New Nintendo Switch 2 rumors paint console as either dockless hybrid or dividable dual-screen handheld

There will be plenty of Nintendo Switch 2 rumors flying around over the coming months, and two more have now turned up. One comes via a not-exactly trustworthy source while the other comes from a patent originally created by Nintendo itself. The first rumor states that the Switch 2 will be a dockless hybrid that will “keep the same button structure as Super Famicom” and feature the same display size as the Switch (6.2-in LCD; 7-in OLED model) but at a lower weight. This rather far-fetched rumor also claims that the name for the console is actually Nintendo Super Play.

While there could be some argument for Nintendo either losing the dock or modifying the part into a more versatile feature, the suggested name certainly throws up some red flags. There’s also the mention of the next-generation Switch being “linked to existing Switch series chips”, which the tipster Connor translates as “traditional Switch series chip integration”. This seems to confirm the expected presence of an Nvidia Tegra-family chip for the Nintendo Switch 2/Nintendo Super Play, with the T239 SoC currently being the main suspect for the job.

Fortunately, the second rumor is based on a patent application filed by Nintendo itself and was recently shared by GameRant. Of course, it’s worth noting from the start that many patented devices don’t come to market, but this is still an interesting glimpse of what Nintendo may have been considering for either the Switch 2 or even a DS handheld successor. Drawings in the patent show a dual-screen device with hinges, something that has also been connected with the Nintendo Switch 2 lately. However, it appears that the two displays can be split apart, allowing for multiplayer use via wireless communication between the two parts.

Buy Nintendo Switch Joy-Con on Amazon