It has been less than two weeks since Nintendo first unveiled their new home console, formerly codenamed "NX", to the public as the Nintendo Switch. While it is primarily serving as a home console when placed inside of a docking station for a traditional experience, it is portable and able to be taken on the go. With the inclusion of detachable controllers on both sides of the console alongside a traditional gaming controller, consumers are able to play their collection of games wherever they want, whenever they want and however they want.
While such a device may seem simple in concept, in actuality it is revolutionary for the gaming industry, blurring the lines between that of a home console and a handheld. Nintendo may find some competition from Microsoft and Sony, who are focusing on putting out higher-end consoles with even greater graphical capabilities while the path for new ways to play the games we know and love.
As stated before, the Nintendo Switch is portable and can be unlocked for use besides home. In fact, there are multiple form factors that the console can take. Besides its use as a home gaming system, it can become a handheld for personal use, a docked screen with two detachable controllers for you and a friend to use. In addition, it will support local multiplayer for friends who also own the console to expand on the enjoyment and game experiences. The flexibility of the console is unprecedented for the gaming industry, and ties in well to its name, as you have the ability to "switch" between different gaming styles that best suits your needs at the moment or personal preferences.
The overall concept behind the Nintendo Switch seems to appeal to a wide array of gamers and in its teaser trailer, the messaging was clear and concise, unlike its predecessor console, the Wii U. The Wii U was considered a financial and commercial failure, selling only 13.36 million units to date compared to the 101.63 million consoles sold for the Wii. Several factors , including confusing advertising and the fact that it was graphically underpowered could have easily led to its downfall. With the Nintendo Switch, the beloved gaming company hopes to revitalize their brand and bring a new gaming experience to the lives of consumers, regardless of age or experience with video games by combining the portability of a handheld for those frequently outside of the house and the fidelity of a home console for those who enjoy the traditional experience of playing games on the TV.
The Nintendo Switch also marks a transition for game development within Nintendo itself. Before the unveiling of this console, Nintendo had to split its resources between two different platforms, the home console and the handheld, to provide content between the two and keep consumers satisfied. This meant that either console could experience droughts in game releases, unable to play a new game for months at a time. However, since 2014, Nintendo expressed interest and has merged their home console and handheld development teams into one in order to expedite game development. With a unified platform under the Nintendo Switch, the flow of game development should lead to more frequent game releases of quality content from Nintendo themselves. With intellectual properties like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Kirby and Fire Emblem, fans and newcomers will no doubt be excited for what is to come.
Despite all of the glows of the console, Nintendo is still taking major risks with its upcoming console. Once again, it will be graphically underpowered compared to the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, consoles that have dominated the market since their release. In addition, rumors of the console's battery life only lasting a few hours at max raise concerns about how portable the console actually is. Finally, such a bold new concept will naturally be left with skepticism and hesitation. To overcome these detriments, Nintendo must do its best to market the Nintendo Switch and convince consumers that the Switch is a capable console that delivers on its promises completely.
Nintendo is going bold with the Nintendo Switch, conspicuously marketing its new console as such, highlighting what makes it a must-buy console and emphasizes what makes Nintendo special - its unique take on gaming and the importance it places on game design and new ways to play. Overall, reactions have been positive to the new console, and many third-party developers plan to support the console on launch. Hopefully, the glowing response of the console will reflect in its financial performance.
On one end of the spectrum, the Nintendo Switch could once again become a niche gaming platform that the most passionate of fans play, but ultimately end up as a failure. On the other hand, Nintendo could completely flip the gaming industry on its head, and change how games are experienced, paving the way forward for gaming in the future.
