Nintendo Denies Speculation Surrounding A New Console
Nintendo’s Switch OLED model has been slated to launch on October 8, 2021, and it costs $50 more than the original Switch. While every detail of this new console seems to be settled, the steep price increase has aroused strong antipathy from its customer.
Last week, Bloomberg also reported that Nintendo’s “big price hike” was not justifiably reflected by the technical improvements of the OLED model. Even with the new Switch’s seven-inch OLED display from Samsung Display Co, the increased storage and other added components, such as the new console stand and LAN port, it should only cost an additional $10 to manufacture. The aversion has got to the point that the company shares dropped roughly 5% since the announcement last week.
In response to the “accusation,” Nintendo has referred to those claims as “incorrect” in one of its recent Tweets.
We also want to clarify that we just announced that Nintendo Switch(OLED Model) will launch in October, 2021, and have no plans for launching any other model at this time. (2/2)
— 任天堂株式会社(企業広報・IR) (@NintendoCoLtd) July 19, 2021
“A news report on July 15, 2021(JST) claimed that the profit margin of the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) would increase compared to the Nintendo Switch,” Nintendo stated. “To ensure correct understanding amoung our investors and customers, we want to make clear that the claim is incorrect. (1/2)”
Meanwhile, Nintendo issued a direct clarification regarding the rumored Swithc Pro. “We also want to clarify that we just announced that Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) will launch in October, 2021, and have no plans for launching any ohter model at this time. (2/2)”
While the statement might put some people in dismay, we need to remember that Nintendo has not been very truthful when it comes to console launching. In February, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked if the company would announce a new Switch model, to which he replied, “we do not have plans to announce a new model.” However, the Switch OLED Model was magically announced just five months later.
So, stay tuned! Maybe after five months, the Switch Pro will come as a Christmas present.