Nintendo announces the Switch game console

Nintendo announces the Switch game console for March 2017

There isn’t much information on the cost but it can be anywhere between $200 to $350 (USD).  This pricing is critical for Nintendo as to whether they think the Switch will compete against the Xbox or PS4.  Remember the Xbox one dropped it’s price since the PS4 was winning on the console war.  Does this mean Nintendo cares about the war or are they going their own way with their fans?

You can view the Switch console video which shows everybody either remotely, on planes, walking just playing their games.

 

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo

“As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX’. It is too early to elaborate on the details of this project, but we hope to share more information with you next year,” said the late Satoru Iwata said.   The machine he was referring to is the Nintendo Switch, revealed on Thursday 20 October 2016, although sadly, he passed away in summer of 2015, so would not get to deliver that news himself.

 

Possible Nintendo Switch specifications

We’ve seen what it looks like but we will have to wait to find out the Switch’s actual capabilities based on the video.  You will have a home base and the controllers can be hooked on the side of the console.  The console can be used remotely and has a kickstand to hold it up.   The controllers are small for the remote playing as well as a full hand size.

Will the video be capable of 4K Ultra HD video streaming, no one knows.  Rumors have the AMD GPU as the processor, it must be at least 1080p, no idea on the battery life but it must be as good as the Wii U or better.  It seems you can insert SD Cards or the games are going with that format instead of using disks.

What software will the Nintendo Switch software be like?

It has been confirmed that alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Wii U, which has now been put back to 2017, an enhanced version will also be available for Nintendo Switch from launch day. Nintendo hasn’t officially revealed what other games will be released for sure, but several did appear in the preview trailer, including Splatoon, an enhanced version of Mario Kart 8, a Mario platform that looks like (and could be) Super Mario 3D World, a Switch version of Skyrim, and NBA 2K17.

All in all, it is great that Nintendo has created something that will take the place of the disappointing Wii U and why would I need any game boys from this point.  The key for the Switch are the graphics. If they cannot compete against the Xbox or PS4 they will drop in profit and come up with another dud.  But the Switch looks really promising and March 2017 cannot get here soon enough.