On September 13, 2021, ahead of the OLED version release, Nintendo reduced the base price of the original Nintendo Switch model in Europe from €329.99 to €299.99, and in the UK from £279.99 to £259.99, citing changes in currency exchange rates. North America and Australia did not receive a price cut.
September 2021: Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis Games and Controllers Release
In September 2021, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games were added to Nintendo Switch Online, along with the Expansion Pack, wireless Nintendo 64 Controllers, and Sega Genesis Control Pads.
September 2021: Full Bluetooth Wireless Headphone Support
In September 2021, a system update fully resolved the issue of Bluetooth headphone support by enabling support for Bluetooth Wireless headphone devices without the need for a USB adapter.
September 2021: PlayStation 5 breaks Nintendo Switch's sales streak
In September 2021, the PlayStation 5 broke the Nintendo Switch's streak as the best-selling console in the United States.
October 8, 2021: Release of Higher-End Nintendo Switch with OLED Screen
On October 8, 2021, a higher-end version of the Nintendo Switch featuring an OLED screen was released.
October 2021: Expansion Pack Adds N64 and Sega Genesis Games
In October 2021, a paid expansion pack was released for Nintendo Switch Online, adding support for an expanding library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games. The expansion pack also includes access to some paid downloadable content.
November 5, 2021: Pokémon Dialga and Palkia Limited Edition Switch Lite Released
On November 5, 2021, a special Pokémon Dialga and Palkia limited edition Nintendo Switch Lite was released, paying homage to the Nintendo DS Lite Dialga and Palkia edition.
November 11, 2021: Twitch App Launched
A version of the Twitch app launched for the Nintendo Switch on November 11, 2021, in most regions worldwide, allowing users to watch live or recorded content.
2021: PCMag wrote of the Nintendo Switch Lite's comfort
In 2021, PCMag wrote, "As a handheld game system, the Switch feels large but comfortable. It's thicker than a tablet but much thinner than the Wii U gamepad, and far more natural to hold.
February 28, 2022: Nintendo Launches "Missions and Rewards" System
On February 28, 2022, Nintendo launched a "Missions and Rewards" system for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. This allows them to complete missions to earn Platinum Points, which can be spent on icon parts from different Nintendo games and franchises.
December 2022: Report Claims Upgraded Switch Model No Longer in Development
In December 2022, Digital Foundry claimed that any upgraded Nintendo Switch model was no longer in development, and that Nintendo instead is focusing on the system's successor.
2022: Leak of Nvidia Tegra T239 specifications
In 2022, the specifications of the new console's system on a chip, the Nvidia Tegra T239, were leaked in the Nvidia ransomware attack by Lapsus$.
2022: Briefing on the Switch NG
In late 2022, Activision was briefed about the "Switch NG" (NG for next generation), with its performance stated to be similar to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
February 2023: Game Boy Advance Games Added to Expansion Pass
In February 2023, Nintendo added Game Boy Advance (GBA) games to the Nintendo Switch Online expansion pass.
July 2023: Industry rumors of a new console emerge
In July 2023, rumors of a new Nintendo console emerged as several of Nintendo's development partners reported receiving development kits for this new system.
2023: Sharp Corporation providing LCD screens
Since mid-2023, Sharp Corporation has been providing Nintendo with LCD screens for the new console, likely 8-inch screens.
January 2024: Analyst predicts price for new Nintendo console
In January 2024, an analyst for Kantan Games stated that the "pro" model of the Switch should be seen as an iteration rather than a revolution, likely priced at $400, with new games costing $70.
January 2024: Twitch App Discontinued
The Twitch app was discontinued in January 2024.
February 2024: Nintendo delays release of the new console
By February 2024, sources stated Nintendo had informed partners of a release delay into early 2025 to ensure sufficient supply and combat scalping.
July 2024: Switch Becomes Longest-Running Nintendo Console
In July 2024, the Switch became Nintendo's longest-running console without a replacement system, surpassing the seven-year period for the NES.
September 2024: Altec Lansing's guess for Nintendo Switch release date
In January 2024, Altec Lansing had issued a press release that claimed the Switch successor would be out in September 2024, which their social media later claimed was just a guess.
September 26, 2024: Legend of Zelda Themed Nintendo Switch Lite Released
On September 26, 2024, a special gold colored edition of the Switch Lite based on The Legend of Zelda was released, coinciding with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. These units also came bundled with a 12-month membership to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
December 2024: Nintendo Switch software sales exceed 1.3 billion
As of December 2024, total software sales for the Nintendo Switch exceeded 1.3 billion. Doug Bowser of Nintendo of America noted an attach rate of over 8 games purchased per unit in its first four years.
2024: Tom's Guide wrote of the Nintendo Switch's popularity
In 2024, Richard Priday of Tom's Guide wrote, "Even though the Nintendo Switch is now several years old, it's still just as popular as its newer, more powerful rivals. With some of the best game franchises as exclusives and some unique hardware, it's a console you can't ignore."
December 31, 2024: Top selling games for Nintendo Switch
As of December 31, 2024, the top-selling games for the Nintendo Switch platform were recorded.
December 31, 2024: Nintendo Switch sales and market position
As of December 31, 2024, Nintendo shipped 150.86 million Switch units, with 96.18 million original Switch units, 25.27 million Switch Lite units, and 29.40 million Switch OLED units. It became Nintendo's best-selling home video game console, surpassing all but the Nintendo DS, and also surpassed other game consoles except for the DS and PlayStation 2.
January 2025: Accessories showcased for upcoming console at Consumer Electronics Show
In January 2025, several vendors showcased accessories for the upcoming console at the Consumer Electronics Show, along with reports of a planned April 2025 launch.
January 16, 2025: Nintendo Switch 2 formally revealed
On January 16, 2025, the successor console, the Nintendo Switch 2, was formally revealed, with a planned 2025 release. A Nintendo Direct is planned on April 2 for further details, and like with the Switch, several hands-on events will be offered in worldwide locations in the second half of April.
February 2025: Nintendo plans to support the original Switch after Switch 2's release
During the company's quarterly earnings report in February 2025, Furukawa stated that Nintendo intends to continue supporting the original Switch console after the Switch 2's release based on consumer demand.
April 2025: Reports of a planned launch date for new console
In January 2025, there were reports of a planned April 2025 launch for the new console.
2025: Netflix Not Available
As of 2025, Netflix is not available on the Nintendo Switch.
2025: Nintendo Switch 2 Scheduled for Release
In 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2, which is planned to be backward compatible with most Switch games, is scheduled for release.
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