After nearly a year of rumors and patents, Nintendo finally revealed their mysterious new console today.
Codenamed NX, its official name is the Nintendo Switch . It was revealed in only a short, three minute trailer today with more information to come later on. As many have thought and rumored, it will be a hybrid console utilizing both mobile and standard TV use. The mobile portion acts as a large tablet with detachable controllers on both sides. Imagine a standard controll cut in half to allow for easier use of the buttons and triggers. You can play mobile with the controllers either detached or connected, and there is even a kick stand allowing you to prop it up.
The standard TV gameplay is the same as most consoles. According to the publisher "The Nintendo Switch system also enables gamers to play the same title wherever, whenever and with whomever they choose. The mobility of a handheld is now added to the power of a home gaming system to enable unprecedented new video game play styles."
Gaming springs into action by removing detachable Joy-Con controllers from either side of Nintendo Switch. One player can use a Joy-Con controller in each hand; two players can each take one; or multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options. They can easily click back into place or be slipped into a Joy-Con Grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, if preferred, the gamer can select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to use instead of the Joy-Con controllers. Furthermore, it is possible for numerous people to bring their Nintendo Switch systems together to enjoy local multiplayer face-to-face competition.
This also means that players on the go will be able to play online with those at home, opening up the possibilities for endless combinations of fun. You can combined multiple consoles to play local co-op and even split the controllers to utilize two player action according to the trailer. The computing power for the Switch appears to be in the portable version itself as the trailer shows people playing on the go without an obvious internet connection, indicating that the unit is self contained. While at home, the Switch plugs into a docking station allowing the use of a standard gaming controller and television play.
“Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO, Nintendo of America. “It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries.”
If you paid attention to the trailer, you saw games like NBA 2K and Skyrim played on the console as well. A number of third party publishers have signed onto developing for the Switch, which is a tremendous benefit as the absence of third party support was a huge downfall for the current Wii U. In fact, there are 48 announced third party supporters of the Nintendo Switch with some surprising ones to say the least. Telltale Games is featured as well as Skyrm's creator Bethesda. Could we see Fallout on NIntendo? The full list of supporters includes
- 505 Games
- Activision Publishing, Inc.
- ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co., Ltd.
- ATLUS CO., LTD.
- Audiokinetic Inc.
- Autodesk, Inc.
- BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
- Bethesda
- CAPCOM CO., LTD.
- Codemasters®
- CRI Middleware Co., Ltd.
- DeNA Co., Ltd.
- Electronic Arts
- Epic Games Inc.
- Firelight Technologies
- FromSoftware, Inc.
- Frozenbyte
- GameTrust
- GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC．
- Gungho Online Entertainment, Inc.
- HAMSTER Corporation
- Havok
- INTI CREATES CO., LTD.
- KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
- Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
- LEVEL-5 Inc.
- Marvelous Inc.
- Maximum Games, LLC
- Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
- Parity Bit Inc.
- PlatinumGames Inc.
- RAD Game Tools, Inc.
- RecoChoku Co., Ltd.
- SEGA Games Co., Ltd.
- Silicon Studio Corporation
- Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
- SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
- Starbreeze Studios
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
- Telltale Games
- THQ Nordic
- Tokyo RPG Factory Co., Ltd.
- TT Games
- UBISOFT
- Ubitus Inc.
- Unity Technologies, Inc.
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Web Technology Corp
We'll have more on the Switch as it becomes available as details will surely be coming fast and furious in the coming months. What do you think of the new Nintendo Switch and its portable focus? Let us know below.
Nintendo Switch releases in March 2017
