Nintendo announced a whole bunch of details about the upcoming Switch console last night in Tokyo , including the price, release date, and new games that are coming to the console. And while we may still have questions about Nintendo’s new hardware, we now have a clearer picture than ever about what Nintendo’s vision of the future of video games looks like.
First things first. The Nintendo Switch will be released internationally on March 3rd for $299.99. The Switch will be available in two versions: either a console with all-gray Joy-Con controllers, or one with a Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con set.
As for accessories: the more traditional Pro Controller will cost $69.99, while extra Joy-Con pairs will run $79.99 each, with individual Joy-Con costing $49.99. Each Joy-Con controller, whether purchased individually or paired, also includes a wrist strap attachment. Extra Joy-Con Charging Grip controllers will run $29.99 with the ability to recharge the Joy-Con controllers, replacement Switch Docks will be $89.99, and a Wii-esque Wheel accessory will run $14.99 for a set of two.
Nintendo also finally answered some of the biggest outstanding questions about the Switch hardware. The screen was confirmed to be a 6.2-inch, 1280 x 720 resolution display, with up to 1080p output available on a TV set when docked.
When used in handheld mode, the Switch gets between three and six hours of battery life on a charge, depending on the demands of the games being played, but can be easily recharged on the go through a USB-C port. The Switch has 32GB of internal storage, which can be further expandable with microSD cards. And, in a first for a Nintendo home console, the Switch won’t be region locked, meaning that games from anywhere in the world will work on any device.
Nintendo also showed off some new features for the modular Joy-Con controller. The mysterious square button on the left Joy-Con was announced to be a Capture button for quickly recording gameplay screenshots, and eventually video clips at some point farther down the line. Additionally, each Joy-Con controller will have full motion control functionality, similar to the Wii Remote, for motion gameplay, along with advanced haptic feedback that Nintendo is calling « HD Rumble » for even more immersive gameplay.
When using the Joy-Con controllers undocked, either for cooperative play or motion gaming, Nintendo is including a wrist strap attachment that can be clipped onto the inside of the controller halves to help prevent flinging them into your TV or nearby friends. Additionally, Nintendo revealed that the Switch-facing side of each Joy-Con contains shoulder buttons, allowing each Joy-Con half to be used as a full controller. The wrist strap attachment has the added benefit of making those shoulder buttons somewhat larger and easier to press.
Furthermore, the right Joy-Con controller contains an IR camera that Nintendo claims is able to identify the shape and locations of objects. For example, the Joy-Con can distinguish between a hand throwing rock-paper-scissors motions, as well as determine how far away it is from the controller. And as noted earlier, the Joy-Con will come in Neon Blue and Neon Red colors at launch, in addition to the previously seen gray.
