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Nintendo announced the full Nintendo Switch details as part of their Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 which was streamed online on January 13th, 2017 from Japan. Despite the rumours, no Pokémon related games or products for the Nintendo Switch were announced as part of the launch presentation but Nintendo did say there were over 80 games in development, so a Pokémon game will inevitably be announced some time in the future. High resolution press release pictures of the Nintendo Switch and its accessories are available to view on the Imageboard thread.

Nintendo Switch Launch Prices

• United States: $299.99 USD
• Canada: $399.99 CAD
• Japan: 29,980 yen
• UK: £279.99 GBP
• Australia: $469.95 AUD

Nintendo disappointed many fans around the world for the extremely high price of the system compared to the price of previous generations and Nintendo's current competitors which are similarly priced but have significantly better hardware specs. Shares in Nintendo were down 5.75% in trading on the Japanese market as the high price caught many fans and the industry as a whole off guard as they were expecting a more competitive price point.

Hardware Highlights

• 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.
• 6.2-inch multi-touch capacitative touch screen - 720p 1280x720 resolution
• 32GB of internal memory
• microSDXC slot (Large SD cards sold separately)
• Game Cart Slot
• Battery life can last for more than six hours, but will vary depending on the software and usage conditions.
• USB Type-C Connector for dock connection and use with USB Type-C AC Adapter
• Nintendo Switch Dock includes: two USB 2.0 Ports, HDMI Port and HDMI cable
• Power button, Volume +/- buttons and 3.5mm headphone jack

Press Release - Nintendo Reveals Upcoming Games, New Hardware Features

TOKYO, Jan. 13, 2017 – Nintendo announced today that the new Nintendo Switch system will launch worldwide on March 3, 2017 at a suggested retail price of $299.99 in the United States.

The system will include the main console, Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers, a Joy-Con grip (to which two Joy-Con are attached and used as one controller), a set of Joy-Con wrist straps, a Nintendo Switch dock (which holds the main console and connects it to a TV), an HDMI cable and an AC adapter. Two stylish versions of the system will be released: a version with a set of gray Joy-Con, and a version with one neon blue and one neon red Joy-Con. Both versions will be the same price.

“Nintendo Switch is a brand-new kind of home gaming system that offers a wide variety of play modes,” said Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima. “We will introduce the world to new experiences made possible by the unique characteristics of the Nintendo Switch hardware and the Joy-Con.”

Nintendo Switch is a breakthrough home video game system. It not only connects to a TV at home, but it also instantly transforms into an on-the-go handheld using its 6.2-inch screen. For the first time, players can enjoy a full home-console experience anytime, anywhere. The screen includes capacitive multi-touch capabilities for compatible games. Battery life can last for more than six hours, but will vary depending on the software and usage conditions. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played for roughly three hours on a single charge. While away from home, Nintendo Switch can be charged by plugging the AC adapter into the console’s USB Type-C connector.

The versatile Joy-Con offer multiple surprising new ways for players to have fun. Two Joy-Con can be used independently in each hand, or together as one game controller when attached to the Joy-Con grip. They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two-player action in supported games. Each Joy-Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller, and each includes an accelerometer and gyro-sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible.

Nintendo Switch also contains a number of built-in features that make it more interactive. The left Joy-Con has a Capture Button that players can press to take instant screenshots of gameplay to share with friends on social media. The right Joy-Con includes an NFC touchpoint for interaction with amiibo figures, as well as an IR Motion Camera that can detect the distance, shape and motion of nearby objects in specially designed games. For example, it can tell how far away a player’s hand is, and even if the hand is forming a rock, paper or scissors shape. Both Joy-Con include advanced HD Rumble, which can provide compatible games with subtle vibrations that are much more realistic than before. The effect is so detailed that a player could, for example, feel the sensation of individual ice cubes colliding inside a glass when shaking a Joy-Con. With HD Rumble players can experience a level of realism not possible through sights and sounds alone.

Nintendo Switch makes it easy for players to stay connected. Up to eight systems can be connected for local wireless play. The player can place the system upright anywhere by using the built-in stand, then easily share Joy-Con for multiplayer fun away from the TV. The system will support online Wi-Fi multiplayer gaming. Nintendo also unveiled a new online subscription service that will begin with a free trial at launch. The service includes a smart-device application available in Summer 2017 that will let users invite friends to play online, set play appointments and chat with one another as they play compatible games. The fully featured paid service will be available in the fall.

Nintendo Switch will be supported by world-class third-party publishers including Activision Publishing Inc., Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and major Japanese publishers. Some publishers, such as Bethesda Softworks, are joining Nintendo for the first time. Players can look forward to major franchises on Nintendo Switch such as EA SPORTS FIFA, The Elder Scrolls, NBA 2K, Minecraft and more. Nintendo Switch software will not be region locked.

The unique capabilities of the console and Joy-Con have combined with innovations from past systems to create Nintendo’s most flexible, feature-packed video game system ever. This is demonstrated by the wide variety of unique games that were announced for launch day, this summer and into the 2017 holiday season, from both Nintendo and its third-party partners. From the engrossing open-air experience of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to the party fun of 1-2-Switch, Nintendo Switch offers something for everyone.

Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017

Sources: Nvidia: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/10/20/nintendo-switch/
Nintendo Switch: http://www.nintendo.com/switch/
Nintendo YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Nintendo
Nintendo Press: https://press.nintendo.com/

I'm very disappointed with the Nintendo Switch. First off, it was announced during the presentation that it would be $299.99 in North America. That's a lie, its $399.99 in Canada before taxes which adds almost another $70 CND between sales tax and LCD environmental fee. That's just for the hardware. Switch games are $80 each in Canada with tax bringing them to almost $90 for the standard edition version. Want the Zelda Master Edition, that's $199CND+tax if you relentlessly F5 refreshed your browser on EB Games to get the limited number of pre-orders which sold out in a couple of minutes. PS4 and XBOX One bundles were under $299 CND on Black Friday and Boxing Day. Both systems have bigger libraries and are faster systems than Switch will ever be. Nintendo needed to beat them on price and exclusives and they failed. Zelda is the only unique launch title and it's a Wii U game. Gamespot is even reporting the Wii U version plays better than Switch. Amiibo prices went up; accessories for Switch are outright ridiculously priced.

The Switch design is amazing. System looks great! I love the look and the concept. Hardware and software though is a disaster. 720P in 2017 is pathetic for a "console". Fine for a handheld but Nintendo is insisting it's a console not a handheld like 3DS. Then give it console level performance, not handheld level performance especially at the price. Nintendo had been using ATi/AMD graphics for over a decade. Their performance has been struggling so they decide to switch to nVidia JUST at the point when AMD is taking over the performance lead once again via Vulkan and DirectX12 over nVidia and at cheaper prices. Polaris and Vega by AMD are already proving to be great GPU's and can be used close on the metal unlike previous generations gpu's. AMD is supposed to have a great mobile GPU architecture coming out later in 2H 2017. Even nVidia is coming out with a better Tegra chip based off of Pascal instead of Maxwell. I can only HOPE that a future revision of Switch in 2018 or 2019 will uses either of these technologies to greatly improve Switch's performance. PS4 Pro and XBOX One Scorpio seem to be going that way.

Many of you know, my favorite game of all time is the Mario Kart series but this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just pisses me off. I bought the MK8 disc version and the DLC for the game. Battle mode is a joke on the Wii U version but here they come along and update it for the Switch version but don't for the Wii U version. Instead they make us rebuy the exact same game over again for $80 CND + the system price + now it's going to cost to play online unlike the Wii U version. Way to alienate your fans Nintendo. Doing a great job there.

The presentation was a disaster. They barely announced anything during it, it was slow and boring. The translator was just terrible at some points. Take some cues from Apple, do a nice well prepared presentation with a lot of detailed slides and information so that people aren't more confused or asking more questions than when they had before the presentation. They still refuse to announce tech specs because they don't want it going around that it's a 5-7 year old obsolete product out of the gate. 720p? PC and PS4 and XB1 are already moving on towards 4K and VR/AR. Nintendo is having a hard time catching up to the cellphone gaming market let alone their main gaming competitors.

No Pokemon game or product was announced for Switch launch. Now that being said, its obvious there will be at some point in the systems lifespan but not for its launch. Sun and Moon are still selling on 3DS so once sales die off by the Summer 2017, then we might hear about a new game for Switch.

80 games are in development? Are these 80 AAA titles? Unlikely. Almost all of Nintendo's franchises didn't have announcements for Switch at launch or announced coming up at some point. No Metroid, F-Zero, Star Fox, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Smash Bros, ect. The list of unused Nintendo IP's is very long. People always argue that it's Nintendo's IP that is what defines their systems but they are showing already that they can't produce games like they used to. Polished, fun and great games in a variety of genres. 1-2 Switch is a pathetic excuse for a game. I'll go play charades in my living room or milk a cow out at a real farm without having to pay $50USD. That's like an Internal tech demo to prove proof of concepts with the system that they decided to sell separately as a game. Should be bundled as part of the Switch and even then I don't know if I'd even put those minigames in a Wario Ware title.

I seriously think Switch is coming out too early and people should wait for a lot more games, the price to drop and for a revision release of Switch. It needed another year of Wii U but Nintendo is rushing for a new system to replace and I think it's falling into the same trap they created for themselves with Wii U and 3DS. Switch is not ready for launch. Features are still under development like Online Play?! Video capture?! Obviously these will come during a system update but features like these should be launch day.