Fantastical Nintendo Direct hardware and software leak: Switch Pro with 4K support and Nvidia DLSS 2.0 for US$399; Mario Kart 9 and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Past release dates

More than a pinch of salt may be required for this huge Nintendo-related “leak”, as it includes details, price, and launch date for a Switch Pro console and information in regard to dozens of major titles. The leak comes via a photograph of a piece of paper, so it’s about as tenuous as you can get, as just about anyone with a bit of spare time on their hands could have knocked this up. There are also a few signs that certainly point to this “internal use only” Nintendo document being simply a fan’s wishlist. Apparently, all the hardware and software information on this piece of paper (see image below) will be shared in an upcoming Nintendo Direct event, scheduled to take place on January 11 according to this document.

Straight away there is big news to be seen, with a Nintendo Switch Pro console almost ready for launch and at least apparently ready to be teased. The Switch Pro, to be released on April 23, offers support for 4K and Bluetooth, features Dock Pro and Joy con Pro, and it has a high-definition display. Sounds good so far, but how about 256 GB storage and Nvidia DLSS 2.0 technology also included (although the document has it as a typo “DLLS”)? All this for a reasonable price of US$399 too. It seems unlikely, and even though Nvidia is known to work with Nintendo on its hardware, there is some question in regard to the incorporation of DLSS 2.0 here.

Moving onto the software list, there are dozens of games mentioned, along with supposed release dates. For games from Nintendo, it seems we can expect Mario Kart 9 in spring and Fire Emblem Echoes: Path of Radiance in May. These will be joined by major releases from Ubisoft and Capcom, with Final Fantasy VII Remake coming in fall of 2021. One specific alarm bell that rings here, as pointed out by RedGamingTech, is the alleged Kingdom Hearts: Destiny’s Embrace release for 2021 when the game’s designer already hinted at a 2022 potential release for the next Kingdom Hearts game. But then of course, this whole list is more than likely fake anyway.

The final section reveals more big hitters that will either be shown off as a demo, trailer, or with gameplay footage in the purported Nintendo Direct show. Lots of sequels are mentioned: Dirt 5, Borderlands 3, Fallout 3: New Vegas, etc. There’s also another typo with “Plant’s Vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville” having an unnecessary apostrophe, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the document is fake as it could simply be a hurriedly typed-out crib sheet. It appears the show will finish on a high, with a trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of the Past. Fortunately, the January 11 time frame means we won’t have to wait for long to find out the truth.

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