Nintendo may be preparing a surprise mid-cycle hardware update for the Nintendo Switch, judging by nuggets discovered in the most recent firmware update.
Dataminers seem to have found a new folder within the 5.0 firmware upgrade presenting evidence of a new hardware configuration codenamed ‘Makiro’.
As Atherios on the ResetEra forum points out, the Switchbrew dataminers found evidence a revision will feature the Tegra 214 processor, which would replace the current Tegra 210 SoC.
This maybe be because the 210 is deemed vulnerable to hacking, but could also bring some slight performance improvements.
More RAM?
Meanwhile, other parts of the 5.0 firmware suggest Nintendo may double the RAM from 4GB to 8GB.
However, researcher Mike Heskin cautions this model may be intended for developers and won’t be included in consumer consoles.
Related: Upcoming Switch games 2018
As IGN points out, the current devkit models have 64GB RAM compared with the 32GB models sold to the public.
Found very strong evidence of a whole new PCB and 8GB memory for new T214 Switch (Mariko):https://t.co/qGRBeDB5mf
— Mike Heskin (@hexkyz) March 18, 2018
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Nintendo is not planning to launch new hardware in 2018, so this would likely be a silent update rather than one openly touted by the company.
Such updates are common during console cycles, so this wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to seasoned onlookers.
Last month Nintendo said it doesn’t plan to replace the console in the next five years, ruling out a full Switch 2 release and time soon.
In an investor call legendary Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said: “When you think about what can be done with the Nintendo Switch as a device that can be taken on the go and that every person has in their hands to play, you realise it has many features not available on any other hardware to date.
“Nintendo also has a system in place whereby the software developers focus on these hardware features in their development efforts for the continuation of the Nintendo Switch business.”
Which Switch game are you most excited for in 2018? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
