The world of gaming is buzzing with whispers of new consoles on the horizon, and recent news from a Chinese chipmaker is adding fuel to the fire. Weltrend, known as WeiQuan Electronics in China, has reported a surge in sales during the third quarter, thanks in part to orders for new models of PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This announcement provides a tantalizing glimpse into the future of gaming, with Sony and Nintendo already known to be working on new systems.
Sony is gearing up for the release of the PlayStation 5 Pro, a more powerful version of their current flagship console. Production is reportedly underway, with thousands of pounds of development kits shipped out in 2022. This high-end console is expected to feature ray tracing capabilities and could be released as early as holiday 2024. While Sony hasn’t officially confirmed the existence of the PS5 Pro, their substantial chip orders and the potential reveal at Tokyo Game Show 2024 next month suggest that an announcement is imminent.
Nintendo, on the other hand, appears to be taking a slightly different approach. Their next Switch iteration, tentatively called the Switch 2, is rumored to be facing a slight delay. Sources indicate that the release might not happen until Q1’25, spanning from April to June of 2025. While details on this new Switch are scarce, it’s likely to feature upgraded hardware and potentially a new form factor.
The mention of Xbox in Weltrend’s sales report is particularly intriguing. It’s unclear whether this refers to a new Xbox console refresh, such as a more powerful version of the Xbox Series X, or a new console altogether. Another possibility is that it refers to Project Keystone, a digital-only set-top box for cloud gaming that Microsoft has been developing for some time. Regardless of which Xbox system Weltrend’s statement refers to, it’s clear that Microsoft is also investing in the future of gaming.
Weltrend’s sales figures provide compelling evidence that all three major console manufacturers are gearing up for the release of new systems, promising exciting new experiences for gamers in the years to come. With the PS5 Pro potentially launching as soon as 2024, the gaming world is poised for a period of intense innovation and competition. Whether the Xbox refresh is a new console or simply a digital-only set-top box remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the future of gaming is looking brighter than ever.
