Still from ‘Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017’. Image: Nintendo/YouTube
The much-anticipated Nintendo Switch console has finally been given a release date, but the shareholders don’t seem too impressed.
The Nintendo Switch caught the attention of many gamers in October of last year for the new direction the Japanese company was taking with video games, particularly its focus on being modular.
Unlike the PS4 or Xbox One, the Switch can be hooked up to a TV screen to play games, but a screen can also be detached from the central console to create a mobile gaming platform capable of in-person multiplayer gaming.
In its official reveal, Nintendo has said that the console will launch globally on 3 March this year, with a price of $299 in North America.
However, as Ireland is tied with the UK in Nintendo’s eyes, the price of £270 would likely see Irish customers paying closer to €320, based on the current exchange rate.
At launch, the console will come with two games designed to show off the console’s abilities, including a mini-game collection called 1-2 Switch, as well as the much-anticipated sequel in the Zelda series, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
At least six games in the series were partially revealed following its announcement last year.
Paid subscription for online play
The console’s two Joy-Con controllers also contain haptic feedback to create highly accurate sensors within whatever game the user is playing.
For example, this would let two players engage in a sword fight as demonstrated during a playthrough of one of the games in 1-2 Switch.
Other details on the hardware remain limited, but Nintendo has said its battery life could vary anywhere between two and six hours, and will be charged via a USB-C cable.
In terms of playing online, Nintendo has followed its competitors by offering a paid subscription service, unlike previous consoles like the Wii, which required no purchase.
While consumers might be impressed by Nintendo’s ambitions to stand out from the crowd, its shareholders do not seem to agree, as Bloomberg reports that the company’s shares fell by 5.8pc following the console’s reveal.
