We heard a few things about the planned budget and stronger Nintendo Switch models.

Nikkei reports that Nintendo’s idea is to launch the weaker Switch model in the autumn. It would still be planned for portability, but it would have a docked mode and television support as well. The autumn is still a long way off, so we don’t know anything about pricing or the name, but we called the model the Switch Lite back in March when the Wall Street Journal reported about the two new Switch models (and we discussed them, too).

The other model, which we dubbed Switch XL a month ago or so, was also mentioned by Nikkei. USGamer’s translation follows: „Beyond the smaller, budget-focused model lies the development of the overhauled next-generation model intended to replace the one currently available. Nintendo is believed to be experimenting on a number of different things for the device, including usability, improved image rendering, and changes to the operating system, among other things. One development source contends, however, that it still remains unclear at this stage who at the company will end up taking the lead on conceptual development for the new console.”

Nikkei also mentions the Quality of Life project, which was launched by a former – and since then, unfortunately deceased – CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata. This project, which was meant to be a device to improve sleep quality, got up to a prototype state and was almost completed to be revealed. However, the big N has stopped its development, and while there were internal initiatives to restart it, a spokesperson from Nintendo said that „the product wasn’t Nintendo-esque. ”

So, we might hear about the cheap, budget Nintendo Switch model during the Nintendo E3 Direct in June…

Source: Gematsu, Gamesindustry