Nintendo Switch Pro4K Report denied by Nintendo — but we didn't buy it

Nintendo Switch Pro4K Report denied by Nintendo — but we didn't buy it

Nintendo quickly denied reports that it was developing a 4K resolution Nintendo Switch Pro just days before the release of the new Nintendo Switch OLED.

When the OLED model was announced, many Nintendo fans were left disappointed that it did not include the strongly rumored 4K support. However, Bloomberg reports that 4K support was initially planned, and more than 11 game makers worldwide are in possession of the 4K toolkit provided by Nintendo.

Eleven different sources seem pretty conclusive that this is (or could have been) part of Nintendo's plans. However, Nintendo has dashed any hope of an imminent launch of the Nintendo Switch Pro by denying it in strong terms on Twitter:

So what is going on?

While it is certainly possible that 11 different sources were misquoted or misinformed, it is worth looking carefully at the denials. Nintendo simply denies that it is "supplying tools to promote the development of a 4K-capable Nintendo DS." It is not denying that Nintendo has done so far.

Similarly, saying "Nintendo Switch - no plans for new models other than OLED models" is not the same as saying "we have never planned a 4K Nintendo Switch."

This may seem like a minor semantic quibble, but it could be very significant in explaining how forthright the company is. Note that Nintendo emphasizes "our investors and customers" as the audience it is trying to communicate with in this tweet. Nintendo customers who want to get their hands on the latest and greatest Switch may shy away if they hear that a follow-on console may be in the works, which is, of course, bad news for the aforementioned investors.

Of the 11 companies reported by Bloomberg, only one was named: Zynga. After this article was published, an official denial by Zynga's Sarah Ross was updated: "To be clear, Zynga does not have a 4K developer kit from Nintendo. Again, this is not the same as saying "Zynga has never had a 4K developer kit from Nintendo."

In any case, whether the Switch Pro never existed or was simply cancelled, the result is the same for gamers: they will be able to play the Switch Pro on the Nintendo 4K.

A full review will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, a hands-on preview of the Nintendo Switch OLED will help you decide whether to buy the current model or wait for an update.

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