New upgraded Nintendo Switch consoles could come as early as September

The gaming console has been around since March 2017 and now it looks as though it is getting a makeover

An upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch is expected to be released in September or October. Getty Images 

It was the gaming console of the pandemic and now it appears as though Nintendo is getting ready to release an upgraded Nintendo Switch relatively soon, according to Bloomberg.

People familiar with Nintendo’s plans say that assembly for the new console could start as soon as July for sales in September or October for the last quarter of the year.

They also say that the new Switch will likely be priced higher than the $299 original. It will be sold along with the Switch Lite ($199), with plans for the standard Switch to be phased out over time.

While there's been no official announcement yet, Bloomberg believes the news could be unveiled ahead of the E3 conference on June 12 to "allow publishers to showcase their full range of Switch games at the global event".

As previously reported by the network, the new Switch is said to feature a larger seven-inch, 720p OLED touchscreen and 4K output thanks to an upgraded Nvidia chip (offering "better graphics and processing").

The first Nintendo Switch released in March 2017. It's a hybrid console that can be used at home or as a portable device. It features wireless Joy-Con controllers that attach to both sides of the console to support hand-held play.

Although it came out years ago, it hit peak popularity around the beginning of the pandemic, in April 2020, as more people were self-isolating and staying at home.

At one point during the pandemic, because of production delays, the consoles were not only incredibly difficult to find but were also selling at inflated prices because of the shortage. It even sold out in its home country Japan, leading Nintendo to issue an official apology.

Games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, as well as Nintendo's slate of Mario Bros games, helped boost its popularity.