Looking Ahead | How Apple Will Position Its New Game Console Hardware Lineup

Apple is coming for Nintendo with its own lineup of gaming consoles. However, Apple will set up its push into gaming with an existing product line.

The iPod touch will be positioned in Apple’s gaming hardware lineup and will basically be Apple’s Nintendo Switch Lite competitor, which according to people familiar with the matter “will knock in the market share” that the Switch Lite currently holds.

Apple is keeping the iPod name alive because of the future gaming device lineup. The March 2019 renewal of the iPod trademark lasting until 2029 reads “Portable electronic game player” when it previously read “Portable electronic music player.” Apple made this move in March of 2019 when the company began sending the gaming device to select developers.

Sources say there will be multiple models, not just one – imagine an iPod mini, iPod, and iPod Pro.

The first two could be positioned to compete with the Switch Lite and original Switch, while Apple’s main hybrid console could be competing with the original Switch and the new Switch OLED.

Unfortunately, it has been said Apple will not feature a Joy-Con-like design, and will instead be closer to Nintendo’s Switch Lite. But this is not confirmed.

The COVID-19 pandemic that began here in the United States in March 2020 has put major halts on Apple’s plans. Apple had hoped to hold a large gaming event in October 2021 including the announcement of the delayed Apple mixed reality headset, along with the new iPod devices, Apple Arcade+, and the new hybrid gaming device.

Apple employees even said the event was highly anticipated as it was going to be Apple’s first in-person event since September 2019. That was canceled in August due to the large spike of COVID cases across the country. Apple didn’t want to risk safety, so all of the big gaming announcements have been pushed back into 2022, along with the mixed reality headset.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]