UPDATE: 1/18/2017: We now know the launch date is March 3rd, Price is $299.99. Preorders have already begun and appear to be nearly sold out at most retailers. There will be two versions of the console, each identical except for the color of controllers. In one version they are grey like the console itself, and in another version they are neon red and neon blue. Interesting to note, you can purchase additional/new/replacement joycon sticks for example, the neon red and blue, ones separately from retailers such as Gamestop. So even if you can’t preorder the exact color console you want (For example, I was hoping for the neon one, but had to get grey, and honestly, feel happy/lucky to have even been able to preorder the Switch at all), you can simply buy these new Joycon sticks and swap them out for whatever ones you got with your console. Or if say, you don’t like the mix-matching colors and want all red, or all blue Joycons, you can do that too. Kinda a neat touch to customize your console. I wonder if they will release pink controllers at some point? lol! We also now know that online play will be available free at first, but going to a paid monthly subscription model sometime in fall of 2017. No price has been announced yet for the online service.
Also please check out my list of the Top 10 2017 Nintendo Switch Games for Girls! So many good Games are coming out this year! Are you as excited as I am?
UPDATE 3: 10/25/2016 11:00am EST: No hardware specs to report, but NVIDIA offers up a closer explanation of what’s exactly going on from a technical standpoint inside the Nintendo Switch. In a blog post last week, NVIDIA revealed that “Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards. The Nintendo Switch’s gaming experience is also supported by fully custom software, including a revamped physics engine, new libraries, advanced game tools and libraries. NVIDIA additionally created new gaming APIs to fully harness this performance. The newest API, NVN, was built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses. Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering. We’ve optimized the full suite of hardware and software for gaming and mobile use cases. This includes custom operating system integration with the GPU to increase both performance and efficiency. NVIDIA gaming technology is integrated into all aspects of the new Nintendo Switch home gaming system, which promises to deliver a great experience to gamers.” (Source: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/10/20/nintendo-switch/)
A price rumor is also floating around several UK sites which pins the price around $350 GBP which translates to a whopping $424 usd – Techradar is speculating a price around $300 to $350 for US Gamers. (Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/nintendo-nx-price)
The Wii U price at launch was $299 for the standalone console, or $349 for a bundle with a game. Given the “beefier” tech insides of the Nintendo Switch compared to the low end, Wii U, I could see this price speculation put forth by techradar as being fairly accurate — However, most gamers are going to naturally want to compare the Nintendo Switch to the Nintendo DS / Nintendo 3DS and not perhaps make the logical association with the Wii U and increased tech prowess of the new system — The 3DS launched at a price of just $249 — Meaning, if Tech Radar’s rumors are true, the Nintendo Switch is going to be nearly double the cost. Nintendo’s fiercest competitors, Sony, and Microsoft, debuted their new gaming consoles at $399 and $499 when they first came out — However, since the technology has been on the market for several years, both consoles are now under the $300 mark, making Nintendo’s Switch a late arrival to the party. — Will Nintendo Switch’s specs and exclusive games be enough to justify such a large price? Or is it a price that the market can no longer bear? Nintendo has its work cut out for it to win back fans who have felt neglected by Nintendo in recent years. If they price the system too high it may be doomed to failure before it even launches.
I think it’s going to come down to what titles Nintendo has available and how they choose to handle localization of these titles – Nintendo of America especially has come under fire for strict censorship which has pushed away droves of fans. Nintendo’s glory days are far behind them — but that doesn’t mean they can’t make a come back with the right games that fans want. The Switch will either give rebirth to the once great gaming company, or become the final nail in the coffin.
To that end, Nintendo has been very transparent about who they have onboard currently developing titles for the new system. A full list of developers is now appearing on the Gamestop sign up page at http://www.gamestop.com/switch which at time of this writing includes the following companies:
- 05 Games
- Activision Publishing, Inc.
- ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co., Ltd.
- ATLUS CO., LTD.
- Audiokinetic Inc.
- Autodesk, Inc.
- BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
- Bethesda
- CAPCOM CO., LTD.
- Codemasters®
- CRI Middleware Co., Ltd.
- DeNA Co., Ltd.
- Electronic Arts
- Epic Games Inc.
- Firelight Technologies
- FromSoftware, Inc.
- Frozenbyte
- GameTrust
- GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
- Gungho Online Entertainment, Inc.
- HAMSTER Corporation
- Havok
- INTI CREATES CO., LTD.
- KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
- Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
- LEVEL-5 Inc.
- Marvelous Inc.
- Maximum Games, LLC
- Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
- Parity Bit Inc.
- PlatinumGames Inc.
- RAD Game Tools, Inc.
- RecoChoku Co., Ltd.
- SEGA Games Co., Ltd.
- Silicon Studio Corporation
- Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
- SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
- Starbreeze Studios
- Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
- Telltale Games
- THQ Nordic
- Tokyo RPG Factory Co., Ltd.
- TT Games
- UBISOFT
- Ubitus Inc.
- Unity Technologies, Inc.
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Web Technology Corp
UPDATE 2: 10/21/16 1:30pm EST: Arstechnica has reported several confirmed tidbits regarding the Nintendo Switch, such as the fact that it will use Amiibo Figures, will not be compatible with physical copies of wii u or 3DS games, and that it comes with 2 joy-con controllers (which is pretty obvious in the trailer lol), and that the docking station will not house “much in the way of” additional hardware (meaning performance on the big screen, or on the go, will be relatively equal gaming experiences). Sources and more updates can be found over on the Arstechnica blog.
UPDATE 10/20/16 3:00pm EST: Amazon Has Added the Nintendo Switch – but no pricing is listed. They have enabled email alerts to notify you when pricing is available. You can sign up to be notified at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Switch… They also have some nice more brightly lit HD images since the trailer teaser is fairly dark and hard to see exactly what the system will look like. I’ve added these new images to the end of our article.
In a live event today, Nintendo announced their new console, the Nintendo Switch. Not much is known about the new console just yet, but Nintendo teased us with a new trailer showing basically how the system will work.
Key Highlights:
Detachable Controllers Enable Multi-Player with One Console and One Disc – Or with kickstand allow play without holding console
Docking Station Enables Play On TV
Wireless Controllers and Accessories will be available
Launch titles may include Zelda, Splatoon, and Mario Kart which are all featured in the trailer
https://youtu.be/f5uik5fgIaI
The Nintendo Switch is a handheld console that can be hooked up to a TV when placed in a special docking station.
The console has two wireless controllers that snap onto each side of the screen, or snap into a “gamepad” shape for play on the big screen.
While on the go, these controllers can be removed so you do not have to hold the unit while playing, even when on the go ! YAY — because I dunno about you, but my 3DS gets really heavy after awhile.
It has a built in kickstand that pops out so if you are (as the trailer shows for example, on an airplane), or perhaps sitting in a cafe (starbucks or whatever) you can put the console on a table, unsnap the controllers, and play in comfort.
The detachable controllers also allow you to do local co-op and multi-player with just one Nintendo Switch and one copy of the games.
But even if these controllers are a bit too weird to you, have no fear, as you can also buy regular gamepad style controllers (you know, the kind that take two hands) which work wirelessly with the Nintendo Switch as well.
It appears to have a stylus and thus I assume, a touch screen interface.
The trailer shows Zelda and Mario Kart (among others) – can we expect these two fan favorites to be launch titles?
No specific specs or pricing are known just yet – but once more information is released we will update the site.
The new Nintendo Switch will be available in March 2017 – less than 6 months away.
I’m hoping to get one 🙂 How about you? Is Nintendo’s Switch a hit, or a miss? — I think the true test of caliber will be simply in what exclusive titles Nintendo decides to release for the system. I’ve read numerous articles from developers in the industry who are excited to be working on the new system so this sounds promising and exciting.
Nintendo Switch: what we know so farNintendo finally revealed its next console: the Nintendo Switch.
Posted by The Verge on Thursday, October 20, 2016
Nintendo’s Latest TwistHere’s your first look at the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo’s next console.
Read more: http://bit.ly/2ebREGP
Posted by Kotaku on Thursday, October 20, 2016
