Nintendo has announced its new console, the Nintendo Switch. The reveal trailer above is the official first look at the console/mobile hybrid.
Rumored for quite some time, the formerly known Nintendo NX, is officially named the Nintendo Switch and will release March 2017.
The trailer puts credibility to the many rumors that indicated Nintendo’s next console being both a console and a mobile platform. The core system is a tablet that can be slotted into a docking station which will allow games on the tablet to be displayed to a TV through an HDMI output. The docking station will also charge the tablet.
The trailer shows two controllers, officially called Joy-Cons by Nintendo, that can be used a multitude
of ways. The Joy-Cons can be attached to the sides of the tablet unit, or used wirelessly in both hands or wirelessly while attached to an accessory called the Joy-Con Grip, which allows for a more traditional use. There will also be a more traditional controller, not dissimilar in style to the Wii U’s pro controller, that can be used with the Nintendo Switch. The trailer also showed the Joy-Con’s being used separately as individual controllers, to play split screen games.
The console will be using cartridges called Game Cards, as the physical method for game playing. On a Polygon article a Nintendo Representative stated that the console will not be compatible with Nintendo 3DS cartridges. Nintendo has not commented on whether or not it will have a digital method of delivering games, such as an online store front.
The reveal trailer above shows a myriad of games being played on the switch. The officially confirmed
Nintendo Switch game, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, was shown along with other yet to be announced first party titles, such as a new Mario game, a new Mario Kart, and either a port or sequel to Splatoon. Third party games were also on display such as Elder Scroll’s Skyrim and an NBA 2k, neither of which have been confirmed releases by their respective publishers, Bethesda and Take Two, for the Nintendo Switch.
NVidia has confirmed in a blog post that the Nintendo will be powered by a custom Nvidia Tegra Processor, the same line of processor that powers NVidia’s line of android consoles and mobile systems.
Other than the information mentioned, not many details are known about the Nintendo Switch. Details such as the battery life, an important factor when gaging the capability of a portable device, are still left in the air. And beside the inclusion of an NVidia Tegra Processor, not much is known about the technical specifications of the Nintendo Switch. The price of the system also remains a mystery. All of these things can be revealed by Nintendo within the months approaching the Nintendo Switch’s launch date of March 2017.
