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Nintendo Switch: Everything We Know

Nintendo gave more details on their console, and we've collected together everything we know.

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Today Nintendo dropped a trailer for their highly anticipated upcoming console (which has been codenamed NX for over a year now), and the next gaming device from the House of Mario has been revealed as the Nintendo Switch. The trailer offered the world a glimpse into what the Kyoto-based company's next console will be able to do, both fuelling speculation further as well as confirming a few things for us at the same time. So, before we delve into what we know (and what we still don't) check out the trailer below and get yourself up to speed if you haven't already watched it.

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What We Know

In regards to the name, we knew that NX was just a codename, as the late Nintendo President Satoru Iwata confirmed at the beginning of 2015. As of today, though, we know what it'll be called when it hits store shelves next year.

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We also know Nintendo are looking to surprise gamers with Switch though. Legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto indicated that the new console is different and innovative when he said: "In terms of NX, there's an idea that we're working on. That's why we can't share anything at this point, and I don't want to comment on the other companies. If it was just a matter of following advancements in technology, things would be coming out a lot quicker."

The company's current CEO, Tatsumi Kimishima, only added fuel to this particular fire when he commented that it would be a different experience from the 3DS and Wii U. Another thing we now know is that Miyamoto is not "actively participating" in producing the Switch and instead is focusing more on software and game development.

The actual form the Switch would take (back when it was called the NX in the minds of the public) had been speculated on for ages, but now it's clear that it's a console and a handheld all-in-one, with detachable parts no less. In the trailer all of these elements are shown in action. Basically, there are two side Joy-Cons with buttons and analog sticks that slot into both the console and a Joy-Con Grip, for when you're playing handheld and as a home console respectively. These can also be used on their own, however, one in each hand, and can be used sideways too for local co-op play. There's also another Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which is its own unit, separate from the detachable Joy-Cons.

Not only this, but all of the above will come in a matte black colour, and the handheld console (onto which you can attach the Joy-Cons) has a headphone port as well, for those instances that you just have to play Skyrim on a plane and your fellow passengers don't want to hear you shouting at dragons.

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The Switch will be powered by a custom Tegra processor, a scalable processor with a Nvidia GPU based on the same architecture as high end gaming graphics cards. Fully custom software also supports the new console, including a new physics engine, new libraries and advanced gaming tools. Nvidia also provided new gaming APIs, including the brand new NVN. Hardware accelerated video playback also comes included, as well as custom software for audio rendering and effects. All of this is optimised for gaming and mobile use too, including integration of the operating system with the GPU, increasing performance and efficiency.

The format upon which the games would come on was rightly questioned, with rumours flying round before now that suggested that the games would come on cards or cartridges, and in the trailer we saw GameCards being used, much like those on the Nintendo DS, and it appears all games will come on those, or perhaps digitally. After seeing games like Splatoon running on the hardware, it's unclear whether we'll be getting reworked/remastered/re-released versions of old games, or whether our digital back catalogue will work on the new console (of course, that could be Splatoon 2, we just don't know).

The Switch is expected to launch in March next year, as today's trailer confirmed, so that's when fans should be able to get their hands on this highly-anticipated tablet-console hybrid.

Nintendo Switch: Everything We Know

What Nintendo Had to Say

Shortly after the announcement was made Nintendo had a few things to say about the grand unveiling. Here's the statement in full:

"In an introductory video released today at https://www.nintendo.co.uk/nintendoswitch, Nintendo provided the first glimpse of its new home gaming system and revealed that it is called Nintendo Switch. 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."

Satoru Shibata, president of Nintendo of Europe, then weighed in, adding: "With this first look at Nintendo Switch, I hope fans are already imagining the possibilities of having the freedom to play when, where, and how they want to. Our teams at Nintendo, and many other developers, are all working hard to create new and unique experiences, and we look forward to showing you more."

"Today's video incorporated short glimpses of representative gameplay to demonstrate the liberating nature of the Nintendo Switch home gaming system. Full game demonstrations, the list of launch window titles, as well as launch date, product configuration and related specifics will be shown and announced prior to the March launch."

The Games

There are few nailed on games for Nintendo's new console at the time of writing, but those that have been officially confirmed include:

- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Just Dance 2017
- Project Sonic 2017
- Dragon Quest X
- Dragon Quest XI
- Rise: Race to the Future
- A new Mario (some footage of which we saw in the Switch trailer)

And if we're going by the trailer, also included are:

- NBA 2K17
- The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Special Edition
- Mario Kart (8, or a new game in the series, we can't be sure)
- Splatoon (and again, we're not counting our chickens just yet)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is obviously the big name in there, especially since Nintendo showed it off at E3 this year, and it will also be available on Wii U. This is one of the flagship titles for the Switch and thus it will be a big selling point for Nintendo, especially since it's one of the only games for which we have solid details and have seen it in action (in fact, you should totally head this way and check out our in-depth E3 hands-on preview).

It's worth noting that the Pokémon Company has said that they'll make games for the new console too, and that there is speculation a new Mario and Metroid Prime game could come to the platform (did we see the former during the unveiling?), as well as a new Pikmin game. We've even heard rumours that Konami may even be bringing PES 2017 to Switch.

There are a whole host of third-parties on board (including EA, a publisher that hasn't worked with Nintendo in a meaningful way for some time now). The full list of third party partners (both game developers and middleware producers) is as follows:

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.

Nintendo Switch: Everything We Know

There may even be a new IP coming from Nintendo for the Switch, as insider Emily Rogers also reported, saying "Nintendo doesn't have another game like this" (frankly, we'd be surprised if there wasn't more than one new IP, but there you go).

With regards to our existing libraries, there are rumours that it will not be backwards compatible, unlike the 3DS and Wii U, although there has been no official word on whether this is true or not. It's quite likely you will be able to download games digitally, however, and there are rumours that ports of games like Super Mario Maker and Super Smash Bros. (which may be coming via Bandai Namco) will make an appearance as well.

Two Tribes have also speculated that they may send Rive straight to the Switch, and Slightly Mad Studios has said the same about Project Cars. Since Ubisoft and Take-Two have both raved about the console as well, don't be too surprised if they're preparing something for it as well. And if you believe the rumours, Beyond Good and Evil 2 could even be exclusive to the Switch.

Apparently dev kits have been in the hands of several studios for a while now, so expect more studios to announce games for the Switch in the future.

Still Speculating

In regards to what the Switch will offer, current President Tatsumi Kimishima has said that it's "something I'd like to play for the first time myself". It's easy to see what he meant with hindsight. The trailer confirms a lot of what we've heard from the rumour mill, however, some questions remain unanswered.

For example, even though we know the processor, we're still not one hundred percent sure how powerful it's going to be, but even if it does pitch lower than PS4, that doesn't seem to bother Nintendo in the slightest, with North American boss Reggie Fils-Aime commenting that "it's not about specs, it's not about teraflops, it's not about the horsepower of a particular system. For us, it's about the content."

Nintendo leaks journalist Emily Rogers also contributed information about the Switch, reporting that Nintendo were prototyping a 720p 6.2" screen for the console. We've seen a screen, but the specs haven't been detailed as of yet, nor have they addressed the rumours that there is a multi-touch screen. Rogers said dev kits have 32GB of internal storage, which could increase to 64GB for the final unit and that the console, according to her reports, will have an SD card port, with at least 2 USB ports, will support Unreal Engine 4 and Unity engine, will be below PS4 and Xbox One in raw power and dev kits are region free, with the final units possibly being region free as well. All of this still needs clarifying, as well as whether there is a sharing or social button on the controller too.

Lastly, a report from February this year also made claims about the console that are worth mentioning. There were claims the NX will feature a wireless dongle to plug into any HDMI port, featuring a new version of their Wii U streaming technology, the analog sticks will feature full haptic feedback, it can bluetooth sync to a device (to answer calls or send texts) and that its power will be comparable to the Xbox One. Unsurprisingly none of these details were touched upon in the trailer.

Price-wise, there is speculation that the NX will cost £349.99, this after supermarket Tesco listed it at that price. That's the same price the PS4 was listed at in 2013. That's no confirmation and it could well be a placeholder, but it does give us a ball park figure to consider, especially since Nintendo have said they won't sell it at a loss.

So despite revealing its concept, what it looks like, and how you can have fun with it after a game of basketball, there are still a lot of questions that remain about the Switch. Expect details to emerge in the coming months as Nintendo's new console-tablet hybrid edges ever closer to its planned March 2017 launch.

Nintendo Switch: Everything We Know
Nintendo Switch: Everything We KnowNintendo Switch: Everything We KnowNintendo Switch: Everything We Know


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