Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch in docked (top) and portable (bottom) configurations
Also known as NX (code name)
Developer Nintendo PTD
Type Hybrid video game console
Release date March 2017
Media Game card
System-on-chip used Custom Nvidia Tegra[1]
Controller input Joy-Con controllers, Switch Pro controller

The Nintendo Switch, known in development as the NX, is an upcoming hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo, and the company's seventh major home console. Officially unveiled in October 2016, it is currently scheduled for release worldwide in March 2017.

The Switch's main unit is shaped like a tablet, featuring two detachable controllers on either side called Joy-Cons, which can be used individually or attached to a grip to provide a traditional gamepad form. The main unit is connected to a television display through a docking station, from which it can be removed and used as a portable console. Despite this characteristic, Nintendo markets the Switch primarily as a home console rather than as a portable. The Switch uses flash ROM cartridges rather than optical discs, similar to the Nintendo 3DS.

History

One of Satoru Iwata's last actions as president of Nintendo prior to his death in July 2015 was to push the company towards mobile gaming, forming a business alliance with Japanese mobile provider DeNA a few months before.[2] Iwata recognized that mobile gaming was a rapidly growing market and wanted to bring Nintendo's intellectual properties to it without compromising their integrity.[3] During a joint press conference on 17 March 2015 to announce this partnership, Nintendo also confirmed that it was developing a new hardware platform codenamed "NX", which was described as having a "brand new concept".[4]

Nintendo stated that the NX would not be a direct replacement of the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U product lines, which were launched in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, Nintendo's new president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that the NX would provide a "new way to play" that would "have a larger impact than the Wii U". He believed that the Wii U would "slow" following the release of the NX, but reiterated that the platform will not be a successor or direct replacement of the Wii U.[5][6] Nintendo subsequently announced in mid-November 2016 that domestic production of the Wii U would end "soon", with units for foreign markets for that fiscal year already en route.[7]

At an investor's meeting on 27 April 2016, Nintendo announced that the NX would be released worldwide in March 2017.[8][9] Nintendo did not unveil the NX's hardware at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June 2016, though it did announce that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, would also be coming for the NX. At a Nintendo shareholders' meeting following the conference, Shigeru Miyamoto stated that the company had concerns that competitors could copy ideas from the NX if they revealed it too soon.[10][11]

The following month, rumors began to surface about the nature of the NX, which suggested that it would be a hybrid device designed for both home and portable usage, and would feature detachable controllers. It was also speculated that the platform would utilize a system on a chip from the Nvidia Tegra series, which is designed for use in mobile devices.[12][13] Some of these rumors were supported by patents issued to Nintendo for various game console hardware.[14]

Nintendo formally announced the Nintendo Switch, the final branding for the NX, on 20 October 2016 alongside a trailer that demonstrated the hardware's nature as a hybrid device.[15] Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé emphasized the console's appeal as a device that would provide gamers the option to play at home or on the go, and noted that it would enable developers to create new types of games.[16] At the time of the trailer's release, Nintendo did not provide many details on features of the platform, and do not plan to describe specifications until 2017, though did state there are additional features that were not presented in the introductory trailer.[17][18] Nintendo planned a press event for the Switch in Tokyo on 13 January 2017, where it will reveal the unit's full specifications, retail price, and initial game release lineup.[19] The event will be livestreamed, and various "sampling events" will take place after it.[20] Additional hands-on events for the Switch have been planned for later that day in Paris and New York City for European and North American press, respectively.[21][22]

Nintendo plans to ship two million units by the end of March 2017, and anticipates that consumers will be able to try the Switch sometime in January 2017. Kimishima stated that the Switch will not be sold at a loss.[23][24]

Hardware

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid video game console, with the main system comprising the "Switch Console", "Switch Dock" and the "Joy-Con" controllers. Although it is a hybrid console, a Nintendo spokesperson stated that the Switch was "a home gaming system first and foremost", and that it does not affect Nintendo's continued sales of the Nintendo 3DS. Instead, Nintendo will start to diminish production of the Wii U in anticipation of the Switch's release.[25]

Console and dock

The main unit of the console is the "Switch Console", a battery-powered tablet-like monitor that comprises an LCD screen,[26] a 3.5 mm audio jack and a kickstand.[27][28] The console has slots on the side, into which the Joy-Con controllers can be slid when removed from the base. The unit also includes a slot for a Game Card (cartridge-based media) to be installed or removed.

The console can be placed into the Switch Dock, a docking station that connects to a power supply and to television when it needs to be charged or to transfer the output onto a television.[15] Ars Technica estimated the tablet has a 167 mm (6.6 in) diagonal viewing area, with the unit measuring about 184.1 mm × 106.4 mm (7.25 in × 4.19 in) without the Joy-Con controllers attached.[29] According to insider sources speaking Eurogamer but not yet confirmed by Nintendo, the Switch's screen is a 6.2 in (16 cm) capacitive touchscreen with ten-point multitouch detection, comparable to most other smartphones and tablet computers on the market, and offers a 720p resolution. These sources note that the right Joy-Con controller includes an infrared sensor, which would allow the user to still play touch-based games when the Switch is in the dock.[30]

Controllers

The Nintendo Switch comes with controllers called Joy-Cons, specifically the "Joy-Con L" and "Joy-Con R". They each include action and shoulder buttons, bumper triggers and a joystick.[31] The controllers can be attached to the Switch Console, removed and used separately in each hand (similarly to a Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller), attached to a frame called the Joy-Con Grip to provide a gamepad form factor or used as individual controllers for two players.

The console will support the wireless Switch Pro Controller, which has a more traditional design reminiscent of the Wii Classic Controller Pro and Wii U Pro Controller.[28][32] The Nintendo Switch will support multiplayer via multiple systems; for example, allowing four players to play using two Switch systems.[15][33]

Accessories

Though not revealed in the October 2016 reveal, the Nintendo Switch will support a wide array of additional accessories, according to Kimishima. Kimishima suggested that the Switch is part of a large ecosystem of devices though the Switch unit remains the core console element, and that several of these accessories will be revealed in the January 2017 event.[34]

Technical specifications

Exact specifications have not been officially announced, but Nvidia confirmed that the Switch uses a custom system-on-chip from its Nvidia Tegra family of products. No specific details were revealed beyond that it is "based on the same architecture as the world's top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards", and has a custom API known as "NVN", which is designed to "bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses".[15][35]

Games distributed at retail will be stored on proprietary cartridges, similar in design to the Game cards used for Nintendo DS and 3DS games.[36] Switch does not support optical discs.[37] Like Nintendo's previous consoles and handhelds, the Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS, the Switch will have native compatibility with Nintendo's line of Amiibo products.[27]

Games

During its official unveiling in October 2016, Nintendo deliberately opted not to provide a list of games for the system, as they "want people to touch the device in January [2017] and experience the software for themselves", according to Kimishima.[34] Instead, Nintendo announced some of the partners that had committed to supporting the Switch; contrasting Nintendo's struggles to gain third-party support on-launch for previous platforms, the company initially listed 48 third-party publishers, studios, and middleware developers.[15] Among these partners, Nintendo listed major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sega, Square Enix, and Ubisoft.[15][38][39] Both Unity Technologies and Epic Games also pledged support to help developers bring games using their game engines, Unity and Unreal Engine 4 respectively, to the Switch.[40][41] Capcom, who was also announced as a initial third-party publisher for the Switch, stated that while they are committed to releasing titles for the Switch, they "do feel that there are differences in the desired direction and the play-style of the Nintendo Switch and those of the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One" and may not be releasing cross-platform games for the new console.[42]

Prior to the console's official unveiling, Sega, Square Enix, and Ubisoft had already confirmed specific third-party titles in development for Switch, including Just Dance 2017,[43] Project Sonic 2017,[44] Dragon Quest X,[45] and Dragon Quest XI.[46] Various indie developers also announced or considered game titles for the Switch.[47] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, will also be released for the Switch.[10][48][49] While the console's reveal trailer showcased footage from potential new titles in the Super Mario, Mario Kart, and Splatoon series as well as footage from NBA 2K17 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,[50] Nintendo later stated that the footage on the Switch's screen does not necessarily reflect any confirmed titles for the system, and were only selected to demonstrate the Switch's range of functionality.[51] Bethesda, the publisher of Skyrim, affirmed they had no current plans to bring the title to the Switch, but had provided Nintendo the footage to support the reveal as a committed developer for the system.[52] Take-Two Interactive, the publisher for NBA 2K17, also affirmed they had no present plans for the title on the Switch.[53]

Reception

Financial analysts had a mixed response to the announcement of the Nintendo Switch.[17][18] Following the financially under-performing Wii U, analysts had expected that Nintendo would recognize their vulnerable position in the console market when developing their next console, believing that the company would find a means to draw back the core gamer market. Instead, initial promotion of the Switch appeared to appeal to an audience that fell between the core gamer and casual gamer markets, the latter being mobile game players who would want a more engaging experience but would not be willing to play for hours at a time, according to The New York Times.[17] Analysts were unsure if such a market existed in large enough numbers to justify the Switch.[17] Other concerns about the Switch's announcement were related to yet-confirmed details that could make or break the system, such as its retail price, whether the unit includes a touchscreen, the unit's battery life, and the type of games that development partners will bring to the console.[54] The company's stock price, which rose by 4% on the day before the Switch's announcement in anticipation,[54] fell by 7% the next day due to these issues.[17] That said, stock research analyst John Taylor expressed the opinion that Nintendo "checked off an awful lot of boxes with [the Switch]".[16] Taylor also approved of the company's decision to introduce the console prior to the holiday season, when Microsoft and Sony would attempt to attract casual gamers to their consoles.[16] Rob Fahey, writing for GamesIndustry.biz, noted that within Japan, many young adults do not own a high-definition television, which has affected newer console sales such as the PlayStation 4, and the Switch would be an attractive product for this demographic.[55]

Game developers were more positive towards the Switch, seeing the system as "a more unifying experience between their handheld and console divisions", but expressed concern on unanswered hardware specifications, and how Nintendo will market the unit to draw in developers.[47] Following the October 2016 reveal video, Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, was questioned on Twitter about his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch, and replied saying that he was impressed with Nintendo's ability to "state a bold vision and build a product that delivers on that vision".[56] Xbox's head of games marketing, Aaron Greenberg, congratulated Nintendo, saying he loves "seeing new innovation in our industry".[57] The trailer became Nintendo's most-viewed video on YouTube within 24 hours, and was the top trending video on YouTube for about a day.[58]

Engadget editors were generally impressed with the Switch on reveal, seeing it as a means to bridge home consoles with portable devices, experiments that Nintendo had tried before with inter-game connectivity between the 3DS and Wii U. The editors potentially see the Switch as a unified console and handheld device, aimed to be a console gamer's second device and where the player does not need the time investment to sit down and play most console games. One editor did express concerns on the hardware's durability given its modular nature.[59] Retailer Gamestop also stated it believed the Switch would be transformative in the market, as CEO Paul Reines stated that the company believes the Switch "could be another game-changer that will expand the audience for gaming".[60]

References

  1. ↑ "NVIDIA Technology Powers New Home Gaming System, Nintendo Switch". Nvidia. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Peckham, Matt (18 March 2015). "Exclusive: Nintendo CEO Reveals Plans for Smartphones". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (18 March 2015). "Players More Important Than Money, Nintendo Pres. Says About Smartphone Deal". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (17 March 2015), "Nintendo NX is "new hardware with a brand new concept"", Eurogamer
  5. ↑ "Nintendo NX "is neither the successor to the Wii U nor to the 3DS"". VG24/7. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  6. ↑ Westaway, Luke. "Nintendo will make games for phones, new 'NX' system". CNET. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Osborn, Alex (11 November 2016). "Nintendo Officially Announces Wii U Production is Ending". IGN. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Martens, Todd (27 April 2016). "Nintendo dates its successor to the Wii U, the NX". Los Angeles Times. Tronc. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Reilly, Luke (27 April 2016). "Nintendo NX Will Launch In March 2017". IGN.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Nintendo NX launches March 2017, won't simply replace Wii U and 3DS". Geek.com. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Report: Nintendo's fear of imitators kept NX out of E3". Polygon. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Philips, Tom (26 July 2016). "Nintendo NX is a portable console with detachable controllers". Eurogamer. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  13. ↑ Leadbetter, Richard (26 July 2016). "Nintendo NX is powered by Nvidia Tegra technology". Eurogamer. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  14. ↑ Te, Zorine (16 August 2016). "Nintendo's NX Controller Could Have Detachable D-Pad, According To Updated Patents". GameSpot. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "'Switch' is Nintendo's next game console". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 Wingfield, Nick (20 October 2016). "Nintendo Switch Reaches for a New Market With Home-and-Mobile Console". The New York Times. Seattle. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Soble, Jonathan (21 October 2016). "Nintendo Switch Console Is Met With Skepticism From Investors". The New York Times. Tokyo. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  18. 1 2 Mochizuki, Takashi (21 October 2016). "Nintendo's New Switch Console Fails to Turn On Investors". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  19. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (26 October 2016). "More Nintendo Switch News Coming in January 2017". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "Nintendo reveals plans for Nintendo Switch presentation". Nintendo. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  21. ↑ Shark, Chelsea (28 November 2016). "Nintendo holding Switch hands-on event in New York Jan. 13". Polygon. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  22. ↑ http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-also-hosting-a-switch-press-event-in-paris-on-january-13/
  23. ↑ Kerr, Chris (26 October 2016). "Nintendo expects Switch to initially ship 2 million units". Gamasutra. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Kimishima on third-party support for Switch, could increase production if demand is high, more". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  25. ↑ Crecente, Brian (20 October 2016). "Nintendo: Switch is a home gaming system 'first and foremost'". Polygon. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Orland, Kyle (21 October 2016). "One day later, additional Nintendo Switch details dribble out". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  27. 1 2 Rad, Chloi (20 October 2016). "Nintendo Confirms Amiibo Support for Nintendo Switch, Clarifies Additional Features". IGN. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  28. 1 2 "This is what the Nintendo Switch looks like". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  29. ↑ Orland, Kyle (20 October 2016). "How big is the Nintendo Switch? An Ars visual analysis". Ars Technica. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  30. ↑ Philips, Tom (27 October 2016). "Nintendo Switch has a 6.2" 720p multi-touch screen". Eurogamer. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  31. ↑ Kumparak, Greg (20 October 2016). "Everything we suddenly know about Nintendo's crazy new console, the Switch". TechCrunch. Retrieved 21 October 2016 – via Aol.
  32. ↑ "A close look at the Nintendo Switch's wild modular controller: the Joy-Con". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  33. ↑ Hernandez, Patricia. "Here's Your First Look At The Nintendo Switch, Nintendo's Next Console". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group.
  34. 1 2 Nakamura, Yuji; Amano, Takashi (27 October 2016). "Nintendo President Hints of Bigger Hardware Plans for Switch". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  35. ↑ "Nintendo Switch confirmed to have Nvidia components". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  36. ↑ "Nintendo Switch will use cartridges". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  37. ↑ Arnold, Cory (21 October 2016). "Nintendo Switch not compatible with physical 3DS or Wii U games". Destructoid. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  38. ↑ "Nintendo announces publishers and developers for the Switch – including Bethesda, EA, 2K and more". VG24/7. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  39. ↑ Miller, Ross (20 October 2016). "Activision, EA, Bethesda, and more pledge support for Nintendo Switch". The Verge. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  40. ↑ Alexander, Julia (20 October 2016). "Activision, Bethesda and dozens of other companies will support Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  41. ↑ Skrebels, Joe (21 October 2016). "Nintendo Switch will Support Unreal Engine 4". IGN. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  42. ↑ Orrey, James (7 November 2016). "Capcom looking into PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch multiplatform games". Videogamer.com. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  43. ↑ "Just Dance 2017 is the first Western game to be announced for NX". Eurogamer. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  44. ↑ "'Project Sonic 2017' is coming to Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo NX". Engadget. AOL Inc. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  45. ↑ "DRAGON QUEST 10 CONFIRMED FOR NINTENDO NX". IGN. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  46. ↑ "Dragon Quest creator again confirms a launch on Nintendo NX". Polygon. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  47. 1 2 Wawro, Alex (20 October 2016). "Devs React: Nintendo unveils its hybrid-handheld console Switch". Gamasutra. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  48. ↑ Reilly, Luke (27 April 2016). "Nintendo NX Will Launch In March 2017". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  49. ↑ "Zelda Wii U Delayed to 2017, Also Coming to NX". IGN. Ziff Davis Media. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  50. ↑ "The 6 games Nintendo showed for the Switch". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  51. ↑ Philips, Tom (24 October 2016). "Nintendo fans pick apart Switch reveal video". Eurogamer. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  52. ↑ Pereira, Chris (20 October 2016). "Skyrim Not Confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Despite Appearing in Video Reveal". GameSpot. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  53. ↑ Brightman, James (24 October 2016). "Nintendo: Switch video does not represent actual game footage". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  54. 1 2 Alexander, Julia (21 October 2016). "Nintendo stock drops 7 percent after Switch reveal". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  55. ↑ Fahey, Rob (26 October 2016). "Switch targets Japan's TV-less youth". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  56. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (20 October 2016). "Xbox Boss Reacts to Nintendo Switch Announcement". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  57. ↑ "Aaron Greenberg on Twitter". Twitter. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  58. ↑ Grant, Christopher (21 October 2016). "The Nintendo Switch reveal is the most viewed video on Nintendo's YouTube page". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  59. ↑ "Engadget's first thoughts on the Nintendo Switch". Engadget. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  60. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (November 23, 2016). "Nintendo Switch Could Be a "Game-Changer," May Have Motion Controls, GameStop Says". GameSpot. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

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