Apple is developing its own “Nintendo Switch style gaming console” with a hybrid design that “will outperform anything that Microsoft or Sony offers in 2021,” according to one very sketchy report citing unnamed sources.
The company has games “rivaling” Nintendo hits The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey that are “almost ready to go” to showcase the device, which will supposedly be powered by Apple Silicon.
Apple to take on Nintendo Switch?
The Switch has been a huge success for Nintendo, with a whopping 89 million units sold since the device made its debut. It’s yet to catch up with the insanely popular Nintendo Wii, but it has surpassed the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Despite this, the Switch has seen little competition in the hybrid gaming space. Aside from the upcoming Steam Deck from Valve, which will be the latest to attempt to make portable PC gaming a success, the Switch has no real rivals.
One rather insane rumor claims that will soon change with a hybrid game console from Apple.
Apple wants to ‘take the industry by storm’
“New info that I have sourced is saying Apple is working on ‘their take of a premium hybrid gaming console’ and that ‘games rivaling Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey’ are almost ready to go,” reports iDropNews.
The device will be more powerful than the latest consoles from Microsoft and Sony, writes Alexiander Angel, despite its portable form factor. “Bringing their own gaming console to take the industry by storm is Apple’s goal here.”
The report points to a 2019 Apple patent that revealed the company was exploring “a Joy-Con-like” device to back up its crazy claims. It goes on to suggest Apple could release the product soon.
Don’t get your hopes up
In case you weren’t already thinking it, these claims are unbelievably sketchy, and we recommend taking them with a large bucket of salt. So many aspects make little sense.
For instance, it’s unlikely Apple would develop its own game console — especially one that competes with iPhone and iPad in the mobile space. And one that’s more powerful than the latest home consoles? In a portable design? Sheesh.
The report also suggests Apple console’s could cost between $449 and $549. That’s at least $100 more than the newest Nintendo Switch model. One of the reasons for the Switch’s incredible success is that it’s affordable.
You’d be crazy to pay even $449 for an Apple console that cannot compete with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in game support — not to mention features like Xbox Game Pass. I’m sure Apple knows that.
And something about a new Apple TV
The same report also claims the next Apple TV will feature a slimmer design with an aluminum chassis and a plexiglass surface — like the original. It also suggests the device could come in different colors, much like the M1 iMac.
In case you were wondering, iDropNews doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to Apple rumors. Its last “exclusive” came in 2017, when it reported that iPhone X would actually be called “iPhone Edition.”
