Nintendo has officially unveiled Nintendo Switch, its next games console that is both a home console and portable console hybrid due out worldwide in March 2017.
Here is an overview of the platform, via Nintendo:
In addition to providing single-player and multiplayer thrills at home, the Nintendo Switch system also enables gamers to play the same title wherever, whenever and with whomever they choose. The mobility of a handheld is now added to the power of a home gaming system to enable unprecedented new video game play styles.
At home, Nintendo Switch rests in the Nintendo Switch dock that connects the console to the TV and lets you play with family and friends in the comfort of your living room. By simply lifting the Nintendo Switch console from the dock, it will instantly transition to handheld mode, and the same great gaming experience that was being enjoyed at home now travels with you. The portability of Nintendo Switch is enhanced by its bright high-definition display. It brings the full home gaming system experience with you to the park, on a train, in a car, or to a friend’s apartment.
Gaming springs into action by removing detachable Joy-Con controllers from either side of the Nintendo Switch console. One player can use a Joy-Con controller in each hand; two players can each take one; or multiple Joy-Con controllers can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options. They can easily click back into place or be slipped into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, if preferred, the gamer can select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to use instead of the Joy-Con controllers. Furthermore, it is possible for numerous people to bring their Nintendo Switch consoles together to enjoy local multiplayer face-to-face competition.
Nintendo Switch uses cartridges for its games and is powered by the performance of the custom Nvidia Tegra processor. Read more about the processor at the Nvidia Blog. It also supports Unreal Engine 4.
Speaking to IGN, Nintendo confirmed that Switch will support Amiibo, and that the main console unit is the unit that has the LCD screen. The main function of the dock is to provide an output to the TV, as well as charge and provide power to the system.
Nintendo also announced support from the following publishers, developers and middleware partners:
- 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.
- 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.
Games featured in the reveal trailer include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a Mario Kart game (which may or may not be an updated version of Mario Kart 8, considering Boo is shown playable), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Splatoon, and a new 3D Mario game. Full game demonstrations, the list of launch window titles, as well as a launch date, price, product configuration, and related specifics will be shared in the lead-up to the console’s release in March.
Watch the reveal video below. View a set of images at the gallery.
