Nintendo have announced the pricing and release date for their new console, Nintendo Switch.
It was announced during their livestream presentation on Thursday night. Nintendo Switch will launch simultaneously in the US, Canada, Japan, “major European countries,” Hong Kong, and other territories. Pricing was only shared for the US ($299.99) and Japan (where it’ll cost 29,980 yen).
For Europe, it was announced on the Official Nintendo Twitter page that it will be £279.99 from the official Nintendo Store. Although Nintendo advised checking your local store for pricing, it is thought that most retailers will sell for around the same price.
The specs of the Nintendo Switch were also provided. Here’s a quick rundown of the key features.
- The Switch will use a 6.2-inch 1280×720 resolution capacitive touchscreen. While the tablet is 720p, it can switch to 1080p when docked and outputting to a TV.
- The console will also use 32GB of internal storage, which you can expand with a microSDXC card.
- The game cartridges are called “game cards” and you drop them in from the top of the Switch.
- The Switch will have two speakers at the bottom and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top.
- Battery life will be between 2.5 and 6 hours, depending on use.
- The system will include the main console, two Joy-Con controllers, a Joy-Con grip, a set of Joy-Con wrist straps, a Nintendo Switch dock, an HDMI cable and an AC adapter.
- Two stylish versions of the system will be released: a version with a set of gray Joy-Con controllers, and a version with one neon blue and one neon red Joy-Con. Both versions will be the same price.
- Up to eight systems can be connected for local wireless play.
- The left Joy-Con has a Capture Button that players can press to take instant screenshots of gameplay to share with friends on social media. The right Joy-Con includes an NFC touch point for interaction with amiibo figures, as well as an IR Motion Camera that can detect the distance, shape and motion of nearby objects in specially designed games.
- Both Joy-Cons include advanced HD Rumble, which can provide compatible games with subtle vibrations that are much more realistic than before.
In terms of launch games, Nintendo have a few first-party games shipping with it. Zelda will be available at launch, while the new Mario game will be released by next Christmas. The full list of confirmed first-party games is below.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- 1-2-Switch
- ARMS
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Splatoon 2
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!
Nintendo Switch will also be supported by world-class third-party publishers including Activision, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros, with Bethesda having confirmed Skyrim for the Switch, the first time it’s released a game on a Nintendo console. EA have also announced that FIFA will appear on the Switch, a key signing after the developer ignored the Wii U.
Finally, Nintendo Switch software will not be region locked, making it ideal for import gamers.
For more information head over to Nintendo’s Website.
