Nintendo Switches it Up

Nintendo+Switches+it+Up

Andrew Borba (12th), Reporter

On YouTube last week Nintendo showed a trailer for their new console named the “Nintendo Switch” and the Internet has been abuzz with hype and analysis of the new console’s trailer and the features shown.

The main gimmick of the console is the ability for the player to be able to switch from a console to a handheld at anytime. The player is even able to take off the JoyCon controllers at the side of the handheld and with a kickstand use the handheld as a mini TV during flights or on long car rides. The usefulness of that feature is doubled since you can also give one of the JoyCon controllers to a friend and play multiplayer Mario Kart.

The trailer also showed off games like a tech demo a Mario game, the Nintendo Switch version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, possible Nintendo Switch ports of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon, and even a port of Skyrim but before you get hyped about these game the company stated;

“At a later date, before the March launch, we’ll be talking about things like exact launch date, and of course, the games. You shouldn’t assume what you saw on the video represents actual game footage and further specifics on first-party games will be provided later.”

The company also released a big list of third party developers that Nintendo has supposedly made deals with to develop games on the Nintendo Switch. The list included some big names like Bethesda (known for games like Skyrim and Fallout) and Activision (Call of Duty). Which is a good sign for a company that has failed to garner third party support on previous console endeavors.

While the news of the console is exciting, some gamers have a more cynical reaction to the Nintendo Switch. Some point out that Nintendo is coming from a recent failure with the Wii U and if the Nintendo Switch doesn’t succeed, Nintendo as a company might go bankrupt. Another worry is the battery life of the tablet that makes up the handheld. Reports and rumors have the battery life at mediocre or around 3 hours. Hopefully Nintendo will dispel these doubts when they start revealing more about the console/handheld hybrid next year.

It’s an exciting time to be a Nintendo fan of a fan of videogames in general. Nintendo has stuck to the month of March as the release month for the Nintendo Switch and will start discussing details about the hybrid starting next year.