Nintendo Switch – What We Know and Why Everyone Should Just Chill Out Till 2017. Seriously, Relax Everybody.
After waiting for over a year for Nintendo to drop some official information about the new console code named the NX, gamers finally got a glimpse from the Big N on their new hybrid device, the Nintendo Switch. Capable of playing AAA quality games on an HD TV or on the go through it’s tablet like design, the Switch looks, at least on the surface, like it could be a terrific gaming machine. However, not a whole lot of of details are currently known about Nintendo’s newest video game console above and beyond the look of the device and some basic functionality. From watching the official reveal video below, we can clearly ascertain a few apparent details about the Switch, but other key questions such as price, software, full technical specifications, and various other such specific questions remain unanswered. For more information directly from the source, visit Nintendo’s main website: nintendo.com
- The main console of the Switch looks like a tablet that can accept inputs on its sides
- The Switch will play high quality AAA level video games both on an HD TV and as a portable
- The detachable controllers (Joy Cons) can be attached to the Switch to allow standard gaming on the go
- The Joy Cons can be combined to make a stand alone controller, or used independently
- The Joy Cons can be used by 2 different players for local co-op/competitive play
- A dedicated “Pro” controller (non-detachable) can also be used with the Switch
- The Switch will play games via cartridge, as opposed to disc based media
- There is a kickstand on the back of the Switch to facilitate portable gaming while the Joy Cons are detached
One major detail that was confirmed by Nvidia: source link
- The Nintendo Switch will be using a custom made Nvidia GPU based on their Tegra Processor
- On top of supplying the GPU, Nvidia has created new APIs that were built specifically to bring lightweight fast gaming
Ooh! And look at this massive list of publishing partners that have devolpment kits and are working on software for the Switch: 
The list of publishing partners above is impressive, but keep in mind that only a handful of games have actually been officially announced for the Switch.
Officially announced games listed below:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo
- Untitled Pokemon & Mario video games – Nintendo
- Dragon Quest X – Square Enix
- Dragon Quest XI – Square Enix
- Just Dance 2017 – Ubisoft
- Project Sonic 2017 – Sega
- Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom – FDG Entertainment
- RISE: Race the Future – VD-dev
- Riverside – Zockrates Laboratories
- Tank it! – Bplus
…and so far that is it. No title announcements so far from big name developers/publishers: Bethesda, EA, From Software, Activision, Capcom, Platinum Games, Warner Brothers, etc. Mind you, a lot of publishers are likely holding back on making any major announcements for when Nintendo makes a full product reveal, including price, software, full technical specifications, and the answers to various other such specific questions. This big information blowout announcement from Nintendo is coming in 2017, likely in January or February, according to Wall Street Journal technology reporter from Japan, Takashi Mochizkui: source link. I know that as nerds we want to know more about exciting new products that catch our interest, and it is possible that a few little nuggets from Nintendo and/or 3rd party publishers will slip out before then, but guys & gals, and read this very carefully, DON’T DO WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS YOU ARE GOING TO DO AND FREAK OUT! Chillax my friends in nerd-dom. It’s going to be OK if you do not know every minute little detail about the Switch upfront. The teaser reveal was to whet your appetite (and truthfully to set Nintendo’s investors at ease). More information is coming after the holidays. There is no way that Nintendo is going to do the full reveal before Christmas, because they do not want to jeopardize any 3DS and Wii U sales between now and then. Do not go all crazy like these screen grabs I have from neogaf.com and reddit.com.
It’s cool to talk about the Nintendo Switch with your peers, but it’s a whole ‘nother thing to spend all day (every day) on forums trying to figure every little aspect of a device that we hardly know anything about. Some of the topics from the forums above are dumpster fires full of stupidity and uninformed armchair technology buffs that think that they have all the answers (news flash: they don’t). The smart thing to do is to go on about your life and wait for more legitimate information to become available. Until then, that little teaser reveal video above, along with the source links that I have laced all through out this post are all we know, which is not much really.
I would love to know the answers to the following questions:
- What is the battery life of the unit when it is off of the dock?
- Will the Switch have an LTE/4G capability built in to allow online gaming everywhere?
- Are Blizzard and BioWare working on titles for the Switch? (‘cuz I want Overwatch and Mass Effect playable on the go)
- Will Virtual Console purchases made on the 3DS and Wii U carry over to the Switch?
I have a ton more questions that I would love to have answered by Nintendo and the 3rd Party Publishers, but until they are ready to let all of the juicy details out, I can wait. If adulthood has taught me anything, it’s that patience is a wonderful quality to have. There is more than enough on my dance card (family time, writing a novel, events, games to play, chores to do, bills to juggle, etc.) to keep me occupied until the big Nintendo Switch information blowout in early 2017. I imagine you have plenty to do as well. All will be revealed when the time is right. There is no need to go to your favorite internet forum and act a damned fool about something you don’t know anything about. Just relax. If you won’t listen to me and you still feel the need to get sucked into the Nintendo Switch forum war zones, then please, at least listen to a young (not crying yet) Michael Jordan…
