A new prototype of the Nintendo Switch has leaked online, giving Nintendo fans an early look at the console. On Twitter, Nintendo enthusiast Forest of Illusion recently revealed that he got a Nintendo Switch console from a seller in Hong Kong dating back to April 2016, almost a year before the Nintendo Switch was released and not long before it went into effect Production. And as Forest of Illusion points out, it is the oldest model of the Nintendo Switch found so far.
As you can see in the pictures below, there is not much difference between the final product and this prototype, although it has different volume buttons and screws.
“We got a Nintendo Switch (EDEV) system from a vendor in Hong Kong,” says the Twitter post revealing the discovery. “The unit is from around April 2016, making it the oldest switch to be found so far, before launching in retail in almost an entire year. The data (factory test files) cannot be released because it is very recent, but all files were safely backed up and the system was sent to someone for protection. Some other noteworthy things are the different screws, volume buttons and being referred to as DPRD. “
The data (factory test files) cannot be released because it is very recent, but all files were backed up and the system was sent to someone to keep them safe. Some other noteworthy things are the different screws, volume buttons and being referred to as DPRD. pic.twitter.com/SqdB75npbu
– Forest of Illusion (@forestillusion) February 15, 2021
At the time of publication, it is not clear how much the prototype costs and it is not clear whether games can be played on it. That said, at the time, Nintendo did not recognize the machine in any capacity and, at this point, it probably will not.
For more coverage on everything related to Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch – including all the latest news, rumors and leaks – click here or check out the relevant links below: