Switch Pro will reportedly launch in September, replace standard model
New console is said to be priced at more than $300, will sell alongside Switch Lite as original is phased out
Fresh reports of an upgraded Nintendo Switch have emerged, suggesting the new console model could not only launch in September but also take over from the original version.
Bloomberg reports assembly of the new device will begin in July, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Launch is said to be slated for September or October, with an announcement expected before E3 begins on June 12.
No new details on the technology it will feature were given, but its suggested the console will be sold for more than $299, the price point of the original.
Nintendo will continue selling the lower-priced handheld-only Switch Lite but the report claims the platform holder will phase out the standard Switch model after the Pro launches.
It's previously been reported the console would be assembled at an initial rate of one million units per month. Bloomberg now reports production is expected to increase during the fourth quarter, subject to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage.
Nintendo declined to comment.
Rumours of a Switch Pro -- the assumed name for the device, although the final moniker is reportedly now known to select staff at Nintendo -- have been doing the rounds for years, but have ramped up during the past few months.
In March, it was reported that the device would have a seven-inch OLED screen supplied by Samsung, which will reduce battery consumption and offer 720p resolution.
It's also expected to use Nvidia's new graphic chip and Deep Learning Super Sampling, offering 4K graphics when played via the TV in order to better compete with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Back in February, following Nintendo's FYQ3 financial results, president Shuntaro Furukawa said the Switch was in the "middle of its lifecycle."
Across both the standard and Lite models, Switch has sold nearly 85 million units worldwide and is expected to surpass the Wii's lifetime sales of 101 million units later this year.
Update: Our sister site Eurogamer has confirmed these reports with its own sources, adding that the reason for the imminent announcement is so third-party developers can announce Switch Pro releases during E3.