Nintendo reportedly has high-end and low-end Switch consoles in the works

Nintendo released the Switch just over two years ago, in March 2017, and it's not going anywhere. But it may soon have some company.

There are reportedly two separate Switch hardware revisions in the works, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. They could be released as early as summer 2019, presumably following an announcement at the annual E3 trade show, which happens in June.

While this info definitely lives in "rumor" territory, there are reasons to believe it. For one, the WSJ is an established media outlet and a trusted source of news -- including scoops like this one. The report also cites multiple sources -- "parts suppliers and software developers for Nintendo who have access to a prototype of the machine" -- so it's not just one, lone voice doing the anonymous talking.

That said, keep your salt shaker close. It's not official until Nintendo makes it so.

The report notes that one revised Switch would bring to consumers a smaller and cheaper alternative to Nintendo's hit console, with an eye toward maximum portability. Such offerings aren't without precedent for Nintendo; the 2DS is an intentional "downgrade" of the 3DS, delivering a cheaper and more friendly option aimed at the younger segment of Nintendo's audience.

It's worth noting that WSJ's sources suggested that the cheaper option could serve as a successor to the 3DS, Nintendo's mega-popular handheld system that first released way back in 2011.

The other revised Switch would be more of a "premium" option, not entirely unlike the Pro and X variants of Sony and Microsoft's PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, respectively. That pricier option would sport "enhanced features targeted at avid video gamers." WSJ's sources note that while the premium Switch wouldn't quite hit the power levels of the PS4 or Xbox One, its very existence would be aimed at helping Nintendo better compete with the Sony and Microsoft offerings.

There's no sense of what prices might look like for these releases, though the current (and only) Switch retails for around $300 in most places. The report notes that for the cheaper hardware specifically, certain underused features -- such as the console's "HD Rumble" -- may be removed.

It should be mentioned: there's some element of mystery here. The WSJ report indicates that there's been a months-long build-up around whatever Nintendo's plan is, and the rumored hardware revisions may not compare as easily to examples like the 2DS or PS4 Pro/Xbox One X as it seems on the surface.

Nintendo’s suppliers and game developers have been talking with their investors about the new Switch machines for several months. People who have used the devices say they aren’t just similar-looking new versions with a higher or lower performance.

Whatever that means!

I know I said this already, but I'll say it again: none of this is confirmed. The fact that WSJ's sources include hardware suppliers and developers (plural, on both counts) is hard to ignore. All signs point to Nintendo planning a big year for Switch, and for that party to start at or around E3.