Details on Nintendo's long-awaited new console have finally been released, and now the already rampant speculation about the device has exploded.
Nintendo's next home console, titled the Nintendo Switch, was revealed in an announcement video Thursday morning. The new gaming console aims to seamlessly merge handheld gaming with home console gaming as the console itself can be formatted into a controller for portable play. Sound confusing? The only real way to understand this idea is to watch the hype-inducing trailer from Nintendo. If you haven't sen it, go watch it. If you have, you should get the concept. Now all that's left to consider are the details. ow powerful will the system be? That's hard to guess. What games will come for it? That's a little easier to guess.
Compiling the evidence starts to paint a clearer image as to what sort of games fans can expect to see on the Nintendo Switch. What games am I referring to? Glad you asked.
1. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"
This one is the only one totally confirmed to be happening. The next entry in the iconic franchise will be releasing for both Nintendo's current system, the Wii U, and the Switch. The gaming giant has been drip-feeding the public trailers and game-play of this title for some time now, so there isn't as much speculation to do here. What is sure though is that this open-world Zelda title with a massive map will certainly sell more than a few Switches.
2. "Skyrim"
While beloved developer Bethesda refrained from confirming anything, the Switch trailer heavily showcases footage from the 2011 game of the year contender and both Nintendo and Bethesda confirmed a partnership. A remastered edition of Skyrim is already imminent on the XBox One and Playstation 4; it seems likely that a Switch version could also be well on the way.
3. A New Mario Game?!
Hidden in the Switch trailer is footage of what appears to be a never-before-seen Super Mario title. The game appears to be running on a 3D engine and looks distinct from past 3D Mario titles. The 3D Super Mario pedigree began back on the Nintendo 64 when "Super Mario 64" redefined gaming and has survived to give us gems as recently as 2013's "Super Mario 3D World." It seems the Switch is also set to recieve an entry in this line, though only time will tell how it will play out.
4. "Mario Kart"
Also in the Switch trailer is footage of a "Mario Kart" game. At a glance it looks to be an enhanced port of the Wii U's "Mario Kart 8" but upon closer inspection things are different. One player is controlling King Boo, a character missing from the most recent "Mario Kart" entries. Also, players appear to have multiple item slots. These additions seem to point to either a "Mario Kart 8" enhanced port with bonus content, or even a brand-new "Mario Kart" game. Either way the Switch seems set to give us more frantic, rage-inducing "Mario Kart" goodness.
5. "Pikmin 4"
"Pikmin 4"? There isn't any "Pikmin 4" in that trailer. While it's true that "Pikmin 4" is far from confirmed, it does seem somewhat likely. "Pikmin 3" found fans on the Wii U and series creator Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed development of a follow-up game, but refrained from naming the platform for said game. With the Switch now revealed it seems likely Miyamoto will confirm "Pikmin 4" for the system.
Many more
The trailer we have confirms an "NBA 2K" game and some iteration of "Splatoon." A new "Sonic" title and the next "Just Dance" game were also previously confirmed for Nintendo's next console. Rumors continue to swirl about a new "Super Smash Bros." game.
What games do you expect to see on the Nintendo Switch? Let us know!
