Nintendo Switch: Difference between revisions

The '''{{wp|Nintendo Switch}}''' is a hybrid video game console released by [[Nintendo]] and its seventh major home game console as the successor to the [[Wii U]]. The system is both a home console and a handheld console.<ref name="Switch">"[https://www.nintendo.com/switch/system/ Nintendo Switch]" ''Nintendo''. Retreived July 21, 2022.<br>''"Nintendo Switch is designed to fit your life, transforming from home console to portable system in a snap."''</ref> During development, the console was codenamed "NX".<ref name="Capital Alliance Announcement">Iwata, Satoru (March 17, 2015). [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2015/150317/03.html Business and Capital Alliance Announcement]. ''Nintendo''. Retrieved January 31, 2016.<br>''"[...] let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename 'NX'."''</ref> It was officially announced on October 20, 2016<ref name="FirstLook">Nintendo (October 20, 2016). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uik5fgIaI First Look at Nintendo Switch]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved October 20, 2016.</ref> and was released simultaneously on March 3, 2017 in Japan, America, Europe, Hong Kong, and other territories.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017">Nintendo (January 12, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuC4YLLkqME Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017]. ''YouTube.'' Retrieved February 11, 2017.</ref> It costs US $299.99 in America and JP ¥29,980 in Japan.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> A Nintendo Switch presentation containing more information about the system was live-streamed from January 12, 2017 at 11:00 PM to January 13, 2017 at 12:05 AM EST.<ref name="Nintendo Tweet">NintendoAmerica (October 26, 2016) "''[https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/791455799302246400 Learn more about Nintendo’s new home gaming system at the Nintendo Switch Presentation, streamed LIVE on Jan. 12]''". ''Twitter.'' Retrieved November 11, 2016.</ref><ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> The Nintendo Switch had a hands-on event on six separate Sundays in six different cities across America prior to its release date,<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> along with Tokyo Big Sight, Japan.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> Pre-order retail reservations started on January 21, 2017 in Japan.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/>

On January 4, 2018, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch has sold over 10 million units and became the fastest-selling video game console in America within a time frame of the first ten months.<ref>NintendoAmerica (January 4, 2018). "''[https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/948901835284283393 Within 10 months, #NintendoSwitch has become the fastest-selling video game system of all time in the US!]''" ''Twitter.'' Retrieved January 4, 2018.</ref> As of December 31, 2021, the Nintendo Switch family sold 103.54 million units worldwide, making it surpass the [[Wii]] to become Nintendo's highest-selling home console.<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/ IR Information: Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units]. ''Nintendo''. Retrieved February 3, 2022. ([https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html Archived] from the original on February 3, 2022).</ref> As of March 31, 2023, it sold 125.62 million units worldwide with over 1 billion units of software sales,<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/ IR Information: Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units]. ''Nintendo'' (February 7, 2023). Retrieved February 11, 2023.</ref> ranking it as the third highest-selling video game console of all time.<ref>Welsh, Oli (February 7, 2023). [https://www.polygon.com/23589062/nintendo-switch-third-best-selling-game-console Nintendo Switch is officially the third-best-selling console of all time]. ''Polygon''. Retrieved May 28, 2023.</ref> The Nintendo Switch is often credited with bringing Nintendo back to financial relevance following the Wii U's disappointing sales.<ref>[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/20-years-nintendo-console-switch-sales/ Switch to Success: 20 Years of Nintendo Console Sales]</ref>

|footer=Images depicting the Nintendo Switch hardware.

The Nintendo Switch is an LCD tablet-like console that is designed to be a hybrid between home and handheld systems. The Nintendo Switch can be played in three different styles; TV mode, Tabletop mode, and Handheld mode.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> In TV mode, the system is plugged into a "Nintendo Switch Dock".<ref name="Nintendo.com article">Nintendo (October 20, 2016). [https://web.archive.org/web/20161020145017/http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/first-look-at-nintendos-new-home-gaming-system Nintendo Switch world premier demonstrates new entertainment experiences from a home gaming system]. ''Nintendo.com''. October 20, 2016 snapshot via Wayback Machine.</ref> With the system docked, gameplay footage is displayed on the TV screen. With the console detached, the footage is displayed on the console's screen. When using Tabletop mode, the console uses a built-in kickstand to prop the system up. When in Handheld mode, the two "Joy-Con" controller pods are attached to the sides of the console, giving it a similar design to the [[Wii U]]'s GamePad. The Joy-Con can also be removed and used either as separate controllers, similar to small [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] and [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] controllers, used as one controller together, or optionally docked into the "Joy-Con Grip"<ref name="Nintendo.com article" /> to give a more traditional experience.

The Nintendo Switch console uses "Game Card" cartridges, similar to the [[Nintendo DS]] line. The Nintendo Switch Dock also has two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output,<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> an AC adapter port, and a TV output LED light. The Nintendo Switch has built in Wi-Fi,<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, a multi-touch capacitive touchscreen of 6.2-inch diagonally,<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> a resolution of 1080p on TV mode and 720p on Tabletop and Handheld modes, a USB Type-C connector,<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> internal storage of 32 GB, a [[Memory Card#SD Cards|microSD]] slot (upgradable with microSDHC/SDXC cards), a 3.5mm headphone jack, a brightness sensor, two speakers in the bottom, and a battery life ranging anywhere between 2.5-6.5 hours.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> For example, battery life during ''[[zeldawiki:The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]]'' gameplay is 3 hours.<ref>Nintendo. [https://www.nintendo.com/switch/tech-specs/ Nintendo Switch Technical Specs]. ''Nintendo.'' Retrieved February 28, 2020.</ref>

Players can also link up to 8 multiple consoles to play against each other via local multiplayer.<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/> Each Joy-Con can be used for 2 player {{wp|Cooperative|co-op}}, dubbed by Nintendo as "sharing the joy".<ref name="Switch 1.12.2017"/>

Nintendo Switch does not have region locking (except the mainland China model),<ref name="switchchina>https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/1214430056233218049</ref> similar to Nintendo handhelds prior to the [[Nintendo DSi]], and features enhanced language and region accessibility. The system can be changed to any of the nine languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, Russian, and Japanese. As of January 29, 2019, it can also be changed to Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.<ref name="language">Nintendo. [http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22355/~/how-to-change-the-system-language How to Change the System Language]. ''Nintendo.com''. Retrieved March 3, 2020.</ref>

There are four different region codes that the user can select from: Japan, the Americas, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand.<ref name="region">Nintendo [http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22356/~/how-to-change-the-system-region How to Change the System Region]. ''Nintendo.com''. Retrieved March 3, 2020.</ref> As of April 15, 2019, it can also be changed to Hong Kong/Taiwan/South Korea. Depending on the region code chosen, the dialect for the English, French, and Spanish languages will also change (e.g. setting the region code to Europe and the language to English will set the overall language to British English, while setting the region code to The Americas and the language to English will set the overall language to American English). As of December 1, 2020, setting the region code to The Americas and the language to Portuguese will set the overall language to Brazilian Portuguese.<ref name="brazil">Nintendo. [https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/p/989/a_id/22525 Nintendo Support: Nintendo Switch System Updates and Change History]. ''Nintendo.com''. Retrieved December 1, 2020.</ref>

The mainland China (Tencent) model is region-locked and users cannot change their region (China) or language (Simplified Chinese). It plays import cartridges, but does not support online multiplayer on import games or non-China eShop access. China-region cartridges cannot be played on other Nintendo Switch models.<ref name="switchchina"/>