Nintendo Switch – their first portable next gen console?

Details of the new Nintendo NX, which has been kept under wraps by the Japanese gaming company, have finally been released. Now going by the snappier Nintendo Switch, the portable and home console hybrid is set to hit the shelves in March 2017. Looking every inch a next gen console, it seems the Switch will bridge the gap between home and mobile gaming. It’s a pretty simple idea, but some commentators believe it could take Nintendo back to the serious gaming scene.

When you’re using it from the comfort of your sofa, the Switch lives on a dock and is connected to the TV when in play. To leave the house without abandoning your game, detach it from the dock and BAM!…you’re portable. A recent trailer fleshed out some of the consoles finer details, many aspects of which make it seem like a more advanced version of the Wii U, not least because of the peripherals.

With a name like Joy-Con, how could anyone not love the Switch controllers, designed to work in a number of complex ways, depending on the games that are being played. The Pro Joy-Con controller is an added extra and is more than reminiscent of the Wii and Wii U Pro Controller, but according to Nintendo the gaming experience will be far more advanced than on their previous consoles.

However, a major selling point is going to be the Switch’s portability, something that Nintendo have historically done well – and intend to promote. Reggie Fils-Aime is the COO and President at Nintendo America, he explained:“Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like…It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries.”

Nintendo developers have also mentioned the huge number of third party games which will be available on the Switch when it goes on sale next year. Names like 505 Games, Bandai Namco, Bethesda and Telltale Games are all on-board with creating games for the console, but it remains to be seen whether the specs will bring it up to the level of the Xbox One or PS4. We do know that it’ll be supported by Nintendo’s NFC figurines using their Amiibo software, players use these to unlock specific areas of a map and battle more successfully against boss characters.

However, between now and its release, there will be a load of software and hardware news clarifying exactly what’s on offer with the Switch.