Nintendo have today released the full specifications on the Nintendo Switch, and confirmed a release date of 3rd March. It will cost £279.99.
Resembling a tablet computer, with attachable Joy-Con controllers on either side, the Switch (previously known as the NX) is being marketed as both a handheld device and also a home console. It contains a touch-sensitive screen (Like the Nintendo DS line), detects movement (Like the Wii Remote) and also uses smaller cartridges, in homage to their original consoles.
It has between 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life when not connected to the dock, which is used to hook it up to a television, and to charge it. Nintendo confirmed over 80 games were currently being developed for the Switch, including the hotly anticipated Super Mario Odyssey- although this will not be a launch title.
The company also came under fire for their steep price points. A Pro Controller, in the style of a traditional console controller, costs $69.99 (£57.50), additional Joy-Con controllers are $79.99 and a spare dock to use the Switch with another TV or monitor is $89.99.
The stakes are high for Nintendo after the Wii U flopped dramatically against the Xbox One and Playstation 4. More worryingly, share prices dropped after today’s unveiling.
The Nintendo Switch is released in the UK on 3rd March 2017. Check out the official announcement below:
