As we move deeper into 2024, anticipation is building for an official announcement from Nintendo for their next console release.
Their previous tentpole, the Nintendo Switch, has become the third best-selling gaming console of all-time, with more than 135 million units sold since its release in 2017. The console has revolutionised hybrid gaming with its ability to be played both at home or on the go.
As it nears the end of its lifespan as Nintendo’s premier gaming device, speculation is increasing over the company’s next step.
On Tuesday, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said in a post on X that the company will make an announcement about the Switch's successor during this fiscal year. However, he added that there will be a Nintendo showcase in June but that “there will be no mention of the Nintendo Switch successor during that presentation”.
So while Nintendo has yet to offer any other detail about its next version of the Switch, which will most likely be named the Switch 2, there are rumours circulating about what's in store after multiple leaks.
Here’s what we know so far about the Switch 2:
Design and games
The current Switch came after the disastrous Wii U, which launched in 2012. The Wii U had a similar design but was bulky and did not function well as a portable console.
The Switch, on the other hand, can be dismantled and reconfigured to suit different needs.
A recently leaked patent filed by Nintendo shows the supposed Switch 2. It looks very similar to the company’s previous portable consoles DS and the 3DS. The patent shows at least three screens, one on the outside and two on the inside once it is unfolded.
The design on the patent could indicate the direction the company takes with the Switch 2, being one that incorporates gameplay previously only available on the DS and 3DS.
The DS is one of Nintendo’s best-selling consoles, selling more than 154 million units since its release in 2004, followed by the 3DS which sold more than 75 million units after its release in 2011.
If the Switch 2 can play games from the already strong library of Switch games – as well as all the titles on the DS and 3DS – it would make it the strongest and most accessible console from the company yet.
According to rumours circulating from third-party Switch accessory manufacturer Mobapad, the docking function of the Switch 2's controllers may use an electromagnetic suction mechanism instead of the locking system seen in the first version. Rumours also suggest the new controllers will support rumble capabilities similar to those experienced with Sony controllers.
Capabilities
The current Nintendo Switch is relatively weak in terms of graphics when compared to powerful consoles such as Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox, both of which can play games in 4K resolution. The Switch can only play games at 1080p which has been surpassed years ago by Nintendo’s competitors.
While the Switch may be weaker in that aspect, it has still sold more than its counterparts owing to its exclusive library of games as well as its hybrid gaming capabilities.
The Switch 2 will most likely not remain stagnant though, as reports claim that the console will play games in similar quality to Sony’s previous generation console, the PlayStation 4.
On paper, this is not a significant jump for Nintendo, but when comparing the strength and capabilities of the PlayStation 4 to that of the Switch, Sony’s console still has more to offer.
If the Switch 2 is indeed as strong a console as the PlayStation 4, this presents a good opportunity for Nintendo to showcase what they can do with an upgrade in graphics.
The same rumours shared by Mobapad also suggest that the Switch 2 might be able to support backwards compatibility, allowing for players to enjoy games from the first Switch console as well as new ones. This advantage would make the Switch 2 more appealing to buyers, ensuring a seamless experience for those who already own games from the original console.
Meanwhile, according to a report by tech podcast Broken Silicon, the Switch 2's battery will last longer than its predecessor but will perform more effectively when docked and played on a television. This implies that the overall gaming experience while playing the Switch 2 on the go could be somewhat diminished.
Fanfare
There is palpable excitement from gamers, casual or seasoned, for Nintendo's next offering. The company remains loved by all ages for their popular gaming characters and reliable, fun experiences.
Going on the release cycle of the first Switch, it is likely that the Switch 2 will have an even bigger and more bombastic release. As is usual with Nintendo, the new console will be first showcased in Japan, with its features and characteristics rippling around the world.
With the first Switch, Nintendo needed to win their fans back after a divisive period with the Wii U. In contrast, fans don't need much convincing with the Switch 2, as it just needs to do what the current Switch does but better.
The biggest draw for gamers will be Nintendo's exclusives – games with characters such as Super Mario, Link and Kirby. Fans of the popular long-running Animal Crossing series can also expect a new title in the franchise, one that looks to improve on the experience of 2020's New Horizons.
Release date
With Nintendo's latest update that the Switch's successor will be announced at some point this year, it is more than likely that the console won't be released until next year.
The company could share details about the console towards the end of the year and set a release date during the first or second quarter of 2025.
There was speculation during the most recent Gamescom in August last year, that Nintendo was showing off the Switch 2 behind closed doors to some developers to demonstrate the console's capabilities.
Regardless of when the Switch 2 is released, Nintendo are determined to elongate the life and usability of its current console, the Switch, up until the point where it has to move on to its next console release.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Family reunited
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.
She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.
She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.
The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.
She was held in her native country a year later.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
SPECS
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