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Nintendo Switch: All we know about Nintendo’s latest console

Nintendo revealed its new console, Switch, last night — and we’ve gathered up all the facts about it so you don’t have to.

Switch is a hybrid home and handheld console

Yep. As most rumours pointed out (or ones that we decided to report on, anyway), the Nintendo Switch is a home console that doubles as a handheld device.

As demonstrated in the console’s preview trailer using The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you’ll be able to transition Switch from home to handheld console in the middle of gameplay.

Nintendo’s calling the handheld component of the console Switch, with the TV dock merely referred to as a dock. The little handheld grips to the left and right of the Switch itself are called Joy-Cons, designated by “(L)” and “(R)” for left and right.

If you’re using Switch to watch a video, or play on the run — or whilst on an airplane — the Switch has a kickstand so you can play without holding its screen.

Switch has a bunch of control schemes and configurations

As we alluded to above, the Switch has as many (if not more; and no, we’re not counting) control schemes as the Wii U.

Here are the configurations we’ve spotted:

  • Switch docked with TV using the Joy-Con controllers in the Joy-Con Grip
  • Switch docked with TV using the Joy-Con controllers in each hand
  • Switch docked with TV using the Switch Pro controller
  • Switch in handheld mode with Joy-Con controllers on each side of screen
  • Switch in handheld mode, with kickstand, with user controlling both Joy-Con controllers
  • Switch in handheld mode, with kickstand, with users controlling one Joy-Con controllers each

Here are the configurations we’re not sure on yet:

  • Switch in handheld mode, with kickstand, with user controlling one Pro controller
  • Switch in handheld mode, with kickstand, with users controlling one Pro controller each

Switch uses game cartridges

Yep. We’d call it old-school, but the Vita and 3DS use cartridges, and Switch is a handheld (of sorts), so…

Switch supports local multiplayer across multiple consoles

Nintendo’s confirmed that “it is possible for numerous people to bring their Nintendo Switch consoles together to enjoy local multiplayer face-to-face competition.”

Neato.

Switch is using the Nvidia Tegra mobile processor

It’s been confirmed that Switch uses the Nvidia Tegra high-performance mobile gaming chip.

“The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an Nvidia GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards,” NVIDIA said of the Tegra in direct reference to the Nintendo Switch. Nvidia also added it’s assisting Nintendo with the console’s “algorithms, computer architecture, system design, system software, APIs, game engines and peripherals.”

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Switch looks to be touting some decent games

Here are the titles shown off during today’s teaser:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: Well, duh.
  • Mario Kart8, maybe? Or something new? We couldn’t tell.
  • Super Mario… Switch?: Who knows what it’s called, but it’s a new Mario game.
  • Splatoon: Esports!
  • NBA… something: It could have been just us, but it didn’t look like 2K17.
  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: ‘Cause why not?

Switch still has some unanswered questions surrounding it

The reveal was pretty neat, but we’ve got some questions that remain unanswered:

  • Is the Switch’s handheld screen a touchscreen?
  • Are there any gyroscopes hidden in the thing?
  • Has Nintendo ditched 3D entirely in this handheld?
  • Can that dude really play Skyrim on a plane without an internet connection?
  • What powers the Joy-Con controllers? AAA batteries? An internal battery that can only be charged by a USB?
  • What’s the battery life on the controllers? What about the handheld itself?

Anything else that we’ve missed, boys and girls?

The Nintendo Switch is available in March 2017.


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About the author

Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.