(Image from nVidia blog)
Nintendo released a teaser trailer on Thursday morning, finally lifting the curtain on their newest console previously known only as the Nintendo NX. Now officially named the Nintendo Switch, we have a better look at the console and what Nintendo is aiming for with the new hardware. Full disclosure before I begin, I have been called a Nintendo fanboy and have not done much to dissuade people of this notion. That being said, let us proceed.
The Breakdown
The Console
The Switch is Nintendo’s next foray into the home console market, except that it is also dabbling into the mobile market as well. Powered by a new nVidia Tegra processor, the Switch is a self-contained tablet-like game console with a dock allowing you the option to connect to a TV when not on the go. The attached controllers (known as Joy-Cons) can be removed and used individually or together (with or without a controller shell attachment). This gives Switch players the option of allowing two people to play at any moment, anywhere. Additionally, multiple Switches can be used for local multiplayer. The number of players per screen and the number of Switches able to connect together locally has yet to be confirmed.
The Accessories
Several accessories were shown in the Switch reveal trailer. Outside of the Joy-Cons, which come with the console, the trailer showed off the new Pro controller. Similar to the existing offering for the Wii U, the Pro controller looks like it will be the go-to for people not wanting to use the Joy-Cons (shell or no), but it is unclear whether one will be included with the console or not. My money is on “not,” if history is any indicator.
The controller shell for the Joy-Cons is another uncertainty at the moment. Since it appears you can use the Joy-Cons, detached from the system, without the shell (making it optional), it would seem that this would most likely not be included with the console either.
Not so much an accessory as it is a feature, but the console itself has a built-in kickstand on the back for propping up to play on the go. Great for when you need to throw down a challenge in a multiplayer game without immediate access to a TV.
Amiibo are shown in the trailer during the Super Mario segment but not specifically interacted with. Nintendo has confirmed that amiibo will function with the Switch, allowing those of us who have spent a fortune on the plastic figurines to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
The dock the system uses is another intriguing accessory. Definitely included with the console, the dock seemingly charges the console as well as allowing it to seamlessly switch (see what I/they did there?) from mobile play to home/TV play. We are not afforded a view of the back side of the dock, so the connection options are unknown at this point. There is one shot of a couple of ports on the side of the dock in the trailer, though I am unsure of what those connections are.
The final accessory shown in the trailer is easy enough to overlook, but it appears to be a cradle that can be attached to a headrest in a car, allowing you to mount the Switch for a bit of stability when on the road.
The Games
In the Switch reveal trailer, several games were shown. We start off with the new Legend of Zelda title, Breath of the Wild and be still, my nerdy heart, it looks fantastic. Everything released about this game gets me more and more excited for it, especially now that I’ll be able to easily and conveniently take it with me when I venture out to a friend’s place or whatnot.
Next up, we are given a brief glimpse of Skyrim running on the console. Many people may think this odd, since Skyrim is a relatively old game now and isn’t necessarily indicative of showing the limits of which the Switch is capable. Also unclear is whether or not the version in the trailer is the soon-to-be-released Special Edition update of the game or the original from a few years ago. Either way, I think this is good because it shows that developers are willing to put games on the Switch they previously would not have brought to a Nintendo system. Third-party support has plagued Nintendo in recent years, so if the trailer and released graphic showing third-party developer support are to be believed, we could be seeing a shift in that trend with this new console.
The unidentified NBA 2k game shown is another product to bolster the hopes of third party support. I’m not a sports fan, so this doesn’t excite me much, but I know others will be glad to have the sports title of their choice potentially return to Nintendo’s platform.
Two titles shown in the trailer are a bit confusing. Mario Kart and Splatoon. Both of these games are currently available on the Wii U but there are things shown in the trailer that point at these being updates of those versions. Nintendo had previously mentioned the possibility of updated ports of Wii U games making their way to the Switch and this seems to be the case here. For Mario Kart, a few subtle things are shown such as the ability to hold two items instead of the standard one, a new/old course (from the GCN version), and the icons of new potential racers. Splatoon shows new stages not previously included in the current game or DLC, as well as new customization options for your characters. All of this seems to point to these titles being featured as an “Ultimate Edition” or something of the sort, including all existing DLC plus some new content only available on the Switch. That may hurt some of the consumers that have recently bought a Wii U and these titles/DLC, but will be a great way for those who have waited/hesitated to get in on the action with the best version of the games.
Lastly, a new 3D Mario game was briefly shown. The theme seemed very “Day of the Dead”-esque, showing a desert town with a skull wearing a sombrero painted on the building, cacti, and architecture you’d think to find in a rural desert town. The shots also include Mario’s signature triple jump, long jump, a familiar baddie in the form of a Bullet Bill cannon, and other staples of the long-running franchise. Multiplayer was alluded to when the woman in the trailer brings the Switch out to a rooftop party and separates the Joy-Cons from the console, handing them to two separate players. Seeing as we are not given a view of the screen during this segment, exactly how the multiplayer works in this title is unclear. It can be assumed it will be cooperative along the lines of the recent Mario titles.
Separately from the trailer, I believe I had read that Nintendo was planning on releasing ports of their mobile games for the Switch. Meaning versions of Miitomo, the upcoming Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games, Super Mario Run, and potentially Pokemon GO (even though Nintendo wasn’t involved directly with its development) could make appearances on the new console in some form.
I also believe that Nintendo has issued a statement saying that a Zelda title, a Mario title, and a Pokemon title would all be available within the launch window of the Switch (roughly considered to be the first 6 months or so). If that’s true, that’s a strong lineup out of the gate, even excluding third-party options. And if the Pokemon title is a full-fledged main series adventure, that would be an instant selling point for many people. One of the main concerns Game Freak/The Pokemon Company have stated with home console Pokemon games is that it would infringe upon the nature of the series. Pokemon (Pocket Monsters) are supposed to be brought with you, wherever you go. A companion to join you on your adventures. The Switch would satisfy that requirement and the prospect of a fully-realized, high definition Pokemon game is probably more than I should hope for, but I am hoping nonetheless.
The Questions
The trailer was the perfect taste of what’s to come but left a lot of questions unanswered. Nintendo has stated that no new info about the console or its game lineup will be released until 2017, so we will just have to dwell on these questions until then.
A big question mark was left on the topic of cost. No one knows where the Switch will enter the fray, but based on Nintendo’s commitment to affordable, quality gaming, it can be assumed that it will be comparable-to-less-than the competitors’ prices. Will Nintendo be able to keep the price around the $300 mark?
Next, battery life. The Joy-Cons, Joy-Con shell, Pro controller, and the console itself are all wireless. The console is sporting cartridges instead of discs, which will help battery life considerably, but if this thing is supposed to be as mobile as they are marketing it to be, it will need to pack considerable juice to be viable. How long will the battery on the main console last? How much life will we see in our controllers?
Touchscreen or no? It was not shown in the trailer, but will the screen of the main unit be a touchscreen, much like the Wii U GamePad and the 3DS bottom screen.
Operating System. Nintendo has worked in recent years to move to a more connected environment and unified account across their platforms/offerings. Will we see the same discounted Virtual Console offerings we saw in the shift from Wii to Wii U? Will Wii U games be backwards compatible at all? Without the disc drive and the apparent inclusion of updated ports, this seems a highly unlikely prospect. What about media options such as Netflix and Hulu? Will there be a web browser? While these aren’t deal breakers in my opinion since they’re on just about every other device in production now, some people like to have their entertainment solutions all-in-one.
Mobile market concerns. Nintendo is dominating the handheld space in terms of dedicated game hardware. The PS Vita is all but dead at this point while the 3DS continues to see quality releases. If the Switch is truly going to be as mobile as advertised, is Nintendo fragmenting a market they already control? Will the 3DS be phased out in lieu of focusing on Switch titles, bringing AAA titles to the mobile space?
Wi-fi and/or LTE are other concerns, not only from a battery life perspective but also from a connectivity perspective. One of the confirmed games for the console is Dragon Quest X, which is an MMO entry in the popular series. If the Switch is truly going to be as mobile as it is being portrayed, what options are we going to have for staying connected on the go?
Third-party support continues to weigh heavily on my mind. Though Skyrim and the NBA title were showed in the trailer, various media outlets have reached out to developers for comment on the Switch. Bethesda and 2K Sports/Games both commented that they were thrilled to work with Nintendo on the trailer, but had nothing to confirm at this time. Is that because Nintendo wants to hold off full announcements until after the new year, closer to release? Or is it a sign that third-party developers are waiting to gauge reactions and interest in the new system before throwing their lot in with Nintendo?
The Joy-Cons raise an interesting question in my mind. Though they are undoubtedly unique and offer new ways to play, whatever your situation may be, I’m concerned about wear and tear on the connection points. Constant attaching and detaching of the controllers, both to the console and the controller shell, has to wear on the grooves/connectors to some degree. In a few years time, will our Joy-Cons simply fall off of the console at the slightest provocation? I’m sure this has been and is being stress tested but it is a point of concern all the same.
Conclusion
I am definitely excited for the Nintendo Switch. I have enjoyed all the Nintendo consoles up to this point because of their focus on games and fun. The sheer portability of console-quality games is appealing to me because I love couch multiplayer opportunities and the prospect of picking up, say, a Legend of Zelda or new Mario game and taking it to a friend’s house with ease sounds fantastic to me. Going out to a local bottle shop for drinks and a few rounds of Smash Bros. sounds equally enticing.
While there are many questions left unanswered, I think Nintendo is making the right choice in releasing this teaser and then switching to radio silence until after the new year. This gives them the opportunity to solidify support, prepare their message in a way that conveys what they’re hoping to achieve, and not leave us waiting too long as by that time, the release will be a mere 3 months away. I look forward to seeing more content as the release approaches and seeing what other people make of the announcement and position Nintendo is setting themselves into.
Thanks for reading and feel free to click the comments link to leave me anything you’d like to say.