Nintendo Switch

This article is about an upcoming console. Editors must cite sources for all contributions to this article. Edits that do not follow this standard may be reverted without notice.

The Nintendo Switch (codenamed the NX in development) is Nintendo's upcoming hybrid video game console and their seventh major game console. Despite this classification, Nintendo markets the console mostly as a home console rather than a portable system. It was officially announced on October 20th, 2016 and set to be released in March 2017. A Nintendo Switch Presentation containing more information about the system is planned to be live-streamed on January 12, 2017.

Features

Console

Peripherals

Images depicting the Nintendo Switch hardware

The Nintendo Switch is a LCD tablet-like console that can be plugged into a "Nintendo Switch Dock". With the system docked, the game footage will be displayed on the TV screen. With the console detached, the footage will be displayed on the console's screen. The two "Joy-Con" controller pods can be removed and used either as separate controllers, similar to small Nintendo Entertainment System controllers, or used as one controller together, optionally docked into the "Joy-Con Grip" to give a more traditional experience. The console can be used without the docking unit, unlike the Wii U's GamePad which it slightly resembles with Joy-Cons attached, making this console more of a hybrid between home and mobile systems. The console will also use small "Game Card" cartridges, similar to the Nintendo DS line. The base console also has two USB ports in the front.

The handheld console has a kickstand that can be used to prop the system up. A traditional controller, simply called the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, will also have a Control Pad, replacing one set of the face buttons. The Pro Controller features the same set-up as the Nintendo GameCube Controller, with the second analog stick set below the face buttons.

Players can also link up multiple consoles to each other (four of the handheld systems were connected at a few points in the trailer) using wireless connectivity between the mobile screens and the base console can connect to others in some fashion (eight were connected during the Splatoon segment).

Several Mario series amiibo were also shown in the trailer, and it is confirmed that the Nintendo Switch will have amiibo support, though where to scan them is currently unknown.

Revealed games

Among the games shown, there is footage of Mario running in a three-dimensional space in a town area resembling a bazaar or Mexico, followed by a temple-like or ruins-like area. The town area has several, brightly-colored, buildings along with a creature resembling a skeletal Maraca Guy. The castle area has sand and water geysers around it, along with a Bill Blaster and Bullet Bill, as well as a number of Coin Rings and hearts indicating there is a health meter. The game's art style appears to be similar to that of Super Mario 3D World. In the footage, Mario can perform a Triple Jump.

In another game looking like a new build of Mario Kart 8, King Boo can be seen racing on GCN Yoshi Circuit, though it is unknown if this is a tech demo, an updated port of the Wii U version, or if a new game will be developed starting from this build. Roy Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Toad, Baby Mario, Bowser, and Metal Mario are seen on the minimap in the middle of the screen, while Pink Gold Peach can be seen driving next to King Boo, getting hit by a Red Shell. It's also shown that the player can have up to two items at once instead of one, even if the player doesn't drag or hasn't used the first item, like in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!.

External links

• Official Japanese website
• Official American website