Last night, Nintendo finally pulled the curtain back on the Nintendo NX, revealing it will be a hybrid handheld/home console named Nintendo Switch.
The Switch can be used like a regular console, plugged into the TV, but if you get the urge to go for a walk, you can simply pull the console out of the dock and transition it into handheld mode. Meaning you can take whatever game you were playing on your TV with you, wherever you go.
The handheld screen displays in HD and attaches to the detachable Joy-Con controllers. The controllers attach to either side of the Switch, can be used by one player with one Joy-Con in each hand, two players with one Joy-Con each or multiple Joy-Con controllers can be used by multiple players. The detachable Joy-Con controllers also connect to the grip accessory to function like a standard controller. Players can also use the Switch Pro Controller instead.
Multiple Switches can be brought together for local co-op. Each player will be able to use their own screen or share with multiple players. Managing Director of Nintendo Australia, Kamon Yoshimura said, “I hope the first glimpse at Nintendo Switch has made our fans as excited as we are.”
Announced alongside the console was a list of developers and publishers pledging supoprt for Switch. It includes;
| 505 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. | 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. |
In the video above, we get a glimpse of some games that may or may not be coming to Switch. Some we know are definitely coming, while others may just be for marketing purposes. It opens with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and moves on to show Mario Kart 8, Splatoon and a new Mario title (gif below courtesy of Polygon). The video also shows Skyrim and NBA 2K17. While Bethesda is listed as a supporter of the Switch, it has not confirmed whether or not Skyrim is coming to the console. 2K has also declined to confirm whether or not NBA 2K17 will be released for Switch.Speaking to Polygon, both publishers said;
While we are not confirming any specific titles at this time, we are pleased to announce our partnership with Nintendo and support of Nintendo Switch.
Blizzard also seems to be hinting that it’s popular card game Hearthstone may be coming to Switch after tweeting the following.
.@NintendoAmerica We see you #mario. #nx pic.twitter.com/MNEVbxvcCC
— Hearthstone (@PlayHearthstone) October 20, 2016
NVIDIA confirmed that the Switch is powered by a “custom Tegra processor.” Created from “500 man-years of effort across every facet of creating a new gaming platform: algorithms, computer architecture, system design, system software, APIs, game engines and peripherals.”The GPU in the Swtich’s processor uses the same architecture as top of the line GeForce graphics cards and includes upgraded physics, new libraries and new, advanced tools.
Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering.
Speaking with IGN, Nintendo confirmed that Switch will support amiibo (thanks for the tip Mon Amiibo) saying “If a Nintendo Switch game supports amiibo then the Nintendo Switch home gaming system will as well.”
Finally, Switch will use a cartridge based system, rather than discs. We’ll bring you more information on Switch as we have it.
What do you think?
