Nintendo Switch 2 or Switch Pro release date, specs: SoC and memory upgrades hinted at a new FCC filing

Nintendo has yet to confirm reports about its plans to launch a new Nintendo Switch console in the coming months. However, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing from the video game company was recently discovered showing a device that carries a change in the system-on-chip and memory.

New Nintendo Switch likely to sport upgraded SoC and memory

The FCC filing appears to have been submitted last Aug. 23 with the company asking certification for some hardware tweaks as demonstrated in the document. One of the documents shows a teardown of the device where the changes will be applied.

In the PDF file found here, Nintendo specifically shows a “Change of SoC” and “Change of Memory.” The company further explains that these adjustments will also require a change in the CPU board. No other details in the technical specifications were mentioned. The filing, unsurprisingly, does not identify the device by its product name, so it is still not guaranteed that this refers to the Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Pro.

The documents, however, indicate that these changes will be applied to a device with model number HAT-002. In comparison, the first Nintendo Switch console is identified as HAC-001 and its newer version that came out last year was given the model number HAC-001(-01). This is quite a significant information as it signifies that the world still has not seen a next-generation Switch. It is also less likely referring to a new Nintendo Switch Lite since its original model number is HDH-001.

Will Nintendo announce a Switch during the rumored general Direct in September?

The discovery of the FCC filing comes at the heels of reports that the potential Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch Pro is already being discussed by the video game company. While Nintendo has yet to finalize its technical specifications, it is reportedly eyeing a release window in early 2021.

All these leaks and insider reports are also coming out around the same time that a general Nintendo Direct, or something similar, is rumored to happen in September. It then begs the question of whether or not the world would be seeing its first glimpse at the next Nintendo Switch generation sooner than they expect.