Nintendo can’t delay upgrading the internals of its Switch hybrid console much longer if the latest rumor is to be believed. Nvidia is apparently preparing to end production of its Tegra X1 Mariko processor this year—the chip found at the heart of every Switch today.
As Gamereactor reports, “a person familiar with the matter” has stated Nvidia will stop making the Tegra X1+, better known as the Tegra X1 Mariko system on a chip (SoC), at some point in 2021. It means Nintendo would no longer have access to a fresh supply unless, of course, it upgraded the Switch to use an alternative SoC. The Japanese company can, however, ensure it orders enough Mariko chips to fulfill its short-term needs.
Currently, both the Switch and the Switch Lite use the Mariko processor. If this production rumor turns out to be true, then Nintendo will already have a plan in place to either update both models or replace them completely with what’s widely referred to as a Switch Pro. Nintendo would also need to produce a Switch Pro Lite if it intended to stick with the two model approach.
Last week, we heard reports of a new Switch model launching later this year with a larger, 7-inch 720p OLED display and upgraded internal components allowing for 4K visuals when the console is docked. The OLED panels are being supplied by Samsung and shipping begins in June, suggesting we could see the console launch over the summer. With that in mind, we may see the Switch Pro launch just as Nintendo starts to run low on Mariko processors and quietly phases out both existing Switch models.
