Nintendo has revealed its latest add-on for the Switch console, and it’s not something anyone could have seen coming. The Labo is a set of DIY peripherals made from cardboard; and are meant to provide a variety of new ways of interacting with the portable console.
The announcement video shows a product reminiscent of the Google Cardboard. Players assemble an assortment of peripherals like fishing rods, mini-pianos, foot pedals, and motorcycle handle bars. The Nintendo Joycons can then be inserted into these peripherals to provide new types of “controllers”.
Nintendo intends to release the Labo in two boxed sets. One being the Labo Variety Kit, which contains the majority of the cardboard kits (a house, RC car, fishing rod, motorbike, and piano). The other is the Labo Robot Kit, this being a backpack with hand controls for directing a giant robot. Naturally, it’s all also made of cardboard.
Each of these kits will include games and software to make the most of the controllers. Nintendo is also releasing customisation kits, which are pretty much full of stickers, stencils, and coloured tape. At the very least, people are free to use their own colour pencils and markers to decorate the kits.
Nintendo Labo is set to appear on 20 April this year, with the Variety Kit sold for $69.99 and the Robot Kit for $79.99. The Customisation Kit will have a price tag of $9.99. It all sounds a little steep for cardboard; but then again, it also includes several mini-games.
