Nintendo is reportedly working on a smaller, more portable Switch

Supposedly coming this year.
 By 
Kellen Beck
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Nintendo might be working on a new, smaller version of the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo is reportedly planning on releasing a more portable iteration of the Nintendo Switch as early as this year, according to a report from Japanese publication Nikkei and a thorough translation from Nintendo Everything.

The rumor comes from multiple industry sources in both distribution and game development who say they were informed by Nintendo about the plans for a new console.

"We have nothing to announce on this topic," Nintendo of America noted when asked about the rumors.

The new version of the Switch will be smaller with a bigger focus on portability than the current version of the Switch, according to Nintendo Everything's translation. This new Switch may also have some features cut "to reduce the price" and "expand the user base."

What these features are, we don't know. It could forgo the dock entirely and just exist as a mobile console, or perhaps the new Switch may not have detachable Joy-Con controllers.

As far as portability goes, while the current Switch is a mobile console, it doesn't exactly fit into most people's pockets or small bags. The new version might be small enough to carry around without requiring a larger bag or carrying case.

Aside from a new Switch console, the report mentions that there will be some sort of improvement made on the Switch online service, but there isn't much more information around that detail right now. This could mean an improvement to Nintendo Online infrastructure, more online content, or something else entirely.

We'll see what happens later this year, hopefully.

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Kellen Beck

Kellen is a science reporter at Mashable, covering space, environmentalism, sustainability, and future tech. Previously, Kellen has covered entertainment, gaming, esports, and consumer tech at Mashable. Follow him on Twitter @Kellenbeck

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