Nintendo has released its fiscal year 2026 financial report, which reveals a significant 23.7 percent increase in research and development expenses. The company spent 177.8 billion yen on R&D during this period, up from 144.6 billion yen in the previous fiscal year. This sharp rise in spending has reignited speculation about new hardware variants for the Switch 2 console.
Historical precedents suggest new hardware revisions are likely
Industry observers point to historical precedents to support these rumors. A similar 25 percent increase in R&D spending occurred between fiscal years 2023 and 2024, shortly before the original Switch 2 launched in June 2025. Additionally, datamines from January 2026 uncovered an 'OSM' reference within the Nintendo Account portal, which further fueled community speculation about upcoming model revisions.
Some gamers believe Nintendo is developing a Switch 2 OLED or Lite model based on these financial trends and past product cycles. However, there is no official confirmation of these specific models in the current report. Former Nintendo marketers Kit and Krysta suggested on a podcast that a Switch 2 Lite could carry a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $350, but this remains an unofficial suggestion rather than a confirmed announcement.
Bloomberg previously reported that Nintendo may introduce console revisions if sales lag, potentially including a more affordable alternative to the standard model. The company has not confirmed the launch window for any new hardware variants. Nintendo has not provided details regarding specific features or release dates for potential Switch 2 OLED or Lite devices.
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