The Nintendo Switch is coming out in March 2017 and Nintendo has revealed lots of new details on the console. Read on for the Nintendo Switch price, UK release date, games and specs, plus how to pre-order the Switch.
At long last, Nintendo has taken the wraps off its new NX games console. We now know the Nintendo NX will be called the Switch, and this article contains everything you need to know about the console ahead of its launch – both official details and rumours. Here’s the Nintendo Switch price, UK release date, games and specs. Read next: Nintendo Switch review
„In addition to providing single 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,“ said Nintendo.
Latest update – the Switch may eventually be backwards-compatible with Wii or Wii U controllers – read more .
Also see: Nintendo Classic Mini NES release date, specs, games and features .
Thanks to the Nintendo Switch Presentation on 13 January 2017, we now know exactly when the Switch will launch worldwide: 3 March 2017 .
We’d known the console was coming in March for some time, but the 3rd is earlier than many had expected. Pre-orders have now opened from several retailers (see below), although the Switch is already selling out so you’ll need to get in quick if you want one on launch day.
When it launches on 3 March, the Nintendo Switch will retail for £279.99 – a little more than many UK fans were hoping for, after rumours it could cost as little as £200. By contrast, the Switch will cost $299.99 in the US.
That price will get you the main Switch console, along with a dock, a pair of Joy-Con controllers (one left and one right), a Joy-Con grip (to connect the controllers together), wrist straps, and an HDMI cable and AC adapter.
If you want to pre-order in the UK, you have a few options, though not much in the way of differing prices. And you should note that stock is rapidly selling out, so you must act now if you want a Nintendo Switch on launch day.
After initially selling out, Amazon is now once again offering the console in grey or red and blue for £279.99, while Game is still offering it in either grey or red and blue at the same price but advises it doesn’t know yet how many units Nintendo will allocate it so if you pre-order now there is no guarantee you’ll get it on launch day. ShopTo advises a similar warning, and we’d imagine it is the same story for Tesco and Zavvi. Gamestop has already sold out of the Switch.
It’s a similar situation in the US, where Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart have all closed pre-orders. Nevertheless, Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime claims availability shouldn’t be a major problem with 2 million units shipped worldwide for the launch.
Read next: Best board games
There aren’t any official bundles at launch, but there are two versions of the console to choose from, though the only difference is the colour of the Joy-Con controllers. One set comes with two grey controllers, while the other comes with one in red and the other in blue.
Accessory prices have also been revealed, and they seem quite steep. A new pair of Joy-Con controllers will set you back £74.99, while the individual controllers (again, one left and one right ) are £43 each. They’re available in grey, blue, or red.
The Pro Controller , which looks much more like a traditional gamepad, is £64.99. You can also buy new wrist straps for the Joy-Cons , and they’re a more budget-friendly £4.99 each.
See also: New Nintendo 3DS & 3DS XL review – The New 3DS is everything the original should have been.
One of the first things to tackle is that the Switch both a home console and a handheld device at the same time. It’s a hybrid of sorts which is an evolution of the Wii U’s Gamepad. See also: Nintendo Switch vs Wii U review.
It might be helpful to think of the Nintendo Switch like the Nvidia Shield tablet. It’s a tablet device which appears to contain all the hardware which has a docking station which then plugs into your TV – this is how it switches from being a traditional home console to handheld.
„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,“ said Nintendo.
