The thing with the fast-paced hi-tech world that we live in is that products become “obsolete” very fast. A top of the line computer purchased today could easily feel “old” the instant the next-generation GPU or CPU comes out, and give it 1-2 years and suddenly it’s no longer the best money can buy.
The same can be said for consoles, where companies tout how great their new systems are, only to replace them a few years later with the next best thing. However the good news is that for the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo is thinking long-term. Speaking to Nikkei (via Gaming Bolt), Nintendo’s President Tatsumi Kimishima revealed that they will support the console for longer than 5-6 years, which is the traditional life cycle of a console.
Exactly how long they plan on supporting it for remains to be seen, and Kimishima did not dive into details as to how they plan on keeping the console viable for that long either. It is possible that somewhere in the middle Nintendo could release an updated model with newer specs, but will follow what Sony and Microsoft have done with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, where developers can’t make games that will preclude the original Switch.
Either way it’s probably too early to start worrying and for now Nintendo doesn’t really have much to worry about. It was recently confirmed that the console managed to outsell the Wii U’s lifetime sales in less than a year.
Filed in . Read more about Nintendo and Nintendo Switch.