On January 12, 2017, in a convention room in Tokyo Japan, the leaders of the great video game company Nintendo put on a show that left audiences stunned. Nintendo showed the world an in-depth presentation of their new video game console, the Nintendo Switch. It was one hour of shock and awe, ups and downs, and the world is now ready for the Switch.
The Presentation kicked off with a light show in tune with some music, and it segued into a smoke-filled entrance of the CEO of Nintendo himself, Tatsumi Kimishima. Right off the bat, Kimishima was eager to share with audiences around the world their new console, and he wasted no time getting into the details.
Price and Release Date
The Nintendo Switch will be released on March 3rd, 2017, and it will cost $299.99 in North America. This is interesting because March is the last month of the current fiscal year, which makes it seem like Nintendo is trying to use this last month as a benchmark for how the console will do over the rest of the year. Nintendo has stated that only 2 million consoles will be available for the month of March. Only time will tell if this number is too high, or too low, or absolutely right.
Hardware
In the box, the Nintendo Switch will come with a number of things ready to use on day one. The first thing will be the console itself, which is the tablet that resembles an iPad. This tablet holds all of the components, memory, operating system, game cartridge slot, and everything else you need to jump into your favorite game.
In addition to the console, players get the two brand new controllers, which are aptly named, the Joy-Cons. These two controllers can be thought of two halves of the same controller. Used in tandem with the Joy-Con Grip, which turns the controllers into something easy to hold, players will be able to have a fantastic experience while playing their favorite games.
What is most interesting about the Joy-Cons is the brand new HD Rumble that was talked about during the presentation. Lots of time and research has gone into this new feature, and Nintendo is claiming that users will be able tell the amount of virtual ice cubes in a glass with the HD Rumble. This is perhaps one of the most enticing features that was announced at the presentations, but it is also one of the most curious; many people are skeptical as to how well this HD rumble will really work.
The Joy-Cons will also come with two attachable straps that slip on to the sides of the controllers when they are being used in a physical way. For games that require movement, these straps will make the controller slightly bigger to help it feel more natural, and will also keep the controller securely to the gamers wrist.
The dock is the last thing out of the bag of tricks that is the Nintendo Switch, and this is what connects the console to your television. The tablet console simply slides into the dock, the Joy-Cons slide off the sides of the tablet, and the game seamlessly transitions from the tablet to the television. This will allow gamers to have a more traditional gaming experience.
Software
Once the console was thoroughly explained, the presentation went forward and into some of the many games that are coming out for the Switch. Gamers were pleased to see many of Nintendo’s flagship series’ revealed to be in development for the switch. Some of the greatest intellectual properties coming to the Switch are Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mario Kart, and Splatoon. Each of these games will be receiving a new iteration that is eager to please fans:
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – March 3rd
Super Mario Odyssey – Holiday 2017
Fire Emblem Warriors – TBD
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – April 28th
Splatoon 2 – Summer 2017
There are also many games coming to the Switch that will be made by third-party developers. Huge franchises such as EA’s FIFA, Take Two’s NBA 2K18, and Bethesda’s Skyrim are all coming to the console, and they are sure to please many different types of gamers. In addition, there are many Indie-developer games that are coming to the Switch, such as The Binding of Isaac, Rime, Stardew Valley, and Super Bomberman.
The Binding of Isaac – Spring 2017
Dragonball Xenoverse 2 – TBD
Dragon Quest X - TBD
Dragon Quest XI – TBD
Farming Simulator – TBD
Just Dance 2017 – March 3rd
Lego City Undercover – TBD
Minecraft – TBD
NBA 2K18 – TBD
Rime - TBD
Skyrim – Fall 2017
Super Bomberman R – March 3rd
Xenoblade 2 – TBD 2017
Online
The Nintendo Switch is also going to introduce a new capability that has never been seen before on any previous Nintendo console before, online voice chat. Nintendo has announced that they are going to release a smartphone app that will work along with the Switch that will allow players to talk to each other online both while on the couch and on the go. This service will also include free monthly virtual console games, exclusive deals, and other capabilities to come. This service will be free for a few months after launch, then it will become a paid service in the fall.
The Nintendo Switch has built an immense amount of hype ever since it was announced in October of last year, and the presentation in Tokyo seems to have only fueled the flame. Only time will tell if the Nintendo Switch is able to live up to the expectations, but the future seems very promising for Nintendo. Along with many gamers around the world, in the wise words of Nintendo COO Reggie Fils-Amie, “My body Is Ready.” Is yours?
