It’s here! It’s finally here! Or at least I hope it is. I’m writing this post a couple of hours before the Nintendo NX is hopefully actually officially revealed, at which point I’m banking on a couple of things: That it has a proper name to get the branding engine behind, a fresh look at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild so that Alessandro will finally shut up and also confirmation that I was totally right about it being rebranded as the Nintendo Duo.
So without any further ado, here’s the future of Nintendo home entertainment:
But that’s not all! Nintendo has partnered up with a load of developers and companies for the Nintendo Switch. Just read through this list and be amazed:
• 505 Games
• LEVEL-5 Inc.
• Activision Publishing, Inc.
• Marvelous Inc.
• ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co., Ltd.
• Maximum Games, LLC
• ATLUS CO., LTD.
• Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
• Audiokinetic Inc.
• Parity Bit Inc.
• Autodesk, Inc.
• PlatinumGames Inc.
• BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
• RAD Game Tools, Inc.
• Bethesda
• RecoChoku Co., Ltd.
• CAPCOM CO., LTD.
• SEGA Games Co., Ltd.
• Codemasters®
• Silicon Studio Corporation
• CRI Middleware Co., Ltd.
• Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
• DeNA Co., Ltd.
• SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
• Electronic Arts
• Starbreeze Studios
• Epic Games Inc.
• Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
• Firelight Technologies
• Telltale Games
• FromSoftware, Inc.
• THQ Nordic
• Frozenbyte
• Tokyo RPG Factory Co., Ltd.
• GameTrust
• TT Games
• GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
• UBISOFT
• Gungho Online Entertainment, Inc.
• Ubitus Inc.
• HAMSTER Corporation
• Unity Technologies, Inc.
• Havok
• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• INTI CREATES CO., LTD.
• Web Technology Corp
• KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
• Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
So what’s udner the hood of the Nintendo Switch? Nvidia power, a massive change from the usual Radeon cards that power the current-gen consoles of today. Here’s the description from Nvidia themselves:
Nintendo Switch is powered by the performance of the custom Tegra processor. The high-efficiency scalable processor includes an NVIDIA GPU based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards.
The Nintendo Switch’s gaming experience is also supported by fully custom software, including a revamped physics engine, new libraries, advanced game tools and libraries. NVIDIA additionally created new gaming APIs to fully harness this performance. The newest API, NVN, was built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.
Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering.
We’ve optimized the full suite of hardware and software for gaming and mobile use cases. This includes custom operating system integration with the GPU to increase both performance and efficiency.
And there we go! The future is here! But to be more precise, next year March. So what do you think? Are you ready to splash some cash on what the Big N has planned for 2017?
Last Updated: October 20, 2016
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 20, 2016 at 16:08
That looks really interesting.
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:01
Oh you
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:34
But VR is a fad. This looks like everything we have already.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 21, 2016 at 07:13
Looks more like an upgrade to everything we have already, not that I want one. And yes, VR is a fad that I have no interest in.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 20, 2016 at 16:12
Colour me intrigued. I bet you can slide it into a VR headset like a phone as well? Eventually?
Marc O Polo
October 20, 2016 at 17:46
My biggest concern is wear and tear on the mechanism than allow the mini controllers to slide onto the screen
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:33
My biggest concern is that Nintendo done fucked up AGAIN. There is zero pull towards this system for me and I owned almost every Nintendo device up to the Wii U.
Marc O Polo
October 20, 2016 at 23:13
You failed to mention why though? If you gonna make such Statements at least say why!
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 23:28
Apologies, I have been fairly vocal throughout the forum. Nintendo’s only current appeal is first party titles beautifully rendered which they’ve always delivered on, no argument.
This iteration of Nintendo looks gimmicky AF with portability advertised as it’s biggest drawcard… I still have a cellphone in my pocket.
The controllers look cheap AF and I cannot see 3rd party dev’s sinking time into a console which they have previously shunned and will continue to do so once they realise Nintendo are selling an underpowered dud appealing to old Nintendo fans. The Asshole Army (under 18 crowd) will have zero interest in this product.
The over 18 consumer already owns a superior console and has zero interest (beyond nostalgia) in this product.
We can stream all our current gen consoles to multiple devices in a *closed environment. How are Nintendo going to use that as a method to get to carry our consoles out everywhere?
Game Over.
My personal opinion of course but not even an exclusive GTA title can save the Switch.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 21, 2016 at 08:01
True, but I’ve been fearing wear and tear for my PS VITA for years but it’s still hanging in there. All comes down to how well it’s made.
Marc O Polo
October 22, 2016 at 06:43
I still want a vita for some reason…
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 24, 2016 at 08:56
It’s very handy while travelling, but the new Nintendo might work as well if not better. Especially since Sony abandoned the Vita 🙁
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:09
Can you imagine how many ‘consoles’ are going to get lost (as in, the parts of them). Not to mention people playing ‘MP’ on a screen like that? Is the thing designed by optometrists? Really not sold. Gimmick. They couldn’t get the games right on the WiiU so now they are creating what? A hybrid handheld system instead. Typical Japs 😛
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:07
D.O.A. I reckon. No interest AT ALL!!!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 21, 2016 at 07:59
If I lost a controller I’d just “borrow” someone else’s and deny the whole thing
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:08
You’ll lose all those bits and pieces. Colour me realistic, the Switch is doomed to a Japanese revival and that’s it.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 21, 2016 at 07:59
Maybe, gutsy move from Nintendo though
GooseZA
October 20, 2016 at 16:12
Looks pretty rad. Wonder how small the mini controllers will be and if they will be difficult to use for adults / people who don’t have tiny child hands.
Pariah ???
October 20, 2016 at 16:12
My birthday is April 7.
#hint
Hargrim
October 20, 2016 at 16:14
March 1
#2canplaythatgame
GooseZA
October 20, 2016 at 16:14
June 24th. I’ll take a Scorpio pre-order please.
Pariah ???
October 20, 2016 at 16:15
Xbox is so mainstream. #hipsterthings
Gardos
October 20, 2016 at 16:16
I hear the Ouya is on sale if you’re interested?
Pariah ???
October 20, 2016 at 16:16
I don’t want a corpse for my birthday.
Gardos
October 20, 2016 at 16:21
A hipster corpse though!
Pariah ???
October 20, 2016 at 16:23
Isn’t that the same thing? 😛
GooseZA
October 20, 2016 at 16:17
😛
This new console looks ace though. Very very interesting and miles better than the Wii U.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:31
Probably your best choice right now. I’d also take a PS4 (sort of) PRO over this nonsense.
Geoffrey Tim
October 20, 2016 at 16:25
March 1 too.
Hargrim
October 20, 2016 at 16:28
See that puts us first in line
Admiral Chief
October 21, 2016 at 07:41
1 Feb, ha!
Original Heretic
October 20, 2016 at 16:12
Whoa. Whoa. I feel the need to use Keanu levels of “whoa”. This is going to be a serious winner for Nintendo.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:30
Not sure what you just watched but there was nothing there that can be classified as not gimmicky. I am seriously unimpressed. Nothing there was a game changer imo. Nintendo are facing an uphill struggle here.
Hargrim
October 20, 2016 at 16:15
Right about rebranding, wrong about Neo. 50% aint too bad
Fox1 - Retro
October 20, 2016 at 16:20
Saw a glimpse of BC in there. Still waiting for 2 years after launch to make up my mind on it.
Milesh Bhana
October 20, 2016 at 16:22
looks really cool. Should have decent hardware powering it too. I see the guy was playing Skyrim.
Geoffrey Tim
October 20, 2016 at 16:24
HOLY SHIT I NEED THIS.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 23:40
You really don’t Geoff. This is isn’t anywhere close to “must have Nintendo” gear over the years. I’d rather attempt to master a Power Glove tbh.
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 16:30
Nintendo, you got me. I need you
konfab
October 20, 2016 at 16:35
I don’t see this catching.
Firstly, if it can run a game like Skyrim, then it would have to have some hardware that would be equivalent to the best tablet hardware we have. Those devices already cost more than an PS4 or Xbox.
People can justify the price of a tablet because it is a completely multi functional and open (relatively so in Apple’s case) to do whatever you want it to do. A gaming console is not an open platform.
It would probably cost more than a normal tablet because of the name, all the accessories, so Nintendo would either price themselves out the market, or have to sell the thing at an even more of a loss than they would and make the games horrifically expensive.
The only thing (as usual) Nintendo have going for them is their IP portfolio, and that wasn’t enough of a push for the WiiU.
Skyblue
October 21, 2016 at 00:02
I agree completely, nothing to see here, move along. I love Nintendo but apart from their first party titles (which still have an excellent level of quality) I cannot see anything else on the platform to keep me interested.
New idea: Revamp classic titles, not 3 games, the whole library! Pick and choose what worked for Nintendo, rework it with a modern spin and sell the shit outta it! Stop with the hardly hardware “innovation” and focus on the available titles.
Nintendo have always been unique, that is your angle, not shitty “new” hardware
Gavin Mannion
October 21, 2016 at 06:46
No you have this backwards, dedicated gaming machines can have less power than a standard tablet and perform better. Simply because it isn’t multi functional. This is why a R6k console can easily out perform a R6k PC.
konfab
October 21, 2016 at 07:36
Platform optimisations certainly do make a difference. But I suspect that developers are already making the most of the hardware. Especially with Apple tablets, and we see nothing close to Skyrim on an iPad.
And that is before you take in the fact that it has to be energy and heat efficient to be a mobile device.
Admiral Chief
October 21, 2016 at 07:39
LOL who buys a R6k PC, honestly
Gary Jay
October 20, 2016 at 16:40
Cool idea. Sadly too information little to know whats happening.
Is it just a charging and HDMI dock or does that thing pack processing power. Is gaming on the go streamed or run on the tablet. If the Tablet, how powerfull can that thing be?
konfab
October 20, 2016 at 16:42
I managed to find a screenshot of Skyrim running on tablet hardware:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/18CGW9P5Y9M/maxresdefault.jpg
Geoffrey Tim
October 20, 2016 at 17:18
It runs on the tablet. Is powered by Nvidia. Nvidia says it used the same core tech as theor pascal cards.
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 17:32
Running a 1050 from 3.6V Li-ion battery you will need 20 000mah for every hour.
So think it s going to be seriously nerfed in tablet mode
Or they didn’t include the Nintendo Switch battery backpack in the video
HairyEwok
October 21, 2016 at 08:02
Isn’t it Tegra?
Matthew Figueira
October 20, 2016 at 16:50
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Aries
October 20, 2016 at 16:57
All I can think of is wear and tear on that but my Next console going to be a 3DSXL for pokemon
Matthew Figueira
October 20, 2016 at 17:19
Now if Square Enix could come out and announce a Final Fantasy VI exclusive remake, that’d be great kthx!
Brandon van Reenen
October 20, 2016 at 17:31
So how much does a kidney go for?
TwinStripeUK
October 20, 2016 at 17:33
You’ll need two for multiplayer… so factor in the cost of dialysis too..
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:35
Lol
TwinStripeUK
October 20, 2016 at 17:32
Get the price, the battery life and the third party support right, Nintendo, and you can consider yourself ‘back’!
Not competing with Microsoft or Sony directly, and concentrating on what they’ve always done best; handheld hardware and ‘sociable’ experiences.
Smart moves, Nintendo, smart moves…
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:35
Delusional.
Archdruid Kromas
October 20, 2016 at 17:46
It is official. The definition of feature creep is now called Nintendo Switch.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:13
Worst console debut in history IMO. Advertising what’s been available for a while now. Just plain shit imo.
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:02
Looks like a gimmick to me.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:11
Big time. I watched with my 12yr old son and his only comment was “When exactly is Red Dead 2 arriving?”
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:05
Also, you wouldn’t be allowed to play with those remote controllers on a plane… At least not on most.
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:29
Why? You’re able to play any other handheld on the plane. And you’re allowed to use bluetooth controllers with an iPad etc. Don’t see an issue with that
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:30
Last time I flew SAA they said no radio devices incl bluetooth (coming back from rage last week actually)
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:32
I’ve never had that issue in all my travels, internationally too. Would also mean devices like Apple Watches, wireless headphones and more wouldn’t be allowed either.
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:33
Then that must be a new thing. If you put your phone into flight mode, it’s not only the signal that is turned off, but bluetooth too (go check!)
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:35
Yeah, I know how Flight Mode works. But I’m just saying I’ve never heard it as explicitly as that. And I’ve never seen someone with a smartwatch or the like have to turn it off, for example (outside of landing and taking off of course). I’m skeptical that bluetooth isn’t allowed at all on planes
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:37
Yeah, perhaps at take off and land, though I have NEVER heard people being told to turn off their watches… They do often have things saying no peripherals for your laptop, like wireless keyboard and the like. Worth checking into.
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:38
The FAA states that it’s not an issue at all. Might have been that you’re mistaking Take Off and Landing for In-Flight. Recently airlines have become super slack with transmitting devices while cruising.
https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:40
Quite possibly. Now to just work a fix for the tiny controllers and loosing the damn things! #glue
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 19:40
Read an article on it few weeks ago.
Of course talked about US and EU but currently evenly split (and forever changing) between airlines, sometimes even between types of planes in the same airline.
Some still completely ban all radio devices.
Some allow short range Rf like Bluetooth as long as does not connect to cellular device
Some allow Wi-Fi and Bluetooth even to cellular devices.
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:41
Yeah. As I said it tends to vary. For instance, Ethiopian airways allowed loads of things (they are a huge airline though with new craft) where as Luftfansa said no to everything (though 2 years ago)).
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:42
Yeah I’ve experienced this. Qatar allows literally anything while in flight. SAA, for example, still requires flight mode but allows Bluetooth and the like. They’re all governed by different bodies that have their own rates of researching these things
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 19:45
Actually Bluetooth (device intentionally transmitting) is verboten according to this (knowing SAA crew members might have slipped)
https://www.flysaa.com/mu/en/flyingSAA/mobileaccess/Cell-Phones-in-Flight-mode.html
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:49
It doesn’t say Bluetooth though?
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 19:50
“Devices intentionally transmitting radio frequency” is pretty much a blanket ban.
Bluetooth devices in flight mode only in restricted
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:56
Ah, I see your point. That’s what I thought too though @Alessandro_Lazygamer:disqus seems to believe otherwise. I get the wireless headphone example but that is really new. Watch would be allowed as your phone is in flight mode so cannot communicate with the watch? Not sure, we need answers now!
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:59
Wireless headphones have been a thing for about 2 or 3 years now though? 😛 Regardless, I’m only talking from experience. Never had to turn off a Bluetooth device, and haven’t seen anything around smart watch use on planes (which transmit Bluetooth themselves to connect to phones). I’m pretty sure if it was that big an issue, Nintendo themselves wouldn’t have marketed it that way 🙂
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 20:04
Watch will still transmit trying to establish connection if not also in flight mode (maybe it goes in flight mode when phone goes into flight mode?)
RF wise not really a difference between bluetooth devices old and new.
RF operating frequency stayed the same all the way from v1 to v4 and power output.
Although there have always been 3 classes of power output, from highest class 1 to class 3.
99.9% of laptops & peripherals are class 2 (2.5mW = ~10m range)
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:36
Even more peculiar since more flights are adopting policies that allow you to use Wifi on-board and even some (few) that let you use cellular devices outside of Flight Mode while at cruising altitude.
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:38
This is true. Though those are flights using new, advanced systems. I am sad that kids will never know the fear of realizing their phone was on during take off and they could have killed everyone 😛 Age of innocence! (looks at twitter # of the day, sigh… Forget that)
Alessandro Barbosa
October 20, 2016 at 19:41
It’s less to do with tech, more to do with research. Airlines initially imposed major bans because they weren’t entirely sure about the effect of transmitting devices. It’s why the rules have changed across all fleets (not just newer planes).
Also don’t think there’s ever been an incident of a crash because of a cellphone 😛 Think it’s all just precautionary because there’s *maybe* a chance it messes with navigational systems
Mark Vincer
October 21, 2016 at 08:15
This is the most interesting thread in the comments
RinceThis
October 20, 2016 at 19:44
The biggest worry is whether you turn into one of the vary many chops in the trailer above. If that is what Japan thinks of us I really do wonder for our future…
K1FF J1MB0B (sizzle edition)
October 20, 2016 at 20:11
Fuck this thing, just give me that mini NES.
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:40
I’m not religious but have an upvote and a “Praise Somebody”
Pieter Kruger
October 20, 2016 at 20:19
But where to get the tiny hands so you can use those controllers???
HvR
October 20, 2016 at 20:21
http://i.imgur.com/WhDxv1i.png
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:09
ROFL!!!
Marek Nourse
October 21, 2016 at 08:02
Which one is his strong hand?
Marek Nourse
October 21, 2016 at 08:07
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f79bf3b20820700d7b55d7d39a27f4aac17e045c130d9774e53acab804e7f4ac.jpg
Skyblue
October 20, 2016 at 22:15
After that, Nintendo are done.
HairyEwok
October 21, 2016 at 08:01
With Nvidia being the GPU powering the Nintendo Switch, we can expect Mario to look like this.
https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/17/realmario.jpg
0xym0r0n
October 25, 2016 at 01:22
I think there will be a backwards compatible with Wii U, as a digital download. But I guess only for one player only.