By Takashi Mochizuki
Nintendo Co. announced a new Switch gaming device for release Oct. 8, a long-awaited $350 gadget that will succeed its popular console and likely catalyze a wave of new software and holiday season sales.
The new device marks the first hardware upgrade to the console originally released in 2017 for $299. It features a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64 gigabytes of internal storage and enhanced audio, according to a statement from the company Tuesday.
The Kyoto-based games maker broke with convention when it introduced the Switch, a hybrid console capable of connecting to a TV at home as well as being used as an independent mobile device. Sales of the machine have been consistently strong. The Covid-19 pandemic combined with runaway hit Animal Crossing: New Horizons supercharged demand throughout 2020.
Nintendo introduced a mobile-only Switch Lite in late 2019 as a more affordable $199 option. Cumulatively, the Switch family has sold 85 million units worldwide as of March 31.
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa said in May that the Switch’s sales momentum is unprecedented in the company’s 131-year history. He signaled confidence that the pace could be maintained or even…
