Nintendo has printed a brand new patent that might level to its subsequent iteration of Labo VR for its long-awaited Swap successor.
Whereas information of the corporate’s subsequent Swap console is predicted “inside this fiscal yr,” Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa stated in Might, rumors nevertheless counsel the corporate has delayed launch to early 2025, which has solely fueled hypothesis amongst Nintendo acolytes hoping for what guarantees to be a much bigger, higher Swap.
Now, Nintendo has printed a patent (Japanese) that seems to be a VR add-on just like its Labo VR package first launched in 2019, which allowed customers to basically ‘construct’ a VR show add-on to be used in experimental mini-games, and for enjoying a handful of conventional Swap titles in 3D.
Known as an “auxiliary gadget and stereoscopic picture show system,” the patent describes a “transportable foremost unit that shows a stereoscopic picture, and an auxiliary gear that assists the consumer in viewing the stereoscopic picture.”
In contrast to Labo VR, which was primarily made from cardboard and featured a free slot to deal with Swap, the patent reveals off a extra refined clip-in mechanism that extra securely cradles the console. Photographs additionally present the console with controllers hooked up, with patent literature describing how a consumer holds it within the their left and proper fingers.
Some pictures present the gadget with out controllers, nevertheless no such headstrap configuration is specified—basically positioning it to work like Nintendo’s 2019 Labo VR, albeit with out point out of the optionally available ‘Toy-Con’ recreation equipment supplied at launch.
So, not a VR headset as such, however an encouraging improvement contemplating Nintendo hasn’t absolutely invested in XR tech with a standalone headset launch, like Meta Quest 3 or its new Quest 3S, which was launched earlier this month beginning at $300.
Revisiting Labo VR with a follow-up gadget for its new Swap doesn’t appear that far-fetched although, because the package extensively bought out at retailers at launch, and used Swap in modern, patently Nintendo methods.
Nonetheless, we’re taking this (and any patent) with a grain of salt. A mantra value remembering: each product has a patent, however not each patent has a product.
