Nintendo has taken the lid off details for the new Switch console. This represents a huge departure from what the Japanese company has been doing in the past, and shows a console maker that is ready to embrace the 21st century.
A huge announcement for the Nintendo Switch was that the company is abandoning region locking for all Switch software. This is significant for Nintendo fans who constantly lament the fact that Nintendo was stuck with the idea of restricting some games to certain countries. More likely than not, this gives developers a much larger market for their games.
A new paid online service was also announced. Few details were revealed during the event, but Nintendo says that it will have more information available during the Fall of 2017.
According to Nintendo, the Switch will have a battery life of between two and a half, and six and a half hours; depending on the type of gameplay involved. More importantly it doesn’t require to be docked to charge; and will use a regular USB Type-C connector for the adapter.
The Joy-Con controllers have also turned out to be more capable than anyone first imagined. Each side of the controllers is equipped with a gyroscope and accelerometer; allowing them to function like Wii controllers. That being said, they are also equipped with extra L and R trigger buttons.
The right Joy-Con also has a NFC chip that allows it to read Amiibo data; while the left has an IR camera capable or recognising basic shapes.
As is usually the case, the Joy-Con controllers will be available in three different colours. Besides these, Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Cons are also being made available; along with wrist straps. Nintendo will be selling two different sets of the Switch console, although both are identical aside from the colours of the Joy-Con controllers. One will have two grey controllers, while the other will feature one each of the Neon Blue and Neon Red controllers.
The Nintendo Switch will be launched on 3 March in Japan, US, Canada, select European countries, Hong Kong, and other unspecified territories. It’ll retail for 29,980 Yen in Japan and $299.99 (about RM1,339) in the US. The Joy-Con Pro controller is being made separately for an unspecified price.
