 |
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| Also known as |
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|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo PTD |
| Manufacturer |
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| Product family | Nintendo Switch |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Eighth |
| Release date |
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| Availability | 2017–present |
| Lifespan | 2017–present |
| Introductory price |
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| Units shipped | 122.55 million (as of December 31, 2022)[a] (details) |
| Media |
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| Operating system | Nintendo Switch system software |
| System on a chip | Nvidia Tegra X1[b]/Tegra X1+[c] |
| CPU | ARM 4 Cortex-A57 cores @ 1.02 GHz[d][e] |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 @ 1331/1600 MHz |
| Storage | 32 GB[f]/64 GB[g] eMMC |
| Removable storage | microSD/HC/XC (up to 2 TB) |
| Display |
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| Graphics | 256 Maxwell-based CUDA cores
[h][i] |
| Sound |
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| Input | Volume +/−, power buttons |
| Controller input |
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| Camera | Ambient light sensor |
| Touchpad | Multi-touch capacitive |
| Connectivity |
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| Power |
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| Current firmware | 16.0.0, as of February 20, 2023; 11 days ago |
| Online services |
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| Dimensions |
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| Mass |
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| Best-selling game | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (52.00 million, as of December 31, 2022) |
| Predecessor | Wii U |
| Related | Nintendo Switch Lite |
| Website | www.nintendo.com/switch/ |
The Nintendo Switch[l] is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a hybrid console. Its wireless Joy-Con controllers, with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input, motion sensing, and tactile feedback, can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play. They can also connect to a grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form, or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, supporting local multiplayer modes. The Nintendo Switch’s software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity, as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles. Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop; the system has no region lockout.[m] A handheld-focused revision of the system, called the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released on September 20, 2019. A revised higher-end version of the original system, featuring an OLED screen, was released on October 8, 2021.
The Nintendo Switch was unveiled on October 20, 2016. Known in development by its codename NX, the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo’s reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014, attributed to poor sales of its previous console, the Wii U, and market competition from mobile games. Nintendo’s then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware. The Nintendo Switch’s design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through multiple modes of use. Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components, such as a chipset based on Nvidia’s Tegra line, to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines. As the Wii U had struggled to gain external support, leaving it with a weak software library, Nintendo preemptively sought the support of many third-party developers and publishers to help build out the Switch’s game library alongside Nintendo’s first-party titles, including many independent video game studios. While Nintendo initially anticipated around 100 titles for its first year, over 320 titles from first-party, third-party, and independent developers were released by the end of 2017.
As an eighth-generation console, the Nintendo Switch competes with Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4, and also competes with ninth generation consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S and Sony’s PlayStation 5. Nearly three million console units were shipped in its first month, exceeding Nintendo’s initial projection of two million and within a year of release achieved over 14 million units sold worldwide, outselling total lifetime sales of the Wii U. By the start of 2018, the Switch became the fastest-selling home or hybrid console in both Japan and the United States. As of December 2022, all Nintendo Switch models have sold over 122 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s best-selling home console and the third-best-selling game console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Sales of the Switch have been strongly tied to sales of Nintendo’s first-party titles, with seven games—The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet—having sold over twenty million units each.
History
Background
Nintendo had seen record revenues, net sales, and profits in 2009 as a result of the release of the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2004 and 2006, respectively,[5][6][7] but in Nintendo’s subsequent years, its revenues had declined.[8][9] The company had posted its first loss as a video game company in 2012 prior to the Wii U’s introduction that year and would have similar losses in the following years due to the console’s poor uptake.[10] The New York Times attributed Nintendo lowering financial forecasts in 2014 to weak hardware sales against mobile gaming.[11] Previously, the company had been hesitant about this market, with then-president Satoru Iwata considering that they would «cease to be Nintendo» and lose their identity if they attempted to enter it.[12] About three years prior to the Switch’s announcement, Iwata, Tatsumi Kimishima, Genyo Takeda, and Shigeru Miyamoto crafted a strategy for revitalizing Nintendo’s business model, which included approaching the mobile market, creating new hardware, and «maximizing [their] intellectual property».[13] Prior to his death, Iwata was able to secure a business alliance with Japanese mobile provider DeNA to develop mobile titles based on Nintendo’s first-party franchises, believing this approach would not compromise their integrity.[14][15] Following Iwata’s death in July 2015, Kimishima was named as president of Nintendo, while Miyamoto was promoted to the title of «Creative Fellow».[13]
Development
The initial conception for the Switch started shortly after the release of the Wii U in 2012.[16] Kimishima stated that when Nintendo was evaluating what new hardware they wanted to produce, they «didn’t just want a successor» to either the Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, but instead asked «what kind of new experience can we create?»[13] In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Kimishima stated that the Switch was designed to provide a «new way to play» that would «have a larger impact than the Wii U».[17][18] Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé emphasized the console’s appeal as a device that would provide gamers the option to play at home or on the go and noted that it would enable developers to create new types of games.[19] This approach continued Nintendo’s blue ocean strategy for the competitive console marketplace, as rather than compete feature for feature with the other consoles, they would establish unique and difficult-to-copy devices.[20] Miyamoto said that some broad concepts of the Switch extend from the «lateral thinking with seasoned technology» design philosophy of Gunpei Yokoi that Nintendo has used over the last couple of decades.[21]
The commercial failure of the Wii U also pressured Nintendo in the Switch’s development. Early sales of the Wii U were weak compared to the Wii, and major third-party studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft announced they would not support the console near the end of the Wii U’s first year, further hampering its sales. According to Fils-Aimé, when it became apparent that the Wii U’s life cycle performance would underperform the company’s expectations, the Switch became a «make or break product» for Nintendo.[22]
The design of the Switch was aimed to bridge the polarization of the gaming market at the time, creating a device that could play «leisurely» video games along with games that are aimed to be played «deeply», according to Shinya Takahashi and Yoshiaki Koizumi, general manager and deputy general manager of Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development Division (EPD), respectively.[16] This approach also would apply to the cultural lifestyle and gaming differences between Japanese and Western players; Japanese players tend to play on the go and with social groups, while Western players tend to play at home by themselves.[23] The design of the Switch would meet both cultures, and certain games, like 1-2-Switch, could potentially make social gaming more acceptable in Western culture.[24] Two key elements that were set to address this mixed market were the ability for the unit to play either on a television screen or as a portable and the use of detachable controllers.[16] The «Switch» name was selected not only to refer to the console’s ability to switch from handheld to home console modes, but to present «the idea of being a ‘switch’ that will flip and change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives».[25]
Part of the inspiration of the Switch’s form and design was from feedback players had given Nintendo on the Wii Remote, according to Shinya Takahashi. With the release of games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, players had asked Nintendo if they could make the Wii Remote in a smaller form factor, potentially strapped to a part of their body. This led to Nintendo envisioning what a smaller form-factor controller could provide in both hardware and gameplay, and it led to the idea of a console that was small enough with these new controllers to also be portable.[26] Other concepts came out of critical consumer feedback of the Wii U. Fils-Aimé said that one common criticism they had for the Wii U was that while players did enjoy using the Wii U GamePad and would want to play games on it anywhere, it became functionless if they moved a distance away from the main console. This served for Nintendo to design a home console that the player could take with them anywhere.[27] Around five different prototypes were developed for the Switch before they finalized on the released design. This included developing different methods of how the Joy-Con controllers would physically connect to the console, including using magnets to hold them in place.[16]
In addition to the form-factor design, Nintendo needed to balance the power and speed of the console’s central processing unit with battery life and the unit’s size, coupled with limited development resources and deadlines set by Nintendo’s management. One choice made by the development team was to use an existing system on a chip (SOC) rather than creating their own as they had done on previous consoles. Koizumi said that this break from tradition was done to gain more third-party support for the console by using an SOC to which developers could easily port games. Nintendo was not focused on raw processing power but was instead looking to balance the overall features of the system, including battery life and size, as well as keeping in mind their limited development resources and timeline. Koizumi said, «The most difficult part was on how to take an overall balance while we were getting entangled with all of those in complexity.»[16] To achieve this balance, they did not opt to use the more powerful hardware they could have used, instead using a middle-ground approach to achieve their vision of the Switch.[28]
Koizumi served as the general producer of the Switch during its development.[23] According to Miyamoto, the Switch’s development within Nintendo was headed by younger employees, with him saying «it’s really been them that have put this forward and designed this system».[29][30] Miyamoto said of the younger employees: «I always look for designers who aren’t super-passionate game fans. I make it a point to ensure they’re not just a gamer, but that they have a lot of different interests and skill sets.»[30] Junior developers were also used to help brainstorm ideas of how to make sure the Switch had a longer lifecycle beyond the typical five-to-six years as most other consoles had.[31] Miyamoto, Takeda, and Iwata were less involved, but provided necessary oversight on the Switch’s development principally around the cost of implementing new features that would make the Switch stand out.[21] For Miyamoto, his limited involvement allowed him to spend more time on Nintendo’s software titles being developed at the time, such as Super Mario Run.[29]
Announcements
The first public news of about the Switch’s hardware happened alongside the announcement of Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership on March 17, 2015. At this stage, Nintendo referred to the console under the codename «NX» and described it as a «brand new concept».[32] At an investor’s meeting in April 2016, Nintendo announced that it planned to release the NX worldwide in March 2017.[33][34] While Nintendo did not unveil the NX’s hardware at E3 2016 in June, it did announce that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally announced as a Wii U-exclusive, would also be released for the NX. At a Nintendo shareholders’ meeting following the conference, Miyamoto stated that the company had concerns that competitors could copy ideas from the NX if they revealed it too soon.[35][36] The following month, rumors began to surface surrounding the nature of the console, including its use of Nvidia Tegra hardware, being a «hybrid» device intended for both home and mobile use, controllers that can detach from the main device and be played separately, and that Nintendo would distribute games on the console via cartridges and digital downloads.[37][38][39]
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo officially announced the console under the name Nintendo Switch, alongside a trailer that demonstrated the hardware’s nature as a hybrid device.[40] At the time of the trailer’s release, Nintendo did not provide many details on features of the platform, though they planned to have events in 2017 to provide more details about the console. The company did state that there are additional features that were not presented in the introductory trailer.[41][42] Miyamoto and Fils-Aimé presented the Switch to host Jimmy Fallon on a broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in December 2016. In addition to showing more of the console’s hardware and functionality, Fallon was given the opportunity to play part of Breath of the Wild live.[43]
Nintendo revealed technical details of the Switch, including its worldwide launch date and price, at a press event in Tokyo on January 13, 2017.[44] The event was livestreamed,[45] with an English voiceover provided by Nintendo of America through their broadcast and regional Twitter accounts relaying details in other languages. A Nintendo Treehouse event occurred the following day to reveal the full launch lineup and upcoming games for the Switch.[46]
Release
The Switch was officially released on March 3, 2017, worldwide in Japan and most English-speaking and Western markets. It was released with an MSRP of ¥29,980 in Japan, US$299.99 in the United States, £279.99 in the United Kingdom, and A$469.95 in Australia; with standardized pricing for the European market varying.[47][48][49] The set includes a Switch console, a dock, left and right Joy-Con controllers and accompanying straps, a Joy-Con grip, an AC power adapter and an HDMI cable.[50][51] There were two Switch bundles available at launch, one with grey Joy-Con and one with neon red and blue Joy-Con.[52] Nintendo feared that a higher price would harm sales, which prompted them to not include any additional hardware or games.[53] The global launch did not include parts of Asia, including India and Mainland China.
The Switch continued to be officially released in particular markets, such as Argentina on August 15, 2017,[54] and in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1.[55][56] In April 2018, CD Media, Nintendo’s official distributor in Greece and the Balkans since 2016, announced after opening their new offices in Istanbul, that Nintendo’s products will officially be distributed in Turkey later in the year.[57] Nintendo abruptly withdrew from the Turkish market back in June 2012 when then-distributor Nortec Eurasia closed.[58] CD Media released the Nintendo Switch in Turkey in July 2018.[59][60] Nintendo’s Singapore-based distributor, Maxsoft, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in the Philippines on November 30, 2018,[61] in Thailand on March 29, 2019,[62] and in Malaysia on January 17, 2020.[63] In early-2019, Nintendo of Europe signed a partnership with Tel Aviv-based distributor TorGaming Ltd., making them Nintendo’s official distributor in Israel, and launched their products in the market, including the Nintendo Switch, on March 1, 2019.[64] Nintendo’s Dubai-based distributor, Active Gulf, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in Oman on September 27, 2019.[65]
Although the Nintendo Switch had not officially been released in China prior to December 2019, it is still widely available in the country due to grey market imports from Hong Kong and other regions, such as Japan.[66] In January 2018, former Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said in an interview with Chinese news website QQ that Nintendo has tried to release the Switch in China, but has been unable to do so.[66][67] Nintendo partnered with Tencent in April 2019 to gain the necessary approvals to release the Switch in China, along with a test version of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe;[68] it was released on December 10, 2019, at a base price of ¥2,099 RMB or about US$298.[69] Tencent will continue to help Nintendo bring other Switch games through China’s approval process via National Radio and Television Administration.[68] In addition, Tencent will help localize various titles, and help implement the Nintendo Switch Online service within the country, integrating its offerings with the WeChat payment systems.[70]
Nintendo had exited the Brazilian market in 2015 due to high tariffs, but independent resellers have been trading the console in Brazil since March 2017.[71] Nintendo had since assigned NC Games as their local game distributor in May 2017,[72] and the local company had committed to sell some officially imported Nintendo Switch units in small quantities.[73] NC Games silently went defunct in c. 2019. In August 2020, Nintendo affirmed that it would restart imports directly into Brazil,[74] for release on September 18, 2020.[75]
Numerous special-edition models and bundles have been released, including those for Splatoon 2,[76] the 2018 Black Friday shopping day,[77] Animal Crossing: New Horizons[78] and Fortnite.[79] The Japanese-exclusive «2nd Unit Set» released in May 2018 on the My Nintendo Store at a reduced price of ¥24,980, was positioned towards households which already owned a Switch. It did not include a dock, AC adapter, HDMI cable, and charging grip.[80][81]
By February 2021, about four years from the console’s release, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that «The Switch is in the middle of its life cycle».[82]
Hardware
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid video game console, consisting of a console unit, a dock, and two Joy-Con controllers.[83] Although it is a hybrid console, Nintendo classifies it as «a home console that you can take with you on the go».[84][85] Furthermore, the company has stated that the Switch and the Nintendo 3DS are meant to co-exist, considering the 3DS as an entry-level product for younger players.[84][86]
Console
The back of the Nintendo Switch (without the controllers), showing the kickstand, MicroSD slot, charging port, and intake vents. The Joy-Con slotting mechanism is visible on the short side.
The main unit of the Switch is the console, a battery-powered tablet-like monitor that consists of an LCD screen measuring 6.2 inches (160 mm) on its diagonal, the same as the Wii U GamePad.[87] The unit itself measures 173 by 102 by 13.9 millimetres (6.81 in × 4.02 in × 0.55 in) and weighs 297 grams (10.5 oz).[88] The screen supports ten-point multi-touch capacitive sensing and includes haptic technology from Immersion Corporation.[89] The LCD screen supports resolutions up to 720p (1280×720 px).[90][48] The console includes a 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo speakers on the bottom face of the unit below the screen, a USB-C port for charging, and a kickstand on the back side.[91][92] The unit also includes slots for a game card (cartridge-based media) and a microSD card slot located under the kickstand. The Switch console itself includes three buttons, all on the top of the device, Volume +/- and Power. The console has rails on the side, into which the Joy-Con controllers can be slid to attach them to the Switch unit.[93] An ambient light sensor on the front of the console adjusts the screen’s brightness automatically.[94] The model number of the original Switch model is «HAC-001».[95]
There are three gameplay modes that can be used with the Switch; «TV mode» with the console slid into the dock to support play on a television, «Tabletop mode» with the console placed on a table or other flat surface using its kickstand for shared gaming away from a dedicated screen, or in «Handheld mode» as a standard portable tablet device.[96][97][48] Users can switch between these modes simply by placing the console in the dock or removing it, extending or retracting the kickstand, and detaching or connecting the Joy-Con.[48] Games may be designed to play only in specific modes; for example, Voez initially could not be played in TV mode and relied on touchscreen controls.[98] Support for controllers and TV mode was later added to Voez in January 2018 via an update for the game.[99] Another example is Super Mario Party, which does not support Handheld mode.[100]
Nintendo stated that the Switch is a «single-screen experience», in that the player either sees the content on the console when it is out of the dock, or on the screen attached to the dock when the console is docked. The Switch cannot feature dual-screen functionality that was offered through the Wii U via its GamePad.[101]
Nintendo patented a means of using multiple Switch consoles to create a multi-monitor configuration by arranging them on a flat surface and spanning a single gameplay environment across their screens. This technology was first seen in Super Mario Party.[102][103]
Dock
The console, with or without Joy-Con attached, can be placed into the Switch dock, a docking station with electrical connectors to connect the console to a power supply to charge its battery, and to a television via an HDMI connection for video/audio output.[40] The dock also includes two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port.[93] While docked, the unit can support resolutions up to 1080p and a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second,[97][104] though the maximum resolution varies depending on the game. As an example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs at a maximum 900p and 30 frames per second while the Switch is docked.[105] The dock measures 173 by 104 by 54 millimetres (6.8 in × 4.1 in × 2.1 in) and weighs 327 grams (11.5 oz).[88][106]
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Front of the dock. The Switch console is inserted from the top.
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Back of the dock, showing its two USB ports on the right side
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Back of the dock, opened. A USB-C AC adapter and HDMI cable must be connected for TV gameplay. There’s an additional USB 3.0 port inside.
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Top of the dock, featuring a USB-C male port that connects to the console
Controllers
Joy-Con
The Nintendo Switch comes with two controllers, collectively called Joy-Con and individually called the «Joy-Con (L)» and «Joy-Con (R)».[94] The controllers attach to the Switch console via side rails using a locking mechanism, with a small release button on their rear face to allow them to be detached. When detached, they can be used as a pair by a single player, attached to a grip that emulates a gamepad form factor, or used as separate controllers by two individual players. A single Switch console can support up to eight Joy-Con connections.[107] Straps can be attached to the sides of Joy-Con when they are detached.[94][97] A charging grip is available for the Joy-Con, which provides a means to attach a USB-C cable for power.[108] Alongside that, Nintendo released a charging strap that allows players to charge an individual Joy-Con via embedded AA batteries on June 16, 2017.[109]
Pro Controller
The Switch also supports a wireless controller, called Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which has a more traditional design reminiscent of the Wii Classic Controller Pro and Wii U Pro Controller. The Pro Controller connects to the Switch via wireless Bluetooth communication, and is charged through a standard USB-C port on the controller.[92][110][111]
Standard Switch controllers
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The gray Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers. The inside rails slot onto the side of the main Switch console or grip controller.
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Red and blue Joy-Con slotted onto the charging grip, giving the general proportions of a standard controller
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The top of the charging grip, showing the USB-C port
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The optional and more conventional Pro Controller
Other
The Nintendo Switch supports a wide array of additional accessories, according to Kimishima. Kimishima suggested that the Switch is part of a large ecosystem of devices, though the Switch unit remains the core console element.[112] Takahashi suggested the possibility of other units besides the Joy-Con that could attach and/or connect to the console to serve as alternate input devices and change how the Switch can be used.[23]
Nintendo offers a Joy-Con Wheel, a small steering wheel-like unit that a Joy-Con can slot into, allowing it to be used for racing games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.[50] Standalone docks are available, which include a power adapter and HDMI cable.[50] Third parties also support the Switch with additional accessories, such as carrying cases and screen protectors.[113] The 4.0.0 system update enabled support for GameCube controllers connected via USB with the GameCube adapter that was available for the Wii U as well as a new adapter produced for the Switch; GameCube controllers can be used with most games compatible with the Switch’s Pro Controller, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[114][115][116][117] USB computer keyboards are supported for certain tasks, such as text entry.
A Nintendo Labo kit simulating a fishing rod and reel
In January 2018, Nintendo announced Nintendo Labo, a child-oriented platform that combines games coupled with do-it-yourself cardboard projects that attach or wrap around the Switch Console and Joy-Con, effectively creating toys around the Switch hardware to interact with games. These cardboard units, which may also include string, rubber bands, and other pieces, are referred to as Toy-Con. The game software provides instructions for the Toy-Con construction and provides the interface to control the Toy-Con. Such examples given include a remote-controlled «car», where the two Joy-Con attach to the car and their vibration feedback provide the motion for the car, controlled from the Switch, a fishing rod where the Joy-Con are part of the reel and handle of the rod and their motion controls used to simulate the act of fishing in the mini-game, and a small toy piano.[118]
In September 2018, with the release of Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo introduced NES Controller style Joy-Con controllers alongside its classic games service. In September 2019, when SNES games were added to the service, wireless SNES Controllers were released. In September 2021, when Nintendo 64 games and Sega Genesis titles were added to the service alongside the Expansion Pack, wireless Nintendo 64 Controllers and SEGA Genesis Control Pads were released for use with their respective services.
Nintendo released Ring Fit Adventure in October 2019, which includes a Leg Strap to mount a Joy-Con to a leg, and the Ring-Con, a flexible hard plastic ring with Joy-Con mounting. The player interacts with the game, fashioned after a console role-playing game, by doing various exercises, such as running in place, squatting, and squeezing the ring, to perform in-game actions of running, jumping, and attacking and defending, respectively.[119] Such features are part of Nintendo’s «quality of life» goals to incorporate physical activity alongside the Switch, similar to past titles like Wii Fit.[120]
In February 2017, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that it had been «studying» virtual reality solutions, but felt that comfort was a main concern. Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé also cited that existing VR solutions were not «fun» or «social».[121] Nintendo ultimately unveiled a new Labo VR kit in March 2019, using a cardboard headset and viewer placed in front of the console’s screen, in combination with attached accessories.[122][123]
Stands and alternate docks have also been created for the Switch to overcome the limitations of the device’s own kickstand for tabletop play, including an official «Adjustable Charging Stand» that can be connected to the device’s AC adapter.[124][125]
Technical specifications
| System-on-chip | Name | Nvidia Tegra X1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process |
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||
| CPU | Type |
|
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| ISA | ARMv8-A | ||
| Clock rate | 1.02 GHz | ||
| Cache | L1 |
|
|
| L2 |
|
||
| GPU | Type | Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based | |
| Clock rate | 307.2-768 MHz | ||
| Stream processors | 256 (157-393 GFLOP/s) | ||
| TMUs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GTexel/s) | ||
| ROPs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GPixel/s) | ||
| Compute units | 2 | ||
| Memory | Total | 4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM | |
| Clock rate | 1600 MHz | ||
| Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | ||
| Storage | Main | Type | eMMC NAND flash memory |
| Capacity |
|
||
| Removable | Type | microSD/HC/XC | |
| Capacity | Up to 2 TB | ||
| Media | Name | Nintendo Switch game card | |
| Capacity | 1–64 GB | ||
| Display | Main | Type |
|
| Size |
|
||
| Resolution |
|
||
| External | Interface | HDMI 1.4b | |
| Resolution | 1080p, 720p, or 480p |
SoC, CPU, GPU and RAM
Original Switch models were released with model number «HAC-001». The Switch uses a system-on-chip from the Tegra family of products, developed in partnership with Nvidia.[90][126] No specific details were revealed beyond that it is a «custom» Tegra chip «based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards» that are common in personal computers, and has a custom API known as «NVN», which is designed to «bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses».[40][127] Takeda described the Nvidia chipset as being critical for delivering gamers a level of performance similar to that which they experience on personal computers, helping to achieve «high performance but low power consumption» for the Switch.[128] Pre-release reports, unconfirmed by either Nintendo or Nvidia, stated that the SoC would be a standard Nvidia Tegra X1 instead, composed of four ARM Cortex-A57 and four ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores along with 256 Maxwell-based CUDA GPU cores.[129][130] This was later corroborated by an analysis on the console done by Tech Insights in March 2017.[131][132] The CPU cores are clocked at 1.020 GHz. While the SoC features 8 CPU cores, the Switch only uses the 4 Cortex-A57 cores, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1] The GPU cores are clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked, and in Handheld mode, fluctuating between the following speeds: 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2] This gives the Switch’s GPU a theoretical peak performance of 393 GFLOPS in TV mode and 236 GFLOPS in Handheld mode.[2] A later iFixit teardown of the final product confirmed 4 GB of LPDDR4.[133] It’s clocked at 1600 MHz in TV mode, while at a reduced 1331.2 MHz in Handheld mode.[4]
Wireless compatibility
The Switch offers Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band 802.11ac wireless connectivity compliant with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac modes).[126] Up to eight Switch consoles can be connected in a wireless ad hoc network for local multiplayer games, and multiple players can play on each of the connected Switch consoles.[134][40][135] In the case of at least one game, Splatoon 2, ten Switch consoles can connect in the ad hoc network, though only eight can play directly while the other two can watch as spectators.[136] The Switch uses Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless communication between the console and its controllers.[94][126] Users can purchase a third-party USB LAN adapter for wired connectivity when the console is docked for TV mode.[126] Nintendo’s Wii LAN adapter accessory is also compatible with the Switch via USB ports on the Switch dock.[137]
Power/battery
The Switch is primarily powered in Handheld mode by a non-removable 4310 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion rechargeable battery.[93][138][139] The battery life is estimated to be between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on the software being used. Nintendo gives the example of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild supporting approximately three hours of battery life.[90] The battery can be charged either while in the dock, or through a standard USB-C connector on the console.[48] The estimated recharge time while the unit is in sleep mode is about 3 hours.[104] Nintendo offers the means for replacing batteries through its customer support.[126] Each Joy-Con has its own non-removable 525 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion battery separate from the console, with an estimated twenty-hour lifespan.[94] These batteries are automatically charged if they are attached to the console while it is charging itself. Additional accessories have other means to charge the Joy-Con.[108] While the basic Joy-Con grip that ships with the Switch does not offer charging capabilities, a separate premium Joy-Con grip includes a USB-C connector port that can be used to charge the Joy-Con batteries while they are connected to this grip.[140]
Storage
The Switch includes 32 GB of internal storage,[90][126] 25.9 GB of which is user-accessible.[141] This can be expanded up to 2 TB using a microSD, a microSDHC or a microSDXC card.[142][126] A microSD card slot is located under the Switch’s kickstand, where a microSD card can be inserted.[143] If the microSD card is used, the Switch will only store game save data on the internal memory, leaving data that can be re-acquired on the microSD card.[144] Save data will always be stored on the console, regardless if the source is a physical game card or a digital download copy. At launch, there was no way to transfer save files to another Switch console.[145][146] Save game and profile transfers between Switch consoles were added in the 4.0.0 system update in October 2017,[147] while the 10.0.0 system update in April 2020 allowed most update data, saved games (i.e., downloaded from eShop), and other downloaded content to be swapped between the internal memory and a microSD card.[148] MicroSD and microSDHC were supported initially, and microSDXC card support was later added to the Switch’s software via a system update.[104][126] SD cards and miniSD cards do not fit the Switch.[149] The Switch did not support external storage units at launch, but Nintendo stated that they were looking into adding this feature in the future.[144]
Connectivity
The Switch console has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At launch, the Switch did not support Bluetooth wireless headphones, though they can also be connected if a Bluetooth adaptor is connected to the headphone jack.[150][151] A system update in October 2017 partially resolved this issue by enabling support for wireless USB headphones when the receiver is connected to the USB port on the console when docked.[152][153] This was later fully resolved in a system update in September 2021 when it enabled support for Bluetooth Wireless headphone devices without the need for a USB adapter.[154]
Later revisions
Around July 2018, Nintendo quietly released Switch units with minor hardware changes and updated firmware to block exploits in the original Switch models that led to the ability to extract ROM images from game cards and software.[155] Nintendo claimed in its case against Team Xecuter and Gary Bowser in February that this hardware change was specifically the result of Team Xecuter’s sales of modified Switch chips that used the exploit.[156]
An updated version of the Nintendo Switch under model number «HAC-001(-01)» was announced on July 17, 2019, and was released in Japan and North America in mid-August 2019, and in the United Kingdom in September 2019. This revision uses the Tegra X1+ SoC, a more efficient chipset compared to the Tegra X1 used in the original model. Thus, the time-on-battery was effectively extended to 4.5–9 hours, depending on the game played. No other system component was updated in this revision.[157][158][159][160][161]
Production
The Nintendo Switch is produced between Taiwan-based Foxconn and Japan-based Hosiden, with Foxconn accounting for the largest volume.[162] Nintendo did not plan to sell the Switch below manufacturing cost at launch,[163] as they had done for both the 3DS and Wii U at their respective launches;[164] Nintendo affirmed that the Switch would be profitable from launch during its 2016 fiscal year earnings report, as the company saw the console as a key earnings driver for 2017 and beyond.[165] Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, a Japanese product teardown firm, estimated that the Switch cost $257 to make compared to its $299 MSRP, with the console and dock at $167 while each Joy-Con costs $45.[166] Kimishima said that they may be able to see further profitability on the Switch when they can achieve volume discounts on components once they reach a level of about 10 million Switch units.[167]
Prior to launch, Nintendo anticipated shipping two million Nintendo Switch units by the end of the console’s first month, and assured that its supply chain would be able to meet demand following the launch period to avoid the shortage situation with the NES Classic Edition in late 2016.[168][84][169] Kimishima anticipated that the Switch will have lifetime sales numbers similar to the Wii, which sold 101 million units by 2016.[86]
Following the initial sales report numbers in April 2017, the Financial Times reported that the company was seeking to produce 18 million Switch units in its 2017 financial year as to avoid «customer tantrums» with poor supply levels, particularly near the 2017 holiday season and the release of Super Mario Odyssey on October 27, 2017.[170] Fils-Aimé said in September 2017 that their 2017 production target for the Switch could be hampered by bottlenecks in individual components.[171][172] DigiTimes reported in October 2017 that Nintendo had further shifted the production rate for the Switch up to 2 million per month, with plans to ship 20 million units by the end of the year; the newspaper also stated that the production rate was limited by component availability, and not by other factors of Nintendo’s production process.[162]
On the presentation of the 2017 fiscal year results to investors, Nintendo’s newly named president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that they anticipate producing 20 million Switch consoles over the 2018 fiscal year keeping the momentum of its sales in that year.[173]
In June 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was starting to move some of its production of the Switch and two hardware revisions of the Switch outside of China and into Southeast Asia to limit the impact of new United States tariffs on electronics made in China.[174][175]
In November 2020, Bloomberg reported that Nintendo asked its assembly partners to boost production of the Switch by 20% and raised its target goal of Switch sales for the 2020 fiscal year from 25 million units sold to 30 million units, having previously reportedly raised their target for the fiscal year from 22 million units sold to 25 million units in August 2020.[176][177] These boosts in production have been attributed to more demand mainly due to the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the COVID-19 pandemic.[176][177]
Other models
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch Lite integrates the Joy-Con into the main body.
On July 10, 2019, Nintendo announced a version of the Nintendo Switch dedicated to handheld play called the Nintendo Switch Lite. The Switch Lite is a single unit, integrating the Joy-Con as part of the main unit’s hardware, and uses a smaller screen measuring 5.5 inches (14 cm) diagonally. Additionally, a regular directional pad replaces the four directional buttons on the integrated left Joy-Con. While using a smaller battery than the original Switch, the Switch Lite uses a more power-efficient chipset, the 16-nanometer Tegra X1+, to extend the estimated use time from 2.5 to 6.5 hours to 3–7 hours on a single battery charge.[157] Because of the integrated Joy-Con, the Switch Lite is primarily limited to those games that can be played in Handheld mode, while some other games like 1-2-Switch require separate Joy-Con to be used.
The Switch Lite was released worldwide on September 20, 2019, with an MSRP of US$199.99.[178]
OLED model
The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model features a larger OLED display, a metal body and a redesigned kickstand.
On July 6, 2021, Nintendo officially announced a new model called the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. The OLED model features a 7-inch (180 mm) 720p OLED display, and when docked, output to 1080p resolution. Additionally, it features 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio functions, a magnesium alloy body and a wider adjustable stand for use in tabletop mode. The unit ships with a new dock that includes a wired LAN port.[179] It features similar technical specifications as the base Switch model, and is compatible with all Switch games and existing accessories.[180] The unit ships in two bundles: one that includes a black dock and red and blue Joy-Con (similar to the base model’s default color scheme), and one that includes a white dock and white Joy-Con. It was released on October 8, 2021, alongside the release of Metroid Dread, with a retail price of $349.99.[179]
Ahead of the release of the OLED version on September 13, 2021, Nintendo reduced the base price of the original Switch model in Europe from €329.99 to €299.99, and in the UK from £279.99 to £259.99, which Nintendo said also reflected changes in currency exchange rates.[181] All other regions – including North America and Australia – did not receive a price cut.[182] Two special-edition models were released: those for Splatoon 3,[183] and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.[184]
Rumored high-end model
In early 2019, reports from The Wall Street Journal and The Nikkei claimed that Nintendo had plans for two new models of the Nintendo Switch. One new model was a lightweight revision, later revealed as the Nintendo Switch Lite; the other was to be a more powerful console to be released in 2020.[185][186] A notification from Nintendo alerting the Federal Communications Commission of changes to the Switch’s hardware in July 2019 were used as further evidence for a new model.[187] DigiTimes later corroborated previous reports, claiming Nintendo planned to release a model with an improved CPU and magnesium alloy body in the second half of 2020[187]—in December 2019, Nintendo denied any intent to release a new model in 2020,[188] and the global chip shortage beginning in 2020 impacted console production regardless.[189] Bloomberg continued to state Nintendo was preparing to release a higher-end Nintendo Switch model with an OLED screen and the ability to output a 4K resolution, and the model would release in late 2021.[190][191][192][193] However, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch OLED model in July 2021.[194][179] Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said that Nintendo aims to use technology to enhance gameplay, and does not create «technology for technology’s sake».[195] Bloomberg again stated that a higher-end Switch was in development, and other upgrades were scrapped in favor of only the OLED screen in light of the chip shortage.[196] In response, Nintendo said that the report was «not true» and made false claims about the company.[197] Zynga—one company named by Bloomberg as having received a development kit of an upgraded Nintendo Switch model—also denied the factuality of the report.[197] Continued rumors of a high-end model were fueled by a leak of Nvidia’s source code showing a custom chip with DLSS support made for Nintendo.[198] In December 2022, Digital Foundry claimed that any upgraded Nintendo Switch model was no longer in production, and that Nintendo instead is focusing on the system’s successor.[199]
Software
The main menu screen of the Switch console
The Nintendo Switch runs on a custom-made operating system named Horizon, built on a microkernel architecture.[200] The Switch’s user interface features tile-based access to games that are either present in the game card slot or stored within the unit’s storage devices. It includes quick access buttons for a News feed from Nintendo, eShop access, and a photo album for screenshots captured during gameplay;[104] the 4.0 update to the software in October 2017 also enabled capturing and sharing video from select games.[147] A single Switch console supports up to eight user profiles, which each can be tied to a Nintendo Account user ID.[144] Profiles can be represented by either a pre-made avatar from an internal gallery, or using a Mii. The Mii creator was upgraded with increased color options for aspects such as hair styles; however, it is integrated into the system settings, rather than being an independent application.[201][144][202][203]
Prior to the 4.0 update, players discovered that the Switch’s firmware included an Easter egg allowing players to play the NES Golf title via a built-in emulator. While Nintendo has not confirmed its presence, journalists and players believed this to be a tribute to Nintendo’s former president Satoru Iwata; Golf was programmed by Iwata, and the game could only be accessed if the system clock was set to July 11 – the day when Iwata died in 2015 – and the Joy-Con are moved similarly to how Iwata would move his hands in his Nintendo Direct presentations. Some Japanese users referred to this as an omamori (charm) left by Iwata himself.[204] With the 4.0 update, the executable code for this Easter egg appears to have been wiped by Nintendo.[205]
In August 2018, a Twitter user found files on the Switch’s firmware while reverse-engineering the console, which suggested that Nintendo was possibly testing VR functionality for the Switch. The Twitter user was able to activate the hidden «VR Mode», which split the screen into two displays.[206][207] Hackers found that the code related to possible VR functionality had been hidden in the Switch firmware for over a year.[207]
Security
Nintendo continued its white hat security program that it had with the Nintendo 3DS. With help of third-party website HackerOne, Nintendo will award up to $20,000 to the first user to identify any vulnerability that impacts piracy, cheating, or potential sending of inappropriate content to younger users, the amount based on the severity of the security flaw.[208]
In April 2018, two separate groups discovered a method to use an exploit chain in the Tegra chip system that can be used to boot other software on the Switch. The exploit could not be patched through a software update, as the BootROM of the Tegra X1 can not be modified after the chip leaves the factory. Both groups had notified Nvidia and Nintendo of the exploit before publicly announcing their findings.[209] Users studying the hardware determined that Nintendo has the capacity to permanently ban specific Switch consoles used to obtain software via this exploit from the Nintendo Network, as the Switch console includes a unique device identification code used as part of the validation to the Network. As games downloaded from the Nintendo Network include encrypted information that ties the Nintendo ID to the console, which is transmitted to Nintendo when users start playing games, Nintendo can track unapproved software downloads and take action.[210] Nintendo has reportedly fixed the vulnerability in newer Switch units as of July 2018.[211]
In June 2018, two hackers found a way to run the Switch system’s developer software menu on non-developer Switch units, allowing users to directly load games onto SD cards or create custom avatars for their user profile, including pornographic and NSFW pictures, which violate Nintendo’s terms of service. A Nintendo spokesperson responded to Kotaku‘s article on the topic, saying that «Modified Nintendo Switch systems have been banned».[212]
Shortly after the release of Nintendo Switch Online in September 2018, hackers and modders were able to figure out how to run unauthorized ROMs on the Nintendo Switch NES emulator. A Switch hacker who goes by the name DevRin, was the first to discover the hack and posted his findings on YouTube, which prompted a modder who goes by the name KapuccinoHeck to investigate the matter with two others and their findings were later posted on KapuccinoHeck’s Twitter account.[213][214]
Online services
Nintendo Switch Online logo
Nintendo Switch user profiles can be linked to a Nintendo Account, which enables access to online features and the ability to download and purchase software from Nintendo eShop. A Nintendo Account can be created with an account from a third-party social networking service or an existing Nintendo Network ID from a 3DS or Wii U. Nintendo does not plan to offer first-party social networking services on Switch, such as Miiverse or StreetPass, the latter owing to Nintendo’s promotion of Switch as primarily being a home console. Instead, profiles can be linked to existing social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for social and sharing features.[215][216][217]
Players can register friends through Friend Codes as with previous Nintendo systems, searching for friends in the local network, through past multiplayer interactions, or through Nintendo Account profiles registered as friends on Nintendo mobile apps such as Miitomo and Super Mario Run.[218] In March 2017, Nintendo said that they had plans to provide other methods for registering friends, including through third-party social media and via Nintendo Network IDs.[219] Support for registering friends on the Switch via Facebook and Twitter was added on March 13, 2018, as part of the 5.0.0 system update.[220] The Switch has no native support for Nintendo Network IDs, but users can link their Nintendo Network ID credentials to a Nintendo Account profile, which enables the ability to add friends that they had already registered on their 3DS or Wii U, and share an eShop balance between all three platforms.[221]
In line with Microsoft and Sony consoles, a subscription is required to access online multiplayer in most games.[222][223] The Nintendo Switch Online subscription includes access to online play, voice chat, access to an ongoing library of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games, cloud storage for save data on most games, as well as other special offers and promotions.[224][225][226][227][228] A paid expansion pack released in October 2021 added support for an expanding library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games.[229] Free-to-play games such as Fortnite Battle Royale and Warframe are exempt from the subscription requirement for online play.[230][231][232][233]
The Nintendo Switch Online mobile app allows access to voice chat for Switch Online subscribers, as well as access to game-specific microsites. Unlike its competitors, voice chat is not supported via the console itself, requiring use of the app on a smartphone instead.[24][234] A separate app provides access to parental controls for the console.[222][235]
Media support
The Switch did not launch with any multimedia-oriented features, such as a web browser,[o] a messaging system or support for video streaming services.[236][failed verification] Fils-Aimé said that because the Switch is geared as a gaming console that is far different from what their competitors offer, they had focused on achieving that goal first and foremost, and did not see media support as a differentiator from their competitors.[237]
Niconico, a popular Japanese video service, launched for the Switch in Japan on July 13, 2017, and was the Switch’s first third-party media app in any market.[238] Hulu was the first video streaming application released for the Switch in the United States on November 9, 2017.[239] A YouTube application was released on November 8, 2018.[240] Fils-Aimé said in June 2018 that conversations to bring Netflix to the Switch were «on-going».[241] On November 4, 2020, a trial version app of the Tencent Video streaming service was launched exclusively for Nintendo Switch consoles officially distributed by Tencent in mainland China. An official version app will be launched at a later date.[242] Funimation launched their own streaming app for the Nintendo Switch, featuring a reworked layout and new functions. The app became available via eShop in the United States and Canada on December 15, 2020, and will launch in various other countries at a later date,[243] such as the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 22, 2021.[244] A version of the Twitch app launched for the Nintendo Switch on November 11, 2021, in most regions worldwide. The eShop version of the app allows users to watch or follow any live or recorded content on Twitch, but does not support any native ability for Switch players to contribute content.[245]
Korg Gadget, a music production app, was released for the Nintendo Switch on April 26, 2018.[246] InkyPen, a comics and manga subscription app, launched exclusively on the Switch worldwide on December 17, 2018.[247] Izneo, another comics and manga subscription service, was released for the Switch on February 28, 2019.[248] FUZE4, a text-based programming language app, was released in August 2019.[249]
Games
Distribution
The Nintendo Switch’s game cartridge
Games for the Nintendo Switch can be obtained through either retail channels or digitally through the Nintendo eShop. Games distributed at retail are stored on proprietary cartridges, similar in design to the game cards used for Nintendo 3DS games, albeit smaller and thinner.[250] As the world’s first major hybrid console, the console is the first major home-playable video game system to make use of cartridges since the Nintendo 64. Due to their small size at 31 by 21 by 3 millimetres (1.22 in × 0.83 in × 0.12 in),[251] Nintendo coats each cartridge with denatonium benzoate, a non-toxic bitterant used to discourage children from ingesting them.[252] Nintendo offered a suggested retail price for Switch games at the console’s launch of US$60, equivalent to the price for new games on either the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.[253] Nintendo otherwise allows publishers to set the price for a game, only requiring the list price be the same for physical and digital releases, if a physical release is made. This has caused some games also available on other consoles to be priced higher on the Switch due to the costs of manufacturing the game card for the Switch version.[254] Online media outlets have colloquially referred to this price hike as the «Switch tax».[255][256] The «Switch tax» also applies to many games that had been previously released on other platforms ported later to the Switch, where the Switch game price reflects the original price of the game when it was first released rather than its current price. It is estimated that the cost of Switch games is an average of 10% over other formats.[257]
Game cards at the time of the Switch’s release had a 32 GB capacity; Nintendo had planned to introduce 64 GB game cards by the second half of 2018, but had to push this back.[258] Some physical games may still require content to be installed to internal storage, with some games using a significant portion of the internal memory if a microSD card is not available.[259] Other physical games which have a large amount of content may require a microSD card to be present in the Switch, such as NBA 2K18; such games are clearly marked on the cover to show these requirements.[260]
The Switch supports the ability for cloud gaming to run games that require more hardware capabilities than the Switch allows, running these games over a network with the game computations performed on server hardware. These games may be tied to specific regions due to purchasing options. Early examples of such games on the Switch include Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey which were primarily limited to Japanese releases,[261] while more recently Control and Hitman 3 will be offered through cloud gaming worldwide in 2020 and beyond.[262]
Unlike previous Nintendo home consoles, the Switch is region-free. This allows players to use cartridges or downloaded content from any part of the world, with the exception of Chinese game content which can only be played on Switch units manufactured for that country.[263] Nintendo recommends using the appropriate regional eShop for digital purposes for obtaining the best post-purchase support if needed.[97][144] Nintendo opted to go region-free to reduce the amount of workload and cost to both themselves and developers in having to manage two or more regional certification processes and different ROM cartridge production pathways for those regions.[264] Further, eShop purchases, while still tied to the Nintendo Account, are not tied to the specific Switch console, as was the case for previous Nintendo hardware. Once the user re-registers their account to a Switch, they have access to download all previous purchases; however, a user can only have their account registered on one console at a time, and downloaded software tied to an account cannot be used if that account is not registered to the device.[221] With the console’s 6.0.0 system update, alongside the launch of the Online service in September 2018, a user can play games that they have purchased from the eShop on a second Switch console, though requiring continuous online connection and other restrictions.[265]
The Switch does not use optical discs, and does not have native backward compatibility with software from any previous Nintendo console.[266] The Switch is also not backwards compatible with other digital titles from previous consoles.[144]
Emulated versions of games from previous Nintendo systems are offered through eShop and the Nintendo Switch Online service, although the blanket Virtual Console brand used for these releases on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS has been dropped.[267][268] In February 2017, Kimishima said that the Switch is powerful enough to emulate titles from previous Nintendo consoles.[24]
Third-party support
One of the generally perceived failures of the Wii U was a lack of support from third-party developers, leading to a weak library of games.[269] Nintendo was more aggressive in trying to bring on third-party developers, early in the Switch’s development, to ensure a stronger lineup of games. Takahashi and Koizumi reached out to many of the third-parties directly to help gain their support early on.[23] Electronic Arts’ executive Patrick Söderlund said that Nintendo had taken a different track with attracting third-party developers to the Switch and have engaged Electronic Arts and other major developers throughout the development of the Switch, listening to their input, to help make the Switch more successful.[270]
Nintendo also began gaining support of independent video game developers in the middle of 2016 to provide assistance to help them bring games to the Switch, led by Nintendo’s head of partner management Damon Baker.[271] They had tried to draw in indie developers near the end of the Wii U’s lifetime, providing indie game demos that were highlighted during E3 2015, but by this point, the Wii U had already been considered a failure.[271] Nintendo sees games such as Snipperclips as a model of their target for indie games, in which they worked to help provide Switch implementation support and software tools to these parties early in the console’s lifecycle, according to Takahashi and Koizumi.[23] Some, like Yacht Club Games, who have ported Shovel Knight to the Switch, noted that some of the major innovations in the Switch, such as the Joy-Con, were not revealed to them until just prior to the January 2017 announcement.[272] Nintendo of America reached out to many independent developers and publishers, including Chucklefish, Team17, and Devolver Digital, to gain titles for the platform and make the process of publishing easier. Nintendo still curates which titles they allow on the system, using the company’s past portfolio for evaluation, and still carefully time releases to keep a steady stream of new content. However, once a game is greenlit, pushing out patches and updates can be done rapidly and at no further cost to the developer.[273][274] Nintendo also offers the Switch’s dev kit at 50,000 yen, or about $450, far under the cost of a comparable dev kit for other consoles, making it more amenable for smaller developers to afford and build for the unit.[275] Nintendo offers several of these indie games as «Nindies» through the eShop. Nintendo had anticipated that they would have at least sixty indie games released for the Switch through 2017, but ended up with over 320 titles by the end of 2017 as a result of the console’s popularity.[276][277][278] Indie developers have found that Nintendo has also had a significant role in the promotion and marketing of their games, including using the games to help promote the Switch itself, in contrast to Microsoft or Sony. These developers also found Nintendo tries to keep a better rapport with fans of Nintendo’s products, and help these fans identify Switch indie games they feel they will like the most, including those games that build on Nintendo’s classic games from the NES, SNES, and Game Boy eras that can draw in a more global audience.[271] Baker says that while they do try to encourage indie developers to release their games as a Switch console exclusive, they do not force developers towards this, knowing that the developers must have a good business case for doing so.[271]
While many independent developers have praised Nintendo for better support for the Switch, others, speaking anonymously through Nintendo Life, noted that Nintendo seemed to have a «walled garden» approach with independent developers, a remnant from the WiiWare program that allowed a great deal of shovelware to be pushed onto it. These anonymous developers found that Nintendo was either eschewing some developers completely, or requiring them to have a well-known publishing partner or an inside person within Nintendo to be able to gain the rights to publish for the Switch.[279][280] Baker said that they encourage self-publishing, but do also place value on trust of established partners for their recommendations of what games would be best for the Switch.[264] Another factor limiting Nintendo is the availability of dev kits and other hardware at the start of the console’s life. However, Baker does anticipate that Nintendo will be much more open in the future, once they have addressed the necessary issues for curation and discovery of titles via the eShop.[278]
During its official unveiling in October 2016, Nintendo deliberately opted not to provide a list of games for the system, as they «want people to touch the device in January [2017] and experience the software for themselves», according to Kimishima.[112] Instead, Nintendo announced some of the partners that had committed to supporting the Switch; contrasting Nintendo’s struggles to gain third-party support on-launch for previous platforms, the company initially listed 48 third-party publishers, studios, and middleware developers.[40] Among these partners, Nintendo listed major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sega, Square Enix, Take-Two, and Ubisoft.[40][281][282]
Nintendo had previously relied more on providing its own internally developed tools and libraries that third-party developers would use to develop games for earlier systems. With the Switch, the company went a different route. According to Takahashi, «we have been aiming to realize an environment in which a variety of different third-party developers are able to easily develop compatible software», taking advantage of the Nvidia chipset’s support for many standard libraries that allows for ease of transition from other platforms to the Switch.[283] Unity Technologies, Epic Games, and the Khronos Group pledged support to help developers bring games to the Switch using their game engines and middleware, Unity, Unreal Engine 4, and the Vulkan and OpenGL graphical APIs, respectively;[284][285][286] for instance, the Unreal Engine toolkit was updated in February 2017 to provide beta testing for native support for Switch games, with full support added by May 2017.[287][288] In March 2018, Nintendo announced it had also gained support of YoYo Games’ GameMaker Studio 2 engine for the Switch.[289] Miyamoto said that Nintendo’s own developers have «mastered» engines like Unreal, so that while it would be unlikely that Nintendo would release a first-party title using such software, they can help support developers using these tools on the Switch.[283] Several indie developers who have previously worked on Nintendo’s consoles said that the Switch was «the least demanding Nintendo console» they have developed for.[290][271]
In addition to these third-party middleware solutions, Nintendo developed its own NintendoWare Bezel Engine for first- and third-party developers, first announced in 2018, aimed «to provide an environment that can create interesting games in a short period of time while keeping development costs as low as possible». Games like Tetris 99 and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics were developed in this engine.[291][292]
By 2022, the Switch was generally considered to have reversed the trend of flagging third party support for Nintendo consoles and game platforms, something that was attributed to Nintendo having made concerted outreach efforts towards third parties to bring them on board;[293][294] several major third party franchises and developers, including Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, Alan Wake, Nier, Persona, Diablo, Dark Souls, Life Is Strange, Borderlands, Overwatch, Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma, Saints Row, Danganronpa, and Portal making their Nintendo home console debuts on the Switch, and several others, such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Civilization, Assassin’s Creed, Tales, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Mortal Kombat, and Burnout making their return to Nintendo hardware after prolonged absences. Positive analyses of the Switch’s impact on Nintendo’s third party relations were, however, frequently laced with the caveat that Nintendo would have to work to transition their third party support from the Switch to the Switch’s successor properly, something they had routinely failed at in the past.[294]
Library
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, was released for the Switch as a launch title.[35][295][296] The console’s reveal trailer showcased footage from new titles in Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2, as well as footage from NBA 2K18 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.[297] Although Nintendo and third-parties stated at that time that these were not necessarily representative of Switch titles,[298][299][300] all five titles were confirmed as Switch releases during the January 2017 press events.[48]
The Switch did not launch with any bundled games or have any pre-loaded games or game demos; Fils-Aimé stated that once they had decided on the price point and evaluated the forthcoming game lineup, they opted to allow consumers to choose which games to get rather than include one in the bundle and increase its price.[53][301] At least ten games were shipped or digitally available alongside the Switch in time for its North American launch, including Nintendo’s first-party titles The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch.
Fils-Aimé said that Nintendo planned a «steady cadence of content» for the Switch after launch, avoiding the perceived situation with gaps between major releases for Wii U software.[302] Kimishima said that Nintendo scheduled its first-party releases «to continue to provide new titles regularly without long gaps», as this «encourages consumers to continue actively playing the system, maintains buzz, and spurs continued sales momentum for Nintendo Switch.»[169] Journalists noted that Nintendo appeared to be pledged to this approach following their schedule of planned releases of first-party games for the Switch as announced during E3 2017, with a new title roughly every month into early 2018.[303]
Marketing
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Nintendo sought to avoid the struggles it had with communicating the capabilities of the Switch’s predecessor, the Wii U, whose GamePad (left) some mistook as an accessory for the Wii rather than a controller for the Wii U.
A key part of marketing the Switch was to be «crystal clear in our communication of what the product was and what the product could do», according to Fils-Aimé, so as to avoid similar issues with how they presented the Wii U.[304][303][305] While the Wii U was designed as a home console unit, Nintendo’s lack of clarity on this point led to a general assumption that the unit, principally the Wii U GamePad, was more like a tablet, overshadowing the Wii U’s other features (such as dual-screen play modes). Nintendo also believed that some consumers had mistaken the Wii U GamePad as being an accessory for the existing Wii console, rather than being the flagship feature of an entirely new platform.[306] Instead, for the Switch, Fils-Aimé said the company was «very aggressive and clearly communicating the proposition that it’s a home console you can take on the go wherever and whenever you want».[304]
For example, the October 2016 trailer (considered significantly unlike Nintendo’s past marketing efforts, according to Bloomberg[13]) was designed to show the various ways that the Switch can be used so that viewers would recognize that «each of its forms offer different play experiences for people to enjoy».[25] Kimishima said that the intent of the trailer was to show that the device was aimed across all player demographics, showcasing features that core gamers would recognize and appreciate to carry this intent.[13] A large amount of Nintendo’s launch marketing for the console focused heavily on the launch title Breath of the Wild; Nintendo of America marketing executive, Nick Chavez, stated that the decision to showcase the new Zelda game was meant to promote it to both older viewers, who may have grown up with the franchise’s earliest games and are accustomed to modern open world games, and to a new generation of players.[307]
Nintendo aired its first-ever Super Bowl ad during the United States broadcast of Super Bowl LI. Set to the Imagine Dragons song «Believer»,[308] the ad showcased the various play modes with the Switch and its launch titles, particularly Breath of the Wild, and upcoming releases; while an ad to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon was broadcast the previous year during Super Bowl 50, this ad was paid for by The Pokémon Company and not by Nintendo.[309][310][311] Chavez said of the ad, «There’s no bigger stage in the U.S. on which to showcase the platform. I think it speaks to our confidence in the system.»[307]
Additional television commercials followed the Super Bowl spot, which were to demonstrate Switch’s use cases among different demographics, as well as «casual» and «core» gaming audiences.[307] Such ad venues included the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, and on programming blocks for Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, and Comedy Central.[308] Chavez emphasized that Nintendo’s overall marketing for Switch was not be «just a six to eight week launch campaign», but «really a 15 month campaign for us, to say nothing of our plans for 2018».[307]
The Grand Palais in Paris, France, during the Switch media event on January 15, 2017
In addition to advertising, Nintendo had planned several ways for players to try the system before its release through various «sampling events». Kimishima felt that it was important, particularly for «career gamers», for Nintendo to get the Switch into players’ hands, so that players could understand how the system differs from Nintendo’s previous offerings. Kimishima also said that the company was «running a guerrilla marketing program where we’re just dashing around and trying to have as many events as possible and get it in the hands of players so they can experience the difference.»[24]
The North American and European press had special events on January 13, 2017, following the Tokyo presentation.[312][313] Various Switch demonstration events were run in North America, Europe, and Japan during January and February 2017.[314][315][316][317] Nintendo offered demonstrations of the Switch at gaming conferences including PAX South, South by Southwest, and RTX.[318][319][320] Nintendo also promoted the Switch through an «Unexpected Places» campaign in February 2017, temporarily setting up living-room-style spaces in three United States locations and inviting fans and players, including John Cena, to try out the unit.[321]
In June 2018, Nintendo announced it was partnering with Disney Channel to help produce Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, a televised competition where families competed in challenges around various Switch games in August 2018.[322]
Reception
Pre-release
Market analysts had a mixed response to the October 2016 announcement of the Nintendo Switch.[41][42] Some expressed concern that the Switch failed to address the issues that led to poor Wii U sales, and was aimed at a small audience.[41] Others were more upbeat, believing the Switch approach would fit in well in the Japanese market, where space for dedicated consoles and televisions are limited, and transition into Western ones.[19][323] Taylor also approved of the company’s decision to introduce the console prior to the holiday season, when Microsoft and Sony would attempt to attract casual gamers to their consoles.[19][324]
Following the January 2017 press conference revealing the unit’s pricing and release date, journalists expressed concern at the apparently high system price, comparable to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles but lacking some of their capabilities, the cost of the paid-for Nintendo Switch Online service, and the small number of games that were confirmed for launch.[47][325][326][327] However, other analysts found that the pricing factors indicated the Switch was a more robust console, and would likely sell better than the Wii U, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being a key sales driver.[325] These analysts also figured the Switch fills an appropriate gap in hardware for those seeking more complex gameplay that is not offered in tablet and mobile gaming but who did not need to purchase a powerful «boxy» console.[328] Most analysts agreed that the success of the Switch depends on Nintendo’s support and avoiding mistakes the company had made in marketing and promoting the Wii U.[328]
Nintendo investors showed wariness at the Switch, as its stock price dropped in the months from the system’s announcement up until its release. Analysts believed investors felt the Switch was very risky and were unsure if the unit would draw new audiences to Nintendo.[329][41][330][331][332] Analysis firms estimated the Switch would have a slow start due to the risk of the system and high price, but could still clear up to 40 million units by 2020.[333][334]
Game and hardware developers were more positive towards the Switch, seeing the system as «a more unifying experience between their handheld and console divisions», but expressed concern on unanswered hardware specifications, and how Nintendo would market the unit to draw in developers.[335][336][337][338] Developer Hideo Kojima compared the notion of the Switch to his idea of «transfarring» that he presented in 2011, allowing players to take a game from a home platform to a portable one, which became the basis of Sony’s cross-buy program. He said that the Switch was «an extension of that idea. The fact you can play something at home and take it outside, this is the gamer’s dream. The Switch is an evolution of that.»[339] Bethesda’s Todd Howard stated, «I think Nintendo is the only company that could pull something like this off,» commenting on the Nintendo Switch’s design and functionality.[340] Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, said he was impressed with Nintendo’s ability to «state a bold vision and build a product that delivers on that vision».[341]
Retailers were also generally positive with the Switch; GameStop CEO Paul Reines stated the unit was transformative in the market and would be a «game-changer» that could «expand the audience for gaming».[342] Pre-orders were high, with Kimishima stating before launch that total pre-orders reached nearly the levels of units they had ready to ship for launch.[24][343][344]
The October 2016 reveal trailer became Nintendo of America’s most-viewed video on YouTube within 24 hours, and was the top trending video on YouTube for about a day.[345]
Release
Upon release, the Switch was praised by reviewers for having a lot of potential, but they were underwhelmed by the limited number of titles available at launch that did not show the full extent of the console’s abilities. Reviewers also noted that the initial operating software and features were limited and included software bugs that, while likely to be fixed in time, marred the experience of the system.[346] Even with the day-one update, there were numerous reports of hardware problems, in particular the Bluetooth connectivity of the Switch console with the Joy-Con (L) controller, and ease with which the console screen could be scratched.[347] About a week after release, Fils-Aimé said the company is in «fact-finding mode» to try to diagnose these issues.[348] In late March, Nintendo reported that the Joy-Con (L) desync issue was a «manufacturing variation» on a small number of the units, which could be easily fixed; as noted by CNET’s Sean Hollister, Nintendo repaired affected controllers by placing a bit of foam near the antenna within the unit to better shield it. Going forward, Nintendo said they do not anticipate any other problems with connectivity issues.[349][350] Many users also reported issues with defective pixels on the LCD screen of the console, which Nintendo has stated «are normal and should not be considered a defect».[351] Other companies in the video game industry such as Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Bethesda, Ubisoft and Unity Technologies congratulated Nintendo on the Switch, along with fast food companies such as Arby’s and Domino’s Pizza, which made a practice of posting game-inspired artworks on social media.[352]
About six months after release, Nintendo reported their usage statistics for the Switch. Using statistics collected by the system for the primary player on the console, they found that 30% of users operate the console in Handheld/Tabletop mode more than 80% of the time, slightly more than 50% of users operate the console in both TV mode and Handheld/Tabletop mode equally, with the remaining users preferring TV mode. Nintendo stated «We can clearly see that consumers are playing to suit their own play styles.»[353] Nintendo also found that the majority of people who purchased the Switch in the United States are male consumers in their 20s and early 30s.[354]
Following the implementation of firmware version 5.0.0, several Switch users began reporting that their consoles became unusable after having been docked within a third-party «portable» dock manufactured by Nyko. Nyko commented on the issue, stating that they were aware of the issue and thought it to be caused by the Switch’s handling of A/V output, while Nintendo advised users against docking their systems inside unlicensed docking peripherals. After purchasing the dock at a Walmart store in Jacksonville, Florida, and losing usability of his console upon using the dock, Switch owner Michael Skiathitis filed a class action lawsuit against Nyko, alleging the dock to be «prone to causing numerous problems to the devices they are intended to support» against the knowledge of purchasers, as well as noting that Nyko had not put much effort into warning consumers about the issue. Other Switch owners reported having their consoles bricked upon using various other third-party docks, including models made by FastSnail and Insignia.[355]
Sales
Initial launch
First-year sales of the Switch (red line), Wii U (green), and PlayStation 4 (blue) in Japan
Initial sales of the Switch were strong, with Nintendo reporting that based on its first week’s numbers, it was the company’s fastest-selling console.[356][357] In Japan, first weekend sales exceeded 330,000 units, which was on par with the PlayStation 4 during its launch period.[358][359] Sales during this initial period were strong in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.[360] Media Create estimated that more than 500,000 Switch units were sold in Japan within its first month, beating out the PlayStation 4 to this figure.[361][362][363][364][365]
Nintendo issued the Switch’s first month’s performance in their 2016 fiscal year results (which ended March 31, 2017), reporting that more than 2.74 million units had been sold worldwide, exceeding their target of two million.[366][367] Retailer GameStop reported that initial sales of the Switch were «phenomenal» and on track to surpass the Wii U based on their historical sales data, with merchandising director Eric Bright saying the Switch has had «one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time».[368] Retailer GameStop reported significant growth in hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 due primarily to the Switch,[369] while Best Buy saw an unexpected increase in their hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 buoyed by the popularity of the Switch.[370] Console sales in Japan, which had been languishing due to the strength of the mobile game market, saw its first annual growth of 14.8% in 2017 due to the release of the Switch.[371] Physical sales for Switch games were at 5.46 million worldwide in its first month, with 2.76 million copies of Breath of the Wild for the Switch making up nearly half of those sales.[372] On Breath of the Wild‘s nearly 1-to-1 sales with the Switch console, Nintendo’s Kimishima said, «This high of an attach rate is more or less unprecedented».[373]
The large sales within the first month forced Nintendo to increase their production capacity,[374] and to temporarily use air freight to ship Switch units instead of their usual overseas shipment, costing an estimated $45 per console, rather than the less-costly overseas shipment.[375] With these changes, Nintendo projected that it would sell at least 10 million Switch consoles during the 2017 fiscal year, alongside 35 million games.[366] Kimishima stated that having a Switch user base of 10 million «will give publishers and the rest of our business partners a sense that the future of Nintendo Switch is more promising» and spur further game development for the platform.[376] Kimishima said that a key goal in their production ramp up would be to make sure they have enough Switch inventory near the end of 2017 for holiday sales, as to avoid the issue with Wii shortages that occurred during its first holiday-season period, while balancing the near-term high demand.[167] According to Kimishima, Nintendo now believed that if they could reach 10 million in Switch sales in 2017, they expected the Switch would have lifetime sales comparable to the Wii, which had sold over 100 million units in its lifetime.[376][167]
The Switch continued to show strong sales throughout its first year of release. In its financial report released in October 2017 for the quarter ending September 30, 2017, Nintendo reported worldwide sales of the Switch at 7.63 million, with the expectation to sell more than 14 million by the end of its current financial year, exceeding the Wii U’s lifetime 13.56 million sales. Five software titles had achieved at least one million in sales by this point: Breath of the Wild (4.7M), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (4.42M), Splatoon 2 (3.61M), 1-2 Switch (1.37M), and Arms (1.35M).[377] Shortly after this financial report, Nintendo reported that Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch sold more than two million copies within three days of its release on October 27, 2017.[378] Following this financial report, the Wall Street Journal asserted that Nintendo anticipated to continue ramping production of the Switch in its 2018 fiscal year, with plans to produce between 25 and 30 million units that year or more depending on the 2017 holiday sales.[326] During the November 2017 Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales that kicked off the holiday shopping season in North America, Adobe Digital Insights’ analysis showed the Switch was one of the top-five selling items, outpacing the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. NPD Group adjusted their future performance of the Switch to follow more closely with the Wii’s lifetime sales rather than the Wii U’s.[379]
On December 12, 2017, the company announced the system had sold over 10 million units worldwide, having reached its sales goal for the 2017 fiscal year within nine months. Nintendo raised its Switch sales expectation to 14 million units for the fiscal year.[380] Shortly after this announcement, Kimishima said that Nintendo has a target of 20 million units sold within the console’s second year, along with releasing new games that «enables new ways of playing» to continue the sales momentum.[381]
Based on its first year sales, the Switch was considered to be the fastest-selling game console in history in many regions. With 2017 year end Japanese sales data from Media Create, the Switch became the fastest-selling home console in Japan in first year sales, with its total sales of 3.2 million units exceeding the 3.0 million units of the PlayStation 2 during its first year of release,[382][383] while Famitsu reported that these sales had eclipsed the lifetime sales of the Wii U in the country,[384] and helped to support the first growth in sales within Japan’s console market in eleven years.[385] Nintendo of America also reported that with 4.8 million units sold in the United States by the end of 2017, 1.5 million units in December 2017 alone, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in the United States in its first 10 months, outpacing the Wii’s performance of 4 million units in the same time period.[386][387] Similarly, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in France, having sold 911,000 units through the end of 2017, according to Nintendo France.[388] The Switch was also the fastest-selling console in Canada, having shipped 400,000 units in its first 10 months, narrowly outpacing the Wii’s performance of 392,000 units in the same time period, according to TechVibes.[389] According to analysis firm GBH Insights, the Nintendo Switch was the fifth-best-selling technology product in 2017.[390] As of January 2018, the Switch has sold more than 300,000 units in Spain, surpassing the total lifetime sales of one of its competitors, the Xbox One, in the region.[391] The Switch sold 8.7 million units in the United States in its first 21 months of availability, surpassing the sales of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 during their first 21 months in the same region.[392] By May 2019, the Switch had overtaken the PS4’s lifetime sales in Japan.[393]
Lifetime sales
| Date | Japan | Americas | Europe[B] | Other[B] | Total | Attach rate[C] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | ||
| 2017-03-31[394] | 0.60 | 0.89 | 1.20 | 2.86 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 0.94 | 1.71 | 2.74 | 5.46 |  1.99
|
| 2017-06-30[395] | 1.12 | 2.45 | 1.95 | 6.49 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 1.63 | 4.66 | 4.70 | 13.60 |  2.89
|
| 2017-09-30[396] | 1.95 | 5.26 | 3.11 | 12.25 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 2.56 | 9.97 | 7.63 | 27.48 | 3.60
|
| 2017-12-31[397] | 3.72 | 9.82 | 5.94 | 23.65 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 5.20 | 19.10 | 14.86 | 52.57 |  3.53
|
| 2018-03-31[398] | 4.38 | 13.15 | 7.14 | 30.37 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.27 | 25.44 | 17.79 | 68.97 | 3.87
|
| 2018-06-30[399] | 4.89 | 16.10 | 7.81 | 38.74 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.97 | 32.09 | 19.67 | 86.93 | 4.41
|
| 2018-09-30[400] | 5.52 | 20.31 | 9.13 | 49.97 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 8.20 | 40.82 | 22.86 | 111.10 | 4.86
|
| 2018-12-31[401] | 7.74 | 30.33 | 12.94 | 73.85 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 11.60 | 59.42 | 32.27 | 163.61 | 5.07
|
| 2019-03-31[402] | 8.23 | 34.64 | 14.01 | 84.31 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 12.50 | 68.57 | 34.74 | 187.25 | 5.39
|
| 2019-06-30[403] | 8.76 | 39.05 | 14.83 | 94.47 | 9.60 | 62.46 | 3.69 | 14.15 | 36.87 | 210.13 | 5.69
|
| 2019-09-30[404] | 10.00[D] | 44.93 | 16.64[E] | 110.22 | 10.86[F] | 74.43 | 4.17[G] | 16.43 | 41.67[H] | 246.01 | 5.90
|
| 2019-12-31[405] | 12.42[I] | 57.34 | 20.87[J] | 138.63 | 13.88[K] | 94.01 | 5.32[L] | 20.68 | 52.48[M] | 310.65 | 5.92
|
| 2020-03-31[406] | 13.44[N] | 67.20 | 22.12[O] | 158.59 | 14.43[P] | 105.92 | 5.78[Q] | 24.54 | 55.77[R] | 356.24 | 6.38
|
| 2020-06-30[407] | 14.59[S] | 77.21 | 24.41[T] | 180.07 | 16.04[U] | 120.22 | 6.70[V] | 29.16 | 61.44[W] | 406.67 | 6.62
|
| 2020-09-30[408] | 16.17[X] | 84.98 | 26.58[Y] | 204.18 | 17.73[Z] | 134.44 | 7.81[AA] | 32.88 | 68.30[AB] | 456.49 | 6.68
|
| 2020-12-31[409] | 18.88[AC] | 98.89 | 31.17[AD] | 238.12 | 20.70[AE] | 158.29 | 9.11[AF] | 37.04 | 79.87[AG] | 532.34 | 6.67
|
| 2021-03-31[410] | 20.04[AH] | 112.22 | 33.27[AI] | 261.00 | 21.58[AJ] | 172.15 | 9.71[AK] | 41.74 | 84.59[AL] | 587.12 | 6.94
|
| 2021-06-30[411] | 21.20[AM] | 120.35 | 34.86[AN] | 283.35 | 22.66[AO] | 183.51 | 10.33[AP] | 45.20 | 89.04[AQ] | 632.40 | 7.10
|
| 2021-09-30[412] | 22.06[AR] | 128.35 | 36.31[AS] | 306.13 | 23.60[AT] | 197.78 | 10.89[AU] | 48.74 | 92.87[AV] | 681.00 | 7.33
|
| 2021-12-31[413] | 24.36[AW] | 143.20 | 40.12[AX] | 345.64 | 26.98[AY] | 223.01 | 12.09[AZ] | 54.56 | 103.54[BA] | 766.41 | 7.40
|
| 2022-03-31[414] | 25.23[BB] | 154.36 | 42.03[BC] | 369.27 | 27.60[BD] | 237.93 | 12.79[BE] | 60.62 | 107.65[BF] | 822.18 | 7.63
|
| 2022-06-30[415] | 25.95[BG] | 162.43 | 43.30[BH] | 386.42 | 28.70[BI] | 249.45 | 13.13[BJ] | 65.29 | 111.08[BK] | 863.59 | 7.77
|
| 2022-09-30[416] | 26.96[BL] | 175.09 | 44.59[BM] | 407.97 | 29.29[BN] | 266.39 | 13.49[BO] | 69.15 | 114.33[BP] | 917.59 | 8.02
|
| 2022-12-31[417] | 29.05[BQ] | 192.62 | 47.66[BR] | 437.37 | 31.71[BS] | 289.47 | 14.15[BT] | 74.84 | 122.55[BU] | 994.30 | 8.11
|
|
As of December 31, 2022, Nintendo has shipped 122.55 million Switch units, with over 88.67 million original Switch units, 20.40 million Switch Lite units, and 13.49 million Switch OLED units.[417] With these numbers the Switch has surpassed lifetime sales of all but one Nintendo game console following the Nintendo DS. By this point, it also surpassed sales of all other game consoles, leaving it third behind the DS and the PlayStation 2.[418][419] Since October 2020, the Switch had been the highest selling console in the United States for 22 consecutive months, starting from December 2018, taking the record from the Xbox 360 which stood for 21 months (August 2011 – April 2013).[420] In the United States, the Switch had remained the best-selling console on monthly sales based on NPD Group data for 33 months from November 2018 through August 2021, with the PlayStation 5 breaking its streak in September 2021.[421]
Total software sales for the Switch exceeded 994 million As of December 2022.[417] According to Nintendo of America’s Doug Bowser, the Switch has had an attach rate (games purchased per unit) of over 8 over its first four years.[422] Top sellers for the platform, exceeding 10 million units sold worldwide, include:[423]
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 52.00 million
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 41.59 million
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 30.44 million
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 29.00 million
- Pokémon Sword and Shield – 25.68 million
- Super Mario Odyssey – 25.12 million
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – 20.61 million
- Super Mario Party – 18.79 million
- Ring Fit Adventure – 15.22 million
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! – 15.07 million
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 14.75 million
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – 14.79 million
- Splatoon 2 – 13.30 million
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus – 12.64 million
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 11.43 million
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury — 10.82 million
- Splatoon 3 – 10.13 million
Financial impact
Nintendo’s business performance, which had been struggling for several years, soared upon the release of the Switch. By May 23, 2017, the success of the Switch’s launch raised Nintendo’s stock price to its highest levels in seven years, and an increase in price of over 100% from the previous year. However, the price still trailed Nintendo’s peak price by about half, back in 2007 when it had just released the Wii.[424] Nintendo’s stock was further boosted a few days later to meet its eight-year high following Capcom’s announcement of plans to release the popular Monster Hunter XX for the Switch.[425]
In September 2017, Nintendo announced a partnership with Tencent, the leading publisher for mobile games in China, to bring their title Arena of Valor, the international version of their mainland Chinese game Wangzhe Rongyao, to the Switch following its December 2017 release in Western markets on mobile platforms. At the time, the game had an estimated 200 million players, most in China, and analysts anticipated that Nintendo would be releasing the Switch in China by 2019 as part of this deal. As a result, Nintendo’s stock price rose overnight on the news by 7%, reaching a nine-year high.[426][427][428] Nintendo’s stock reached its ten-year high shortly after the October 2017 expansion of Switch production to 2 million units per month and speculation that Nintendo would likely start selling the unit in China sooner than anticipated.[429]
Nintendo’s quarterly reports, for the period ending September 30, 2017, showed a profit of $209 million, the first profitable quarter in several years, due to both success of the Switch and its mobile gaming strategy.[30] For similar reasons, its following quarter, ending December 31, 2017, was Nintendo’s most profitable quarter since 2009, with year-to-year revenues increased by 177%.[430][431]
Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 44% in the first fiscal quarter of 2018 and their net profit totalled $274.9 million during April–June 2018 due to new titles being released for the Switch such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.[432] Sales of the Switch and its games helped increase Nintendo’s operating profit by 30% during July–September 2018 and helped Nintendo reach its highest quarterly result in 8 years.[433] Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 25% in the third fiscal quarter of 2018 due to the popularity of games on the Switch and their October–December profit totalled $956 million, while quarterly sales totalled $5.6 billion, which were up by 26%.[434]
Nintendo’s yearly profit jumped by 39% during the April 2018–March 2019 fiscal year, and annual sales rose 14% to $10.7 billion due to «healthy» software sales for the Switch.[435]
Legal issues
In August 2017, Los Angeles-based tablet peripheral manufacturer Gamevice, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Nintendo in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that the design of the Switch conflicts with its patent on the design for the Wikipad, an Android-based gaming device that also features a tablet with a detachable controller. The lawsuit sought damages on existing Switch sales and banning further sales of the console.[436] The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed by Gamevice in October 2017.[437]
In March 2018, Gamevice initiated a second patent infringement lawsuit on Nintendo related to a different set of patents. Gamevice also sought action through the United States International Trade Commission related to patent infringement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and was seeking to block imports of the Switch into the United States.[438][439][440] The lawsuit would be terminated on October 10, 2019, with no such violations being found.[441] By March 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office had reviewed Gamevice’s patents and deemed all of its claims to be unpatentable, a ruling in favor of Nintendo. Gamevice stated they would be challenging the Office’s decision.[442]
While appealing the Patent Office’s determination on its patents, Gamevice initiated a third infringement claim against Nintendo in March 2020 against a newly published patent it had obtained in August based on a game controller that would wrap around a smart phone. Gamevice sought to block imports of the Switch from Japan while the lawsuit was in progress.[443][444] The lawsuit ended in favour of Nintendo.[445][446]
A class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2019 concerning a joystick defect in the console’s Joy-Con controllers, commonly referred to as «drift». The suit alleges that Nintendo is aware of a defect that causes the controllers to register movements without the joysticks being touched, but does not «disclose the defect and routinely refuses to repair the joysticks without charge».[447] Three days after the filing, an internal Nintendo company memo was leaked by Vice; the memo instructed Nintendo’s customer service employees in North America to begin offering repairs for drifting Joy-Con controllers free of charge regardless of warranty status.[448] The lawsuit, however, continued, and following the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite where some on social media reported the Joy-Con drift problem after 20 hours of play, additional complaints related to the Lite were added to the lawsuit.[449] While the court refused to grant Nintendo a dismissal of the case, it did agree to send the case into arbitration as a first step as outlined in the EULA for the Switch in a ruling made in March 2020.[450]
Nintendo successfully obtained an injunction in December 2019 against a distributor of a hack made by Team Xecuter that enabled Switch users to obtain and run copyright-violating copies of Switch games on the console.[451] Subsequently, Nintendo filed lawsuits initially against several resellers of Team Xecuter products in 2020, and in one case, settled with the reseller for $2 million.[452][453] After members of Team Xecuter were arrested and charged with eleven felony counts by the United States Department of Justice in October 2020, Nintendo filed another lawsuit against one of the arrested members, Gary Bowser, asserting two counts of trafficking and one count of copyright infringement.[454]
See also
- Yuzu (emulator), a Nintendo Switch emulator
Notes
- ^
- Shipments breakdown:
- Nintendo Switch: 88.67 million
- Lite: 20.40 million
- OLED model: 13.49 million
- ^ a b Original model
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision, Lite, and OLED model
- ^ While the Tegra X1 SoC features 4 Cortex-A57 plus 4 Cortex-A53 CPU cores, the Nintendo Switch only uses the former, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1]
- ^ A temporary «boost mode» increases the CPU clock speed to 1.785 GHz. It is primarily used during loading screens.[2]
- ^ Original model, HAC-001(-01) revision, and Lite
- ^ OLED model
- ^ The GPU is clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked; in handheld mode, it fluctuates between 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2]
- ^ When the CPU is in «boost mode», the GPU clock speed drops to 76.8 MHz.[1]
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision and OLED model
- ^ a b The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 28 mm (1.1 in).
- ^ Japanese: ニンテンドースイッチ, Hepburn: Nintendō Suitchi, note that Nintendo branded the console in Japan in its English name
- ^ Switch units sold in China do have a regional lockout, limited to games published in China and those on the Chinese eShop.
- ^ Consoles manufactured after August 2019 featured chips made on the 16nm process, improving battery life and performance. These consoles were shipped featuring slightly different boxes from those manufactured before August, but Nintendo has not otherwise differentiated between the two models.
- ^ The Switch does include a fully functioning web browser, however it is only used for network login pages, the eShop, displaying built in user manuals, and for sharing video and screenshots from the album. It is not accessible otherwise and lacks many features such as browser history and favorites.
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- ^ NOTICE OF INSTITUTION OF INVESTIGATION
- ^ NOTICE OF COMMISSION DETERMINATION NOT TO REVIEW AN INITIAL DETERMINATION TERMINATING THE INVESTIGATION WITH RESPECT TO A PATENT CLAIM
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External links
- Official website
Nintendo Switch — OLED ModelNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch LiteNintendo Switch OnlineCompareBuy now
Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
Featuring a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen that makes colors pop.
$349.99 MSRP*
Designed to play at home or on-the-go.
$299.99 MSRP*
Nintendo Switch Lite
Dedicated to handheld play.
$199.99 MSRP*
Which system suits you?
Compare features
Games
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Nintendo Switch Online
Online multiplayer, classic games, and more.
Parental Controls
Settings that let you keep the focus on fun.
*Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price, actual price may vary. See retailer for details.
|
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| Also known as |
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|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo PTD |
| Manufacturer |
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| Product family | Nintendo Switch |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Eighth |
| Release date |
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| Availability | 2017–present |
| Lifespan | 2017–present |
| Introductory price |
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| Units shipped | 122.55 million (as of December 31, 2022)[a] (details) |
| Media |
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| Operating system | Nintendo Switch system software |
| System on a chip | Nvidia Tegra X1[b]/Tegra X1+[c] |
| CPU | ARM 4 Cortex-A57 cores @ 1.02 GHz[d][e] |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 @ 1331/1600 MHz |
| Storage | 32 GB[f]/64 GB[g] eMMC |
| Removable storage | microSD/HC/XC (up to 2 TB) |
| Display |
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| Graphics | 256 Maxwell-based CUDA cores
[h][i] |
| Sound |
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| Input | Volume +/−, power buttons |
| Controller input |
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| Camera | Ambient light sensor |
| Touchpad | Multi-touch capacitive |
| Connectivity |
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| Power |
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| Current firmware | 16.0.0, as of February 20, 2023; 11 days ago |
| Online services |
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| Dimensions |
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| Mass |
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| Best-selling game | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (52.00 million, as of December 31, 2022) |
| Predecessor | Wii U |
| Related | Nintendo Switch Lite |
| Website | www.nintendo.com/switch/ |
The Nintendo Switch[l] is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a hybrid console. Its wireless Joy-Con controllers, with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input, motion sensing, and tactile feedback, can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play. They can also connect to a grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form, or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, supporting local multiplayer modes. The Nintendo Switch’s software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity, as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles. Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop; the system has no region lockout.[m] A handheld-focused revision of the system, called the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released on September 20, 2019. A revised higher-end version of the original system, featuring an OLED screen, was released on October 8, 2021.
The Nintendo Switch was unveiled on October 20, 2016. Known in development by its codename NX, the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo’s reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014, attributed to poor sales of its previous console, the Wii U, and market competition from mobile games. Nintendo’s then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware. The Nintendo Switch’s design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through multiple modes of use. Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components, such as a chipset based on Nvidia’s Tegra line, to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines. As the Wii U had struggled to gain external support, leaving it with a weak software library, Nintendo preemptively sought the support of many third-party developers and publishers to help build out the Switch’s game library alongside Nintendo’s first-party titles, including many independent video game studios. While Nintendo initially anticipated around 100 titles for its first year, over 320 titles from first-party, third-party, and independent developers were released by the end of 2017.
As an eighth-generation console, the Nintendo Switch competes with Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4, and also competes with ninth generation consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S and Sony’s PlayStation 5. Nearly three million console units were shipped in its first month, exceeding Nintendo’s initial projection of two million and within a year of release achieved over 14 million units sold worldwide, outselling total lifetime sales of the Wii U. By the start of 2018, the Switch became the fastest-selling home or hybrid console in both Japan and the United States. As of December 2022, all Nintendo Switch models have sold over 122 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s best-selling home console and the third-best-selling game console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Sales of the Switch have been strongly tied to sales of Nintendo’s first-party titles, with seven games—The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet—having sold over twenty million units each.
History
Background
Nintendo had seen record revenues, net sales, and profits in 2009 as a result of the release of the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2004 and 2006, respectively,[5][6][7] but in Nintendo’s subsequent years, its revenues had declined.[8][9] The company had posted its first loss as a video game company in 2012 prior to the Wii U’s introduction that year and would have similar losses in the following years due to the console’s poor uptake.[10] The New York Times attributed Nintendo lowering financial forecasts in 2014 to weak hardware sales against mobile gaming.[11] Previously, the company had been hesitant about this market, with then-president Satoru Iwata considering that they would «cease to be Nintendo» and lose their identity if they attempted to enter it.[12] About three years prior to the Switch’s announcement, Iwata, Tatsumi Kimishima, Genyo Takeda, and Shigeru Miyamoto crafted a strategy for revitalizing Nintendo’s business model, which included approaching the mobile market, creating new hardware, and «maximizing [their] intellectual property».[13] Prior to his death, Iwata was able to secure a business alliance with Japanese mobile provider DeNA to develop mobile titles based on Nintendo’s first-party franchises, believing this approach would not compromise their integrity.[14][15] Following Iwata’s death in July 2015, Kimishima was named as president of Nintendo, while Miyamoto was promoted to the title of «Creative Fellow».[13]
Development
The initial conception for the Switch started shortly after the release of the Wii U in 2012.[16] Kimishima stated that when Nintendo was evaluating what new hardware they wanted to produce, they «didn’t just want a successor» to either the Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, but instead asked «what kind of new experience can we create?»[13] In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Kimishima stated that the Switch was designed to provide a «new way to play» that would «have a larger impact than the Wii U».[17][18] Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé emphasized the console’s appeal as a device that would provide gamers the option to play at home or on the go and noted that it would enable developers to create new types of games.[19] This approach continued Nintendo’s blue ocean strategy for the competitive console marketplace, as rather than compete feature for feature with the other consoles, they would establish unique and difficult-to-copy devices.[20] Miyamoto said that some broad concepts of the Switch extend from the «lateral thinking with seasoned technology» design philosophy of Gunpei Yokoi that Nintendo has used over the last couple of decades.[21]
The commercial failure of the Wii U also pressured Nintendo in the Switch’s development. Early sales of the Wii U were weak compared to the Wii, and major third-party studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft announced they would not support the console near the end of the Wii U’s first year, further hampering its sales. According to Fils-Aimé, when it became apparent that the Wii U’s life cycle performance would underperform the company’s expectations, the Switch became a «make or break product» for Nintendo.[22]
The design of the Switch was aimed to bridge the polarization of the gaming market at the time, creating a device that could play «leisurely» video games along with games that are aimed to be played «deeply», according to Shinya Takahashi and Yoshiaki Koizumi, general manager and deputy general manager of Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development Division (EPD), respectively.[16] This approach also would apply to the cultural lifestyle and gaming differences between Japanese and Western players; Japanese players tend to play on the go and with social groups, while Western players tend to play at home by themselves.[23] The design of the Switch would meet both cultures, and certain games, like 1-2-Switch, could potentially make social gaming more acceptable in Western culture.[24] Two key elements that were set to address this mixed market were the ability for the unit to play either on a television screen or as a portable and the use of detachable controllers.[16] The «Switch» name was selected not only to refer to the console’s ability to switch from handheld to home console modes, but to present «the idea of being a ‘switch’ that will flip and change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives».[25]
Part of the inspiration of the Switch’s form and design was from feedback players had given Nintendo on the Wii Remote, according to Shinya Takahashi. With the release of games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, players had asked Nintendo if they could make the Wii Remote in a smaller form factor, potentially strapped to a part of their body. This led to Nintendo envisioning what a smaller form-factor controller could provide in both hardware and gameplay, and it led to the idea of a console that was small enough with these new controllers to also be portable.[26] Other concepts came out of critical consumer feedback of the Wii U. Fils-Aimé said that one common criticism they had for the Wii U was that while players did enjoy using the Wii U GamePad and would want to play games on it anywhere, it became functionless if they moved a distance away from the main console. This served for Nintendo to design a home console that the player could take with them anywhere.[27] Around five different prototypes were developed for the Switch before they finalized on the released design. This included developing different methods of how the Joy-Con controllers would physically connect to the console, including using magnets to hold them in place.[16]
In addition to the form-factor design, Nintendo needed to balance the power and speed of the console’s central processing unit with battery life and the unit’s size, coupled with limited development resources and deadlines set by Nintendo’s management. One choice made by the development team was to use an existing system on a chip (SOC) rather than creating their own as they had done on previous consoles. Koizumi said that this break from tradition was done to gain more third-party support for the console by using an SOC to which developers could easily port games. Nintendo was not focused on raw processing power but was instead looking to balance the overall features of the system, including battery life and size, as well as keeping in mind their limited development resources and timeline. Koizumi said, «The most difficult part was on how to take an overall balance while we were getting entangled with all of those in complexity.»[16] To achieve this balance, they did not opt to use the more powerful hardware they could have used, instead using a middle-ground approach to achieve their vision of the Switch.[28]
Koizumi served as the general producer of the Switch during its development.[23] According to Miyamoto, the Switch’s development within Nintendo was headed by younger employees, with him saying «it’s really been them that have put this forward and designed this system».[29][30] Miyamoto said of the younger employees: «I always look for designers who aren’t super-passionate game fans. I make it a point to ensure they’re not just a gamer, but that they have a lot of different interests and skill sets.»[30] Junior developers were also used to help brainstorm ideas of how to make sure the Switch had a longer lifecycle beyond the typical five-to-six years as most other consoles had.[31] Miyamoto, Takeda, and Iwata were less involved, but provided necessary oversight on the Switch’s development principally around the cost of implementing new features that would make the Switch stand out.[21] For Miyamoto, his limited involvement allowed him to spend more time on Nintendo’s software titles being developed at the time, such as Super Mario Run.[29]
Announcements
The first public news of about the Switch’s hardware happened alongside the announcement of Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership on March 17, 2015. At this stage, Nintendo referred to the console under the codename «NX» and described it as a «brand new concept».[32] At an investor’s meeting in April 2016, Nintendo announced that it planned to release the NX worldwide in March 2017.[33][34] While Nintendo did not unveil the NX’s hardware at E3 2016 in June, it did announce that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally announced as a Wii U-exclusive, would also be released for the NX. At a Nintendo shareholders’ meeting following the conference, Miyamoto stated that the company had concerns that competitors could copy ideas from the NX if they revealed it too soon.[35][36] The following month, rumors began to surface surrounding the nature of the console, including its use of Nvidia Tegra hardware, being a «hybrid» device intended for both home and mobile use, controllers that can detach from the main device and be played separately, and that Nintendo would distribute games on the console via cartridges and digital downloads.[37][38][39]
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo officially announced the console under the name Nintendo Switch, alongside a trailer that demonstrated the hardware’s nature as a hybrid device.[40] At the time of the trailer’s release, Nintendo did not provide many details on features of the platform, though they planned to have events in 2017 to provide more details about the console. The company did state that there are additional features that were not presented in the introductory trailer.[41][42] Miyamoto and Fils-Aimé presented the Switch to host Jimmy Fallon on a broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in December 2016. In addition to showing more of the console’s hardware and functionality, Fallon was given the opportunity to play part of Breath of the Wild live.[43]
Nintendo revealed technical details of the Switch, including its worldwide launch date and price, at a press event in Tokyo on January 13, 2017.[44] The event was livestreamed,[45] with an English voiceover provided by Nintendo of America through their broadcast and regional Twitter accounts relaying details in other languages. A Nintendo Treehouse event occurred the following day to reveal the full launch lineup and upcoming games for the Switch.[46]
Release
The Switch was officially released on March 3, 2017, worldwide in Japan and most English-speaking and Western markets. It was released with an MSRP of ¥29,980 in Japan, US$299.99 in the United States, £279.99 in the United Kingdom, and A$469.95 in Australia; with standardized pricing for the European market varying.[47][48][49] The set includes a Switch console, a dock, left and right Joy-Con controllers and accompanying straps, a Joy-Con grip, an AC power adapter and an HDMI cable.[50][51] There were two Switch bundles available at launch, one with grey Joy-Con and one with neon red and blue Joy-Con.[52] Nintendo feared that a higher price would harm sales, which prompted them to not include any additional hardware or games.[53] The global launch did not include parts of Asia, including India and Mainland China.
The Switch continued to be officially released in particular markets, such as Argentina on August 15, 2017,[54] and in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1.[55][56] In April 2018, CD Media, Nintendo’s official distributor in Greece and the Balkans since 2016, announced after opening their new offices in Istanbul, that Nintendo’s products will officially be distributed in Turkey later in the year.[57] Nintendo abruptly withdrew from the Turkish market back in June 2012 when then-distributor Nortec Eurasia closed.[58] CD Media released the Nintendo Switch in Turkey in July 2018.[59][60] Nintendo’s Singapore-based distributor, Maxsoft, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in the Philippines on November 30, 2018,[61] in Thailand on March 29, 2019,[62] and in Malaysia on January 17, 2020.[63] In early-2019, Nintendo of Europe signed a partnership with Tel Aviv-based distributor TorGaming Ltd., making them Nintendo’s official distributor in Israel, and launched their products in the market, including the Nintendo Switch, on March 1, 2019.[64] Nintendo’s Dubai-based distributor, Active Gulf, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in Oman on September 27, 2019.[65]
Although the Nintendo Switch had not officially been released in China prior to December 2019, it is still widely available in the country due to grey market imports from Hong Kong and other regions, such as Japan.[66] In January 2018, former Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said in an interview with Chinese news website QQ that Nintendo has tried to release the Switch in China, but has been unable to do so.[66][67] Nintendo partnered with Tencent in April 2019 to gain the necessary approvals to release the Switch in China, along with a test version of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe;[68] it was released on December 10, 2019, at a base price of ¥2,099 RMB or about US$298.[69] Tencent will continue to help Nintendo bring other Switch games through China’s approval process via National Radio and Television Administration.[68] In addition, Tencent will help localize various titles, and help implement the Nintendo Switch Online service within the country, integrating its offerings with the WeChat payment systems.[70]
Nintendo had exited the Brazilian market in 2015 due to high tariffs, but independent resellers have been trading the console in Brazil since March 2017.[71] Nintendo had since assigned NC Games as their local game distributor in May 2017,[72] and the local company had committed to sell some officially imported Nintendo Switch units in small quantities.[73] NC Games silently went defunct in c. 2019. In August 2020, Nintendo affirmed that it would restart imports directly into Brazil,[74] for release on September 18, 2020.[75]
Numerous special-edition models and bundles have been released, including those for Splatoon 2,[76] the 2018 Black Friday shopping day,[77] Animal Crossing: New Horizons[78] and Fortnite.[79] The Japanese-exclusive «2nd Unit Set» released in May 2018 on the My Nintendo Store at a reduced price of ¥24,980, was positioned towards households which already owned a Switch. It did not include a dock, AC adapter, HDMI cable, and charging grip.[80][81]
By February 2021, about four years from the console’s release, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that «The Switch is in the middle of its life cycle».[82]
Hardware
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid video game console, consisting of a console unit, a dock, and two Joy-Con controllers.[83] Although it is a hybrid console, Nintendo classifies it as «a home console that you can take with you on the go».[84][85] Furthermore, the company has stated that the Switch and the Nintendo 3DS are meant to co-exist, considering the 3DS as an entry-level product for younger players.[84][86]
Console
The back of the Nintendo Switch (without the controllers), showing the kickstand, MicroSD slot, charging port, and intake vents. The Joy-Con slotting mechanism is visible on the short side.
The main unit of the Switch is the console, a battery-powered tablet-like monitor that consists of an LCD screen measuring 6.2 inches (160 mm) on its diagonal, the same as the Wii U GamePad.[87] The unit itself measures 173 by 102 by 13.9 millimetres (6.81 in × 4.02 in × 0.55 in) and weighs 297 grams (10.5 oz).[88] The screen supports ten-point multi-touch capacitive sensing and includes haptic technology from Immersion Corporation.[89] The LCD screen supports resolutions up to 720p (1280×720 px).[90][48] The console includes a 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo speakers on the bottom face of the unit below the screen, a USB-C port for charging, and a kickstand on the back side.[91][92] The unit also includes slots for a game card (cartridge-based media) and a microSD card slot located under the kickstand. The Switch console itself includes three buttons, all on the top of the device, Volume +/- and Power. The console has rails on the side, into which the Joy-Con controllers can be slid to attach them to the Switch unit.[93] An ambient light sensor on the front of the console adjusts the screen’s brightness automatically.[94] The model number of the original Switch model is «HAC-001».[95]
There are three gameplay modes that can be used with the Switch; «TV mode» with the console slid into the dock to support play on a television, «Tabletop mode» with the console placed on a table or other flat surface using its kickstand for shared gaming away from a dedicated screen, or in «Handheld mode» as a standard portable tablet device.[96][97][48] Users can switch between these modes simply by placing the console in the dock or removing it, extending or retracting the kickstand, and detaching or connecting the Joy-Con.[48] Games may be designed to play only in specific modes; for example, Voez initially could not be played in TV mode and relied on touchscreen controls.[98] Support for controllers and TV mode was later added to Voez in January 2018 via an update for the game.[99] Another example is Super Mario Party, which does not support Handheld mode.[100]
Nintendo stated that the Switch is a «single-screen experience», in that the player either sees the content on the console when it is out of the dock, or on the screen attached to the dock when the console is docked. The Switch cannot feature dual-screen functionality that was offered through the Wii U via its GamePad.[101]
Nintendo patented a means of using multiple Switch consoles to create a multi-monitor configuration by arranging them on a flat surface and spanning a single gameplay environment across their screens. This technology was first seen in Super Mario Party.[102][103]
Dock
The console, with or without Joy-Con attached, can be placed into the Switch dock, a docking station with electrical connectors to connect the console to a power supply to charge its battery, and to a television via an HDMI connection for video/audio output.[40] The dock also includes two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port.[93] While docked, the unit can support resolutions up to 1080p and a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second,[97][104] though the maximum resolution varies depending on the game. As an example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs at a maximum 900p and 30 frames per second while the Switch is docked.[105] The dock measures 173 by 104 by 54 millimetres (6.8 in × 4.1 in × 2.1 in) and weighs 327 grams (11.5 oz).[88][106]
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Front of the dock. The Switch console is inserted from the top.
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Back of the dock, showing its two USB ports on the right side
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Back of the dock, opened. A USB-C AC adapter and HDMI cable must be connected for TV gameplay. There’s an additional USB 3.0 port inside.
-
Top of the dock, featuring a USB-C male port that connects to the console
Controllers
Joy-Con
The Nintendo Switch comes with two controllers, collectively called Joy-Con and individually called the «Joy-Con (L)» and «Joy-Con (R)».[94] The controllers attach to the Switch console via side rails using a locking mechanism, with a small release button on their rear face to allow them to be detached. When detached, they can be used as a pair by a single player, attached to a grip that emulates a gamepad form factor, or used as separate controllers by two individual players. A single Switch console can support up to eight Joy-Con connections.[107] Straps can be attached to the sides of Joy-Con when they are detached.[94][97] A charging grip is available for the Joy-Con, which provides a means to attach a USB-C cable for power.[108] Alongside that, Nintendo released a charging strap that allows players to charge an individual Joy-Con via embedded AA batteries on June 16, 2017.[109]
Pro Controller
The Switch also supports a wireless controller, called Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which has a more traditional design reminiscent of the Wii Classic Controller Pro and Wii U Pro Controller. The Pro Controller connects to the Switch via wireless Bluetooth communication, and is charged through a standard USB-C port on the controller.[92][110][111]
Standard Switch controllers
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The gray Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers. The inside rails slot onto the side of the main Switch console or grip controller.
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Red and blue Joy-Con slotted onto the charging grip, giving the general proportions of a standard controller
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The top of the charging grip, showing the USB-C port
-
The optional and more conventional Pro Controller
Other
The Nintendo Switch supports a wide array of additional accessories, according to Kimishima. Kimishima suggested that the Switch is part of a large ecosystem of devices, though the Switch unit remains the core console element.[112] Takahashi suggested the possibility of other units besides the Joy-Con that could attach and/or connect to the console to serve as alternate input devices and change how the Switch can be used.[23]
Nintendo offers a Joy-Con Wheel, a small steering wheel-like unit that a Joy-Con can slot into, allowing it to be used for racing games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.[50] Standalone docks are available, which include a power adapter and HDMI cable.[50] Third parties also support the Switch with additional accessories, such as carrying cases and screen protectors.[113] The 4.0.0 system update enabled support for GameCube controllers connected via USB with the GameCube adapter that was available for the Wii U as well as a new adapter produced for the Switch; GameCube controllers can be used with most games compatible with the Switch’s Pro Controller, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[114][115][116][117] USB computer keyboards are supported for certain tasks, such as text entry.
A Nintendo Labo kit simulating a fishing rod and reel
In January 2018, Nintendo announced Nintendo Labo, a child-oriented platform that combines games coupled with do-it-yourself cardboard projects that attach or wrap around the Switch Console and Joy-Con, effectively creating toys around the Switch hardware to interact with games. These cardboard units, which may also include string, rubber bands, and other pieces, are referred to as Toy-Con. The game software provides instructions for the Toy-Con construction and provides the interface to control the Toy-Con. Such examples given include a remote-controlled «car», where the two Joy-Con attach to the car and their vibration feedback provide the motion for the car, controlled from the Switch, a fishing rod where the Joy-Con are part of the reel and handle of the rod and their motion controls used to simulate the act of fishing in the mini-game, and a small toy piano.[118]
In September 2018, with the release of Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo introduced NES Controller style Joy-Con controllers alongside its classic games service. In September 2019, when SNES games were added to the service, wireless SNES Controllers were released. In September 2021, when Nintendo 64 games and Sega Genesis titles were added to the service alongside the Expansion Pack, wireless Nintendo 64 Controllers and SEGA Genesis Control Pads were released for use with their respective services.
Nintendo released Ring Fit Adventure in October 2019, which includes a Leg Strap to mount a Joy-Con to a leg, and the Ring-Con, a flexible hard plastic ring with Joy-Con mounting. The player interacts with the game, fashioned after a console role-playing game, by doing various exercises, such as running in place, squatting, and squeezing the ring, to perform in-game actions of running, jumping, and attacking and defending, respectively.[119] Such features are part of Nintendo’s «quality of life» goals to incorporate physical activity alongside the Switch, similar to past titles like Wii Fit.[120]
In February 2017, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that it had been «studying» virtual reality solutions, but felt that comfort was a main concern. Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé also cited that existing VR solutions were not «fun» or «social».[121] Nintendo ultimately unveiled a new Labo VR kit in March 2019, using a cardboard headset and viewer placed in front of the console’s screen, in combination with attached accessories.[122][123]
Stands and alternate docks have also been created for the Switch to overcome the limitations of the device’s own kickstand for tabletop play, including an official «Adjustable Charging Stand» that can be connected to the device’s AC adapter.[124][125]
Technical specifications
| System-on-chip | Name | Nvidia Tegra X1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process |
|
||
| CPU | Type |
|
|
| ISA | ARMv8-A | ||
| Clock rate | 1.02 GHz | ||
| Cache | L1 |
|
|
| L2 |
|
||
| GPU | Type | Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based | |
| Clock rate | 307.2-768 MHz | ||
| Stream processors | 256 (157-393 GFLOP/s) | ||
| TMUs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GTexel/s) | ||
| ROPs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GPixel/s) | ||
| Compute units | 2 | ||
| Memory | Total | 4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM | |
| Clock rate | 1600 MHz | ||
| Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | ||
| Storage | Main | Type | eMMC NAND flash memory |
| Capacity |
|
||
| Removable | Type | microSD/HC/XC | |
| Capacity | Up to 2 TB | ||
| Media | Name | Nintendo Switch game card | |
| Capacity | 1–64 GB | ||
| Display | Main | Type |
|
| Size |
|
||
| Resolution |
|
||
| External | Interface | HDMI 1.4b | |
| Resolution | 1080p, 720p, or 480p |
SoC, CPU, GPU and RAM
Original Switch models were released with model number «HAC-001». The Switch uses a system-on-chip from the Tegra family of products, developed in partnership with Nvidia.[90][126] No specific details were revealed beyond that it is a «custom» Tegra chip «based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards» that are common in personal computers, and has a custom API known as «NVN», which is designed to «bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses».[40][127] Takeda described the Nvidia chipset as being critical for delivering gamers a level of performance similar to that which they experience on personal computers, helping to achieve «high performance but low power consumption» for the Switch.[128] Pre-release reports, unconfirmed by either Nintendo or Nvidia, stated that the SoC would be a standard Nvidia Tegra X1 instead, composed of four ARM Cortex-A57 and four ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores along with 256 Maxwell-based CUDA GPU cores.[129][130] This was later corroborated by an analysis on the console done by Tech Insights in March 2017.[131][132] The CPU cores are clocked at 1.020 GHz. While the SoC features 8 CPU cores, the Switch only uses the 4 Cortex-A57 cores, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1] The GPU cores are clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked, and in Handheld mode, fluctuating between the following speeds: 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2] This gives the Switch’s GPU a theoretical peak performance of 393 GFLOPS in TV mode and 236 GFLOPS in Handheld mode.[2] A later iFixit teardown of the final product confirmed 4 GB of LPDDR4.[133] It’s clocked at 1600 MHz in TV mode, while at a reduced 1331.2 MHz in Handheld mode.[4]
Wireless compatibility
The Switch offers Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band 802.11ac wireless connectivity compliant with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac modes).[126] Up to eight Switch consoles can be connected in a wireless ad hoc network for local multiplayer games, and multiple players can play on each of the connected Switch consoles.[134][40][135] In the case of at least one game, Splatoon 2, ten Switch consoles can connect in the ad hoc network, though only eight can play directly while the other two can watch as spectators.[136] The Switch uses Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless communication between the console and its controllers.[94][126] Users can purchase a third-party USB LAN adapter for wired connectivity when the console is docked for TV mode.[126] Nintendo’s Wii LAN adapter accessory is also compatible with the Switch via USB ports on the Switch dock.[137]
Power/battery
The Switch is primarily powered in Handheld mode by a non-removable 4310 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion rechargeable battery.[93][138][139] The battery life is estimated to be between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on the software being used. Nintendo gives the example of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild supporting approximately three hours of battery life.[90] The battery can be charged either while in the dock, or through a standard USB-C connector on the console.[48] The estimated recharge time while the unit is in sleep mode is about 3 hours.[104] Nintendo offers the means for replacing batteries through its customer support.[126] Each Joy-Con has its own non-removable 525 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion battery separate from the console, with an estimated twenty-hour lifespan.[94] These batteries are automatically charged if they are attached to the console while it is charging itself. Additional accessories have other means to charge the Joy-Con.[108] While the basic Joy-Con grip that ships with the Switch does not offer charging capabilities, a separate premium Joy-Con grip includes a USB-C connector port that can be used to charge the Joy-Con batteries while they are connected to this grip.[140]
Storage
The Switch includes 32 GB of internal storage,[90][126] 25.9 GB of which is user-accessible.[141] This can be expanded up to 2 TB using a microSD, a microSDHC or a microSDXC card.[142][126] A microSD card slot is located under the Switch’s kickstand, where a microSD card can be inserted.[143] If the microSD card is used, the Switch will only store game save data on the internal memory, leaving data that can be re-acquired on the microSD card.[144] Save data will always be stored on the console, regardless if the source is a physical game card or a digital download copy. At launch, there was no way to transfer save files to another Switch console.[145][146] Save game and profile transfers between Switch consoles were added in the 4.0.0 system update in October 2017,[147] while the 10.0.0 system update in April 2020 allowed most update data, saved games (i.e., downloaded from eShop), and other downloaded content to be swapped between the internal memory and a microSD card.[148] MicroSD and microSDHC were supported initially, and microSDXC card support was later added to the Switch’s software via a system update.[104][126] SD cards and miniSD cards do not fit the Switch.[149] The Switch did not support external storage units at launch, but Nintendo stated that they were looking into adding this feature in the future.[144]
Connectivity
The Switch console has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At launch, the Switch did not support Bluetooth wireless headphones, though they can also be connected if a Bluetooth adaptor is connected to the headphone jack.[150][151] A system update in October 2017 partially resolved this issue by enabling support for wireless USB headphones when the receiver is connected to the USB port on the console when docked.[152][153] This was later fully resolved in a system update in September 2021 when it enabled support for Bluetooth Wireless headphone devices without the need for a USB adapter.[154]
Later revisions
Around July 2018, Nintendo quietly released Switch units with minor hardware changes and updated firmware to block exploits in the original Switch models that led to the ability to extract ROM images from game cards and software.[155] Nintendo claimed in its case against Team Xecuter and Gary Bowser in February that this hardware change was specifically the result of Team Xecuter’s sales of modified Switch chips that used the exploit.[156]
An updated version of the Nintendo Switch under model number «HAC-001(-01)» was announced on July 17, 2019, and was released in Japan and North America in mid-August 2019, and in the United Kingdom in September 2019. This revision uses the Tegra X1+ SoC, a more efficient chipset compared to the Tegra X1 used in the original model. Thus, the time-on-battery was effectively extended to 4.5–9 hours, depending on the game played. No other system component was updated in this revision.[157][158][159][160][161]
Production
The Nintendo Switch is produced between Taiwan-based Foxconn and Japan-based Hosiden, with Foxconn accounting for the largest volume.[162] Nintendo did not plan to sell the Switch below manufacturing cost at launch,[163] as they had done for both the 3DS and Wii U at their respective launches;[164] Nintendo affirmed that the Switch would be profitable from launch during its 2016 fiscal year earnings report, as the company saw the console as a key earnings driver for 2017 and beyond.[165] Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, a Japanese product teardown firm, estimated that the Switch cost $257 to make compared to its $299 MSRP, with the console and dock at $167 while each Joy-Con costs $45.[166] Kimishima said that they may be able to see further profitability on the Switch when they can achieve volume discounts on components once they reach a level of about 10 million Switch units.[167]
Prior to launch, Nintendo anticipated shipping two million Nintendo Switch units by the end of the console’s first month, and assured that its supply chain would be able to meet demand following the launch period to avoid the shortage situation with the NES Classic Edition in late 2016.[168][84][169] Kimishima anticipated that the Switch will have lifetime sales numbers similar to the Wii, which sold 101 million units by 2016.[86]
Following the initial sales report numbers in April 2017, the Financial Times reported that the company was seeking to produce 18 million Switch units in its 2017 financial year as to avoid «customer tantrums» with poor supply levels, particularly near the 2017 holiday season and the release of Super Mario Odyssey on October 27, 2017.[170] Fils-Aimé said in September 2017 that their 2017 production target for the Switch could be hampered by bottlenecks in individual components.[171][172] DigiTimes reported in October 2017 that Nintendo had further shifted the production rate for the Switch up to 2 million per month, with plans to ship 20 million units by the end of the year; the newspaper also stated that the production rate was limited by component availability, and not by other factors of Nintendo’s production process.[162]
On the presentation of the 2017 fiscal year results to investors, Nintendo’s newly named president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that they anticipate producing 20 million Switch consoles over the 2018 fiscal year keeping the momentum of its sales in that year.[173]
In June 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was starting to move some of its production of the Switch and two hardware revisions of the Switch outside of China and into Southeast Asia to limit the impact of new United States tariffs on electronics made in China.[174][175]
In November 2020, Bloomberg reported that Nintendo asked its assembly partners to boost production of the Switch by 20% and raised its target goal of Switch sales for the 2020 fiscal year from 25 million units sold to 30 million units, having previously reportedly raised their target for the fiscal year from 22 million units sold to 25 million units in August 2020.[176][177] These boosts in production have been attributed to more demand mainly due to the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the COVID-19 pandemic.[176][177]
Other models
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch Lite integrates the Joy-Con into the main body.
On July 10, 2019, Nintendo announced a version of the Nintendo Switch dedicated to handheld play called the Nintendo Switch Lite. The Switch Lite is a single unit, integrating the Joy-Con as part of the main unit’s hardware, and uses a smaller screen measuring 5.5 inches (14 cm) diagonally. Additionally, a regular directional pad replaces the four directional buttons on the integrated left Joy-Con. While using a smaller battery than the original Switch, the Switch Lite uses a more power-efficient chipset, the 16-nanometer Tegra X1+, to extend the estimated use time from 2.5 to 6.5 hours to 3–7 hours on a single battery charge.[157] Because of the integrated Joy-Con, the Switch Lite is primarily limited to those games that can be played in Handheld mode, while some other games like 1-2-Switch require separate Joy-Con to be used.
The Switch Lite was released worldwide on September 20, 2019, with an MSRP of US$199.99.[178]
OLED model
The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model features a larger OLED display, a metal body and a redesigned kickstand.
On July 6, 2021, Nintendo officially announced a new model called the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. The OLED model features a 7-inch (180 mm) 720p OLED display, and when docked, output to 1080p resolution. Additionally, it features 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio functions, a magnesium alloy body and a wider adjustable stand for use in tabletop mode. The unit ships with a new dock that includes a wired LAN port.[179] It features similar technical specifications as the base Switch model, and is compatible with all Switch games and existing accessories.[180] The unit ships in two bundles: one that includes a black dock and red and blue Joy-Con (similar to the base model’s default color scheme), and one that includes a white dock and white Joy-Con. It was released on October 8, 2021, alongside the release of Metroid Dread, with a retail price of $349.99.[179]
Ahead of the release of the OLED version on September 13, 2021, Nintendo reduced the base price of the original Switch model in Europe from €329.99 to €299.99, and in the UK from £279.99 to £259.99, which Nintendo said also reflected changes in currency exchange rates.[181] All other regions – including North America and Australia – did not receive a price cut.[182] Two special-edition models were released: those for Splatoon 3,[183] and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.[184]
Rumored high-end model
In early 2019, reports from The Wall Street Journal and The Nikkei claimed that Nintendo had plans for two new models of the Nintendo Switch. One new model was a lightweight revision, later revealed as the Nintendo Switch Lite; the other was to be a more powerful console to be released in 2020.[185][186] A notification from Nintendo alerting the Federal Communications Commission of changes to the Switch’s hardware in July 2019 were used as further evidence for a new model.[187] DigiTimes later corroborated previous reports, claiming Nintendo planned to release a model with an improved CPU and magnesium alloy body in the second half of 2020[187]—in December 2019, Nintendo denied any intent to release a new model in 2020,[188] and the global chip shortage beginning in 2020 impacted console production regardless.[189] Bloomberg continued to state Nintendo was preparing to release a higher-end Nintendo Switch model with an OLED screen and the ability to output a 4K resolution, and the model would release in late 2021.[190][191][192][193] However, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch OLED model in July 2021.[194][179] Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said that Nintendo aims to use technology to enhance gameplay, and does not create «technology for technology’s sake».[195] Bloomberg again stated that a higher-end Switch was in development, and other upgrades were scrapped in favor of only the OLED screen in light of the chip shortage.[196] In response, Nintendo said that the report was «not true» and made false claims about the company.[197] Zynga—one company named by Bloomberg as having received a development kit of an upgraded Nintendo Switch model—also denied the factuality of the report.[197] Continued rumors of a high-end model were fueled by a leak of Nvidia’s source code showing a custom chip with DLSS support made for Nintendo.[198] In December 2022, Digital Foundry claimed that any upgraded Nintendo Switch model was no longer in production, and that Nintendo instead is focusing on the system’s successor.[199]
Software
The main menu screen of the Switch console
The Nintendo Switch runs on a custom-made operating system named Horizon, built on a microkernel architecture.[200] The Switch’s user interface features tile-based access to games that are either present in the game card slot or stored within the unit’s storage devices. It includes quick access buttons for a News feed from Nintendo, eShop access, and a photo album for screenshots captured during gameplay;[104] the 4.0 update to the software in October 2017 also enabled capturing and sharing video from select games.[147] A single Switch console supports up to eight user profiles, which each can be tied to a Nintendo Account user ID.[144] Profiles can be represented by either a pre-made avatar from an internal gallery, or using a Mii. The Mii creator was upgraded with increased color options for aspects such as hair styles; however, it is integrated into the system settings, rather than being an independent application.[201][144][202][203]
Prior to the 4.0 update, players discovered that the Switch’s firmware included an Easter egg allowing players to play the NES Golf title via a built-in emulator. While Nintendo has not confirmed its presence, journalists and players believed this to be a tribute to Nintendo’s former president Satoru Iwata; Golf was programmed by Iwata, and the game could only be accessed if the system clock was set to July 11 – the day when Iwata died in 2015 – and the Joy-Con are moved similarly to how Iwata would move his hands in his Nintendo Direct presentations. Some Japanese users referred to this as an omamori (charm) left by Iwata himself.[204] With the 4.0 update, the executable code for this Easter egg appears to have been wiped by Nintendo.[205]
In August 2018, a Twitter user found files on the Switch’s firmware while reverse-engineering the console, which suggested that Nintendo was possibly testing VR functionality for the Switch. The Twitter user was able to activate the hidden «VR Mode», which split the screen into two displays.[206][207] Hackers found that the code related to possible VR functionality had been hidden in the Switch firmware for over a year.[207]
Security
Nintendo continued its white hat security program that it had with the Nintendo 3DS. With help of third-party website HackerOne, Nintendo will award up to $20,000 to the first user to identify any vulnerability that impacts piracy, cheating, or potential sending of inappropriate content to younger users, the amount based on the severity of the security flaw.[208]
In April 2018, two separate groups discovered a method to use an exploit chain in the Tegra chip system that can be used to boot other software on the Switch. The exploit could not be patched through a software update, as the BootROM of the Tegra X1 can not be modified after the chip leaves the factory. Both groups had notified Nvidia and Nintendo of the exploit before publicly announcing their findings.[209] Users studying the hardware determined that Nintendo has the capacity to permanently ban specific Switch consoles used to obtain software via this exploit from the Nintendo Network, as the Switch console includes a unique device identification code used as part of the validation to the Network. As games downloaded from the Nintendo Network include encrypted information that ties the Nintendo ID to the console, which is transmitted to Nintendo when users start playing games, Nintendo can track unapproved software downloads and take action.[210] Nintendo has reportedly fixed the vulnerability in newer Switch units as of July 2018.[211]
In June 2018, two hackers found a way to run the Switch system’s developer software menu on non-developer Switch units, allowing users to directly load games onto SD cards or create custom avatars for their user profile, including pornographic and NSFW pictures, which violate Nintendo’s terms of service. A Nintendo spokesperson responded to Kotaku‘s article on the topic, saying that «Modified Nintendo Switch systems have been banned».[212]
Shortly after the release of Nintendo Switch Online in September 2018, hackers and modders were able to figure out how to run unauthorized ROMs on the Nintendo Switch NES emulator. A Switch hacker who goes by the name DevRin, was the first to discover the hack and posted his findings on YouTube, which prompted a modder who goes by the name KapuccinoHeck to investigate the matter with two others and their findings were later posted on KapuccinoHeck’s Twitter account.[213][214]
Online services
Nintendo Switch Online logo
Nintendo Switch user profiles can be linked to a Nintendo Account, which enables access to online features and the ability to download and purchase software from Nintendo eShop. A Nintendo Account can be created with an account from a third-party social networking service or an existing Nintendo Network ID from a 3DS or Wii U. Nintendo does not plan to offer first-party social networking services on Switch, such as Miiverse or StreetPass, the latter owing to Nintendo’s promotion of Switch as primarily being a home console. Instead, profiles can be linked to existing social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for social and sharing features.[215][216][217]
Players can register friends through Friend Codes as with previous Nintendo systems, searching for friends in the local network, through past multiplayer interactions, or through Nintendo Account profiles registered as friends on Nintendo mobile apps such as Miitomo and Super Mario Run.[218] In March 2017, Nintendo said that they had plans to provide other methods for registering friends, including through third-party social media and via Nintendo Network IDs.[219] Support for registering friends on the Switch via Facebook and Twitter was added on March 13, 2018, as part of the 5.0.0 system update.[220] The Switch has no native support for Nintendo Network IDs, but users can link their Nintendo Network ID credentials to a Nintendo Account profile, which enables the ability to add friends that they had already registered on their 3DS or Wii U, and share an eShop balance between all three platforms.[221]
In line with Microsoft and Sony consoles, a subscription is required to access online multiplayer in most games.[222][223] The Nintendo Switch Online subscription includes access to online play, voice chat, access to an ongoing library of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games, cloud storage for save data on most games, as well as other special offers and promotions.[224][225][226][227][228] A paid expansion pack released in October 2021 added support for an expanding library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games.[229] Free-to-play games such as Fortnite Battle Royale and Warframe are exempt from the subscription requirement for online play.[230][231][232][233]
The Nintendo Switch Online mobile app allows access to voice chat for Switch Online subscribers, as well as access to game-specific microsites. Unlike its competitors, voice chat is not supported via the console itself, requiring use of the app on a smartphone instead.[24][234] A separate app provides access to parental controls for the console.[222][235]
Media support
The Switch did not launch with any multimedia-oriented features, such as a web browser,[o] a messaging system or support for video streaming services.[236][failed verification] Fils-Aimé said that because the Switch is geared as a gaming console that is far different from what their competitors offer, they had focused on achieving that goal first and foremost, and did not see media support as a differentiator from their competitors.[237]
Niconico, a popular Japanese video service, launched for the Switch in Japan on July 13, 2017, and was the Switch’s first third-party media app in any market.[238] Hulu was the first video streaming application released for the Switch in the United States on November 9, 2017.[239] A YouTube application was released on November 8, 2018.[240] Fils-Aimé said in June 2018 that conversations to bring Netflix to the Switch were «on-going».[241] On November 4, 2020, a trial version app of the Tencent Video streaming service was launched exclusively for Nintendo Switch consoles officially distributed by Tencent in mainland China. An official version app will be launched at a later date.[242] Funimation launched their own streaming app for the Nintendo Switch, featuring a reworked layout and new functions. The app became available via eShop in the United States and Canada on December 15, 2020, and will launch in various other countries at a later date,[243] such as the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 22, 2021.[244] A version of the Twitch app launched for the Nintendo Switch on November 11, 2021, in most regions worldwide. The eShop version of the app allows users to watch or follow any live or recorded content on Twitch, but does not support any native ability for Switch players to contribute content.[245]
Korg Gadget, a music production app, was released for the Nintendo Switch on April 26, 2018.[246] InkyPen, a comics and manga subscription app, launched exclusively on the Switch worldwide on December 17, 2018.[247] Izneo, another comics and manga subscription service, was released for the Switch on February 28, 2019.[248] FUZE4, a text-based programming language app, was released in August 2019.[249]
Games
Distribution
The Nintendo Switch’s game cartridge
Games for the Nintendo Switch can be obtained through either retail channels or digitally through the Nintendo eShop. Games distributed at retail are stored on proprietary cartridges, similar in design to the game cards used for Nintendo 3DS games, albeit smaller and thinner.[250] As the world’s first major hybrid console, the console is the first major home-playable video game system to make use of cartridges since the Nintendo 64. Due to their small size at 31 by 21 by 3 millimetres (1.22 in × 0.83 in × 0.12 in),[251] Nintendo coats each cartridge with denatonium benzoate, a non-toxic bitterant used to discourage children from ingesting them.[252] Nintendo offered a suggested retail price for Switch games at the console’s launch of US$60, equivalent to the price for new games on either the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.[253] Nintendo otherwise allows publishers to set the price for a game, only requiring the list price be the same for physical and digital releases, if a physical release is made. This has caused some games also available on other consoles to be priced higher on the Switch due to the costs of manufacturing the game card for the Switch version.[254] Online media outlets have colloquially referred to this price hike as the «Switch tax».[255][256] The «Switch tax» also applies to many games that had been previously released on other platforms ported later to the Switch, where the Switch game price reflects the original price of the game when it was first released rather than its current price. It is estimated that the cost of Switch games is an average of 10% over other formats.[257]
Game cards at the time of the Switch’s release had a 32 GB capacity; Nintendo had planned to introduce 64 GB game cards by the second half of 2018, but had to push this back.[258] Some physical games may still require content to be installed to internal storage, with some games using a significant portion of the internal memory if a microSD card is not available.[259] Other physical games which have a large amount of content may require a microSD card to be present in the Switch, such as NBA 2K18; such games are clearly marked on the cover to show these requirements.[260]
The Switch supports the ability for cloud gaming to run games that require more hardware capabilities than the Switch allows, running these games over a network with the game computations performed on server hardware. These games may be tied to specific regions due to purchasing options. Early examples of such games on the Switch include Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey which were primarily limited to Japanese releases,[261] while more recently Control and Hitman 3 will be offered through cloud gaming worldwide in 2020 and beyond.[262]
Unlike previous Nintendo home consoles, the Switch is region-free. This allows players to use cartridges or downloaded content from any part of the world, with the exception of Chinese game content which can only be played on Switch units manufactured for that country.[263] Nintendo recommends using the appropriate regional eShop for digital purposes for obtaining the best post-purchase support if needed.[97][144] Nintendo opted to go region-free to reduce the amount of workload and cost to both themselves and developers in having to manage two or more regional certification processes and different ROM cartridge production pathways for those regions.[264] Further, eShop purchases, while still tied to the Nintendo Account, are not tied to the specific Switch console, as was the case for previous Nintendo hardware. Once the user re-registers their account to a Switch, they have access to download all previous purchases; however, a user can only have their account registered on one console at a time, and downloaded software tied to an account cannot be used if that account is not registered to the device.[221] With the console’s 6.0.0 system update, alongside the launch of the Online service in September 2018, a user can play games that they have purchased from the eShop on a second Switch console, though requiring continuous online connection and other restrictions.[265]
The Switch does not use optical discs, and does not have native backward compatibility with software from any previous Nintendo console.[266] The Switch is also not backwards compatible with other digital titles from previous consoles.[144]
Emulated versions of games from previous Nintendo systems are offered through eShop and the Nintendo Switch Online service, although the blanket Virtual Console brand used for these releases on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS has been dropped.[267][268] In February 2017, Kimishima said that the Switch is powerful enough to emulate titles from previous Nintendo consoles.[24]
Third-party support
One of the generally perceived failures of the Wii U was a lack of support from third-party developers, leading to a weak library of games.[269] Nintendo was more aggressive in trying to bring on third-party developers, early in the Switch’s development, to ensure a stronger lineup of games. Takahashi and Koizumi reached out to many of the third-parties directly to help gain their support early on.[23] Electronic Arts’ executive Patrick Söderlund said that Nintendo had taken a different track with attracting third-party developers to the Switch and have engaged Electronic Arts and other major developers throughout the development of the Switch, listening to their input, to help make the Switch more successful.[270]
Nintendo also began gaining support of independent video game developers in the middle of 2016 to provide assistance to help them bring games to the Switch, led by Nintendo’s head of partner management Damon Baker.[271] They had tried to draw in indie developers near the end of the Wii U’s lifetime, providing indie game demos that were highlighted during E3 2015, but by this point, the Wii U had already been considered a failure.[271] Nintendo sees games such as Snipperclips as a model of their target for indie games, in which they worked to help provide Switch implementation support and software tools to these parties early in the console’s lifecycle, according to Takahashi and Koizumi.[23] Some, like Yacht Club Games, who have ported Shovel Knight to the Switch, noted that some of the major innovations in the Switch, such as the Joy-Con, were not revealed to them until just prior to the January 2017 announcement.[272] Nintendo of America reached out to many independent developers and publishers, including Chucklefish, Team17, and Devolver Digital, to gain titles for the platform and make the process of publishing easier. Nintendo still curates which titles they allow on the system, using the company’s past portfolio for evaluation, and still carefully time releases to keep a steady stream of new content. However, once a game is greenlit, pushing out patches and updates can be done rapidly and at no further cost to the developer.[273][274] Nintendo also offers the Switch’s dev kit at 50,000 yen, or about $450, far under the cost of a comparable dev kit for other consoles, making it more amenable for smaller developers to afford and build for the unit.[275] Nintendo offers several of these indie games as «Nindies» through the eShop. Nintendo had anticipated that they would have at least sixty indie games released for the Switch through 2017, but ended up with over 320 titles by the end of 2017 as a result of the console’s popularity.[276][277][278] Indie developers have found that Nintendo has also had a significant role in the promotion and marketing of their games, including using the games to help promote the Switch itself, in contrast to Microsoft or Sony. These developers also found Nintendo tries to keep a better rapport with fans of Nintendo’s products, and help these fans identify Switch indie games they feel they will like the most, including those games that build on Nintendo’s classic games from the NES, SNES, and Game Boy eras that can draw in a more global audience.[271] Baker says that while they do try to encourage indie developers to release their games as a Switch console exclusive, they do not force developers towards this, knowing that the developers must have a good business case for doing so.[271]
While many independent developers have praised Nintendo for better support for the Switch, others, speaking anonymously through Nintendo Life, noted that Nintendo seemed to have a «walled garden» approach with independent developers, a remnant from the WiiWare program that allowed a great deal of shovelware to be pushed onto it. These anonymous developers found that Nintendo was either eschewing some developers completely, or requiring them to have a well-known publishing partner or an inside person within Nintendo to be able to gain the rights to publish for the Switch.[279][280] Baker said that they encourage self-publishing, but do also place value on trust of established partners for their recommendations of what games would be best for the Switch.[264] Another factor limiting Nintendo is the availability of dev kits and other hardware at the start of the console’s life. However, Baker does anticipate that Nintendo will be much more open in the future, once they have addressed the necessary issues for curation and discovery of titles via the eShop.[278]
During its official unveiling in October 2016, Nintendo deliberately opted not to provide a list of games for the system, as they «want people to touch the device in January [2017] and experience the software for themselves», according to Kimishima.[112] Instead, Nintendo announced some of the partners that had committed to supporting the Switch; contrasting Nintendo’s struggles to gain third-party support on-launch for previous platforms, the company initially listed 48 third-party publishers, studios, and middleware developers.[40] Among these partners, Nintendo listed major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sega, Square Enix, Take-Two, and Ubisoft.[40][281][282]
Nintendo had previously relied more on providing its own internally developed tools and libraries that third-party developers would use to develop games for earlier systems. With the Switch, the company went a different route. According to Takahashi, «we have been aiming to realize an environment in which a variety of different third-party developers are able to easily develop compatible software», taking advantage of the Nvidia chipset’s support for many standard libraries that allows for ease of transition from other platforms to the Switch.[283] Unity Technologies, Epic Games, and the Khronos Group pledged support to help developers bring games to the Switch using their game engines and middleware, Unity, Unreal Engine 4, and the Vulkan and OpenGL graphical APIs, respectively;[284][285][286] for instance, the Unreal Engine toolkit was updated in February 2017 to provide beta testing for native support for Switch games, with full support added by May 2017.[287][288] In March 2018, Nintendo announced it had also gained support of YoYo Games’ GameMaker Studio 2 engine for the Switch.[289] Miyamoto said that Nintendo’s own developers have «mastered» engines like Unreal, so that while it would be unlikely that Nintendo would release a first-party title using such software, they can help support developers using these tools on the Switch.[283] Several indie developers who have previously worked on Nintendo’s consoles said that the Switch was «the least demanding Nintendo console» they have developed for.[290][271]
In addition to these third-party middleware solutions, Nintendo developed its own NintendoWare Bezel Engine for first- and third-party developers, first announced in 2018, aimed «to provide an environment that can create interesting games in a short period of time while keeping development costs as low as possible». Games like Tetris 99 and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics were developed in this engine.[291][292]
By 2022, the Switch was generally considered to have reversed the trend of flagging third party support for Nintendo consoles and game platforms, something that was attributed to Nintendo having made concerted outreach efforts towards third parties to bring them on board;[293][294] several major third party franchises and developers, including Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, Alan Wake, Nier, Persona, Diablo, Dark Souls, Life Is Strange, Borderlands, Overwatch, Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma, Saints Row, Danganronpa, and Portal making their Nintendo home console debuts on the Switch, and several others, such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Civilization, Assassin’s Creed, Tales, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Mortal Kombat, and Burnout making their return to Nintendo hardware after prolonged absences. Positive analyses of the Switch’s impact on Nintendo’s third party relations were, however, frequently laced with the caveat that Nintendo would have to work to transition their third party support from the Switch to the Switch’s successor properly, something they had routinely failed at in the past.[294]
Library
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, was released for the Switch as a launch title.[35][295][296] The console’s reveal trailer showcased footage from new titles in Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2, as well as footage from NBA 2K18 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.[297] Although Nintendo and third-parties stated at that time that these were not necessarily representative of Switch titles,[298][299][300] all five titles were confirmed as Switch releases during the January 2017 press events.[48]
The Switch did not launch with any bundled games or have any pre-loaded games or game demos; Fils-Aimé stated that once they had decided on the price point and evaluated the forthcoming game lineup, they opted to allow consumers to choose which games to get rather than include one in the bundle and increase its price.[53][301] At least ten games were shipped or digitally available alongside the Switch in time for its North American launch, including Nintendo’s first-party titles The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch.
Fils-Aimé said that Nintendo planned a «steady cadence of content» for the Switch after launch, avoiding the perceived situation with gaps between major releases for Wii U software.[302] Kimishima said that Nintendo scheduled its first-party releases «to continue to provide new titles regularly without long gaps», as this «encourages consumers to continue actively playing the system, maintains buzz, and spurs continued sales momentum for Nintendo Switch.»[169] Journalists noted that Nintendo appeared to be pledged to this approach following their schedule of planned releases of first-party games for the Switch as announced during E3 2017, with a new title roughly every month into early 2018.[303]
Marketing
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Nintendo sought to avoid the struggles it had with communicating the capabilities of the Switch’s predecessor, the Wii U, whose GamePad (left) some mistook as an accessory for the Wii rather than a controller for the Wii U.
A key part of marketing the Switch was to be «crystal clear in our communication of what the product was and what the product could do», according to Fils-Aimé, so as to avoid similar issues with how they presented the Wii U.[304][303][305] While the Wii U was designed as a home console unit, Nintendo’s lack of clarity on this point led to a general assumption that the unit, principally the Wii U GamePad, was more like a tablet, overshadowing the Wii U’s other features (such as dual-screen play modes). Nintendo also believed that some consumers had mistaken the Wii U GamePad as being an accessory for the existing Wii console, rather than being the flagship feature of an entirely new platform.[306] Instead, for the Switch, Fils-Aimé said the company was «very aggressive and clearly communicating the proposition that it’s a home console you can take on the go wherever and whenever you want».[304]
For example, the October 2016 trailer (considered significantly unlike Nintendo’s past marketing efforts, according to Bloomberg[13]) was designed to show the various ways that the Switch can be used so that viewers would recognize that «each of its forms offer different play experiences for people to enjoy».[25] Kimishima said that the intent of the trailer was to show that the device was aimed across all player demographics, showcasing features that core gamers would recognize and appreciate to carry this intent.[13] A large amount of Nintendo’s launch marketing for the console focused heavily on the launch title Breath of the Wild; Nintendo of America marketing executive, Nick Chavez, stated that the decision to showcase the new Zelda game was meant to promote it to both older viewers, who may have grown up with the franchise’s earliest games and are accustomed to modern open world games, and to a new generation of players.[307]
Nintendo aired its first-ever Super Bowl ad during the United States broadcast of Super Bowl LI. Set to the Imagine Dragons song «Believer»,[308] the ad showcased the various play modes with the Switch and its launch titles, particularly Breath of the Wild, and upcoming releases; while an ad to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon was broadcast the previous year during Super Bowl 50, this ad was paid for by The Pokémon Company and not by Nintendo.[309][310][311] Chavez said of the ad, «There’s no bigger stage in the U.S. on which to showcase the platform. I think it speaks to our confidence in the system.»[307]
Additional television commercials followed the Super Bowl spot, which were to demonstrate Switch’s use cases among different demographics, as well as «casual» and «core» gaming audiences.[307] Such ad venues included the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, and on programming blocks for Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, and Comedy Central.[308] Chavez emphasized that Nintendo’s overall marketing for Switch was not be «just a six to eight week launch campaign», but «really a 15 month campaign for us, to say nothing of our plans for 2018».[307]
The Grand Palais in Paris, France, during the Switch media event on January 15, 2017
In addition to advertising, Nintendo had planned several ways for players to try the system before its release through various «sampling events». Kimishima felt that it was important, particularly for «career gamers», for Nintendo to get the Switch into players’ hands, so that players could understand how the system differs from Nintendo’s previous offerings. Kimishima also said that the company was «running a guerrilla marketing program where we’re just dashing around and trying to have as many events as possible and get it in the hands of players so they can experience the difference.»[24]
The North American and European press had special events on January 13, 2017, following the Tokyo presentation.[312][313] Various Switch demonstration events were run in North America, Europe, and Japan during January and February 2017.[314][315][316][317] Nintendo offered demonstrations of the Switch at gaming conferences including PAX South, South by Southwest, and RTX.[318][319][320] Nintendo also promoted the Switch through an «Unexpected Places» campaign in February 2017, temporarily setting up living-room-style spaces in three United States locations and inviting fans and players, including John Cena, to try out the unit.[321]
In June 2018, Nintendo announced it was partnering with Disney Channel to help produce Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, a televised competition where families competed in challenges around various Switch games in August 2018.[322]
Reception
Pre-release
Market analysts had a mixed response to the October 2016 announcement of the Nintendo Switch.[41][42] Some expressed concern that the Switch failed to address the issues that led to poor Wii U sales, and was aimed at a small audience.[41] Others were more upbeat, believing the Switch approach would fit in well in the Japanese market, where space for dedicated consoles and televisions are limited, and transition into Western ones.[19][323] Taylor also approved of the company’s decision to introduce the console prior to the holiday season, when Microsoft and Sony would attempt to attract casual gamers to their consoles.[19][324]
Following the January 2017 press conference revealing the unit’s pricing and release date, journalists expressed concern at the apparently high system price, comparable to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles but lacking some of their capabilities, the cost of the paid-for Nintendo Switch Online service, and the small number of games that were confirmed for launch.[47][325][326][327] However, other analysts found that the pricing factors indicated the Switch was a more robust console, and would likely sell better than the Wii U, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being a key sales driver.[325] These analysts also figured the Switch fills an appropriate gap in hardware for those seeking more complex gameplay that is not offered in tablet and mobile gaming but who did not need to purchase a powerful «boxy» console.[328] Most analysts agreed that the success of the Switch depends on Nintendo’s support and avoiding mistakes the company had made in marketing and promoting the Wii U.[328]
Nintendo investors showed wariness at the Switch, as its stock price dropped in the months from the system’s announcement up until its release. Analysts believed investors felt the Switch was very risky and were unsure if the unit would draw new audiences to Nintendo.[329][41][330][331][332] Analysis firms estimated the Switch would have a slow start due to the risk of the system and high price, but could still clear up to 40 million units by 2020.[333][334]
Game and hardware developers were more positive towards the Switch, seeing the system as «a more unifying experience between their handheld and console divisions», but expressed concern on unanswered hardware specifications, and how Nintendo would market the unit to draw in developers.[335][336][337][338] Developer Hideo Kojima compared the notion of the Switch to his idea of «transfarring» that he presented in 2011, allowing players to take a game from a home platform to a portable one, which became the basis of Sony’s cross-buy program. He said that the Switch was «an extension of that idea. The fact you can play something at home and take it outside, this is the gamer’s dream. The Switch is an evolution of that.»[339] Bethesda’s Todd Howard stated, «I think Nintendo is the only company that could pull something like this off,» commenting on the Nintendo Switch’s design and functionality.[340] Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, said he was impressed with Nintendo’s ability to «state a bold vision and build a product that delivers on that vision».[341]
Retailers were also generally positive with the Switch; GameStop CEO Paul Reines stated the unit was transformative in the market and would be a «game-changer» that could «expand the audience for gaming».[342] Pre-orders were high, with Kimishima stating before launch that total pre-orders reached nearly the levels of units they had ready to ship for launch.[24][343][344]
The October 2016 reveal trailer became Nintendo of America’s most-viewed video on YouTube within 24 hours, and was the top trending video on YouTube for about a day.[345]
Release
Upon release, the Switch was praised by reviewers for having a lot of potential, but they were underwhelmed by the limited number of titles available at launch that did not show the full extent of the console’s abilities. Reviewers also noted that the initial operating software and features were limited and included software bugs that, while likely to be fixed in time, marred the experience of the system.[346] Even with the day-one update, there were numerous reports of hardware problems, in particular the Bluetooth connectivity of the Switch console with the Joy-Con (L) controller, and ease with which the console screen could be scratched.[347] About a week after release, Fils-Aimé said the company is in «fact-finding mode» to try to diagnose these issues.[348] In late March, Nintendo reported that the Joy-Con (L) desync issue was a «manufacturing variation» on a small number of the units, which could be easily fixed; as noted by CNET’s Sean Hollister, Nintendo repaired affected controllers by placing a bit of foam near the antenna within the unit to better shield it. Going forward, Nintendo said they do not anticipate any other problems with connectivity issues.[349][350] Many users also reported issues with defective pixels on the LCD screen of the console, which Nintendo has stated «are normal and should not be considered a defect».[351] Other companies in the video game industry such as Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Bethesda, Ubisoft and Unity Technologies congratulated Nintendo on the Switch, along with fast food companies such as Arby’s and Domino’s Pizza, which made a practice of posting game-inspired artworks on social media.[352]
About six months after release, Nintendo reported their usage statistics for the Switch. Using statistics collected by the system for the primary player on the console, they found that 30% of users operate the console in Handheld/Tabletop mode more than 80% of the time, slightly more than 50% of users operate the console in both TV mode and Handheld/Tabletop mode equally, with the remaining users preferring TV mode. Nintendo stated «We can clearly see that consumers are playing to suit their own play styles.»[353] Nintendo also found that the majority of people who purchased the Switch in the United States are male consumers in their 20s and early 30s.[354]
Following the implementation of firmware version 5.0.0, several Switch users began reporting that their consoles became unusable after having been docked within a third-party «portable» dock manufactured by Nyko. Nyko commented on the issue, stating that they were aware of the issue and thought it to be caused by the Switch’s handling of A/V output, while Nintendo advised users against docking their systems inside unlicensed docking peripherals. After purchasing the dock at a Walmart store in Jacksonville, Florida, and losing usability of his console upon using the dock, Switch owner Michael Skiathitis filed a class action lawsuit against Nyko, alleging the dock to be «prone to causing numerous problems to the devices they are intended to support» against the knowledge of purchasers, as well as noting that Nyko had not put much effort into warning consumers about the issue. Other Switch owners reported having their consoles bricked upon using various other third-party docks, including models made by FastSnail and Insignia.[355]
Sales
Initial launch
First-year sales of the Switch (red line), Wii U (green), and PlayStation 4 (blue) in Japan
Initial sales of the Switch were strong, with Nintendo reporting that based on its first week’s numbers, it was the company’s fastest-selling console.[356][357] In Japan, first weekend sales exceeded 330,000 units, which was on par with the PlayStation 4 during its launch period.[358][359] Sales during this initial period were strong in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.[360] Media Create estimated that more than 500,000 Switch units were sold in Japan within its first month, beating out the PlayStation 4 to this figure.[361][362][363][364][365]
Nintendo issued the Switch’s first month’s performance in their 2016 fiscal year results (which ended March 31, 2017), reporting that more than 2.74 million units had been sold worldwide, exceeding their target of two million.[366][367] Retailer GameStop reported that initial sales of the Switch were «phenomenal» and on track to surpass the Wii U based on their historical sales data, with merchandising director Eric Bright saying the Switch has had «one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time».[368] Retailer GameStop reported significant growth in hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 due primarily to the Switch,[369] while Best Buy saw an unexpected increase in their hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 buoyed by the popularity of the Switch.[370] Console sales in Japan, which had been languishing due to the strength of the mobile game market, saw its first annual growth of 14.8% in 2017 due to the release of the Switch.[371] Physical sales for Switch games were at 5.46 million worldwide in its first month, with 2.76 million copies of Breath of the Wild for the Switch making up nearly half of those sales.[372] On Breath of the Wild‘s nearly 1-to-1 sales with the Switch console, Nintendo’s Kimishima said, «This high of an attach rate is more or less unprecedented».[373]
The large sales within the first month forced Nintendo to increase their production capacity,[374] and to temporarily use air freight to ship Switch units instead of their usual overseas shipment, costing an estimated $45 per console, rather than the less-costly overseas shipment.[375] With these changes, Nintendo projected that it would sell at least 10 million Switch consoles during the 2017 fiscal year, alongside 35 million games.[366] Kimishima stated that having a Switch user base of 10 million «will give publishers and the rest of our business partners a sense that the future of Nintendo Switch is more promising» and spur further game development for the platform.[376] Kimishima said that a key goal in their production ramp up would be to make sure they have enough Switch inventory near the end of 2017 for holiday sales, as to avoid the issue with Wii shortages that occurred during its first holiday-season period, while balancing the near-term high demand.[167] According to Kimishima, Nintendo now believed that if they could reach 10 million in Switch sales in 2017, they expected the Switch would have lifetime sales comparable to the Wii, which had sold over 100 million units in its lifetime.[376][167]
The Switch continued to show strong sales throughout its first year of release. In its financial report released in October 2017 for the quarter ending September 30, 2017, Nintendo reported worldwide sales of the Switch at 7.63 million, with the expectation to sell more than 14 million by the end of its current financial year, exceeding the Wii U’s lifetime 13.56 million sales. Five software titles had achieved at least one million in sales by this point: Breath of the Wild (4.7M), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (4.42M), Splatoon 2 (3.61M), 1-2 Switch (1.37M), and Arms (1.35M).[377] Shortly after this financial report, Nintendo reported that Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch sold more than two million copies within three days of its release on October 27, 2017.[378] Following this financial report, the Wall Street Journal asserted that Nintendo anticipated to continue ramping production of the Switch in its 2018 fiscal year, with plans to produce between 25 and 30 million units that year or more depending on the 2017 holiday sales.[326] During the November 2017 Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales that kicked off the holiday shopping season in North America, Adobe Digital Insights’ analysis showed the Switch was one of the top-five selling items, outpacing the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. NPD Group adjusted their future performance of the Switch to follow more closely with the Wii’s lifetime sales rather than the Wii U’s.[379]
On December 12, 2017, the company announced the system had sold over 10 million units worldwide, having reached its sales goal for the 2017 fiscal year within nine months. Nintendo raised its Switch sales expectation to 14 million units for the fiscal year.[380] Shortly after this announcement, Kimishima said that Nintendo has a target of 20 million units sold within the console’s second year, along with releasing new games that «enables new ways of playing» to continue the sales momentum.[381]
Based on its first year sales, the Switch was considered to be the fastest-selling game console in history in many regions. With 2017 year end Japanese sales data from Media Create, the Switch became the fastest-selling home console in Japan in first year sales, with its total sales of 3.2 million units exceeding the 3.0 million units of the PlayStation 2 during its first year of release,[382][383] while Famitsu reported that these sales had eclipsed the lifetime sales of the Wii U in the country,[384] and helped to support the first growth in sales within Japan’s console market in eleven years.[385] Nintendo of America also reported that with 4.8 million units sold in the United States by the end of 2017, 1.5 million units in December 2017 alone, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in the United States in its first 10 months, outpacing the Wii’s performance of 4 million units in the same time period.[386][387] Similarly, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in France, having sold 911,000 units through the end of 2017, according to Nintendo France.[388] The Switch was also the fastest-selling console in Canada, having shipped 400,000 units in its first 10 months, narrowly outpacing the Wii’s performance of 392,000 units in the same time period, according to TechVibes.[389] According to analysis firm GBH Insights, the Nintendo Switch was the fifth-best-selling technology product in 2017.[390] As of January 2018, the Switch has sold more than 300,000 units in Spain, surpassing the total lifetime sales of one of its competitors, the Xbox One, in the region.[391] The Switch sold 8.7 million units in the United States in its first 21 months of availability, surpassing the sales of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 during their first 21 months in the same region.[392] By May 2019, the Switch had overtaken the PS4’s lifetime sales in Japan.[393]
Lifetime sales
| Date | Japan | Americas | Europe[B] | Other[B] | Total | Attach rate[C] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | ||
| 2017-03-31[394] | 0.60 | 0.89 | 1.20 | 2.86 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 0.94 | 1.71 | 2.74 | 5.46 | 1.99
|
| 2017-06-30[395] | 1.12 | 2.45 | 1.95 | 6.49 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 1.63 | 4.66 | 4.70 | 13.60 | 2.89
|
| 2017-09-30[396] | 1.95 | 5.26 | 3.11 | 12.25 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 2.56 | 9.97 | 7.63 | 27.48 | 3.60
|
| 2017-12-31[397] | 3.72 | 9.82 | 5.94 | 23.65 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 5.20 | 19.10 | 14.86 | 52.57 | 3.53
|
| 2018-03-31[398] | 4.38 | 13.15 | 7.14 | 30.37 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.27 | 25.44 | 17.79 | 68.97 | 3.87
|
| 2018-06-30[399] | 4.89 | 16.10 | 7.81 | 38.74 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.97 | 32.09 | 19.67 | 86.93 | 4.41
|
| 2018-09-30[400] | 5.52 | 20.31 | 9.13 | 49.97 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 8.20 | 40.82 | 22.86 | 111.10 | 4.86
|
| 2018-12-31[401] | 7.74 | 30.33 | 12.94 | 73.85 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 11.60 | 59.42 | 32.27 | 163.61 | 5.07
|
| 2019-03-31[402] | 8.23 | 34.64 | 14.01 | 84.31 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 12.50 | 68.57 | 34.74 | 187.25 | 5.39
|
| 2019-06-30[403] | 8.76 | 39.05 | 14.83 | 94.47 | 9.60 | 62.46 | 3.69 | 14.15 | 36.87 | 210.13 | 5.69
|
| 2019-09-30[404] | 10.00[D] | 44.93 | 16.64[E] | 110.22 | 10.86[F] | 74.43 | 4.17[G] | 16.43 | 41.67[H] | 246.01 | 5.90
|
| 2019-12-31[405] | 12.42[I] | 57.34 | 20.87[J] | 138.63 | 13.88[K] | 94.01 | 5.32[L] | 20.68 | 52.48[M] | 310.65 | 5.92
|
| 2020-03-31[406] | 13.44[N] | 67.20 | 22.12[O] | 158.59 | 14.43[P] | 105.92 | 5.78[Q] | 24.54 | 55.77[R] | 356.24 | 6.38
|
| 2020-06-30[407] | 14.59[S] | 77.21 | 24.41[T] | 180.07 | 16.04[U] | 120.22 | 6.70[V] | 29.16 | 61.44[W] | 406.67 | 6.62
|
| 2020-09-30[408] | 16.17[X] | 84.98 | 26.58[Y] | 204.18 | 17.73[Z] | 134.44 | 7.81[AA] | 32.88 | 68.30[AB] | 456.49 | 6.68
|
| 2020-12-31[409] | 18.88[AC] | 98.89 | 31.17[AD] | 238.12 | 20.70[AE] | 158.29 | 9.11[AF] | 37.04 | 79.87[AG] | 532.34 | 6.67
|
| 2021-03-31[410] | 20.04[AH] | 112.22 | 33.27[AI] | 261.00 | 21.58[AJ] | 172.15 | 9.71[AK] | 41.74 | 84.59[AL] | 587.12 | 6.94
|
| 2021-06-30[411] | 21.20[AM] | 120.35 | 34.86[AN] | 283.35 | 22.66[AO] | 183.51 | 10.33[AP] | 45.20 | 89.04[AQ] | 632.40 | 7.10
|
| 2021-09-30[412] | 22.06[AR] | 128.35 | 36.31[AS] | 306.13 | 23.60[AT] | 197.78 | 10.89[AU] | 48.74 | 92.87[AV] | 681.00 | 7.33
|
| 2021-12-31[413] | 24.36[AW] | 143.20 | 40.12[AX] | 345.64 | 26.98[AY] | 223.01 | 12.09[AZ] | 54.56 | 103.54[BA] | 766.41 | 7.40
|
| 2022-03-31[414] | 25.23[BB] | 154.36 | 42.03[BC] | 369.27 | 27.60[BD] | 237.93 | 12.79[BE] | 60.62 | 107.65[BF] | 822.18 | 7.63
|
| 2022-06-30[415] | 25.95[BG] | 162.43 | 43.30[BH] | 386.42 | 28.70[BI] | 249.45 | 13.13[BJ] | 65.29 | 111.08[BK] | 863.59 | 7.77
|
| 2022-09-30[416] | 26.96[BL] | 175.09 | 44.59[BM] | 407.97 | 29.29[BN] | 266.39 | 13.49[BO] | 69.15 | 114.33[BP] | 917.59 | 8.02
|
| 2022-12-31[417] | 29.05[BQ] | 192.62 | 47.66[BR] | 437.37 | 31.71[BS] | 289.47 | 14.15[BT] | 74.84 | 122.55[BU] | 994.30 | 8.11
|
|
As of December 31, 2022, Nintendo has shipped 122.55 million Switch units, with over 88.67 million original Switch units, 20.40 million Switch Lite units, and 13.49 million Switch OLED units.[417] With these numbers the Switch has surpassed lifetime sales of all but one Nintendo game console following the Nintendo DS. By this point, it also surpassed sales of all other game consoles, leaving it third behind the DS and the PlayStation 2.[418][419] Since October 2020, the Switch had been the highest selling console in the United States for 22 consecutive months, starting from December 2018, taking the record from the Xbox 360 which stood for 21 months (August 2011 – April 2013).[420] In the United States, the Switch had remained the best-selling console on monthly sales based on NPD Group data for 33 months from November 2018 through August 2021, with the PlayStation 5 breaking its streak in September 2021.[421]
Total software sales for the Switch exceeded 994 million As of December 2022.[417] According to Nintendo of America’s Doug Bowser, the Switch has had an attach rate (games purchased per unit) of over 8 over its first four years.[422] Top sellers for the platform, exceeding 10 million units sold worldwide, include:[423]
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 52.00 million
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 41.59 million
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 30.44 million
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 29.00 million
- Pokémon Sword and Shield – 25.68 million
- Super Mario Odyssey – 25.12 million
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – 20.61 million
- Super Mario Party – 18.79 million
- Ring Fit Adventure – 15.22 million
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! – 15.07 million
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 14.75 million
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – 14.79 million
- Splatoon 2 – 13.30 million
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus – 12.64 million
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 11.43 million
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury — 10.82 million
- Splatoon 3 – 10.13 million
Financial impact
Nintendo’s business performance, which had been struggling for several years, soared upon the release of the Switch. By May 23, 2017, the success of the Switch’s launch raised Nintendo’s stock price to its highest levels in seven years, and an increase in price of over 100% from the previous year. However, the price still trailed Nintendo’s peak price by about half, back in 2007 when it had just released the Wii.[424] Nintendo’s stock was further boosted a few days later to meet its eight-year high following Capcom’s announcement of plans to release the popular Monster Hunter XX for the Switch.[425]
In September 2017, Nintendo announced a partnership with Tencent, the leading publisher for mobile games in China, to bring their title Arena of Valor, the international version of their mainland Chinese game Wangzhe Rongyao, to the Switch following its December 2017 release in Western markets on mobile platforms. At the time, the game had an estimated 200 million players, most in China, and analysts anticipated that Nintendo would be releasing the Switch in China by 2019 as part of this deal. As a result, Nintendo’s stock price rose overnight on the news by 7%, reaching a nine-year high.[426][427][428] Nintendo’s stock reached its ten-year high shortly after the October 2017 expansion of Switch production to 2 million units per month and speculation that Nintendo would likely start selling the unit in China sooner than anticipated.[429]
Nintendo’s quarterly reports, for the period ending September 30, 2017, showed a profit of $209 million, the first profitable quarter in several years, due to both success of the Switch and its mobile gaming strategy.[30] For similar reasons, its following quarter, ending December 31, 2017, was Nintendo’s most profitable quarter since 2009, with year-to-year revenues increased by 177%.[430][431]
Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 44% in the first fiscal quarter of 2018 and their net profit totalled $274.9 million during April–June 2018 due to new titles being released for the Switch such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.[432] Sales of the Switch and its games helped increase Nintendo’s operating profit by 30% during July–September 2018 and helped Nintendo reach its highest quarterly result in 8 years.[433] Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 25% in the third fiscal quarter of 2018 due to the popularity of games on the Switch and their October–December profit totalled $956 million, while quarterly sales totalled $5.6 billion, which were up by 26%.[434]
Nintendo’s yearly profit jumped by 39% during the April 2018–March 2019 fiscal year, and annual sales rose 14% to $10.7 billion due to «healthy» software sales for the Switch.[435]
Legal issues
In August 2017, Los Angeles-based tablet peripheral manufacturer Gamevice, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Nintendo in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that the design of the Switch conflicts with its patent on the design for the Wikipad, an Android-based gaming device that also features a tablet with a detachable controller. The lawsuit sought damages on existing Switch sales and banning further sales of the console.[436] The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed by Gamevice in October 2017.[437]
In March 2018, Gamevice initiated a second patent infringement lawsuit on Nintendo related to a different set of patents. Gamevice also sought action through the United States International Trade Commission related to patent infringement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and was seeking to block imports of the Switch into the United States.[438][439][440] The lawsuit would be terminated on October 10, 2019, with no such violations being found.[441] By March 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office had reviewed Gamevice’s patents and deemed all of its claims to be unpatentable, a ruling in favor of Nintendo. Gamevice stated they would be challenging the Office’s decision.[442]
While appealing the Patent Office’s determination on its patents, Gamevice initiated a third infringement claim against Nintendo in March 2020 against a newly published patent it had obtained in August based on a game controller that would wrap around a smart phone. Gamevice sought to block imports of the Switch from Japan while the lawsuit was in progress.[443][444] The lawsuit ended in favour of Nintendo.[445][446]
A class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2019 concerning a joystick defect in the console’s Joy-Con controllers, commonly referred to as «drift». The suit alleges that Nintendo is aware of a defect that causes the controllers to register movements without the joysticks being touched, but does not «disclose the defect and routinely refuses to repair the joysticks without charge».[447] Three days after the filing, an internal Nintendo company memo was leaked by Vice; the memo instructed Nintendo’s customer service employees in North America to begin offering repairs for drifting Joy-Con controllers free of charge regardless of warranty status.[448] The lawsuit, however, continued, and following the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite where some on social media reported the Joy-Con drift problem after 20 hours of play, additional complaints related to the Lite were added to the lawsuit.[449] While the court refused to grant Nintendo a dismissal of the case, it did agree to send the case into arbitration as a first step as outlined in the EULA for the Switch in a ruling made in March 2020.[450]
Nintendo successfully obtained an injunction in December 2019 against a distributor of a hack made by Team Xecuter that enabled Switch users to obtain and run copyright-violating copies of Switch games on the console.[451] Subsequently, Nintendo filed lawsuits initially against several resellers of Team Xecuter products in 2020, and in one case, settled with the reseller for $2 million.[452][453] After members of Team Xecuter were arrested and charged with eleven felony counts by the United States Department of Justice in October 2020, Nintendo filed another lawsuit against one of the arrested members, Gary Bowser, asserting two counts of trafficking and one count of copyright infringement.[454]
See also
- Yuzu (emulator), a Nintendo Switch emulator
Notes
- ^
- Shipments breakdown:
- Nintendo Switch: 88.67 million
- Lite: 20.40 million
- OLED model: 13.49 million
- ^ a b Original model
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision, Lite, and OLED model
- ^ While the Tegra X1 SoC features 4 Cortex-A57 plus 4 Cortex-A53 CPU cores, the Nintendo Switch only uses the former, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1]
- ^ A temporary «boost mode» increases the CPU clock speed to 1.785 GHz. It is primarily used during loading screens.[2]
- ^ Original model, HAC-001(-01) revision, and Lite
- ^ OLED model
- ^ The GPU is clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked; in handheld mode, it fluctuates between 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2]
- ^ When the CPU is in «boost mode», the GPU clock speed drops to 76.8 MHz.[1]
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision and OLED model
- ^ a b The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 28 mm (1.1 in).
- ^ Japanese: ニンテンドースイッチ, Hepburn: Nintendō Suitchi, note that Nintendo branded the console in Japan in its English name
- ^ Switch units sold in China do have a regional lockout, limited to games published in China and those on the Chinese eShop.
- ^ Consoles manufactured after August 2019 featured chips made on the 16nm process, improving battery life and performance. These consoles were shipped featuring slightly different boxes from those manufactured before August, but Nintendo has not otherwise differentiated between the two models.
- ^ The Switch does include a fully functioning web browser, however it is only used for network login pages, the eShop, displaying built in user manuals, and for sharing video and screenshots from the album. It is not accessible otherwise and lacks many features such as browser history and favorites.
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- ^ NOTICE OF INSTITUTION OF INVESTIGATION
- ^ NOTICE OF COMMISSION DETERMINATION NOT TO REVIEW AN INITIAL DETERMINATION TERMINATING THE INVESTIGATION WITH RESPECT TO A PATENT CLAIM
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External links
- Official website
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| Also known as |
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|---|---|
| Developer | Nintendo PTD |
| Manufacturer |
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| Product family | Nintendo Switch |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Eighth |
| Release date |
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| Availability | 2017–present |
| Lifespan | 2017–present |
| Introductory price |
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| Units shipped | 122.55 million (as of December 31, 2022)[a] (details) |
| Media |
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| Operating system | Nintendo Switch system software |
| System on a chip | Nvidia Tegra X1[b]/Tegra X1+[c] |
| CPU | ARM 4 Cortex-A57 cores @ 1.02 GHz[d][e] |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4 @ 1331/1600 MHz |
| Storage | 32 GB[f]/64 GB[g] eMMC |
| Removable storage | microSD/HC/XC (up to 2 TB) |
| Display |
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| Graphics | 256 Maxwell-based CUDA cores
[h][i] |
| Sound |
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| Input | Volume +/−, power buttons |
| Controller input |
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| Camera | Ambient light sensor |
| Touchpad | Multi-touch capacitive |
| Connectivity |
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| Power |
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| Current firmware | 16.0.0, as of February 20, 2023; 11 days ago |
| Online services |
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| Dimensions |
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| Mass |
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| Best-selling game | Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (52.00 million, as of December 31, 2022) |
| Predecessor | Wii U |
| Related | Nintendo Switch Lite |
| Website | www.nintendo.com/switch/ |
The Nintendo Switch[l] is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a tablet that can either be docked for use as a home console or used as a portable device, making it a hybrid console. Its wireless Joy-Con controllers, with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input, motion sensing, and tactile feedback, can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play. They can also connect to a grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form, or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, supporting local multiplayer modes. The Nintendo Switch’s software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity, as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles. Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop; the system has no region lockout.[m] A handheld-focused revision of the system, called the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released on September 20, 2019. A revised higher-end version of the original system, featuring an OLED screen, was released on October 8, 2021.
The Nintendo Switch was unveiled on October 20, 2016. Known in development by its codename NX, the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo’s reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014, attributed to poor sales of its previous console, the Wii U, and market competition from mobile games. Nintendo’s then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware. The Nintendo Switch’s design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through multiple modes of use. Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components, such as a chipset based on Nvidia’s Tegra line, to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines. As the Wii U had struggled to gain external support, leaving it with a weak software library, Nintendo preemptively sought the support of many third-party developers and publishers to help build out the Switch’s game library alongside Nintendo’s first-party titles, including many independent video game studios. While Nintendo initially anticipated around 100 titles for its first year, over 320 titles from first-party, third-party, and independent developers were released by the end of 2017.
As an eighth-generation console, the Nintendo Switch competes with Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4, and also competes with ninth generation consoles such as Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S and Sony’s PlayStation 5. Nearly three million console units were shipped in its first month, exceeding Nintendo’s initial projection of two million and within a year of release achieved over 14 million units sold worldwide, outselling total lifetime sales of the Wii U. By the start of 2018, the Switch became the fastest-selling home or hybrid console in both Japan and the United States. As of December 2022, all Nintendo Switch models have sold over 122 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s best-selling home console and the third-best-selling game console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Sales of the Switch have been strongly tied to sales of Nintendo’s first-party titles, with seven games—The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet—having sold over twenty million units each.
History
Background
Nintendo had seen record revenues, net sales, and profits in 2009 as a result of the release of the Nintendo DS and Wii in 2004 and 2006, respectively,[5][6][7] but in Nintendo’s subsequent years, its revenues had declined.[8][9] The company had posted its first loss as a video game company in 2012 prior to the Wii U’s introduction that year and would have similar losses in the following years due to the console’s poor uptake.[10] The New York Times attributed Nintendo lowering financial forecasts in 2014 to weak hardware sales against mobile gaming.[11] Previously, the company had been hesitant about this market, with then-president Satoru Iwata considering that they would «cease to be Nintendo» and lose their identity if they attempted to enter it.[12] About three years prior to the Switch’s announcement, Iwata, Tatsumi Kimishima, Genyo Takeda, and Shigeru Miyamoto crafted a strategy for revitalizing Nintendo’s business model, which included approaching the mobile market, creating new hardware, and «maximizing [their] intellectual property».[13] Prior to his death, Iwata was able to secure a business alliance with Japanese mobile provider DeNA to develop mobile titles based on Nintendo’s first-party franchises, believing this approach would not compromise their integrity.[14][15] Following Iwata’s death in July 2015, Kimishima was named as president of Nintendo, while Miyamoto was promoted to the title of «Creative Fellow».[13]
Development
The initial conception for the Switch started shortly after the release of the Wii U in 2012.[16] Kimishima stated that when Nintendo was evaluating what new hardware they wanted to produce, they «didn’t just want a successor» to either the Nintendo 3DS or Wii U, but instead asked «what kind of new experience can we create?»[13] In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Kimishima stated that the Switch was designed to provide a «new way to play» that would «have a larger impact than the Wii U».[17][18] Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé emphasized the console’s appeal as a device that would provide gamers the option to play at home or on the go and noted that it would enable developers to create new types of games.[19] This approach continued Nintendo’s blue ocean strategy for the competitive console marketplace, as rather than compete feature for feature with the other consoles, they would establish unique and difficult-to-copy devices.[20] Miyamoto said that some broad concepts of the Switch extend from the «lateral thinking with seasoned technology» design philosophy of Gunpei Yokoi that Nintendo has used over the last couple of decades.[21]
The commercial failure of the Wii U also pressured Nintendo in the Switch’s development. Early sales of the Wii U were weak compared to the Wii, and major third-party studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft announced they would not support the console near the end of the Wii U’s first year, further hampering its sales. According to Fils-Aimé, when it became apparent that the Wii U’s life cycle performance would underperform the company’s expectations, the Switch became a «make or break product» for Nintendo.[22]
The design of the Switch was aimed to bridge the polarization of the gaming market at the time, creating a device that could play «leisurely» video games along with games that are aimed to be played «deeply», according to Shinya Takahashi and Yoshiaki Koizumi, general manager and deputy general manager of Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development Division (EPD), respectively.[16] This approach also would apply to the cultural lifestyle and gaming differences between Japanese and Western players; Japanese players tend to play on the go and with social groups, while Western players tend to play at home by themselves.[23] The design of the Switch would meet both cultures, and certain games, like 1-2-Switch, could potentially make social gaming more acceptable in Western culture.[24] Two key elements that were set to address this mixed market were the ability for the unit to play either on a television screen or as a portable and the use of detachable controllers.[16] The «Switch» name was selected not only to refer to the console’s ability to switch from handheld to home console modes, but to present «the idea of being a ‘switch’ that will flip and change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives».[25]
Part of the inspiration of the Switch’s form and design was from feedback players had given Nintendo on the Wii Remote, according to Shinya Takahashi. With the release of games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, players had asked Nintendo if they could make the Wii Remote in a smaller form factor, potentially strapped to a part of their body. This led to Nintendo envisioning what a smaller form-factor controller could provide in both hardware and gameplay, and it led to the idea of a console that was small enough with these new controllers to also be portable.[26] Other concepts came out of critical consumer feedback of the Wii U. Fils-Aimé said that one common criticism they had for the Wii U was that while players did enjoy using the Wii U GamePad and would want to play games on it anywhere, it became functionless if they moved a distance away from the main console. This served for Nintendo to design a home console that the player could take with them anywhere.[27] Around five different prototypes were developed for the Switch before they finalized on the released design. This included developing different methods of how the Joy-Con controllers would physically connect to the console, including using magnets to hold them in place.[16]
In addition to the form-factor design, Nintendo needed to balance the power and speed of the console’s central processing unit with battery life and the unit’s size, coupled with limited development resources and deadlines set by Nintendo’s management. One choice made by the development team was to use an existing system on a chip (SOC) rather than creating their own as they had done on previous consoles. Koizumi said that this break from tradition was done to gain more third-party support for the console by using an SOC to which developers could easily port games. Nintendo was not focused on raw processing power but was instead looking to balance the overall features of the system, including battery life and size, as well as keeping in mind their limited development resources and timeline. Koizumi said, «The most difficult part was on how to take an overall balance while we were getting entangled with all of those in complexity.»[16] To achieve this balance, they did not opt to use the more powerful hardware they could have used, instead using a middle-ground approach to achieve their vision of the Switch.[28]
Koizumi served as the general producer of the Switch during its development.[23] According to Miyamoto, the Switch’s development within Nintendo was headed by younger employees, with him saying «it’s really been them that have put this forward and designed this system».[29][30] Miyamoto said of the younger employees: «I always look for designers who aren’t super-passionate game fans. I make it a point to ensure they’re not just a gamer, but that they have a lot of different interests and skill sets.»[30] Junior developers were also used to help brainstorm ideas of how to make sure the Switch had a longer lifecycle beyond the typical five-to-six years as most other consoles had.[31] Miyamoto, Takeda, and Iwata were less involved, but provided necessary oversight on the Switch’s development principally around the cost of implementing new features that would make the Switch stand out.[21] For Miyamoto, his limited involvement allowed him to spend more time on Nintendo’s software titles being developed at the time, such as Super Mario Run.[29]
Announcements
The first public news of about the Switch’s hardware happened alongside the announcement of Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership on March 17, 2015. At this stage, Nintendo referred to the console under the codename «NX» and described it as a «brand new concept».[32] At an investor’s meeting in April 2016, Nintendo announced that it planned to release the NX worldwide in March 2017.[33][34] While Nintendo did not unveil the NX’s hardware at E3 2016 in June, it did announce that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally announced as a Wii U-exclusive, would also be released for the NX. At a Nintendo shareholders’ meeting following the conference, Miyamoto stated that the company had concerns that competitors could copy ideas from the NX if they revealed it too soon.[35][36] The following month, rumors began to surface surrounding the nature of the console, including its use of Nvidia Tegra hardware, being a «hybrid» device intended for both home and mobile use, controllers that can detach from the main device and be played separately, and that Nintendo would distribute games on the console via cartridges and digital downloads.[37][38][39]
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo officially announced the console under the name Nintendo Switch, alongside a trailer that demonstrated the hardware’s nature as a hybrid device.[40] At the time of the trailer’s release, Nintendo did not provide many details on features of the platform, though they planned to have events in 2017 to provide more details about the console. The company did state that there are additional features that were not presented in the introductory trailer.[41][42] Miyamoto and Fils-Aimé presented the Switch to host Jimmy Fallon on a broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in December 2016. In addition to showing more of the console’s hardware and functionality, Fallon was given the opportunity to play part of Breath of the Wild live.[43]
Nintendo revealed technical details of the Switch, including its worldwide launch date and price, at a press event in Tokyo on January 13, 2017.[44] The event was livestreamed,[45] with an English voiceover provided by Nintendo of America through their broadcast and regional Twitter accounts relaying details in other languages. A Nintendo Treehouse event occurred the following day to reveal the full launch lineup and upcoming games for the Switch.[46]
Release
The Switch was officially released on March 3, 2017, worldwide in Japan and most English-speaking and Western markets. It was released with an MSRP of ¥29,980 in Japan, US$299.99 in the United States, £279.99 in the United Kingdom, and A$469.95 in Australia; with standardized pricing for the European market varying.[47][48][49] The set includes a Switch console, a dock, left and right Joy-Con controllers and accompanying straps, a Joy-Con grip, an AC power adapter and an HDMI cable.[50][51] There were two Switch bundles available at launch, one with grey Joy-Con and one with neon red and blue Joy-Con.[52] Nintendo feared that a higher price would harm sales, which prompted them to not include any additional hardware or games.[53] The global launch did not include parts of Asia, including India and Mainland China.
The Switch continued to be officially released in particular markets, such as Argentina on August 15, 2017,[54] and in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1.[55][56] In April 2018, CD Media, Nintendo’s official distributor in Greece and the Balkans since 2016, announced after opening their new offices in Istanbul, that Nintendo’s products will officially be distributed in Turkey later in the year.[57] Nintendo abruptly withdrew from the Turkish market back in June 2012 when then-distributor Nortec Eurasia closed.[58] CD Media released the Nintendo Switch in Turkey in July 2018.[59][60] Nintendo’s Singapore-based distributor, Maxsoft, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in the Philippines on November 30, 2018,[61] in Thailand on March 29, 2019,[62] and in Malaysia on January 17, 2020.[63] In early-2019, Nintendo of Europe signed a partnership with Tel Aviv-based distributor TorGaming Ltd., making them Nintendo’s official distributor in Israel, and launched their products in the market, including the Nintendo Switch, on March 1, 2019.[64] Nintendo’s Dubai-based distributor, Active Gulf, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in Oman on September 27, 2019.[65]
Although the Nintendo Switch had not officially been released in China prior to December 2019, it is still widely available in the country due to grey market imports from Hong Kong and other regions, such as Japan.[66] In January 2018, former Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said in an interview with Chinese news website QQ that Nintendo has tried to release the Switch in China, but has been unable to do so.[66][67] Nintendo partnered with Tencent in April 2019 to gain the necessary approvals to release the Switch in China, along with a test version of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe;[68] it was released on December 10, 2019, at a base price of ¥2,099 RMB or about US$298.[69] Tencent will continue to help Nintendo bring other Switch games through China’s approval process via National Radio and Television Administration.[68] In addition, Tencent will help localize various titles, and help implement the Nintendo Switch Online service within the country, integrating its offerings with the WeChat payment systems.[70]
Nintendo had exited the Brazilian market in 2015 due to high tariffs, but independent resellers have been trading the console in Brazil since March 2017.[71] Nintendo had since assigned NC Games as their local game distributor in May 2017,[72] and the local company had committed to sell some officially imported Nintendo Switch units in small quantities.[73] NC Games silently went defunct in c. 2019. In August 2020, Nintendo affirmed that it would restart imports directly into Brazil,[74] for release on September 18, 2020.[75]
Numerous special-edition models and bundles have been released, including those for Splatoon 2,[76] the 2018 Black Friday shopping day,[77] Animal Crossing: New Horizons[78] and Fortnite.[79] The Japanese-exclusive «2nd Unit Set» released in May 2018 on the My Nintendo Store at a reduced price of ¥24,980, was positioned towards households which already owned a Switch. It did not include a dock, AC adapter, HDMI cable, and charging grip.[80][81]
By February 2021, about four years from the console’s release, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that «The Switch is in the middle of its life cycle».[82]
Hardware
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid video game console, consisting of a console unit, a dock, and two Joy-Con controllers.[83] Although it is a hybrid console, Nintendo classifies it as «a home console that you can take with you on the go».[84][85] Furthermore, the company has stated that the Switch and the Nintendo 3DS are meant to co-exist, considering the 3DS as an entry-level product for younger players.[84][86]
Console
The back of the Nintendo Switch (without the controllers), showing the kickstand, MicroSD slot, charging port, and intake vents. The Joy-Con slotting mechanism is visible on the short side.
The main unit of the Switch is the console, a battery-powered tablet-like monitor that consists of an LCD screen measuring 6.2 inches (160 mm) on its diagonal, the same as the Wii U GamePad.[87] The unit itself measures 173 by 102 by 13.9 millimetres (6.81 in × 4.02 in × 0.55 in) and weighs 297 grams (10.5 oz).[88] The screen supports ten-point multi-touch capacitive sensing and includes haptic technology from Immersion Corporation.[89] The LCD screen supports resolutions up to 720p (1280×720 px).[90][48] The console includes a 3.5 mm audio jack, stereo speakers on the bottom face of the unit below the screen, a USB-C port for charging, and a kickstand on the back side.[91][92] The unit also includes slots for a game card (cartridge-based media) and a microSD card slot located under the kickstand. The Switch console itself includes three buttons, all on the top of the device, Volume +/- and Power. The console has rails on the side, into which the Joy-Con controllers can be slid to attach them to the Switch unit.[93] An ambient light sensor on the front of the console adjusts the screen’s brightness automatically.[94] The model number of the original Switch model is «HAC-001».[95]
There are three gameplay modes that can be used with the Switch; «TV mode» with the console slid into the dock to support play on a television, «Tabletop mode» with the console placed on a table or other flat surface using its kickstand for shared gaming away from a dedicated screen, or in «Handheld mode» as a standard portable tablet device.[96][97][48] Users can switch between these modes simply by placing the console in the dock or removing it, extending or retracting the kickstand, and detaching or connecting the Joy-Con.[48] Games may be designed to play only in specific modes; for example, Voez initially could not be played in TV mode and relied on touchscreen controls.[98] Support for controllers and TV mode was later added to Voez in January 2018 via an update for the game.[99] Another example is Super Mario Party, which does not support Handheld mode.[100]
Nintendo stated that the Switch is a «single-screen experience», in that the player either sees the content on the console when it is out of the dock, or on the screen attached to the dock when the console is docked. The Switch cannot feature dual-screen functionality that was offered through the Wii U via its GamePad.[101]
Nintendo patented a means of using multiple Switch consoles to create a multi-monitor configuration by arranging them on a flat surface and spanning a single gameplay environment across their screens. This technology was first seen in Super Mario Party.[102][103]
Dock
The console, with or without Joy-Con attached, can be placed into the Switch dock, a docking station with electrical connectors to connect the console to a power supply to charge its battery, and to a television via an HDMI connection for video/audio output.[40] The dock also includes two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port.[93] While docked, the unit can support resolutions up to 1080p and a maximum frame rate of 60 frames per second,[97][104] though the maximum resolution varies depending on the game. As an example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild runs at a maximum 900p and 30 frames per second while the Switch is docked.[105] The dock measures 173 by 104 by 54 millimetres (6.8 in × 4.1 in × 2.1 in) and weighs 327 grams (11.5 oz).[88][106]
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Front of the dock. The Switch console is inserted from the top.
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Back of the dock, showing its two USB ports on the right side
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Back of the dock, opened. A USB-C AC adapter and HDMI cable must be connected for TV gameplay. There’s an additional USB 3.0 port inside.
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Top of the dock, featuring a USB-C male port that connects to the console
Controllers
Joy-Con
The Nintendo Switch comes with two controllers, collectively called Joy-Con and individually called the «Joy-Con (L)» and «Joy-Con (R)».[94] The controllers attach to the Switch console via side rails using a locking mechanism, with a small release button on their rear face to allow them to be detached. When detached, they can be used as a pair by a single player, attached to a grip that emulates a gamepad form factor, or used as separate controllers by two individual players. A single Switch console can support up to eight Joy-Con connections.[107] Straps can be attached to the sides of Joy-Con when they are detached.[94][97] A charging grip is available for the Joy-Con, which provides a means to attach a USB-C cable for power.[108] Alongside that, Nintendo released a charging strap that allows players to charge an individual Joy-Con via embedded AA batteries on June 16, 2017.[109]
Pro Controller
The Switch also supports a wireless controller, called Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, which has a more traditional design reminiscent of the Wii Classic Controller Pro and Wii U Pro Controller. The Pro Controller connects to the Switch via wireless Bluetooth communication, and is charged through a standard USB-C port on the controller.[92][110][111]
Standard Switch controllers
-
The gray Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers. The inside rails slot onto the side of the main Switch console or grip controller.
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Red and blue Joy-Con slotted onto the charging grip, giving the general proportions of a standard controller
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The top of the charging grip, showing the USB-C port
-
The optional and more conventional Pro Controller
Other
The Nintendo Switch supports a wide array of additional accessories, according to Kimishima. Kimishima suggested that the Switch is part of a large ecosystem of devices, though the Switch unit remains the core console element.[112] Takahashi suggested the possibility of other units besides the Joy-Con that could attach and/or connect to the console to serve as alternate input devices and change how the Switch can be used.[23]
Nintendo offers a Joy-Con Wheel, a small steering wheel-like unit that a Joy-Con can slot into, allowing it to be used for racing games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.[50] Standalone docks are available, which include a power adapter and HDMI cable.[50] Third parties also support the Switch with additional accessories, such as carrying cases and screen protectors.[113] The 4.0.0 system update enabled support for GameCube controllers connected via USB with the GameCube adapter that was available for the Wii U as well as a new adapter produced for the Switch; GameCube controllers can be used with most games compatible with the Switch’s Pro Controller, such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[114][115][116][117] USB computer keyboards are supported for certain tasks, such as text entry.
A Nintendo Labo kit simulating a fishing rod and reel
In January 2018, Nintendo announced Nintendo Labo, a child-oriented platform that combines games coupled with do-it-yourself cardboard projects that attach or wrap around the Switch Console and Joy-Con, effectively creating toys around the Switch hardware to interact with games. These cardboard units, which may also include string, rubber bands, and other pieces, are referred to as Toy-Con. The game software provides instructions for the Toy-Con construction and provides the interface to control the Toy-Con. Such examples given include a remote-controlled «car», where the two Joy-Con attach to the car and their vibration feedback provide the motion for the car, controlled from the Switch, a fishing rod where the Joy-Con are part of the reel and handle of the rod and their motion controls used to simulate the act of fishing in the mini-game, and a small toy piano.[118]
In September 2018, with the release of Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo introduced NES Controller style Joy-Con controllers alongside its classic games service. In September 2019, when SNES games were added to the service, wireless SNES Controllers were released. In September 2021, when Nintendo 64 games and Sega Genesis titles were added to the service alongside the Expansion Pack, wireless Nintendo 64 Controllers and SEGA Genesis Control Pads were released for use with their respective services.
Nintendo released Ring Fit Adventure in October 2019, which includes a Leg Strap to mount a Joy-Con to a leg, and the Ring-Con, a flexible hard plastic ring with Joy-Con mounting. The player interacts with the game, fashioned after a console role-playing game, by doing various exercises, such as running in place, squatting, and squeezing the ring, to perform in-game actions of running, jumping, and attacking and defending, respectively.[119] Such features are part of Nintendo’s «quality of life» goals to incorporate physical activity alongside the Switch, similar to past titles like Wii Fit.[120]
In February 2017, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima stated that it had been «studying» virtual reality solutions, but felt that comfort was a main concern. Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé also cited that existing VR solutions were not «fun» or «social».[121] Nintendo ultimately unveiled a new Labo VR kit in March 2019, using a cardboard headset and viewer placed in front of the console’s screen, in combination with attached accessories.[122][123]
Stands and alternate docks have also been created for the Switch to overcome the limitations of the device’s own kickstand for tabletop play, including an official «Adjustable Charging Stand» that can be connected to the device’s AC adapter.[124][125]
Technical specifications
| System-on-chip | Name | Nvidia Tegra X1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process |
|
||
| CPU | Type |
|
|
| ISA | ARMv8-A | ||
| Clock rate | 1.02 GHz | ||
| Cache | L1 |
|
|
| L2 |
|
||
| GPU | Type | Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based | |
| Clock rate | 307.2-768 MHz | ||
| Stream processors | 256 (157-393 GFLOP/s) | ||
| TMUs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GTexel/s) | ||
| ROPs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GPixel/s) | ||
| Compute units | 2 | ||
| Memory | Total | 4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM | |
| Clock rate | 1600 MHz | ||
| Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | ||
| Storage | Main | Type | eMMC NAND flash memory |
| Capacity |
|
||
| Removable | Type | microSD/HC/XC | |
| Capacity | Up to 2 TB | ||
| Media | Name | Nintendo Switch game card | |
| Capacity | 1–64 GB | ||
| Display | Main | Type |
|
| Size |
|
||
| Resolution |
|
||
| External | Interface | HDMI 1.4b | |
| Resolution | 1080p, 720p, or 480p |
SoC, CPU, GPU and RAM
Original Switch models were released with model number «HAC-001». The Switch uses a system-on-chip from the Tegra family of products, developed in partnership with Nvidia.[90][126] No specific details were revealed beyond that it is a «custom» Tegra chip «based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards» that are common in personal computers, and has a custom API known as «NVN», which is designed to «bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses».[40][127] Takeda described the Nvidia chipset as being critical for delivering gamers a level of performance similar to that which they experience on personal computers, helping to achieve «high performance but low power consumption» for the Switch.[128] Pre-release reports, unconfirmed by either Nintendo or Nvidia, stated that the SoC would be a standard Nvidia Tegra X1 instead, composed of four ARM Cortex-A57 and four ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores along with 256 Maxwell-based CUDA GPU cores.[129][130] This was later corroborated by an analysis on the console done by Tech Insights in March 2017.[131][132] The CPU cores are clocked at 1.020 GHz. While the SoC features 8 CPU cores, the Switch only uses the 4 Cortex-A57 cores, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1] The GPU cores are clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked, and in Handheld mode, fluctuating between the following speeds: 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2] This gives the Switch’s GPU a theoretical peak performance of 393 GFLOPS in TV mode and 236 GFLOPS in Handheld mode.[2] A later iFixit teardown of the final product confirmed 4 GB of LPDDR4.[133] It’s clocked at 1600 MHz in TV mode, while at a reduced 1331.2 MHz in Handheld mode.[4]
Wireless compatibility
The Switch offers Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band 802.11ac wireless connectivity compliant with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac modes).[126] Up to eight Switch consoles can be connected in a wireless ad hoc network for local multiplayer games, and multiple players can play on each of the connected Switch consoles.[134][40][135] In the case of at least one game, Splatoon 2, ten Switch consoles can connect in the ad hoc network, though only eight can play directly while the other two can watch as spectators.[136] The Switch uses Bluetooth 4.1 for wireless communication between the console and its controllers.[94][126] Users can purchase a third-party USB LAN adapter for wired connectivity when the console is docked for TV mode.[126] Nintendo’s Wii LAN adapter accessory is also compatible with the Switch via USB ports on the Switch dock.[137]
Power/battery
The Switch is primarily powered in Handheld mode by a non-removable 4310 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion rechargeable battery.[93][138][139] The battery life is estimated to be between 2.5 and 6.5 hours, depending on the software being used. Nintendo gives the example of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild supporting approximately three hours of battery life.[90] The battery can be charged either while in the dock, or through a standard USB-C connector on the console.[48] The estimated recharge time while the unit is in sleep mode is about 3 hours.[104] Nintendo offers the means for replacing batteries through its customer support.[126] Each Joy-Con has its own non-removable 525 mAh, 3.7 V Lithium-ion battery separate from the console, with an estimated twenty-hour lifespan.[94] These batteries are automatically charged if they are attached to the console while it is charging itself. Additional accessories have other means to charge the Joy-Con.[108] While the basic Joy-Con grip that ships with the Switch does not offer charging capabilities, a separate premium Joy-Con grip includes a USB-C connector port that can be used to charge the Joy-Con batteries while they are connected to this grip.[140]
Storage
The Switch includes 32 GB of internal storage,[90][126] 25.9 GB of which is user-accessible.[141] This can be expanded up to 2 TB using a microSD, a microSDHC or a microSDXC card.[142][126] A microSD card slot is located under the Switch’s kickstand, where a microSD card can be inserted.[143] If the microSD card is used, the Switch will only store game save data on the internal memory, leaving data that can be re-acquired on the microSD card.[144] Save data will always be stored on the console, regardless if the source is a physical game card or a digital download copy. At launch, there was no way to transfer save files to another Switch console.[145][146] Save game and profile transfers between Switch consoles were added in the 4.0.0 system update in October 2017,[147] while the 10.0.0 system update in April 2020 allowed most update data, saved games (i.e., downloaded from eShop), and other downloaded content to be swapped between the internal memory and a microSD card.[148] MicroSD and microSDHC were supported initially, and microSDXC card support was later added to the Switch’s software via a system update.[104][126] SD cards and miniSD cards do not fit the Switch.[149] The Switch did not support external storage units at launch, but Nintendo stated that they were looking into adding this feature in the future.[144]
Connectivity
The Switch console has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At launch, the Switch did not support Bluetooth wireless headphones, though they can also be connected if a Bluetooth adaptor is connected to the headphone jack.[150][151] A system update in October 2017 partially resolved this issue by enabling support for wireless USB headphones when the receiver is connected to the USB port on the console when docked.[152][153] This was later fully resolved in a system update in September 2021 when it enabled support for Bluetooth Wireless headphone devices without the need for a USB adapter.[154]
Later revisions
Around July 2018, Nintendo quietly released Switch units with minor hardware changes and updated firmware to block exploits in the original Switch models that led to the ability to extract ROM images from game cards and software.[155] Nintendo claimed in its case against Team Xecuter and Gary Bowser in February that this hardware change was specifically the result of Team Xecuter’s sales of modified Switch chips that used the exploit.[156]
An updated version of the Nintendo Switch under model number «HAC-001(-01)» was announced on July 17, 2019, and was released in Japan and North America in mid-August 2019, and in the United Kingdom in September 2019. This revision uses the Tegra X1+ SoC, a more efficient chipset compared to the Tegra X1 used in the original model. Thus, the time-on-battery was effectively extended to 4.5–9 hours, depending on the game played. No other system component was updated in this revision.[157][158][159][160][161]
Production
The Nintendo Switch is produced between Taiwan-based Foxconn and Japan-based Hosiden, with Foxconn accounting for the largest volume.[162] Nintendo did not plan to sell the Switch below manufacturing cost at launch,[163] as they had done for both the 3DS and Wii U at their respective launches;[164] Nintendo affirmed that the Switch would be profitable from launch during its 2016 fiscal year earnings report, as the company saw the console as a key earnings driver for 2017 and beyond.[165] Fomalhaut Techno Solutions, a Japanese product teardown firm, estimated that the Switch cost $257 to make compared to its $299 MSRP, with the console and dock at $167 while each Joy-Con costs $45.[166] Kimishima said that they may be able to see further profitability on the Switch when they can achieve volume discounts on components once they reach a level of about 10 million Switch units.[167]
Prior to launch, Nintendo anticipated shipping two million Nintendo Switch units by the end of the console’s first month, and assured that its supply chain would be able to meet demand following the launch period to avoid the shortage situation with the NES Classic Edition in late 2016.[168][84][169] Kimishima anticipated that the Switch will have lifetime sales numbers similar to the Wii, which sold 101 million units by 2016.[86]
Following the initial sales report numbers in April 2017, the Financial Times reported that the company was seeking to produce 18 million Switch units in its 2017 financial year as to avoid «customer tantrums» with poor supply levels, particularly near the 2017 holiday season and the release of Super Mario Odyssey on October 27, 2017.[170] Fils-Aimé said in September 2017 that their 2017 production target for the Switch could be hampered by bottlenecks in individual components.[171][172] DigiTimes reported in October 2017 that Nintendo had further shifted the production rate for the Switch up to 2 million per month, with plans to ship 20 million units by the end of the year; the newspaper also stated that the production rate was limited by component availability, and not by other factors of Nintendo’s production process.[162]
On the presentation of the 2017 fiscal year results to investors, Nintendo’s newly named president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that they anticipate producing 20 million Switch consoles over the 2018 fiscal year keeping the momentum of its sales in that year.[173]
In June 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was starting to move some of its production of the Switch and two hardware revisions of the Switch outside of China and into Southeast Asia to limit the impact of new United States tariffs on electronics made in China.[174][175]
In November 2020, Bloomberg reported that Nintendo asked its assembly partners to boost production of the Switch by 20% and raised its target goal of Switch sales for the 2020 fiscal year from 25 million units sold to 30 million units, having previously reportedly raised their target for the fiscal year from 22 million units sold to 25 million units in August 2020.[176][177] These boosts in production have been attributed to more demand mainly due to the success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the COVID-19 pandemic.[176][177]
Other models
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch Lite integrates the Joy-Con into the main body.
On July 10, 2019, Nintendo announced a version of the Nintendo Switch dedicated to handheld play called the Nintendo Switch Lite. The Switch Lite is a single unit, integrating the Joy-Con as part of the main unit’s hardware, and uses a smaller screen measuring 5.5 inches (14 cm) diagonally. Additionally, a regular directional pad replaces the four directional buttons on the integrated left Joy-Con. While using a smaller battery than the original Switch, the Switch Lite uses a more power-efficient chipset, the 16-nanometer Tegra X1+, to extend the estimated use time from 2.5 to 6.5 hours to 3–7 hours on a single battery charge.[157] Because of the integrated Joy-Con, the Switch Lite is primarily limited to those games that can be played in Handheld mode, while some other games like 1-2-Switch require separate Joy-Con to be used.
The Switch Lite was released worldwide on September 20, 2019, with an MSRP of US$199.99.[178]
OLED model
The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model features a larger OLED display, a metal body and a redesigned kickstand.
On July 6, 2021, Nintendo officially announced a new model called the Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. The OLED model features a 7-inch (180 mm) 720p OLED display, and when docked, output to 1080p resolution. Additionally, it features 64 GB of internal storage, enhanced audio functions, a magnesium alloy body and a wider adjustable stand for use in tabletop mode. The unit ships with a new dock that includes a wired LAN port.[179] It features similar technical specifications as the base Switch model, and is compatible with all Switch games and existing accessories.[180] The unit ships in two bundles: one that includes a black dock and red and blue Joy-Con (similar to the base model’s default color scheme), and one that includes a white dock and white Joy-Con. It was released on October 8, 2021, alongside the release of Metroid Dread, with a retail price of $349.99.[179]
Ahead of the release of the OLED version on September 13, 2021, Nintendo reduced the base price of the original Switch model in Europe from €329.99 to €299.99, and in the UK from £279.99 to £259.99, which Nintendo said also reflected changes in currency exchange rates.[181] All other regions – including North America and Australia – did not receive a price cut.[182] Two special-edition models were released: those for Splatoon 3,[183] and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.[184]
Rumored high-end model
In early 2019, reports from The Wall Street Journal and The Nikkei claimed that Nintendo had plans for two new models of the Nintendo Switch. One new model was a lightweight revision, later revealed as the Nintendo Switch Lite; the other was to be a more powerful console to be released in 2020.[185][186] A notification from Nintendo alerting the Federal Communications Commission of changes to the Switch’s hardware in July 2019 were used as further evidence for a new model.[187] DigiTimes later corroborated previous reports, claiming Nintendo planned to release a model with an improved CPU and magnesium alloy body in the second half of 2020[187]—in December 2019, Nintendo denied any intent to release a new model in 2020,[188] and the global chip shortage beginning in 2020 impacted console production regardless.[189] Bloomberg continued to state Nintendo was preparing to release a higher-end Nintendo Switch model with an OLED screen and the ability to output a 4K resolution, and the model would release in late 2021.[190][191][192][193] However, Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch OLED model in July 2021.[194][179] Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said that Nintendo aims to use technology to enhance gameplay, and does not create «technology for technology’s sake».[195] Bloomberg again stated that a higher-end Switch was in development, and other upgrades were scrapped in favor of only the OLED screen in light of the chip shortage.[196] In response, Nintendo said that the report was «not true» and made false claims about the company.[197] Zynga—one company named by Bloomberg as having received a development kit of an upgraded Nintendo Switch model—also denied the factuality of the report.[197] Continued rumors of a high-end model were fueled by a leak of Nvidia’s source code showing a custom chip with DLSS support made for Nintendo.[198] In December 2022, Digital Foundry claimed that any upgraded Nintendo Switch model was no longer in production, and that Nintendo instead is focusing on the system’s successor.[199]
Software
The main menu screen of the Switch console
The Nintendo Switch runs on a custom-made operating system named Horizon, built on a microkernel architecture.[200] The Switch’s user interface features tile-based access to games that are either present in the game card slot or stored within the unit’s storage devices. It includes quick access buttons for a News feed from Nintendo, eShop access, and a photo album for screenshots captured during gameplay;[104] the 4.0 update to the software in October 2017 also enabled capturing and sharing video from select games.[147] A single Switch console supports up to eight user profiles, which each can be tied to a Nintendo Account user ID.[144] Profiles can be represented by either a pre-made avatar from an internal gallery, or using a Mii. The Mii creator was upgraded with increased color options for aspects such as hair styles; however, it is integrated into the system settings, rather than being an independent application.[201][144][202][203]
Prior to the 4.0 update, players discovered that the Switch’s firmware included an Easter egg allowing players to play the NES Golf title via a built-in emulator. While Nintendo has not confirmed its presence, journalists and players believed this to be a tribute to Nintendo’s former president Satoru Iwata; Golf was programmed by Iwata, and the game could only be accessed if the system clock was set to July 11 – the day when Iwata died in 2015 – and the Joy-Con are moved similarly to how Iwata would move his hands in his Nintendo Direct presentations. Some Japanese users referred to this as an omamori (charm) left by Iwata himself.[204] With the 4.0 update, the executable code for this Easter egg appears to have been wiped by Nintendo.[205]
In August 2018, a Twitter user found files on the Switch’s firmware while reverse-engineering the console, which suggested that Nintendo was possibly testing VR functionality for the Switch. The Twitter user was able to activate the hidden «VR Mode», which split the screen into two displays.[206][207] Hackers found that the code related to possible VR functionality had been hidden in the Switch firmware for over a year.[207]
Security
Nintendo continued its white hat security program that it had with the Nintendo 3DS. With help of third-party website HackerOne, Nintendo will award up to $20,000 to the first user to identify any vulnerability that impacts piracy, cheating, or potential sending of inappropriate content to younger users, the amount based on the severity of the security flaw.[208]
In April 2018, two separate groups discovered a method to use an exploit chain in the Tegra chip system that can be used to boot other software on the Switch. The exploit could not be patched through a software update, as the BootROM of the Tegra X1 can not be modified after the chip leaves the factory. Both groups had notified Nvidia and Nintendo of the exploit before publicly announcing their findings.[209] Users studying the hardware determined that Nintendo has the capacity to permanently ban specific Switch consoles used to obtain software via this exploit from the Nintendo Network, as the Switch console includes a unique device identification code used as part of the validation to the Network. As games downloaded from the Nintendo Network include encrypted information that ties the Nintendo ID to the console, which is transmitted to Nintendo when users start playing games, Nintendo can track unapproved software downloads and take action.[210] Nintendo has reportedly fixed the vulnerability in newer Switch units as of July 2018.[211]
In June 2018, two hackers found a way to run the Switch system’s developer software menu on non-developer Switch units, allowing users to directly load games onto SD cards or create custom avatars for their user profile, including pornographic and NSFW pictures, which violate Nintendo’s terms of service. A Nintendo spokesperson responded to Kotaku‘s article on the topic, saying that «Modified Nintendo Switch systems have been banned».[212]
Shortly after the release of Nintendo Switch Online in September 2018, hackers and modders were able to figure out how to run unauthorized ROMs on the Nintendo Switch NES emulator. A Switch hacker who goes by the name DevRin, was the first to discover the hack and posted his findings on YouTube, which prompted a modder who goes by the name KapuccinoHeck to investigate the matter with two others and their findings were later posted on KapuccinoHeck’s Twitter account.[213][214]
Online services
Nintendo Switch Online logo
Nintendo Switch user profiles can be linked to a Nintendo Account, which enables access to online features and the ability to download and purchase software from Nintendo eShop. A Nintendo Account can be created with an account from a third-party social networking service or an existing Nintendo Network ID from a 3DS or Wii U. Nintendo does not plan to offer first-party social networking services on Switch, such as Miiverse or StreetPass, the latter owing to Nintendo’s promotion of Switch as primarily being a home console. Instead, profiles can be linked to existing social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for social and sharing features.[215][216][217]
Players can register friends through Friend Codes as with previous Nintendo systems, searching for friends in the local network, through past multiplayer interactions, or through Nintendo Account profiles registered as friends on Nintendo mobile apps such as Miitomo and Super Mario Run.[218] In March 2017, Nintendo said that they had plans to provide other methods for registering friends, including through third-party social media and via Nintendo Network IDs.[219] Support for registering friends on the Switch via Facebook and Twitter was added on March 13, 2018, as part of the 5.0.0 system update.[220] The Switch has no native support for Nintendo Network IDs, but users can link their Nintendo Network ID credentials to a Nintendo Account profile, which enables the ability to add friends that they had already registered on their 3DS or Wii U, and share an eShop balance between all three platforms.[221]
In line with Microsoft and Sony consoles, a subscription is required to access online multiplayer in most games.[222][223] The Nintendo Switch Online subscription includes access to online play, voice chat, access to an ongoing library of Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games, cloud storage for save data on most games, as well as other special offers and promotions.[224][225][226][227][228] A paid expansion pack released in October 2021 added support for an expanding library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games.[229] Free-to-play games such as Fortnite Battle Royale and Warframe are exempt from the subscription requirement for online play.[230][231][232][233]
The Nintendo Switch Online mobile app allows access to voice chat for Switch Online subscribers, as well as access to game-specific microsites. Unlike its competitors, voice chat is not supported via the console itself, requiring use of the app on a smartphone instead.[24][234] A separate app provides access to parental controls for the console.[222][235]
Media support
The Switch did not launch with any multimedia-oriented features, such as a web browser,[o] a messaging system or support for video streaming services.[236][failed verification] Fils-Aimé said that because the Switch is geared as a gaming console that is far different from what their competitors offer, they had focused on achieving that goal first and foremost, and did not see media support as a differentiator from their competitors.[237]
Niconico, a popular Japanese video service, launched for the Switch in Japan on July 13, 2017, and was the Switch’s first third-party media app in any market.[238] Hulu was the first video streaming application released for the Switch in the United States on November 9, 2017.[239] A YouTube application was released on November 8, 2018.[240] Fils-Aimé said in June 2018 that conversations to bring Netflix to the Switch were «on-going».[241] On November 4, 2020, a trial version app of the Tencent Video streaming service was launched exclusively for Nintendo Switch consoles officially distributed by Tencent in mainland China. An official version app will be launched at a later date.[242] Funimation launched their own streaming app for the Nintendo Switch, featuring a reworked layout and new functions. The app became available via eShop in the United States and Canada on December 15, 2020, and will launch in various other countries at a later date,[243] such as the United Kingdom and Ireland on March 22, 2021.[244] A version of the Twitch app launched for the Nintendo Switch on November 11, 2021, in most regions worldwide. The eShop version of the app allows users to watch or follow any live or recorded content on Twitch, but does not support any native ability for Switch players to contribute content.[245]
Korg Gadget, a music production app, was released for the Nintendo Switch on April 26, 2018.[246] InkyPen, a comics and manga subscription app, launched exclusively on the Switch worldwide on December 17, 2018.[247] Izneo, another comics and manga subscription service, was released for the Switch on February 28, 2019.[248] FUZE4, a text-based programming language app, was released in August 2019.[249]
Games
Distribution
The Nintendo Switch’s game cartridge
Games for the Nintendo Switch can be obtained through either retail channels or digitally through the Nintendo eShop. Games distributed at retail are stored on proprietary cartridges, similar in design to the game cards used for Nintendo 3DS games, albeit smaller and thinner.[250] As the world’s first major hybrid console, the console is the first major home-playable video game system to make use of cartridges since the Nintendo 64. Due to their small size at 31 by 21 by 3 millimetres (1.22 in × 0.83 in × 0.12 in),[251] Nintendo coats each cartridge with denatonium benzoate, a non-toxic bitterant used to discourage children from ingesting them.[252] Nintendo offered a suggested retail price for Switch games at the console’s launch of US$60, equivalent to the price for new games on either the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.[253] Nintendo otherwise allows publishers to set the price for a game, only requiring the list price be the same for physical and digital releases, if a physical release is made. This has caused some games also available on other consoles to be priced higher on the Switch due to the costs of manufacturing the game card for the Switch version.[254] Online media outlets have colloquially referred to this price hike as the «Switch tax».[255][256] The «Switch tax» also applies to many games that had been previously released on other platforms ported later to the Switch, where the Switch game price reflects the original price of the game when it was first released rather than its current price. It is estimated that the cost of Switch games is an average of 10% over other formats.[257]
Game cards at the time of the Switch’s release had a 32 GB capacity; Nintendo had planned to introduce 64 GB game cards by the second half of 2018, but had to push this back.[258] Some physical games may still require content to be installed to internal storage, with some games using a significant portion of the internal memory if a microSD card is not available.[259] Other physical games which have a large amount of content may require a microSD card to be present in the Switch, such as NBA 2K18; such games are clearly marked on the cover to show these requirements.[260]
The Switch supports the ability for cloud gaming to run games that require more hardware capabilities than the Switch allows, running these games over a network with the game computations performed on server hardware. These games may be tied to specific regions due to purchasing options. Early examples of such games on the Switch include Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey which were primarily limited to Japanese releases,[261] while more recently Control and Hitman 3 will be offered through cloud gaming worldwide in 2020 and beyond.[262]
Unlike previous Nintendo home consoles, the Switch is region-free. This allows players to use cartridges or downloaded content from any part of the world, with the exception of Chinese game content which can only be played on Switch units manufactured for that country.[263] Nintendo recommends using the appropriate regional eShop for digital purposes for obtaining the best post-purchase support if needed.[97][144] Nintendo opted to go region-free to reduce the amount of workload and cost to both themselves and developers in having to manage two or more regional certification processes and different ROM cartridge production pathways for those regions.[264] Further, eShop purchases, while still tied to the Nintendo Account, are not tied to the specific Switch console, as was the case for previous Nintendo hardware. Once the user re-registers their account to a Switch, they have access to download all previous purchases; however, a user can only have their account registered on one console at a time, and downloaded software tied to an account cannot be used if that account is not registered to the device.[221] With the console’s 6.0.0 system update, alongside the launch of the Online service in September 2018, a user can play games that they have purchased from the eShop on a second Switch console, though requiring continuous online connection and other restrictions.[265]
The Switch does not use optical discs, and does not have native backward compatibility with software from any previous Nintendo console.[266] The Switch is also not backwards compatible with other digital titles from previous consoles.[144]
Emulated versions of games from previous Nintendo systems are offered through eShop and the Nintendo Switch Online service, although the blanket Virtual Console brand used for these releases on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS has been dropped.[267][268] In February 2017, Kimishima said that the Switch is powerful enough to emulate titles from previous Nintendo consoles.[24]
Third-party support
One of the generally perceived failures of the Wii U was a lack of support from third-party developers, leading to a weak library of games.[269] Nintendo was more aggressive in trying to bring on third-party developers, early in the Switch’s development, to ensure a stronger lineup of games. Takahashi and Koizumi reached out to many of the third-parties directly to help gain their support early on.[23] Electronic Arts’ executive Patrick Söderlund said that Nintendo had taken a different track with attracting third-party developers to the Switch and have engaged Electronic Arts and other major developers throughout the development of the Switch, listening to their input, to help make the Switch more successful.[270]
Nintendo also began gaining support of independent video game developers in the middle of 2016 to provide assistance to help them bring games to the Switch, led by Nintendo’s head of partner management Damon Baker.[271] They had tried to draw in indie developers near the end of the Wii U’s lifetime, providing indie game demos that were highlighted during E3 2015, but by this point, the Wii U had already been considered a failure.[271] Nintendo sees games such as Snipperclips as a model of their target for indie games, in which they worked to help provide Switch implementation support and software tools to these parties early in the console’s lifecycle, according to Takahashi and Koizumi.[23] Some, like Yacht Club Games, who have ported Shovel Knight to the Switch, noted that some of the major innovations in the Switch, such as the Joy-Con, were not revealed to them until just prior to the January 2017 announcement.[272] Nintendo of America reached out to many independent developers and publishers, including Chucklefish, Team17, and Devolver Digital, to gain titles for the platform and make the process of publishing easier. Nintendo still curates which titles they allow on the system, using the company’s past portfolio for evaluation, and still carefully time releases to keep a steady stream of new content. However, once a game is greenlit, pushing out patches and updates can be done rapidly and at no further cost to the developer.[273][274] Nintendo also offers the Switch’s dev kit at 50,000 yen, or about $450, far under the cost of a comparable dev kit for other consoles, making it more amenable for smaller developers to afford and build for the unit.[275] Nintendo offers several of these indie games as «Nindies» through the eShop. Nintendo had anticipated that they would have at least sixty indie games released for the Switch through 2017, but ended up with over 320 titles by the end of 2017 as a result of the console’s popularity.[276][277][278] Indie developers have found that Nintendo has also had a significant role in the promotion and marketing of their games, including using the games to help promote the Switch itself, in contrast to Microsoft or Sony. These developers also found Nintendo tries to keep a better rapport with fans of Nintendo’s products, and help these fans identify Switch indie games they feel they will like the most, including those games that build on Nintendo’s classic games from the NES, SNES, and Game Boy eras that can draw in a more global audience.[271] Baker says that while they do try to encourage indie developers to release their games as a Switch console exclusive, they do not force developers towards this, knowing that the developers must have a good business case for doing so.[271]
While many independent developers have praised Nintendo for better support for the Switch, others, speaking anonymously through Nintendo Life, noted that Nintendo seemed to have a «walled garden» approach with independent developers, a remnant from the WiiWare program that allowed a great deal of shovelware to be pushed onto it. These anonymous developers found that Nintendo was either eschewing some developers completely, or requiring them to have a well-known publishing partner or an inside person within Nintendo to be able to gain the rights to publish for the Switch.[279][280] Baker said that they encourage self-publishing, but do also place value on trust of established partners for their recommendations of what games would be best for the Switch.[264] Another factor limiting Nintendo is the availability of dev kits and other hardware at the start of the console’s life. However, Baker does anticipate that Nintendo will be much more open in the future, once they have addressed the necessary issues for curation and discovery of titles via the eShop.[278]
During its official unveiling in October 2016, Nintendo deliberately opted not to provide a list of games for the system, as they «want people to touch the device in January [2017] and experience the software for themselves», according to Kimishima.[112] Instead, Nintendo announced some of the partners that had committed to supporting the Switch; contrasting Nintendo’s struggles to gain third-party support on-launch for previous platforms, the company initially listed 48 third-party publishers, studios, and middleware developers.[40] Among these partners, Nintendo listed major publishers such as Activision, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sega, Square Enix, Take-Two, and Ubisoft.[40][281][282]
Nintendo had previously relied more on providing its own internally developed tools and libraries that third-party developers would use to develop games for earlier systems. With the Switch, the company went a different route. According to Takahashi, «we have been aiming to realize an environment in which a variety of different third-party developers are able to easily develop compatible software», taking advantage of the Nvidia chipset’s support for many standard libraries that allows for ease of transition from other platforms to the Switch.[283] Unity Technologies, Epic Games, and the Khronos Group pledged support to help developers bring games to the Switch using their game engines and middleware, Unity, Unreal Engine 4, and the Vulkan and OpenGL graphical APIs, respectively;[284][285][286] for instance, the Unreal Engine toolkit was updated in February 2017 to provide beta testing for native support for Switch games, with full support added by May 2017.[287][288] In March 2018, Nintendo announced it had also gained support of YoYo Games’ GameMaker Studio 2 engine for the Switch.[289] Miyamoto said that Nintendo’s own developers have «mastered» engines like Unreal, so that while it would be unlikely that Nintendo would release a first-party title using such software, they can help support developers using these tools on the Switch.[283] Several indie developers who have previously worked on Nintendo’s consoles said that the Switch was «the least demanding Nintendo console» they have developed for.[290][271]
In addition to these third-party middleware solutions, Nintendo developed its own NintendoWare Bezel Engine for first- and third-party developers, first announced in 2018, aimed «to provide an environment that can create interesting games in a short period of time while keeping development costs as low as possible». Games like Tetris 99 and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics were developed in this engine.[291][292]
By 2022, the Switch was generally considered to have reversed the trend of flagging third party support for Nintendo consoles and game platforms, something that was attributed to Nintendo having made concerted outreach efforts towards third parties to bring them on board;[293][294] several major third party franchises and developers, including Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher, Alan Wake, Nier, Persona, Diablo, Dark Souls, Life Is Strange, Borderlands, Overwatch, Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma, Saints Row, Danganronpa, and Portal making their Nintendo home console debuts on the Switch, and several others, such as Doom, Wolfenstein, Civilization, Assassin’s Creed, Tales, Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Mortal Kombat, and Burnout making their return to Nintendo hardware after prolonged absences. Positive analyses of the Switch’s impact on Nintendo’s third party relations were, however, frequently laced with the caveat that Nintendo would have to work to transition their third party support from the Switch to the Switch’s successor properly, something they had routinely failed at in the past.[294]
Library
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, originally announced as a Wii U exclusive, was released for the Switch as a launch title.[35][295][296] The console’s reveal trailer showcased footage from new titles in Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2, as well as footage from NBA 2K18 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.[297] Although Nintendo and third-parties stated at that time that these were not necessarily representative of Switch titles,[298][299][300] all five titles were confirmed as Switch releases during the January 2017 press events.[48]
The Switch did not launch with any bundled games or have any pre-loaded games or game demos; Fils-Aimé stated that once they had decided on the price point and evaluated the forthcoming game lineup, they opted to allow consumers to choose which games to get rather than include one in the bundle and increase its price.[53][301] At least ten games were shipped or digitally available alongside the Switch in time for its North American launch, including Nintendo’s first-party titles The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch.
Fils-Aimé said that Nintendo planned a «steady cadence of content» for the Switch after launch, avoiding the perceived situation with gaps between major releases for Wii U software.[302] Kimishima said that Nintendo scheduled its first-party releases «to continue to provide new titles regularly without long gaps», as this «encourages consumers to continue actively playing the system, maintains buzz, and spurs continued sales momentum for Nintendo Switch.»[169] Journalists noted that Nintendo appeared to be pledged to this approach following their schedule of planned releases of first-party games for the Switch as announced during E3 2017, with a new title roughly every month into early 2018.[303]
Marketing
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This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2022) |
Nintendo sought to avoid the struggles it had with communicating the capabilities of the Switch’s predecessor, the Wii U, whose GamePad (left) some mistook as an accessory for the Wii rather than a controller for the Wii U.
A key part of marketing the Switch was to be «crystal clear in our communication of what the product was and what the product could do», according to Fils-Aimé, so as to avoid similar issues with how they presented the Wii U.[304][303][305] While the Wii U was designed as a home console unit, Nintendo’s lack of clarity on this point led to a general assumption that the unit, principally the Wii U GamePad, was more like a tablet, overshadowing the Wii U’s other features (such as dual-screen play modes). Nintendo also believed that some consumers had mistaken the Wii U GamePad as being an accessory for the existing Wii console, rather than being the flagship feature of an entirely new platform.[306] Instead, for the Switch, Fils-Aimé said the company was «very aggressive and clearly communicating the proposition that it’s a home console you can take on the go wherever and whenever you want».[304]
For example, the October 2016 trailer (considered significantly unlike Nintendo’s past marketing efforts, according to Bloomberg[13]) was designed to show the various ways that the Switch can be used so that viewers would recognize that «each of its forms offer different play experiences for people to enjoy».[25] Kimishima said that the intent of the trailer was to show that the device was aimed across all player demographics, showcasing features that core gamers would recognize and appreciate to carry this intent.[13] A large amount of Nintendo’s launch marketing for the console focused heavily on the launch title Breath of the Wild; Nintendo of America marketing executive, Nick Chavez, stated that the decision to showcase the new Zelda game was meant to promote it to both older viewers, who may have grown up with the franchise’s earliest games and are accustomed to modern open world games, and to a new generation of players.[307]
Nintendo aired its first-ever Super Bowl ad during the United States broadcast of Super Bowl LI. Set to the Imagine Dragons song «Believer»,[308] the ad showcased the various play modes with the Switch and its launch titles, particularly Breath of the Wild, and upcoming releases; while an ad to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon was broadcast the previous year during Super Bowl 50, this ad was paid for by The Pokémon Company and not by Nintendo.[309][310][311] Chavez said of the ad, «There’s no bigger stage in the U.S. on which to showcase the platform. I think it speaks to our confidence in the system.»[307]
Additional television commercials followed the Super Bowl spot, which were to demonstrate Switch’s use cases among different demographics, as well as «casual» and «core» gaming audiences.[307] Such ad venues included the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, and on programming blocks for Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, and Comedy Central.[308] Chavez emphasized that Nintendo’s overall marketing for Switch was not be «just a six to eight week launch campaign», but «really a 15 month campaign for us, to say nothing of our plans for 2018».[307]
The Grand Palais in Paris, France, during the Switch media event on January 15, 2017
In addition to advertising, Nintendo had planned several ways for players to try the system before its release through various «sampling events». Kimishima felt that it was important, particularly for «career gamers», for Nintendo to get the Switch into players’ hands, so that players could understand how the system differs from Nintendo’s previous offerings. Kimishima also said that the company was «running a guerrilla marketing program where we’re just dashing around and trying to have as many events as possible and get it in the hands of players so they can experience the difference.»[24]
The North American and European press had special events on January 13, 2017, following the Tokyo presentation.[312][313] Various Switch demonstration events were run in North America, Europe, and Japan during January and February 2017.[314][315][316][317] Nintendo offered demonstrations of the Switch at gaming conferences including PAX South, South by Southwest, and RTX.[318][319][320] Nintendo also promoted the Switch through an «Unexpected Places» campaign in February 2017, temporarily setting up living-room-style spaces in three United States locations and inviting fans and players, including John Cena, to try out the unit.[321]
In June 2018, Nintendo announced it was partnering with Disney Channel to help produce Nintendo Switch Family Showdown, a televised competition where families competed in challenges around various Switch games in August 2018.[322]
Reception
Pre-release
Market analysts had a mixed response to the October 2016 announcement of the Nintendo Switch.[41][42] Some expressed concern that the Switch failed to address the issues that led to poor Wii U sales, and was aimed at a small audience.[41] Others were more upbeat, believing the Switch approach would fit in well in the Japanese market, where space for dedicated consoles and televisions are limited, and transition into Western ones.[19][323] Taylor also approved of the company’s decision to introduce the console prior to the holiday season, when Microsoft and Sony would attempt to attract casual gamers to their consoles.[19][324]
Following the January 2017 press conference revealing the unit’s pricing and release date, journalists expressed concern at the apparently high system price, comparable to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles but lacking some of their capabilities, the cost of the paid-for Nintendo Switch Online service, and the small number of games that were confirmed for launch.[47][325][326][327] However, other analysts found that the pricing factors indicated the Switch was a more robust console, and would likely sell better than the Wii U, with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being a key sales driver.[325] These analysts also figured the Switch fills an appropriate gap in hardware for those seeking more complex gameplay that is not offered in tablet and mobile gaming but who did not need to purchase a powerful «boxy» console.[328] Most analysts agreed that the success of the Switch depends on Nintendo’s support and avoiding mistakes the company had made in marketing and promoting the Wii U.[328]
Nintendo investors showed wariness at the Switch, as its stock price dropped in the months from the system’s announcement up until its release. Analysts believed investors felt the Switch was very risky and were unsure if the unit would draw new audiences to Nintendo.[329][41][330][331][332] Analysis firms estimated the Switch would have a slow start due to the risk of the system and high price, but could still clear up to 40 million units by 2020.[333][334]
Game and hardware developers were more positive towards the Switch, seeing the system as «a more unifying experience between their handheld and console divisions», but expressed concern on unanswered hardware specifications, and how Nintendo would market the unit to draw in developers.[335][336][337][338] Developer Hideo Kojima compared the notion of the Switch to his idea of «transfarring» that he presented in 2011, allowing players to take a game from a home platform to a portable one, which became the basis of Sony’s cross-buy program. He said that the Switch was «an extension of that idea. The fact you can play something at home and take it outside, this is the gamer’s dream. The Switch is an evolution of that.»[339] Bethesda’s Todd Howard stated, «I think Nintendo is the only company that could pull something like this off,» commenting on the Nintendo Switch’s design and functionality.[340] Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, said he was impressed with Nintendo’s ability to «state a bold vision and build a product that delivers on that vision».[341]
Retailers were also generally positive with the Switch; GameStop CEO Paul Reines stated the unit was transformative in the market and would be a «game-changer» that could «expand the audience for gaming».[342] Pre-orders were high, with Kimishima stating before launch that total pre-orders reached nearly the levels of units they had ready to ship for launch.[24][343][344]
The October 2016 reveal trailer became Nintendo of America’s most-viewed video on YouTube within 24 hours, and was the top trending video on YouTube for about a day.[345]
Release
Upon release, the Switch was praised by reviewers for having a lot of potential, but they were underwhelmed by the limited number of titles available at launch that did not show the full extent of the console’s abilities. Reviewers also noted that the initial operating software and features were limited and included software bugs that, while likely to be fixed in time, marred the experience of the system.[346] Even with the day-one update, there were numerous reports of hardware problems, in particular the Bluetooth connectivity of the Switch console with the Joy-Con (L) controller, and ease with which the console screen could be scratched.[347] About a week after release, Fils-Aimé said the company is in «fact-finding mode» to try to diagnose these issues.[348] In late March, Nintendo reported that the Joy-Con (L) desync issue was a «manufacturing variation» on a small number of the units, which could be easily fixed; as noted by CNET’s Sean Hollister, Nintendo repaired affected controllers by placing a bit of foam near the antenna within the unit to better shield it. Going forward, Nintendo said they do not anticipate any other problems with connectivity issues.[349][350] Many users also reported issues with defective pixels on the LCD screen of the console, which Nintendo has stated «are normal and should not be considered a defect».[351] Other companies in the video game industry such as Sony, Microsoft, Sega, Bethesda, Ubisoft and Unity Technologies congratulated Nintendo on the Switch, along with fast food companies such as Arby’s and Domino’s Pizza, which made a practice of posting game-inspired artworks on social media.[352]
About six months after release, Nintendo reported their usage statistics for the Switch. Using statistics collected by the system for the primary player on the console, they found that 30% of users operate the console in Handheld/Tabletop mode more than 80% of the time, slightly more than 50% of users operate the console in both TV mode and Handheld/Tabletop mode equally, with the remaining users preferring TV mode. Nintendo stated «We can clearly see that consumers are playing to suit their own play styles.»[353] Nintendo also found that the majority of people who purchased the Switch in the United States are male consumers in their 20s and early 30s.[354]
Following the implementation of firmware version 5.0.0, several Switch users began reporting that their consoles became unusable after having been docked within a third-party «portable» dock manufactured by Nyko. Nyko commented on the issue, stating that they were aware of the issue and thought it to be caused by the Switch’s handling of A/V output, while Nintendo advised users against docking their systems inside unlicensed docking peripherals. After purchasing the dock at a Walmart store in Jacksonville, Florida, and losing usability of his console upon using the dock, Switch owner Michael Skiathitis filed a class action lawsuit against Nyko, alleging the dock to be «prone to causing numerous problems to the devices they are intended to support» against the knowledge of purchasers, as well as noting that Nyko had not put much effort into warning consumers about the issue. Other Switch owners reported having their consoles bricked upon using various other third-party docks, including models made by FastSnail and Insignia.[355]
Sales
Initial launch
First-year sales of the Switch (red line), Wii U (green), and PlayStation 4 (blue) in Japan
Initial sales of the Switch were strong, with Nintendo reporting that based on its first week’s numbers, it was the company’s fastest-selling console.[356][357] In Japan, first weekend sales exceeded 330,000 units, which was on par with the PlayStation 4 during its launch period.[358][359] Sales during this initial period were strong in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.[360] Media Create estimated that more than 500,000 Switch units were sold in Japan within its first month, beating out the PlayStation 4 to this figure.[361][362][363][364][365]
Nintendo issued the Switch’s first month’s performance in their 2016 fiscal year results (which ended March 31, 2017), reporting that more than 2.74 million units had been sold worldwide, exceeding their target of two million.[366][367] Retailer GameStop reported that initial sales of the Switch were «phenomenal» and on track to surpass the Wii U based on their historical sales data, with merchandising director Eric Bright saying the Switch has had «one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time».[368] Retailer GameStop reported significant growth in hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 due primarily to the Switch,[369] while Best Buy saw an unexpected increase in their hardware sales in its first quarter of 2017 buoyed by the popularity of the Switch.[370] Console sales in Japan, which had been languishing due to the strength of the mobile game market, saw its first annual growth of 14.8% in 2017 due to the release of the Switch.[371] Physical sales for Switch games were at 5.46 million worldwide in its first month, with 2.76 million copies of Breath of the Wild for the Switch making up nearly half of those sales.[372] On Breath of the Wild‘s nearly 1-to-1 sales with the Switch console, Nintendo’s Kimishima said, «This high of an attach rate is more or less unprecedented».[373]
The large sales within the first month forced Nintendo to increase their production capacity,[374] and to temporarily use air freight to ship Switch units instead of their usual overseas shipment, costing an estimated $45 per console, rather than the less-costly overseas shipment.[375] With these changes, Nintendo projected that it would sell at least 10 million Switch consoles during the 2017 fiscal year, alongside 35 million games.[366] Kimishima stated that having a Switch user base of 10 million «will give publishers and the rest of our business partners a sense that the future of Nintendo Switch is more promising» and spur further game development for the platform.[376] Kimishima said that a key goal in their production ramp up would be to make sure they have enough Switch inventory near the end of 2017 for holiday sales, as to avoid the issue with Wii shortages that occurred during its first holiday-season period, while balancing the near-term high demand.[167] According to Kimishima, Nintendo now believed that if they could reach 10 million in Switch sales in 2017, they expected the Switch would have lifetime sales comparable to the Wii, which had sold over 100 million units in its lifetime.[376][167]
The Switch continued to show strong sales throughout its first year of release. In its financial report released in October 2017 for the quarter ending September 30, 2017, Nintendo reported worldwide sales of the Switch at 7.63 million, with the expectation to sell more than 14 million by the end of its current financial year, exceeding the Wii U’s lifetime 13.56 million sales. Five software titles had achieved at least one million in sales by this point: Breath of the Wild (4.7M), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (4.42M), Splatoon 2 (3.61M), 1-2 Switch (1.37M), and Arms (1.35M).[377] Shortly after this financial report, Nintendo reported that Super Mario Odyssey for the Switch sold more than two million copies within three days of its release on October 27, 2017.[378] Following this financial report, the Wall Street Journal asserted that Nintendo anticipated to continue ramping production of the Switch in its 2018 fiscal year, with plans to produce between 25 and 30 million units that year or more depending on the 2017 holiday sales.[326] During the November 2017 Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales that kicked off the holiday shopping season in North America, Adobe Digital Insights’ analysis showed the Switch was one of the top-five selling items, outpacing the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. NPD Group adjusted their future performance of the Switch to follow more closely with the Wii’s lifetime sales rather than the Wii U’s.[379]
On December 12, 2017, the company announced the system had sold over 10 million units worldwide, having reached its sales goal for the 2017 fiscal year within nine months. Nintendo raised its Switch sales expectation to 14 million units for the fiscal year.[380] Shortly after this announcement, Kimishima said that Nintendo has a target of 20 million units sold within the console’s second year, along with releasing new games that «enables new ways of playing» to continue the sales momentum.[381]
Based on its first year sales, the Switch was considered to be the fastest-selling game console in history in many regions. With 2017 year end Japanese sales data from Media Create, the Switch became the fastest-selling home console in Japan in first year sales, with its total sales of 3.2 million units exceeding the 3.0 million units of the PlayStation 2 during its first year of release,[382][383] while Famitsu reported that these sales had eclipsed the lifetime sales of the Wii U in the country,[384] and helped to support the first growth in sales within Japan’s console market in eleven years.[385] Nintendo of America also reported that with 4.8 million units sold in the United States by the end of 2017, 1.5 million units in December 2017 alone, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in the United States in its first 10 months, outpacing the Wii’s performance of 4 million units in the same time period.[386][387] Similarly, the Switch was the fastest-selling console in France, having sold 911,000 units through the end of 2017, according to Nintendo France.[388] The Switch was also the fastest-selling console in Canada, having shipped 400,000 units in its first 10 months, narrowly outpacing the Wii’s performance of 392,000 units in the same time period, according to TechVibes.[389] According to analysis firm GBH Insights, the Nintendo Switch was the fifth-best-selling technology product in 2017.[390] As of January 2018, the Switch has sold more than 300,000 units in Spain, surpassing the total lifetime sales of one of its competitors, the Xbox One, in the region.[391] The Switch sold 8.7 million units in the United States in its first 21 months of availability, surpassing the sales of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 during their first 21 months in the same region.[392] By May 2019, the Switch had overtaken the PS4’s lifetime sales in Japan.[393]
Lifetime sales
| Date | Japan | Americas | Europe[B] | Other[B] | Total | Attach rate[C] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | Hardware | Software | ||
| 2017-03-31[394] | 0.60 | 0.89 | 1.20 | 2.86 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 0.94 | 1.71 | 2.74 | 5.46 | 1.99
|
| 2017-06-30[395] | 1.12 | 2.45 | 1.95 | 6.49 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 1.63 | 4.66 | 4.70 | 13.60 | 2.89
|
| 2017-09-30[396] | 1.95 | 5.26 | 3.11 | 12.25 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 2.56 | 9.97 | 7.63 | 27.48 | 3.60
|
| 2017-12-31[397] | 3.72 | 9.82 | 5.94 | 23.65 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 5.20 | 19.10 | 14.86 | 52.57 | 3.53
|
| 2018-03-31[398] | 4.38 | 13.15 | 7.14 | 30.37 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.27 | 25.44 | 17.79 | 68.97 | 3.87
|
| 2018-06-30[399] | 4.89 | 16.10 | 7.81 | 38.74 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 6.97 | 32.09 | 19.67 | 86.93 | 4.41
|
| 2018-09-30[400] | 5.52 | 20.31 | 9.13 | 49.97 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 8.20 | 40.82 | 22.86 | 111.10 | 4.86
|
| 2018-12-31[401] | 7.74 | 30.33 | 12.94 | 73.85 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 11.60 | 59.42 | 32.27 | 163.61 | 5.07
|
| 2019-03-31[402] | 8.23 | 34.64 | 14.01 | 84.31 | N/A[B] | N/A[B] | 12.50 | 68.57 | 34.74 | 187.25 | 5.39
|
| 2019-06-30[403] | 8.76 | 39.05 | 14.83 | 94.47 | 9.60 | 62.46 | 3.69 | 14.15 | 36.87 | 210.13 | 5.69
|
| 2019-09-30[404] | 10.00[D] | 44.93 | 16.64[E] | 110.22 | 10.86[F] | 74.43 | 4.17[G] | 16.43 | 41.67[H] | 246.01 | 5.90
|
| 2019-12-31[405] | 12.42[I] | 57.34 | 20.87[J] | 138.63 | 13.88[K] | 94.01 | 5.32[L] | 20.68 | 52.48[M] | 310.65 | 5.92
|
| 2020-03-31[406] | 13.44[N] | 67.20 | 22.12[O] | 158.59 | 14.43[P] | 105.92 | 5.78[Q] | 24.54 | 55.77[R] | 356.24 | 6.38
|
| 2020-06-30[407] | 14.59[S] | 77.21 | 24.41[T] | 180.07 | 16.04[U] | 120.22 | 6.70[V] | 29.16 | 61.44[W] | 406.67 | 6.62
|
| 2020-09-30[408] | 16.17[X] | 84.98 | 26.58[Y] | 204.18 | 17.73[Z] | 134.44 | 7.81[AA] | 32.88 | 68.30[AB] | 456.49 | 6.68
|
| 2020-12-31[409] | 18.88[AC] | 98.89 | 31.17[AD] | 238.12 | 20.70[AE] | 158.29 | 9.11[AF] | 37.04 | 79.87[AG] | 532.34 | 6.67
|
| 2021-03-31[410] | 20.04[AH] | 112.22 | 33.27[AI] | 261.00 | 21.58[AJ] | 172.15 | 9.71[AK] | 41.74 | 84.59[AL] | 587.12 | 6.94
|
| 2021-06-30[411] | 21.20[AM] | 120.35 | 34.86[AN] | 283.35 | 22.66[AO] | 183.51 | 10.33[AP] | 45.20 | 89.04[AQ] | 632.40 | 7.10
|
| 2021-09-30[412] | 22.06[AR] | 128.35 | 36.31[AS] | 306.13 | 23.60[AT] | 197.78 | 10.89[AU] | 48.74 | 92.87[AV] | 681.00 | 7.33
|
| 2021-12-31[413] | 24.36[AW] | 143.20 | 40.12[AX] | 345.64 | 26.98[AY] | 223.01 | 12.09[AZ] | 54.56 | 103.54[BA] | 766.41 | 7.40
|
| 2022-03-31[414] | 25.23[BB] | 154.36 | 42.03[BC] | 369.27 | 27.60[BD] | 237.93 | 12.79[BE] | 60.62 | 107.65[BF] | 822.18 | 7.63
|
| 2022-06-30[415] | 25.95[BG] | 162.43 | 43.30[BH] | 386.42 | 28.70[BI] | 249.45 | 13.13[BJ] | 65.29 | 111.08[BK] | 863.59 | 7.77
|
| 2022-09-30[416] | 26.96[BL] | 175.09 | 44.59[BM] | 407.97 | 29.29[BN] | 266.39 | 13.49[BO] | 69.15 | 114.33[BP] | 917.59 | 8.02
|
| 2022-12-31[417] | 29.05[BQ] | 192.62 | 47.66[BR] | 437.37 | 31.71[BS] | 289.47 | 14.15[BT] | 74.84 | 122.55[BU] | 994.30 | 8.11
|
|
As of December 31, 2022, Nintendo has shipped 122.55 million Switch units, with over 88.67 million original Switch units, 20.40 million Switch Lite units, and 13.49 million Switch OLED units.[417] With these numbers the Switch has surpassed lifetime sales of all but one Nintendo game console following the Nintendo DS. By this point, it also surpassed sales of all other game consoles, leaving it third behind the DS and the PlayStation 2.[418][419] Since October 2020, the Switch had been the highest selling console in the United States for 22 consecutive months, starting from December 2018, taking the record from the Xbox 360 which stood for 21 months (August 2011 – April 2013).[420] In the United States, the Switch had remained the best-selling console on monthly sales based on NPD Group data for 33 months from November 2018 through August 2021, with the PlayStation 5 breaking its streak in September 2021.[421]
Total software sales for the Switch exceeded 994 million As of December 2022.[417] According to Nintendo of America’s Doug Bowser, the Switch has had an attach rate (games purchased per unit) of over 8 over its first four years.[422] Top sellers for the platform, exceeding 10 million units sold worldwide, include:[423]
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 52.00 million
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 41.59 million
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 30.44 million
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 29.00 million
- Pokémon Sword and Shield – 25.68 million
- Super Mario Odyssey – 25.12 million
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet – 20.61 million
- Super Mario Party – 18.79 million
- Ring Fit Adventure – 15.22 million
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! – 15.07 million
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 14.75 million
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl – 14.79 million
- Splatoon 2 – 13.30 million
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus – 12.64 million
- Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 11.43 million
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury — 10.82 million
- Splatoon 3 – 10.13 million
Financial impact
Nintendo’s business performance, which had been struggling for several years, soared upon the release of the Switch. By May 23, 2017, the success of the Switch’s launch raised Nintendo’s stock price to its highest levels in seven years, and an increase in price of over 100% from the previous year. However, the price still trailed Nintendo’s peak price by about half, back in 2007 when it had just released the Wii.[424] Nintendo’s stock was further boosted a few days later to meet its eight-year high following Capcom’s announcement of plans to release the popular Monster Hunter XX for the Switch.[425]
In September 2017, Nintendo announced a partnership with Tencent, the leading publisher for mobile games in China, to bring their title Arena of Valor, the international version of their mainland Chinese game Wangzhe Rongyao, to the Switch following its December 2017 release in Western markets on mobile platforms. At the time, the game had an estimated 200 million players, most in China, and analysts anticipated that Nintendo would be releasing the Switch in China by 2019 as part of this deal. As a result, Nintendo’s stock price rose overnight on the news by 7%, reaching a nine-year high.[426][427][428] Nintendo’s stock reached its ten-year high shortly after the October 2017 expansion of Switch production to 2 million units per month and speculation that Nintendo would likely start selling the unit in China sooner than anticipated.[429]
Nintendo’s quarterly reports, for the period ending September 30, 2017, showed a profit of $209 million, the first profitable quarter in several years, due to both success of the Switch and its mobile gaming strategy.[30] For similar reasons, its following quarter, ending December 31, 2017, was Nintendo’s most profitable quarter since 2009, with year-to-year revenues increased by 177%.[430][431]
Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 44% in the first fiscal quarter of 2018 and their net profit totalled $274.9 million during April–June 2018 due to new titles being released for the Switch such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.[432] Sales of the Switch and its games helped increase Nintendo’s operating profit by 30% during July–September 2018 and helped Nintendo reach its highest quarterly result in 8 years.[433] Nintendo’s quarterly profit jumped by 25% in the third fiscal quarter of 2018 due to the popularity of games on the Switch and their October–December profit totalled $956 million, while quarterly sales totalled $5.6 billion, which were up by 26%.[434]
Nintendo’s yearly profit jumped by 39% during the April 2018–March 2019 fiscal year, and annual sales rose 14% to $10.7 billion due to «healthy» software sales for the Switch.[435]
Legal issues
In August 2017, Los Angeles-based tablet peripheral manufacturer Gamevice, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Nintendo in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that the design of the Switch conflicts with its patent on the design for the Wikipad, an Android-based gaming device that also features a tablet with a detachable controller. The lawsuit sought damages on existing Switch sales and banning further sales of the console.[436] The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed by Gamevice in October 2017.[437]
In March 2018, Gamevice initiated a second patent infringement lawsuit on Nintendo related to a different set of patents. Gamevice also sought action through the United States International Trade Commission related to patent infringement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and was seeking to block imports of the Switch into the United States.[438][439][440] The lawsuit would be terminated on October 10, 2019, with no such violations being found.[441] By March 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office had reviewed Gamevice’s patents and deemed all of its claims to be unpatentable, a ruling in favor of Nintendo. Gamevice stated they would be challenging the Office’s decision.[442]
While appealing the Patent Office’s determination on its patents, Gamevice initiated a third infringement claim against Nintendo in March 2020 against a newly published patent it had obtained in August based on a game controller that would wrap around a smart phone. Gamevice sought to block imports of the Switch from Japan while the lawsuit was in progress.[443][444] The lawsuit ended in favour of Nintendo.[445][446]
A class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2019 concerning a joystick defect in the console’s Joy-Con controllers, commonly referred to as «drift». The suit alleges that Nintendo is aware of a defect that causes the controllers to register movements without the joysticks being touched, but does not «disclose the defect and routinely refuses to repair the joysticks without charge».[447] Three days after the filing, an internal Nintendo company memo was leaked by Vice; the memo instructed Nintendo’s customer service employees in North America to begin offering repairs for drifting Joy-Con controllers free of charge regardless of warranty status.[448] The lawsuit, however, continued, and following the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite where some on social media reported the Joy-Con drift problem after 20 hours of play, additional complaints related to the Lite were added to the lawsuit.[449] While the court refused to grant Nintendo a dismissal of the case, it did agree to send the case into arbitration as a first step as outlined in the EULA for the Switch in a ruling made in March 2020.[450]
Nintendo successfully obtained an injunction in December 2019 against a distributor of a hack made by Team Xecuter that enabled Switch users to obtain and run copyright-violating copies of Switch games on the console.[451] Subsequently, Nintendo filed lawsuits initially against several resellers of Team Xecuter products in 2020, and in one case, settled with the reseller for $2 million.[452][453] After members of Team Xecuter were arrested and charged with eleven felony counts by the United States Department of Justice in October 2020, Nintendo filed another lawsuit against one of the arrested members, Gary Bowser, asserting two counts of trafficking and one count of copyright infringement.[454]
See also
- Yuzu (emulator), a Nintendo Switch emulator
Notes
- ^
- Shipments breakdown:
- Nintendo Switch: 88.67 million
- Lite: 20.40 million
- OLED model: 13.49 million
- ^ a b Original model
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision, Lite, and OLED model
- ^ While the Tegra X1 SoC features 4 Cortex-A57 plus 4 Cortex-A53 CPU cores, the Nintendo Switch only uses the former, of which 1 is reserved to the operating system.[1]
- ^ A temporary «boost mode» increases the CPU clock speed to 1.785 GHz. It is primarily used during loading screens.[2]
- ^ Original model, HAC-001(-01) revision, and Lite
- ^ OLED model
- ^ The GPU is clocked at 768 MHz when the device is docked; in handheld mode, it fluctuates between 307.2 MHz, 384 MHz, and 460 MHz.[4][2]
- ^ When the CPU is in «boost mode», the GPU clock speed drops to 76.8 MHz.[1]
- ^ HAC-001(-01) revision and OLED model
- ^ a b The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 28 mm (1.1 in).
- ^ Japanese: ニンテンドースイッチ, Hepburn: Nintendō Suitchi, note that Nintendo branded the console in Japan in its English name
- ^ Switch units sold in China do have a regional lockout, limited to games published in China and those on the Chinese eShop.
- ^ Consoles manufactured after August 2019 featured chips made on the 16nm process, improving battery life and performance. These consoles were shipped featuring slightly different boxes from those manufactured before August, but Nintendo has not otherwise differentiated between the two models.
- ^ The Switch does include a fully functioning web browser, however it is only used for network login pages, the eShop, displaying built in user manuals, and for sharing video and screenshots from the album. It is not accessible otherwise and lacks many features such as browser history and favorites.
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- ^ NOTICE OF INSTITUTION OF INVESTIGATION
- ^ NOTICE OF COMMISSION DETERMINATION NOT TO REVIEW AN INITIAL DETERMINATION TERMINATING THE INVESTIGATION WITH RESPECT TO A PATENT CLAIM
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External links
- Official website
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Nintendo Switch [Edit] [Talk]
The Nintendo Switch () (known as the NX in development[5]) is an eighth generation home video game console released by Nintendo, and its first major hybrid game console as the successor to the Wii U and also Nintendo’s second eighth generation console. Despite this classification, Nintendo markets the system mostly as a home console that can be played on the go rather than a dedicated portable handheld system.[6]
It was officially announced on October 20, 2016[7] and was released simultaneously on March 3, 2017 in America, Japan, Europe, Hong Kong, and other territories.[8] It costs US $299.99 in America and JP ¥29,980 in Japan. A Nintendo Switch presentation containing more information about the system was live-streamed from January 12, 2017 at 11:00 PM to January 13, 2017 at 12:05 AM (EST).[9]
The Nintendo Switch had a hands-on event on six separate Sundays in six different cities across America prior to its release date,[10] along with Tokyo Big Sight, Japan. Pre-order retail reservations started on January 21, 2017 in Japan. As of January 12, 2017, 50 companies have collaborated with Nintendo and 80 games are currently in development for the Nintendo Switch. On January 4, 2018, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch had sold over ten million units and became the fastest-selling video game console in America within a time frame of the first ten months.[11]
During the reveal of their partnership with DeNA, Satoru Iwata revealed the new console. The Nintendo Switch is a portable system which can be docked for home play, effectively hybridizing home consoles and handhelds.
The Nintendo Switch Lite () is a smaller, more affordable version of the Nintendo Switch announced on July 10, 2019. This version was released worldwide on September 20, 2019. Unlike the original, this console is smaller and is handheld only (meaning that it cannot be docked to play on a TV screen). This console can only play games that support handheld mode. Games that require use of motion controls (e.g. Super Mario Party) are not supported due to absence of the individual gyroscpoes and accelerometers. (though regular Joy-Con controllers can be connected to play these games). The arrow buttons are also replaced by a single D-pad. Due to being handheld only, the Nintendo Switch Lite only features a maximum 720p HD resolution.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is an enhanced revision of the Nintendo Switch that was announced on July 6, 2021 and released on October 8, 2021. It features many new improvements, such as a 7-inch OLED screen with higher contrast and saturation, improved audio with more clarity, a wider, adjustable kickstand, a dock with a dedicated LAN/Ethernet port, double the internal storage (64GB compared to the regular Switch’s 32GB.), and more.
Joy-Con Controllers can be attached to the system to work like a handheld or used separately for multiplayer. The system is cartridge-based, storing physical copies of games on Game Cards like the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS lines; while continuing this tradition for handhelds, it notably breaks the trend of home consoles storing games on less expensive discs.
Features
The Nintendo Switch is a home console/handheld hybrid device; while the main unit is a portable tablet with a multi-touch screen, it can be inserted into a special dock that connects to a monitor for at-home play.
Games are controlled using either the Joy-Con, wireless controllers that can be attached to either the sides of the tablet or a special controller bridge called the Joy-Con Grip, or a Pro Controller similar in design to the controllers used in the competing Xbox One.
The Joy-Con can be used either as standard controllers or as motion controllers analogous to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Physical games are stored on Game Cards similar to those used in the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo Switch Online
The Nintendo Switch utilizes an online service requiring a subscription fee of around $20 per year; while several features are still available without a subscription, payment is required to access most features, including online play. The service also introduces new and convenient features, like online cloud saving. The service launched on September 19, 2018. Most features are centralized around the smartphone app which also released the same day.
Subscribers are also able to access a free app which allows them to play from a selection of popular NES games for as long as they are subscribed. They released every month for a few years, then started releasing every 2-3 months. During a Nintendo Direct in September 2019, Nintendo announced Super Nintendo Entertainment System — Nintendo Switch Online, an app which allows players to play SNES games.
On October 25, 2021, Nintendo launched a higher tier of Nintendo Switch Online. Titled Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, it brought the ability to play games from the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis consoles, and limited access to the Happy Home Paradise DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Pricing started at $49.99 a year for the individual subscription and $79.99 a year for a family subscription. 1-month and 3-month options are not available for the Expansion Pack, although switching your membership over to the new tier can grant you a discount depending on how long you have until your current membership ends.
Development
On October 16, 2015, the Nintendo Development Kits for Nintendo’s new console, code named «NX», were confirmed to be distributed to various publishers.[12] This confirmed that the NX is succeeding the Wii U and 3DS and is coming out in multiple formats. There seems to be a massive boost in making them developer friendly with development portal at developer.nintendo.com with the Nintendo Dev Interface
In 2013, Nintendo chose to merge the handheld and home console development teams into a single Research & Development division,[13] due to the emerging possibility of integrating the software used by both platforms. Satoru Iwata said that it was important to «take advantage» of the established architecture of the Wii U while developing a future system, because of the ability to use common ways to program a handheld display and a full-size television display. At the time, Iwata stated that Nintendo was aiming to change the situation of developing separate versions of games for both handheld and console versions. He expressed interest in developing new hardware using the common programming of Android software, which would help alleviate the time taken to port the same game between separate handheld and home console releases.
Yoshiaki Koizumi, the general producer of the Nintendo Switch console, made sure that the hardware development team included experience from «various different sections and disciplines», including both handheld and home console design.[14] He wanted to make sure that there was a high potential of «mixing and matching» those different areas of experience, to reach a single product. Many different hardware designs were proposed and considered, including a patented elliptical touch-screen controller capable of 3D display,[15] as well as a controller which uses a camera to sense the player’s hand actions. The NX’s vision was to appeal to the on-the-go lifestyle of today’s consumers, and adapt to their needs. This lead to the concept of «switching» between a home console and a handheld.
Shinya Takahashi, the general manager of the Entertainment Planning & Development Division at Nintendo, described how the early brainstorming stages focused on the essential functions of a portable home console. The team also looked back at the accessibility and popularity of the Wii when developing the Switch, while still retaining features from other past Nintendo consoles, such as the handheld screen of the Wii U. Early on, it was also considered important for the system to come with two controllers that can be attached and brought on the go for two players to easily play together (in a similar way to how the Famicom docked two controllers on the system), although still providing a «full and satisfying single-player experience». Reggie Fils-Aime stressed the concept of «constant engagement» during Nintendo Switch planning, and appeal to an «anywhere, anytime, any way» approach.[16] The use of color was recognized to have been emphasized by Nintendo’s systems in the past, notably with the Nintendo GameCube and Super Nintendo’s multi-colored buttons. This inspired the use of red and blue Joy-Con for the Nintendo Switch, whereas the alternative grey design was aimed to appeal more to a «core gamer who is looking for something more sleek».
A notable challenge during development was «packing» all of the required technology and features into the Joy-Con’s desired weight and size, such as the IR Motion Camera, while still focusing on «communicating» the value of that technology through the software. The HD Rumble, described by Yoshiaki Koizumi as a form of «virtual reality», required a lot of collaboration and trials between the hardware and software teams in order to utilize it within game design.
In 2015, Satoru Iwata spoke about how the need for region locking wasn’t entirely due to consumer actions, but of the seller in global vendor licenses and different circumstances between countries. Iwata acknowledged that there were advantages for both the consumers and Nintendo in lifting region restrictions, and if future hardware were to use region-free games, then such problems would need to be pre-determined and subsequently solved.[17] On January 12, 2017, Nintendo announced during a livestream presentation that the Nintendo Switch’s games will be region-free.[18]
The name «Nintendo Switch» was decided due to the ability to easily switch from a television screen to a handheld screen, as well as being akin to flipping a switch to «change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives.»[19]
On April 27, 2016, Nintendo confirmed a March 2017 release with The Legend of Zelda as a launch title. Additionally, they said that the NX would not be shown at E3 2016.
Nintendo chose not to give much information about the console throughout most of its development due to concerns over industrial espionage; as a result, an overwhelming majority of the NX’s publicity prior to its official reveal focused on unconfirmed rumors and speculation from various third-party sources.
The information Nintendo had provided clarified that the NX would not truly succeed the 3DS or Wii U and that games would still be developed for the latter two consoles, as it would be impractical to discontinue both. However, the Wii U was discontinued shortly after the NX’s official reveal due to the commercial failure of the former. Additionally, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima confirmed during a Q & A session following E3 2016 that Nintendo has been doing research on virtual reality.
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo released their official preview trailer for the console after months of little to no information; this trailer showcased the variety of ways that the NX, now referred to by its official name of the «Nintendo Switch», can be played; particular emphasis was placed on its handheld capabilities, while still showcasing the ability to use it as a home console. Despite positive fan reception, Nintendo’s stock took a significant downwards spike due to investor skepticism caused by the trailer appearing to market the device towards a combination of casual and core audiences rather than the core market alone and by the continued lack of information towards the Switch’s technical specifications.
On December 7, 2016, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime did a surprise live demonstration of the Switch during his guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; there, he allowed Fallon, a noted fan of Nintendo, to play a brief demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While nothing was stated about the technical specifications of the Switch, its live demonstration showcased its home-to-handheld transition capabilities and its ability to run Breath of the Wild at a noticeably smoother frame rate than the Wii U version, implying a greater technical prowess.
In January 2017, Nintendo discussed the Nintendo Switch in full in an hour-long presentation, detailing the system hardware, its accessories, the prices of the system, games, and accessories, the release date, and several notable games coming to the system, including Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem Warriors, FIFA, and Project Octopath Traveler.
The following weekend, Nintendo had a hands-on event in New York, Japan, the United Kingdom and more with tours to travel across Europe and North America up until the system’s launch in March 2017. Additionally, numerous internet celebrities known for specializing in video game-related content (such as Emile R. Rosales-Birou, Ross O’Donnovan, and Jirard Khalil) were shipped Nintendo Switches and copies of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild early for the purpose of reviewing both the console and the game.
On March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch saw worldwide public release, with retailers describing sales of the console as being ambiguously strong. While reception of the console was mostly positive, many noted the underwhelming launch lineup, with Breath of the Wild, the system’s most anticipated game, having the added caveat of being available for the previous-generation Wii U as well as the Switch. Others also noted software issues such as spotty connectivity between the left Joy-Con and the console, stating that issues such as these marred the experience of the system. Nevertheless, consumers, reviewers, and even other video game companies generally praised Nintendo’s console.
On June 20, 2017, the 3.0 update was released, it added the possibility to choose new profile icons inspired by Splatoon 2. It also allows the user to add their friends from the Wii U, 3DS and mobile games friend lists, to register a specific channel to receive News for specific games, receive notifications when your friends go online, to find controllers within communication range by activating the vibration feature, to change the user icon order on the Home Menu, to change the system volume from the quick settings, to lower the maximum volume for headphone or speakers connected to the audio jack, to change display colors to Invert Colors or Grayscale, it allow the connecting of a USB keyboard to the dock and to type whenever the keyboard is on the screen.
The update also added a feature that suggests deletion of software data if there is insufficient space when downloading other software.
On September 20, 2017, the system was announced to be released in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1, 2017.
On October 19, 2017 the 4.0 update was released, it added the possibility to choose new profile icons inspired by Super Mario Odyssey characters as well as more The Legend of Zelda characters. The update also allow the user to capture short video for the games supporting the feature, the possibility to transfer saved data and profiles to another Nintendo Switch and the option to pre-purchase (also known as pre-order) certain games on the Nintendo eShop were also included in the update.
On April 13, 2020, the 10.0.0 update was released and brought the Bookmarks feature to the News app.
On November 30, 2020, the 11.0.0 update brought the ability to transfer screenshots to mobile via a QR code and to PC via USB, a Switch Online hub button, and profile icons celebrating Mario’s 35th anniversary.
On September 14, 2021, the 13.0.0 update was released and brought Bluetooth audio and a dock update, the latter of which was for the Switch OLED.
Hardware revisions
Nintendo Switch Lite (HDH-001)
A yellow Nintendo Switch Lite.
The Nintendo Switch Lite (model number HDH-001) is the second version of the Nintendo Switch announced on July 10, 2019 and released worldwide on September 20, 2019. Unlike the original, this console is smaller and is handheld only, lacking the ability to be docked. This console can only play games that support handheld mode. Games that require use of motion controls (e.g. Super Mario Party) are not supported due to absence of the IR Motion Camera (though regular Joy-Con controllers can be connected to play these games). The arrow buttons are also replaced by a single D-pad. Due to being handheld only, the Nintendo Switch Lite only features up to a 720p HD resolution.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is the first one-screen dedicated handheld since the Game Boy Micro in 2005.
Extended battery revision (HAC-001(-01))
On July 17, 2019, Nintendo announced a slightly enhanced version of the Nintendo Switch with the model number HAC-001(-01), which is identical to the original in appearance, but sports substantially longer battery life; whereas a regular Nintendo Switch has only 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life, this version has 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life. It was first released in August 2019.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model (HEG-001)
On July 6, 2021, an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch was announced with a model number of HEG-001, A 7-inch Samsung OLED screen, 64 gigabytes of internal storage, an upgraded stand that players can adjust to their liking, and a built-in LAN port on the dock. It was released on October 8th, 2021.
Sales
During its first month, 2.74 million Switches were sold worldwide. After 16 weeks on the market, the Switch sold more than 1 million copies in Japan. As of June 2017, the Nintendo Switch sold 4.70 million units worldwide. After 26 weeks, the Switch sold more than 1.5 million units in Japan, which is extremely fast; for comparison, the PS4 took 69 weeks to reach these numbers. By October, the Switch reached 390,000 units sold in France, which is a huge number to reach for a Nintendo system in a single European country during such a short span of time. As of September 2017, the Nintendo Switch sold 7.63 million units worldwide. The Nintendo Switch reached 10 million units sold worldwide by the end of November 2017. In January 2018, Nintendo announced that the Switch was the fastest-selling console in 10 months in the United States, Canada and France, with France already selling 911 000 units in 2017.
As of the end of December 2017, The Nintendo Switch sold 14.86 million copies which means the console outsold the lifetime sales of its predecessor, the Wii U, in less than a year. As of March 30, 2018, the Switch sold over 4 million units in Japan. As of the end of April 2018, the hybrid sold 17,79 million units worldwide. The Nintendo Switch reached 19.67 million units sold by the end of June 2018. As of September 30, 2018, the Nintendo Switch sold over 22.86 million units, which is more than the lifetime sales of the Nintendo GameCube.
According to Nintendo, in November 2018, the Nintendo Switch broke the US sales record previously held by the Wii during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. This five days period was also marked by a lot of sales records being broken by individual Nintendo Switch games. As of December 2018, the Nintendo Switch sold over 32,27 million units worldwide.
Nintendo Switch was known as the NX in development.
As for games, Nintendo released the list of their top ten best-selling Switch games at the end of January 2019. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe headlines the list, followed by Super Mario Odyssey. The next three were Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Pokémon Let’s Go. Number six was Splatoon 2, followed by yet another Mario title (Super Mario Party). The pack-in launch title, 1-2-Switch, came next on the list. At number 9, Mario Tennis Aces made its appearance. Kirby Star Allies rounded off the list.
The Nintendo Switch reached 36.87 million units sold by the end of July 2019. By the end of September 2019, the Nintendo Switch’s number of sold units were above 41.67 million. The Nintendo Switch sold 52.48 million units as of the end of December 2019, passing the lifetime sales of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by a few millions. The system reached 55.77 million sales by the end of March 2020. As of June 30th, 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 61.44 million units. The console reached 68.30 million units sold as of September 30, 2020. This also means that the Nintendo Switch surpassed the Nintendo Entertainment System’s lifetime sales during this period. The Nintendo Switch reached 79.87 million units sold as of December 31, 2020, outselling the lifetime sales of the Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo Switch reached 84.59 million units sold at the end of March 2021, surpassing the Game Boy Advance’s lifetime sales. The Nintendo Switch reached 89.04 million units sold by the end of June 2021. It reached 92.87 million units by the end of September 2021. It was announced that by the end of December 2021, the Nintendo Switch had sold over 6 million units total in France. Outselling the PS4 and not far behind the Wii. At the same time, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch reached 103.54 million units sold worldwide. This means that the console has outsold the lifetime sales of both the Wii and the PS1 becoming the 5th best selling console of all time. The Nintendo Switch reached 107.65 million units sold by the end of March 2022.
As of June 2022, the Nintendo Switch has reached 111.08 million units sold.
Launch Games
There were over 100 games in development for the Nintendo Switch. The system launched with the following titles:
- 1-2-Switch (2017)
- Just Dance 2017 (2016)
- Skylanders: Imaginators (2016)
- Super Bomberman R (2017)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
- Fast RMX (2017, eShop)
- Human Resource Machine (2017, eShop, previously released on Wii U in 2015)
- I am Setsuna (2017, eShop only in West)
- Little Inferno (2017, eShop, released on Wii U in 2012)
- Snipperclips — Cut it out, together! (2017, eShop)
- Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (as well as Specter of Torment) (2017, eShop)
- Vroom in the Night Sky (2017, eShop)
- World of Goo (2017, eShop, released in 2008 on Wii)
- Disgaea 5 Complete (2017, Japan only)
- Dragon Quest Heroes I + II (2017, Japan only)
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence (2017, Japan only)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris (2017, Japan only, released in 2014 on PS4, Wii U and 3DS)
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII (2017, Japan only)
- 5 Arcade Archives titles (2017, Japanese eShop, released in 2014 on PS4)
- Blaster Master Zero (2017, Japanese eShop)
- New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers (2017, Japanese eShop)
- Soldam 2 (2017, Japanese eShop)
- VOEZ (2017, Japanese & European eShop)
Ports
Technical Specifications
Nintendo Switch
| Size | 102mm x 239mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 279g (398g with Joy-Con Controllers) |
| Screen | Multi-touch screen, 6.2-inch LCD, 1280×720 resolution |
| CPU/GPU | Nvidia Tegra T210 or T214 (CPU: 1.020 GHz) (Undocked GPU: 307.2-384 MHz) (Docked GPU: 307.2-768 MHz) |
| Internal Storage | 32GB (Some of this memory will be reserved for use by the system, but storage can be expanded with microSDXC cards) |
| Memory | 4GB RAM |
| Communication Features | Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant)/Bluetooth 4.1 (TV Mode Only) Wired LAN Connection possible through Wired LAN Adapters |
| Video Output | Max resolution of 1920×1080 (1280×720 when undocked), 60 fps via HDMI for TV Mode |
| Audio Output | Supports linear PCM 5.1ch via HDMI in TV Mode |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| USB Terminals | USB Type-C Terminal (used for charging or connecting to the Nintendo Switch dock) |
| Headphone mic. jack | Stereo Output |
| MicroSD Card Slot | Compatible with MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC memory cards (update required to use SDXC cards) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer/Gyroscope/Brightness Sensor/IR Camera |
| Operating Environment | Temperature: 5°C — 35°C/Humidity: 20% — 80% |
| Internal Battery | Lithium-ion battery (4310mAh, cannot be removed) |
| Battery Life | Old: 2.5 — 6.5 hours (Nvidia Tegra T210) New: 4.5 — 9 hours (Nvidia Tegra T214) |
| Battery Charging Time | 3 hours (approx — when the console is in sleep mode) |
Bundles
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bundle
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
- Super Mario Odyssey Bundle
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Bundle
- Splatoon 2 Bundle
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch) Bundle
Gallery
Videos
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Trivia
- The first hybrid console in the standard game market.
- The first home console to utilize physical games as cartridges in over 20 years, since the Nintendo 64.
- The first Nitnedo console since the Nintendo GameCube to include the word «Nintendo» in it.
- The first console to utilize a USB Type C connector for charging.
- Nintendo’s first console to feature the player indicator light based on amount of lights instead of placement. In prior systems, the placement of 1 light out of 4 indicated the player. Now the number of lights total indicates the player number (player 2 will have 2 lights, 3 will have 3, etc.)
- Nintendo’s first region-free home console, and their overall second after the Nintendo DS.
- The Nintendo Switch is the second home console to not have a Mario game as the launch game, since 1-2-Switch released first. The first console is the Wii with Wii Sports.
- It is Nintendo’s fastest-selling and most financially successful console to date.
- The Nintendo Switch had surpassed the lifetime sales of the Wii U (13.56 million) in just 10 months since December 2017. The Switch also exceeded the lifetime sales of the Nintendo GameCube (21.74 million) and the Nintendo 64 (32.93 million), as well as other past-generation consoles.
- It is the best-selling home console of all time, surpassing the Wii.
- Since its launch, the Nintendo Switch has surpassed the sales of its competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox One.
- The phrase «THANKS2ALLGAMEFANS!» can be found written on the Pro Controller’s motherboard, just above rightstick; the message is viewable by holding down rightstick and peering through the transparent plastic in the surrounding socket.[20]
- A copy of 1984’s Golf was embedded in the Nintendo Switch firmware. Activating it requires the internal system clock to be set to July 11 – Satoru Iwata’s death anniversary – and performing his iconic «directly to you» hand gesture with both Joy-Con controllers on the main menu. If successful, a voice clip of Iwata from a Japanese 2012 presentation will confirm the input, and an emulation of Golf with added motion control support will promptly boot up.[21] Golf has significance as one of the first video games Iwata programmed himself for Nintendo while working at HAL Laboratory.[22] This version of Golf was overwritten as of the 4.0.0 update, making it unplayable.
References
- ↑ Falcão, Pedro (May 25, 2017). Jogos de Nintendo Switch e 3DS serão distribuídos no Brasil. Vice. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
- ↑ Official Nintendo website (South Korea). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ↑ Official Nintendo website (Taiwan). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ↑ ZhugeEX (December 3, 2019). «The Tencent Nintendo Switch (Official Mainland China Ver.) will launch on December 10th 2019 for RMB 2,099 ($300). It will come bundled with New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and a 1 year warranty.» Twitter. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru (March 17, 2015). Business and Capital Alliance Announcement. Nintendo. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
«[…] let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX’.» - ↑ King, Ashley (June 19, 2015). Reggie calls the Nintendo NX a home console. Wii U Daily. June 19, 2015 snapshot via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ Nintendo (October 20, 2016). First Look at Nintendo Switch. YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo (January 12, 2017). Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017. YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ↑ NintendoAmerica (October 26, 2016) «Learn more about Nintendo’s new home gaming system at the Nintendo Switch Presentation, streamed LIVE on Jan. 12«. Twitter. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/
- ↑ NintendoAmerica (January 4, 2018). «Within 10 months, #NintendoSwitch has become the fastest-selling video game system of all time in the US!» Twitter. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ Peckham, Matt (December 3, 2015) 14 Things Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima Told Us. Time. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing Ending March 2014: Question 5. Nintendo. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ IGN. (February 28, 2017) How Nintendo Made the Switch. YouTube. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Byford, Sam (December 11, 2015) Wild Nintendo patent filing shows game controller made out of a screen. The Verge. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Brian (March 1, 2017) Reggie on Switch. Nintendo Everything. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru Semi-Annual Financial Results Briefing Ending March 2015. Nintendo. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ McWhertor, Michael (January 12, 2017) Nintendo Switch will be region-free. Polygon. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Brian (December 6, 2016) Nintendo on Switch’s name. Nintendo Everything. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Dickens, Anthony (March 4, 2017). Have You Seen The Hidden Message Inside Your Switch Pro Controller? Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ↑ Flog. switchbrew.org. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ↑ Satoru Iwata – 1999 Developer Interview originally featured in Used Games magazine. shmuplations.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
External links
- Official Site
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Nintendo Switch [Edit] [Talk]
The Nintendo Switch () (known as the NX in development[5]) is an eighth generation home video game console released by Nintendo, and its first major hybrid game console as the successor to the Wii U and also Nintendo’s second eighth generation console. Despite this classification, Nintendo markets the system mostly as a home console that can be played on the go rather than a dedicated portable handheld system.[6]
It was officially announced on October 20, 2016[7] and was released simultaneously on March 3, 2017 in America, Japan, Europe, Hong Kong, and other territories.[8] It costs US $299.99 in America and JP ¥29,980 in Japan. A Nintendo Switch presentation containing more information about the system was live-streamed from January 12, 2017 at 11:00 PM to January 13, 2017 at 12:05 AM (EST).[9]
The Nintendo Switch had a hands-on event on six separate Sundays in six different cities across America prior to its release date,[10] along with Tokyo Big Sight, Japan. Pre-order retail reservations started on January 21, 2017 in Japan. As of January 12, 2017, 50 companies have collaborated with Nintendo and 80 games are currently in development for the Nintendo Switch. On January 4, 2018, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch had sold over ten million units and became the fastest-selling video game console in America within a time frame of the first ten months.[11]
During the reveal of their partnership with DeNA, Satoru Iwata revealed the new console. The Nintendo Switch is a portable system which can be docked for home play, effectively hybridizing home consoles and handhelds.
The Nintendo Switch Lite () is a smaller, more affordable version of the Nintendo Switch announced on July 10, 2019. This version was released worldwide on September 20, 2019. Unlike the original, this console is smaller and is handheld only (meaning that it cannot be docked to play on a TV screen). This console can only play games that support handheld mode. Games that require use of motion controls (e.g. Super Mario Party) are not supported due to absence of the individual gyroscpoes and accelerometers. (though regular Joy-Con controllers can be connected to play these games). The arrow buttons are also replaced by a single D-pad. Due to being handheld only, the Nintendo Switch Lite only features a maximum 720p HD resolution.
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is an enhanced revision of the Nintendo Switch that was announced on July 6, 2021 and released on October 8, 2021. It features many new improvements, such as a 7-inch OLED screen with higher contrast and saturation, improved audio with more clarity, a wider, adjustable kickstand, a dock with a dedicated LAN/Ethernet port, double the internal storage (64GB compared to the regular Switch’s 32GB.), and more.
Joy-Con Controllers can be attached to the system to work like a handheld or used separately for multiplayer. The system is cartridge-based, storing physical copies of games on Game Cards like the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS lines; while continuing this tradition for handhelds, it notably breaks the trend of home consoles storing games on less expensive discs.
Features
The Nintendo Switch is a home console/handheld hybrid device; while the main unit is a portable tablet with a multi-touch screen, it can be inserted into a special dock that connects to a monitor for at-home play.
Games are controlled using either the Joy-Con, wireless controllers that can be attached to either the sides of the tablet or a special controller bridge called the Joy-Con Grip, or a Pro Controller similar in design to the controllers used in the competing Xbox One.
The Joy-Con can be used either as standard controllers or as motion controllers analogous to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Physical games are stored on Game Cards similar to those used in the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo Switch Online
The Nintendo Switch utilizes an online service requiring a subscription fee of around $20 per year; while several features are still available without a subscription, payment is required to access most features, including online play. The service also introduces new and convenient features, like online cloud saving. The service launched on September 19, 2018. Most features are centralized around the smartphone app which also released the same day.
Subscribers are also able to access a free app which allows them to play from a selection of popular NES games for as long as they are subscribed. They released every month for a few years, then started releasing every 2-3 months. During a Nintendo Direct in September 2019, Nintendo announced Super Nintendo Entertainment System — Nintendo Switch Online, an app which allows players to play SNES games.
On October 25, 2021, Nintendo launched a higher tier of Nintendo Switch Online. Titled Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, it brought the ability to play games from the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis consoles, and limited access to the Happy Home Paradise DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Pricing started at $49.99 a year for the individual subscription and $79.99 a year for a family subscription. 1-month and 3-month options are not available for the Expansion Pack, although switching your membership over to the new tier can grant you a discount depending on how long you have until your current membership ends.
Development
On October 16, 2015, the Nintendo Development Kits for Nintendo’s new console, code named «NX», were confirmed to be distributed to various publishers.[12] This confirmed that the NX is succeeding the Wii U and 3DS and is coming out in multiple formats. There seems to be a massive boost in making them developer friendly with development portal at developer.nintendo.com with the Nintendo Dev Interface
In 2013, Nintendo chose to merge the handheld and home console development teams into a single Research & Development division,[13] due to the emerging possibility of integrating the software used by both platforms. Satoru Iwata said that it was important to «take advantage» of the established architecture of the Wii U while developing a future system, because of the ability to use common ways to program a handheld display and a full-size television display. At the time, Iwata stated that Nintendo was aiming to change the situation of developing separate versions of games for both handheld and console versions. He expressed interest in developing new hardware using the common programming of Android software, which would help alleviate the time taken to port the same game between separate handheld and home console releases.
Yoshiaki Koizumi, the general producer of the Nintendo Switch console, made sure that the hardware development team included experience from «various different sections and disciplines», including both handheld and home console design.[14] He wanted to make sure that there was a high potential of «mixing and matching» those different areas of experience, to reach a single product. Many different hardware designs were proposed and considered, including a patented elliptical touch-screen controller capable of 3D display,[15] as well as a controller which uses a camera to sense the player’s hand actions. The NX’s vision was to appeal to the on-the-go lifestyle of today’s consumers, and adapt to their needs. This lead to the concept of «switching» between a home console and a handheld.
Shinya Takahashi, the general manager of the Entertainment Planning & Development Division at Nintendo, described how the early brainstorming stages focused on the essential functions of a portable home console. The team also looked back at the accessibility and popularity of the Wii when developing the Switch, while still retaining features from other past Nintendo consoles, such as the handheld screen of the Wii U. Early on, it was also considered important for the system to come with two controllers that can be attached and brought on the go for two players to easily play together (in a similar way to how the Famicom docked two controllers on the system), although still providing a «full and satisfying single-player experience». Reggie Fils-Aime stressed the concept of «constant engagement» during Nintendo Switch planning, and appeal to an «anywhere, anytime, any way» approach.[16] The use of color was recognized to have been emphasized by Nintendo’s systems in the past, notably with the Nintendo GameCube and Super Nintendo’s multi-colored buttons. This inspired the use of red and blue Joy-Con for the Nintendo Switch, whereas the alternative grey design was aimed to appeal more to a «core gamer who is looking for something more sleek».
A notable challenge during development was «packing» all of the required technology and features into the Joy-Con’s desired weight and size, such as the IR Motion Camera, while still focusing on «communicating» the value of that technology through the software. The HD Rumble, described by Yoshiaki Koizumi as a form of «virtual reality», required a lot of collaboration and trials between the hardware and software teams in order to utilize it within game design.
In 2015, Satoru Iwata spoke about how the need for region locking wasn’t entirely due to consumer actions, but of the seller in global vendor licenses and different circumstances between countries. Iwata acknowledged that there were advantages for both the consumers and Nintendo in lifting region restrictions, and if future hardware were to use region-free games, then such problems would need to be pre-determined and subsequently solved.[17] On January 12, 2017, Nintendo announced during a livestream presentation that the Nintendo Switch’s games will be region-free.[18]
The name «Nintendo Switch» was decided due to the ability to easily switch from a television screen to a handheld screen, as well as being akin to flipping a switch to «change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives.»[19]
On April 27, 2016, Nintendo confirmed a March 2017 release with The Legend of Zelda as a launch title. Additionally, they said that the NX would not be shown at E3 2016.
Nintendo chose not to give much information about the console throughout most of its development due to concerns over industrial espionage; as a result, an overwhelming majority of the NX’s publicity prior to its official reveal focused on unconfirmed rumors and speculation from various third-party sources.
The information Nintendo had provided clarified that the NX would not truly succeed the 3DS or Wii U and that games would still be developed for the latter two consoles, as it would be impractical to discontinue both. However, the Wii U was discontinued shortly after the NX’s official reveal due to the commercial failure of the former. Additionally, Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima confirmed during a Q & A session following E3 2016 that Nintendo has been doing research on virtual reality.
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo released their official preview trailer for the console after months of little to no information; this trailer showcased the variety of ways that the NX, now referred to by its official name of the «Nintendo Switch», can be played; particular emphasis was placed on its handheld capabilities, while still showcasing the ability to use it as a home console. Despite positive fan reception, Nintendo’s stock took a significant downwards spike due to investor skepticism caused by the trailer appearing to market the device towards a combination of casual and core audiences rather than the core market alone and by the continued lack of information towards the Switch’s technical specifications.
On December 7, 2016, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime did a surprise live demonstration of the Switch during his guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; there, he allowed Fallon, a noted fan of Nintendo, to play a brief demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While nothing was stated about the technical specifications of the Switch, its live demonstration showcased its home-to-handheld transition capabilities and its ability to run Breath of the Wild at a noticeably smoother frame rate than the Wii U version, implying a greater technical prowess.
In January 2017, Nintendo discussed the Nintendo Switch in full in an hour-long presentation, detailing the system hardware, its accessories, the prices of the system, games, and accessories, the release date, and several notable games coming to the system, including Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, Fire Emblem Warriors, FIFA, and Project Octopath Traveler.
The following weekend, Nintendo had a hands-on event in New York, Japan, the United Kingdom and more with tours to travel across Europe and North America up until the system’s launch in March 2017. Additionally, numerous internet celebrities known for specializing in video game-related content (such as Emile R. Rosales-Birou, Ross O’Donnovan, and Jirard Khalil) were shipped Nintendo Switches and copies of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild early for the purpose of reviewing both the console and the game.
On March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch saw worldwide public release, with retailers describing sales of the console as being ambiguously strong. While reception of the console was mostly positive, many noted the underwhelming launch lineup, with Breath of the Wild, the system’s most anticipated game, having the added caveat of being available for the previous-generation Wii U as well as the Switch. Others also noted software issues such as spotty connectivity between the left Joy-Con and the console, stating that issues such as these marred the experience of the system. Nevertheless, consumers, reviewers, and even other video game companies generally praised Nintendo’s console.
On June 20, 2017, the 3.0 update was released, it added the possibility to choose new profile icons inspired by Splatoon 2. It also allows the user to add their friends from the Wii U, 3DS and mobile games friend lists, to register a specific channel to receive News for specific games, receive notifications when your friends go online, to find controllers within communication range by activating the vibration feature, to change the user icon order on the Home Menu, to change the system volume from the quick settings, to lower the maximum volume for headphone or speakers connected to the audio jack, to change display colors to Invert Colors or Grayscale, it allow the connecting of a USB keyboard to the dock and to type whenever the keyboard is on the screen.
The update also added a feature that suggests deletion of software data if there is insufficient space when downloading other software.
On September 20, 2017, the system was announced to be released in South Korea and Taiwan on December 1, 2017.
On October 19, 2017 the 4.0 update was released, it added the possibility to choose new profile icons inspired by Super Mario Odyssey characters as well as more The Legend of Zelda characters. The update also allow the user to capture short video for the games supporting the feature, the possibility to transfer saved data and profiles to another Nintendo Switch and the option to pre-purchase (also known as pre-order) certain games on the Nintendo eShop were also included in the update.
On April 13, 2020, the 10.0.0 update was released and brought the Bookmarks feature to the News app.
On November 30, 2020, the 11.0.0 update brought the ability to transfer screenshots to mobile via a QR code and to PC via USB, a Switch Online hub button, and profile icons celebrating Mario’s 35th anniversary.
On September 14, 2021, the 13.0.0 update was released and brought Bluetooth audio and a dock update, the latter of which was for the Switch OLED.
Hardware revisions
Nintendo Switch Lite (HDH-001)
A yellow Nintendo Switch Lite.
The Nintendo Switch Lite (model number HDH-001) is the second version of the Nintendo Switch announced on July 10, 2019 and released worldwide on September 20, 2019. Unlike the original, this console is smaller and is handheld only, lacking the ability to be docked. This console can only play games that support handheld mode. Games that require use of motion controls (e.g. Super Mario Party) are not supported due to absence of the IR Motion Camera (though regular Joy-Con controllers can be connected to play these games). The arrow buttons are also replaced by a single D-pad. Due to being handheld only, the Nintendo Switch Lite only features up to a 720p HD resolution.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is the first one-screen dedicated handheld since the Game Boy Micro in 2005.
Extended battery revision (HAC-001(-01))
On July 17, 2019, Nintendo announced a slightly enhanced version of the Nintendo Switch with the model number HAC-001(-01), which is identical to the original in appearance, but sports substantially longer battery life; whereas a regular Nintendo Switch has only 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life, this version has 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life. It was first released in August 2019.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model (HEG-001)
On July 6, 2021, an upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch was announced with a model number of HEG-001, A 7-inch Samsung OLED screen, 64 gigabytes of internal storage, an upgraded stand that players can adjust to their liking, and a built-in LAN port on the dock. It was released on October 8th, 2021.
Sales
During its first month, 2.74 million Switches were sold worldwide. After 16 weeks on the market, the Switch sold more than 1 million copies in Japan. As of June 2017, the Nintendo Switch sold 4.70 million units worldwide. After 26 weeks, the Switch sold more than 1.5 million units in Japan, which is extremely fast; for comparison, the PS4 took 69 weeks to reach these numbers. By October, the Switch reached 390,000 units sold in France, which is a huge number to reach for a Nintendo system in a single European country during such a short span of time. As of September 2017, the Nintendo Switch sold 7.63 million units worldwide. The Nintendo Switch reached 10 million units sold worldwide by the end of November 2017. In January 2018, Nintendo announced that the Switch was the fastest-selling console in 10 months in the United States, Canada and France, with France already selling 911 000 units in 2017.
As of the end of December 2017, The Nintendo Switch sold 14.86 million copies which means the console outsold the lifetime sales of its predecessor, the Wii U, in less than a year. As of March 30, 2018, the Switch sold over 4 million units in Japan. As of the end of April 2018, the hybrid sold 17,79 million units worldwide. The Nintendo Switch reached 19.67 million units sold by the end of June 2018. As of September 30, 2018, the Nintendo Switch sold over 22.86 million units, which is more than the lifetime sales of the Nintendo GameCube.
According to Nintendo, in November 2018, the Nintendo Switch broke the US sales record previously held by the Wii during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. This five days period was also marked by a lot of sales records being broken by individual Nintendo Switch games. As of December 2018, the Nintendo Switch sold over 32,27 million units worldwide.
Nintendo Switch was known as the NX in development.
As for games, Nintendo released the list of their top ten best-selling Switch games at the end of January 2019. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe headlines the list, followed by Super Mario Odyssey. The next three were Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Pokémon Let’s Go. Number six was Splatoon 2, followed by yet another Mario title (Super Mario Party). The pack-in launch title, 1-2-Switch, came next on the list. At number 9, Mario Tennis Aces made its appearance. Kirby Star Allies rounded off the list.
The Nintendo Switch reached 36.87 million units sold by the end of July 2019. By the end of September 2019, the Nintendo Switch’s number of sold units were above 41.67 million. The Nintendo Switch sold 52.48 million units as of the end of December 2019, passing the lifetime sales of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System by a few millions. The system reached 55.77 million sales by the end of March 2020. As of June 30th, 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 61.44 million units. The console reached 68.30 million units sold as of September 30, 2020. This also means that the Nintendo Switch surpassed the Nintendo Entertainment System’s lifetime sales during this period. The Nintendo Switch reached 79.87 million units sold as of December 31, 2020, outselling the lifetime sales of the Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo Switch reached 84.59 million units sold at the end of March 2021, surpassing the Game Boy Advance’s lifetime sales. The Nintendo Switch reached 89.04 million units sold by the end of June 2021. It reached 92.87 million units by the end of September 2021. It was announced that by the end of December 2021, the Nintendo Switch had sold over 6 million units total in France. Outselling the PS4 and not far behind the Wii. At the same time, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Switch reached 103.54 million units sold worldwide. This means that the console has outsold the lifetime sales of both the Wii and the PS1 becoming the 5th best selling console of all time. The Nintendo Switch reached 107.65 million units sold by the end of March 2022.
As of June 2022, the Nintendo Switch has reached 111.08 million units sold.
Launch Games
There were over 100 games in development for the Nintendo Switch. The system launched with the following titles:
- 1-2-Switch (2017)
- Just Dance 2017 (2016)
- Skylanders: Imaginators (2016)
- Super Bomberman R (2017)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
- Fast RMX (2017, eShop)
- Human Resource Machine (2017, eShop, previously released on Wii U in 2015)
- I am Setsuna (2017, eShop only in West)
- Little Inferno (2017, eShop, released on Wii U in 2012)
- Snipperclips — Cut it out, together! (2017, eShop)
- Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (as well as Specter of Torment) (2017, eShop)
- Vroom in the Night Sky (2017, eShop)
- World of Goo (2017, eShop, released in 2008 on Wii)
- Disgaea 5 Complete (2017, Japan only)
- Dragon Quest Heroes I + II (2017, Japan only)
- Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence (2017, Japan only)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris (2017, Japan only, released in 2014 on PS4, Wii U and 3DS)
- Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII (2017, Japan only)
- 5 Arcade Archives titles (2017, Japanese eShop, released in 2014 on PS4)
- Blaster Master Zero (2017, Japanese eShop)
- New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers (2017, Japanese eShop)
- Soldam 2 (2017, Japanese eShop)
- VOEZ (2017, Japanese & European eShop)
Ports
Technical Specifications
Nintendo Switch
| Size | 102mm x 239mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 279g (398g with Joy-Con Controllers) |
| Screen | Multi-touch screen, 6.2-inch LCD, 1280×720 resolution |
| CPU/GPU | Nvidia Tegra T210 or T214 (CPU: 1.020 GHz) (Undocked GPU: 307.2-384 MHz) (Docked GPU: 307.2-768 MHz) |
| Internal Storage | 32GB (Some of this memory will be reserved for use by the system, but storage can be expanded with microSDXC cards) |
| Memory | 4GB RAM |
| Communication Features | Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant)/Bluetooth 4.1 (TV Mode Only) Wired LAN Connection possible through Wired LAN Adapters |
| Video Output | Max resolution of 1920×1080 (1280×720 when undocked), 60 fps via HDMI for TV Mode |
| Audio Output | Supports linear PCM 5.1ch via HDMI in TV Mode |
| Speakers | Stereo |
| USB Terminals | USB Type-C Terminal (used for charging or connecting to the Nintendo Switch dock) |
| Headphone mic. jack | Stereo Output |
| MicroSD Card Slot | Compatible with MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC memory cards (update required to use SDXC cards) |
| Sensors | Accelerometer/Gyroscope/Brightness Sensor/IR Camera |
| Operating Environment | Temperature: 5°C — 35°C/Humidity: 20% — 80% |
| Internal Battery | Lithium-ion battery (4310mAh, cannot be removed) |
| Battery Life | Old: 2.5 — 6.5 hours (Nvidia Tegra T210) New: 4.5 — 9 hours (Nvidia Tegra T214) |
| Battery Charging Time | 3 hours (approx — when the console is in sleep mode) |
Bundles
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bundle
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
- Super Mario Odyssey Bundle
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Bundle
- Splatoon 2 Bundle
- The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Switch) Bundle
Gallery
Videos
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Main Page: Nintendo Switch/videos |
Trivia
- The first hybrid console in the standard game market.
- The first home console to utilize physical games as cartridges in over 20 years, since the Nintendo 64.
- The first Nitnedo console since the Nintendo GameCube to include the word «Nintendo» in it.
- The first console to utilize a USB Type C connector for charging.
- Nintendo’s first console to feature the player indicator light based on amount of lights instead of placement. In prior systems, the placement of 1 light out of 4 indicated the player. Now the number of lights total indicates the player number (player 2 will have 2 lights, 3 will have 3, etc.)
- Nintendo’s first region-free home console, and their overall second after the Nintendo DS.
- The Nintendo Switch is the second home console to not have a Mario game as the launch game, since 1-2-Switch released first. The first console is the Wii with Wii Sports.
- It is Nintendo’s fastest-selling and most financially successful console to date.
- The Nintendo Switch had surpassed the lifetime sales of the Wii U (13.56 million) in just 10 months since December 2017. The Switch also exceeded the lifetime sales of the Nintendo GameCube (21.74 million) and the Nintendo 64 (32.93 million), as well as other past-generation consoles.
- It is the best-selling home console of all time, surpassing the Wii.
- Since its launch, the Nintendo Switch has surpassed the sales of its competitor, Microsoft’s Xbox One.
- The phrase «THANKS2ALLGAMEFANS!» can be found written on the Pro Controller’s motherboard, just above rightstick; the message is viewable by holding down rightstick and peering through the transparent plastic in the surrounding socket.[20]
- A copy of 1984’s Golf was embedded in the Nintendo Switch firmware. Activating it requires the internal system clock to be set to July 11 – Satoru Iwata’s death anniversary – and performing his iconic «directly to you» hand gesture with both Joy-Con controllers on the main menu. If successful, a voice clip of Iwata from a Japanese 2012 presentation will confirm the input, and an emulation of Golf with added motion control support will promptly boot up.[21] Golf has significance as one of the first video games Iwata programmed himself for Nintendo while working at HAL Laboratory.[22] This version of Golf was overwritten as of the 4.0.0 update, making it unplayable.
References
- ↑ Falcão, Pedro (May 25, 2017). Jogos de Nintendo Switch e 3DS serão distribuídos no Brasil. Vice. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
- ↑ Official Nintendo website (South Korea). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ↑ Official Nintendo website (Taiwan). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- ↑ ZhugeEX (December 3, 2019). «The Tencent Nintendo Switch (Official Mainland China Ver.) will launch on December 10th 2019 for RMB 2,099 ($300). It will come bundled with New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and a 1 year warranty.» Twitter. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru (March 17, 2015). Business and Capital Alliance Announcement. Nintendo. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
«[…] let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX’.» - ↑ King, Ashley (June 19, 2015). Reggie calls the Nintendo NX a home console. Wii U Daily. June 19, 2015 snapshot via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ Nintendo (October 20, 2016). First Look at Nintendo Switch. YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo (January 12, 2017). Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017. YouTube. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ↑ NintendoAmerica (October 26, 2016) «Learn more about Nintendo’s new home gaming system at the Nintendo Switch Presentation, streamed LIVE on Jan. 12«. Twitter. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com/switch/events/
- ↑ NintendoAmerica (January 4, 2018). «Within 10 months, #NintendoSwitch has become the fastest-selling video game system of all time in the US!» Twitter. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ Peckham, Matt (December 3, 2015) 14 Things Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima Told Us. Time. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing Ending March 2014: Question 5. Nintendo. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ IGN. (February 28, 2017) How Nintendo Made the Switch. YouTube. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Byford, Sam (December 11, 2015) Wild Nintendo patent filing shows game controller made out of a screen. The Verge. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Brian (March 1, 2017) Reggie on Switch. Nintendo Everything. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Iwata, Satoru Semi-Annual Financial Results Briefing Ending March 2015. Nintendo. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ McWhertor, Michael (January 12, 2017) Nintendo Switch will be region-free. Polygon. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Brian (December 6, 2016) Nintendo on Switch’s name. Nintendo Everything. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ↑ Dickens, Anthony (March 4, 2017). Have You Seen The Hidden Message Inside Your Switch Pro Controller? Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
- ↑ Flog. switchbrew.org. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
- ↑ Satoru Iwata – 1999 Developer Interview originally featured in Used Games magazine. shmuplations.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
External links
- Official Site
From NintendoWiki, your source on Nintendo information. By fans, for fans.
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The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s seventh major home console platform[9][10], following the Wii U. The system is described as being a hybrid handheld and home console device, allowing players to take the system and play home console games on the go.[11] Officially unveiled in October 2016, the Nintendo Switch launched worldwide simultaneously in March 2017[12][13][5].
Contents
- 1 Production
- 2 Features
- 2.1 System software
- 2.2 Memory
- 2.3 Online
- 2.4 System specs
- 3 Games
- 4 Controllers and accessories
- 4.1 Joy-Con
- 4.2 Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
- 4.3 amiibo
- 4.4 Joy-Con Wheel
- 4.5 Joy-Con AA Battery Pack
- 4.6 Adjustable Charging Stand
- 4.7 Nintendo Labo
- 4.8 Ring-Con and Leg Strap
- 5 System updates
- 6 Availability
- 7 Reception
- 7.1 Announcement / Post-announcement
- 7.2 Launch
- 7.3 Post-launch
- 8 Hardware revisions
- 8.1 Nintendo Switch Lite
- 8.2 HAC-001(-01)
- 8.3 Nintendo Switch (OLED model)
- 9 Gallery
- 10 External links
- 11 References
Production
Nintendo began working on concepts for its next system following the release of the Wii U in late 2012[14], with the system concept being finalized and development starting in late 2013.[14][15][16] Satoru Iwata, Tatsumi Kimishima, Genyo Takeda, and Shigeru Miyamoto created a strategy to revitalize Nintendo’s business, including entering the mobile market, creating a new dedicated game platform, and «maximizing» the company’s intellectual property.[16] According to Tatsumi Kimishima, development began with the question, «What kind of new experience can we create?»[16] The system designers initially struggled to come up with a concept for the system, until looking back at the company’s history and seeing that «[Nintendo’s] really been an amusement provider.»[15] Afterward, the concept of playing games anywhere with anyone came about.[15] With the overall concept set, many of the basic features of the system came about quickly afterward; according to designer Yoshiaki Koizumi, the concept of having two controllers that could attach to the console was one of the first decisions to be made.[15] The name «Switch» refers not only to the console’s ability to swap between portable and TV modes, but also to the idea that it will be «a ‘switch’ that will flip, and change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives.»[17]
To show that Nintendo would continue in the dedicated gaming hardware business after announcing a partnership with DeNA to enter the mobile market, Satoru Iwata announced that a new Nintendo platform «with a brand-new concept» was in development during an investor’s briefing in March 2015, referred to under the codename «NX».[18] During a later investor’s meeting in May 2015, Iwata stated that the company would not give specific details or reveal the NX until 2016.[19] Succeeding Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima would later state that the new hardware would not be a successor to either the Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family[20], and reconfirmed that the device is based around a new concept.[20][18] The Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara also stated that the console «is trying to change what it means to be a home console device or a hand-held device».[21] During an investor’s meeting in April 2016, Kimishima stated that the hardware would be priced to not sell at a loss at launch[22], later stating in July that the company plans on the Nintendo Switch making up for declining Wii U sales.[23]
Over time, rumors began to surface about the new console. One such rumor was that the device would run on a version of the Android operating system, which was later debunked by Nintendo.[24] According to Shigeru Miyamoto at a June 2016 investor’s meeting, the NX was not showcased at E3 2016 as the company was worried about potential imitators if info was released too early.[25][26] In spite of this, however, according to Bethesda’s Todd Howard, the system was still demoed in private at the event.[27]
The console was finally revealed as the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2016.[11] When asked if the system would impact sales of the Nintendo 3DS due to its portable nature, a Nintendo representative answered that, «Nintendo Switch is a home gaming system first and foremost.»[28] The company has also announced a «Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017» event on January 12, 2017, in Tokyo (livestreamed worldwide) to reveal more about the system, including its launch date, launch titles, and price, as well as announcing a number of hands-on events worldwide to take place pre-launch.[29]
At an investor’s briefing in February 2017, Tatsumi Kimishima stated that two million units would be shipped for the console’s launch.[30] Reggie Fils-Amie also said that the Nintendo Switch will not face any supply issues, which happened with the Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition.[31] For the system’s launch month, 2.74 million systems were shipped worldwide.[32] According to a Nintendo spokesperson, Nintendo shipped several systems via plane (a costlier measure by up to an additional ¥5,000/US$45 per unit) in order to more quickly meet demand at launch.[33] Following the launch, Kimishima said in the company’s March 2017 fiscal year briefing that the company planned to increase production and improve supply for the holiday season, and that they expected to ship over 10 million Nintendo Switch units and 35 million games by March 2018.[32] However, in investors’ materials released on October 30, Nintendo announced that it had revised its sales forecasts for the console, with plans to ship over 14 million hardware units and over 50 million games by March 2018.[34]
Kimishima has stated that he expects the console’s lifetime sales to match those of the Wii (which sold over 101 million units).[35]
Features
The main feature of the Nintendo Switch is its ability to be played both as a dedicated home console and as handheld device[11], immediately transitioning from displaying on the television to the system’s built-in screen.[13] The Nintendo Switch itself is a tablet-like device featuring a 6.2-inch capacitive multi-touch screen with a maximum display resolution of 720p.[36] This screen uses Immersion Corporation’s «TouchSense» technology, providing haptic feedback when the touch screen is used.[37] On the top of the device is a power button, volume buttons, a 3.5mm headphone port, a covered Game Card slot, and on the back of the device is a kickstand[13] with a microSD card slot underneath.[36] On the sides of the system are rails that connect the Joy-Con controllers to the system.
The system is powered by a rechargeable 3.7 volt, 4310mAh/16Wh lithium-ion battery (HAC-003).[38] The Nintendo Switch’s battery life when removed from the dock is officially stated to range from 2.5 to 6.5 hours, varying by software and usage[5]; Nintendo have commented that the system is designed to allow users to play for as long as possible «comfortably».[39] The system can be recharged using a USB Type-C cable[36], the type used for the system’s AC Adapter (HAC-002).
The Nintendo Switch has three «play styles». In «TV Mode», the Nintendo Switch is connected to the Nintendo Switch Dock (HAC-007), allowing players to play on a television screen.[5] The dock features two USB 2.0 ports on the front, and an LED indicating when the system is outputting to the television.[36] Opening up the back of the dock reveals an additional USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port, and a USB Type-C port to connect the AC Adapter; the AC Adapter must be connected to the dock in order for the system to output to a television. When docked, the system is capable of up to 1080p video output.[36] In «Tabletop Mode», the Nintendo Switch is stood up on a surface using its kickstand while the Joy-Con are used separately, either for single-player or multiplayer.[5] Finally, in «Handheld Mode», the Joy-Con are attached to both sides of the Nintendo Switch in a form factor similar to the Wii U GamePad.[5] Up to eight systems can be connected for local play.[5]
Using the Capture button, players can capture a screenshot of their gameplay by pressing the button, or capture video clips of up to 30 seconds in length by holding the button, which can be accessed in the album menu. From the album, players are able to edit images by adding text with a variety of colors, positions, and sizes, and share it on social media sites.[40] Videos can also be edited by trimming the length from the beginning and ending; edited videos are saved separately from the original. Images and videos can also be saved to an SD card or deleted.[41] Up to 1,000 images can be saved onto the system’s internal memory, while up to 10,000 can be saved to a microSD card.[42][43] Additionally, up to 100 videos can be saved to the system’s internal memory, and up to 1,000 can be saved to a microSD card.[44]
The system is not backwards compatible with controllers and accessories with any previous systems. However, compatibility with some controllers may be considered for future updates.[40]
System software
The Nintendo Switch HOME Menu.
The Nintendo Switch HOME Menu displays a lineup of the user’s most recently played software, ending with an «All Software» option that appears at the end of the list when more than twelve pieces of software have been downloaded.[45] At the bottom of the menu are six options: News, the Nintendo eShop, the Album, the Controllers menu for controller settings, the system settings, and the sleep mode button. When starting game software or the Nintendo eShop, the player is able to select which account is accessing the software.
At the top of the screen are a list of user icons, which allow players to view their profile and gameplay, view their friends list, add friends, and adjust user settings.
Memory
The Nintendo Switch features 32 GB of internal NAND memory.[36][2][40] The total storage capacity for the system can be expanded with a compatible microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC card up to 2TB in size.[2][46] SD cards can be used to store downloaded software, software updates and add-on content, and captured screenshots and video; save data is stored on the system memory and cannot be transferred to an SD card.[40][47]
The system does not support USB-based storage options such as external hard drives, as being unable to take USB save data on the go conflicts with the portable aspect of the system. However, the company has stated that they have considered whether or not to add this feature in a future update.[46][40]
Online
Rather than Nintendo Network, the system uses a new online service titled Nintendo Switch Online, a paid subscription-based online service based around the Nintendo Account service.[48] Under the paid subscription service, users are able to play online with each other, as well as use the online lobby and voice chat application on smart devices.[48] Subscribers are also given exclusive offers and deals, access to the Save Data Cloud to upload and retrieve save data, and access to the Nintendo Switch Online — Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System applications, allowing users to play classic games with added online play.[48] Online play was initially available for free until 2018, while a free version of the voice chat and lobby app was released in summer 2017.[48]
Other internet-based services, such as the Nintendo eShop, sharing images, and adding and managing friends can be accessed without requiring a paid subscription; however, a Nintendo Account is still required to access any online features.[48] The Nintendo eShop region available to the user depends on the country they have selected for their Nintendo Account.[40]
System specs
The Nintendo Switch uses an Nvidia Tegra X1 system on a chip, featuring a CPU powered by ARM Cortex-A57 cores and four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, and a GM20B Maxwell GPU core.[4][38] Nvidia would only state before launch that the system was powered by a custom, «high-efficiency scalable» Tegra processor, with a GPU «based on the same architecture as the world’s top-performing GeForce gaming graphics cards», and a custom «NVN» API «built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.»[3] The system features 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM.[38]
Games
The Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo console after the Nintendo GameCube to not use a variant of the Game Disc format for physical releases, instead opting for the Game Card format similar to those used with Nintendo’s handheld devices since the Nintendo DS.[49] Basic Game Cards are said to be able to hold 16 GB, and are non-rewriteable.[46] In addition, the Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo home console to be region free, allowing users who purchase a game in another region to play that copy of the game on any Nintendo Switch system.[5]
In Japan, the hardware launched with twenty titles, of which nine were released at retail, while the other eleven were released digitally on the Nintendo eShop. In other territories, the system launched with five retail titles. In North America, five games were released on the Nintendo eShop at launch for a total of ten games at launch, while in Europe fourteen titles were released for a total of nineteen games. For the system’s South Korean release, twelve games were available at launch.[6]
| Nintendo Switch launch titles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NA | JP | PAL | KOR |
| Physical / digital | 1-2-Switch Disgaea 5 Complete Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star Monster Hunter XX: Nintendo Switch Version NBA 2K18 Puyo Puyo Tetris Resident Evil Revelations Sonic Forces Super Bomberman R Super Mario Odyssey The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |
||
| 1-2-Switch Just Dance 2017 Skylanders Imaginators Super Bomberman R The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
1-2-Switch Disgaea 5 Complete Dragon Quest Heroes I•II for Nintendo Switch I Am Setsuna Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with Power Up Kit Puyo Puyo Tetris Super Bomberman R The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
1-2-Switch Just Dance 2017 Skylanders Imaginators Super Bomberman R The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
|
| Digital only | |||
| FAST RMX I Am Setsuna Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment Snipperclips — Cut it out, together! |
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 3 ACA NEOGEO Shock Troopers ACA NEOGEO The King of Fighters ’98 ACA NEOGEO Waku Waku 7 ACA NEOGEO World Heroes Perfect Blaster Master Zero Othello New Frontier Days ~Founding Pioneers~ Snipperclips — Cut it out, together! Soldam: Mu Kaika Sengen VOEZ Vroom in the night sky |
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 3 ACA NEOGEO Shock Troopers ACA NEOGEO The King of Fighters ’98 ACA NEOGEO Waku Waku 7 ACA NEOGEO World Heroes Perfect FAST RMX I Am Setsuna Othello New Frontier Days ~Founding Pioneers~ Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment Snipperclips — Cut it out, together! Voez Vroom in the night sky |
The Nintendo Switch is not backwards compatible with games for any previous systems.[39][40]
Controllers and accessories
Joy-Con
The Joy-Con (Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R)) are the primary controllers for the Nintendo Switch. They can either be attached to the Nintendo Switch on both sides of the system, detached from the system to use without holding the screen or as two individual controllers, or attached to the Joy-Con Grip for a form factor more similar to a standard controller.[13] Both Joy-Con feature an analog stick, four face buttons (the d-pad on Joy-Con L and the standard face buttons on Joy-Con R), standard shoulder buttons and triggers, and a pair of «SL» and «SR» shoulder buttons on the rail.[36] Joy-Con L also features a Minus button and a Capture button[36][5], while Joy-Con R has a Plus button, a Home button, and NFC functionality.[36][5]
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is an alternative controller for the console, designed after a more traditional controller.[11] The controller can be used with the Nintendo Switch regardless of whether or not it is attached to the dock.
amiibo
amiibo are compatible with the Nintendo Switch. Both the right Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feature a built-in NFC touchpoint.[5]
Joy-Con Wheel
The Joy-Con Wheel is an accessory released alongside Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Similar to the Wii Wheel, the Joy-Con Wheel is a wheel-shaped shell that a Joy-Con can be fitted into, giving it the form factor of a steering wheel. The Joy-Con Wheel also features plus and minus buttons as well as two triggers on the back.
Joy-Con AA Battery Pack
The Joy-Con AA Battery Pack is an attachment for the Joy-Con when separated from the Nintendo Switch, released in June 2017 alongside ARMS. The expansion attaches to the back of the Joy-Con and allows users to extend the battery life of the controllers using AA batteries.[50]
Adjustable Charging Stand
The Adjustable Charging Stand is an external stand and charging station for the Nintendo Switch. The device plugs into the system using the charging port, and includes a port to plug in the AC Adapter and an adjustable stand to change the viewing angle of the system.[51]
Nintendo Labo
Nintendo Labo is a line of cardboard accessories designed to interact with the Nintendo Switch. The first Nintendo Labo kits launched in April 2018. Each kit features a set of do-it-yourself projects known as «Toy-Con» that must be assembled, and dedicated software featuring games that utilize the console and Toy-Con in different ways.
Following the release of the Nintendo Labo VR Kit, a number of other games also received updates to add compatibility with the Toy-Con VR Goggles.
Ring-Con and Leg Strap
The Ring-Con and Leg Strap are a set of accessories released alongside Ring Fit Adventure as the primary controllers for the game. The accessories are utilized by attaching the Joy-Con to them, and are used in-game to perform a variety of exercises and movements.
System updates
| Version Number | Date Released | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0.0 | March 2, 2017 | Allows players to access the console’s online features, adds the ability to register friends through friend codes[52], allows the console to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots that require authentication.[53] |
| 2.1.0[54] | March 22, 2017 | System stability improvements. |
| 2.2.0[55] | April 17, 2017 | System stability improvements. |
| 2.3.0[56] | May 15, 2017 | System stability improvements. |
| 3.0.0[57] | June 19, 2017 | Allows users to register channels in News to receive news on specific games, allows users to add friends from their Nintendo 3DS and Wii U friends lists, allows users to receive notifications when friends are online, adds the ability to find paired and connected controllers using rumble, allows users to change the user icon order on the main menu, adds additional user icons, adds the ability to adjust the system volume from quick settings, allows users to adjust the maximum volume while using headphones, adds display color changes, allows users to use a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with wired connection over USB, allows users to update controller firmware, adds a prompt to delete software data if there is insufficient storage space on the console. |
| 3.0.1[58] | July 31, 2017 | Fixes issues with the battery percentage display. |
| 3.0.2[59] | September 5, 2017 | Added online features in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru, system stability improvements. |
| 4.0.0 | October 18, 2017 | Adds the ability to capture video clips of gameplay in compatible games, adds new user icons, adds the ability to transfer user and save data to another Nintendo Switch, adds the ability to pre-purchase games on the Nintendo eShop if available, updates to the News tab, allows users to update software by matching their software version with other local users, changes to internet connection specifications. |
| 4.0.1 | October 25, 2017 | Changes HDMI connection specifications to match version 3.0.2 to fix video and audio issues. |
| 4.1.0 | December 4, 2017 | Fixes an issue causing motion controls to respond incorrectly in compatible software. |
| Official change log |
Availability
The Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo console to have a simultaneous launch in all key markets, which include Japan, North America, and Europe. Nintendo has yet to officially release the console in certain significant gaming markets such as India, but Nintendo has been gradually launching the console into more markets.
On March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch was officially released in 62 markets, which include Albania, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States (including U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico), and Venezuela, the widest launch for any home or portable video game console.
On August 15, 2017, the Nintendo Switch was officially released in Argentina.[60]
On December 1, 2017, the Nintendo Switch was officially released in South Korea[61] and Taiwan.[62] The launch in those territories brought official language support for Chinese (traditional and simplified) and Korean on the Nintendo Switch, with various games receiving support since October 2017, coinciding with the release of version 4.0.0 of the Nintendo Switch operating software.
On November 30, 2018, Nintendo’s Singapore-based distributor, Maxsoft, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in the Philippines and Thailand.[63]
In early 2019, Nintendo of Europe signed a partnership with Tel Aviv-based distributor TorGaming Ltd., making them Nintendo’s official distributor in Israel. TorGaming began launching their products in the market, including the Nintendo Switch, on March 1, 2019.[64]
Nintendo’s Dubai-based distributor, Active Gulf, officially launched the Nintendo Switch in Oman on September 27, 2019.[65]
In April 2019, Nintendo announced a partnership with Chinese conglomerate Tencent to distribute the Nintendo Switch in mainland China. The system would be released on December 10, 2019.[66]
Although Nintendo pulled out of Brazil back in 2015 due to high tariffs, the Nintendo Switch was officially released in Brazil in May 2017 after Nintendo had originally assigned NC Games as their local distributor, which made the launch in Brazil possible.[67] However, NC Games silently went defunct in circa 2019. In August 2020, Nintendo of America announced that they would restart Nintendo Switch imports directly into Brazil,[68] starting on September 18, 2020.[69]
Circa 2020, Nintendo officially recognised the Malaysian market for the Nintendo Switch, although Nintendo’s official Malaysian distributor M.M.Soft has been de facto distributing the console since March 2017.
Reception
Announcement / Post-announcement
At its reveal, many of Nintendo’s announced partners showed their interest in and praised the Nintendo Switch. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said that the Nintendo Switch «could again redefine the way we play games.»[70] Bethesda announced that they were «trilled» to be a partner for Nintendo Switch, stating that the console «presents exciting opportunities for our studios & fans.»[71]
When asked about his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch on Twitter, Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, replied by stating, «I’m always impressed with [Nintendo’s] ability to state a bold vision and build a product that delivers on that vision.»[72] Xbox marketing boss Aaron Greenberg also commented that the Nintendo Switch, «looks like fun!» and praised Nintendo’s innovation in the industry.[72] Shuhei Yoshida, then-president of Sony’s SIE Worldwide Studios, has said that the Nintendo Switch is «a very unique system,» and that it will be «good for core gamers.»[73]
Business analysts were more skeptical of the device and Nintendo’s direction with the console, with many citing the portable nature of the system as its core selling point and the potential target audience. Dr. Serkan Toto questioned the console’s level of innovation and whether or not the Nintendo Switch’s hybrid concept would be able to attract a wide enough audience, asking, «who else but die-hard Nintendo fans will buy the Switch?»[74][75] Others were also concerned with other aspects of the console that had yet to be announced at the time, such as the device’s battery life, price point, and third-party support.[76]
Within twenty-four hours of its posting, the «First Look at Nintendo Switch» trailer became the most-viewed video on Nintendo of America’s YouTube channel[77] and the top trending video on YouTube overall[78], surpassing 10 million views. In an investor’s briefing on October 26, the company revealed that the trailer had been viewed more than 23 million times on its official YouTube channels alone, and that reactions were more than 95% positive.[79][80]
Launch
According to SuperData, the Nintendo Switch sold 1.5 million total units worldwide on its first week.[81] SuperData would later report that over 2.4 million units had been sold by the end of March.[82]
In Japan, the Nintendo Switch sold 330,637 units over the weekend of its launch.[83] According to Dengeki, the system sold through 95% of its initial shipment.[84] Within four weeks of the system’s release, the Nintendo Switch sold over 500,000 units in Japan, reaching the milestone three weeks faster than the competing PlayStation 4 did, but one week slower than the Wii U.[85]
Without disclosing exact sales figures, Reggie Fils-Aimé has stated that, in North America, the Nintendo Switch had the highest two-day launch sales of any Nintendo console[86], and was still the best-selling after five days.[87] According to SuperData, exact US sales of the Nintendo Switch on its first week were around 500,000 units.[81] Nintendo would later announce that, according to NPD Group sales data, the Nintendo Switch sold 906,000 units by the end of March, placing the system as one of the fastest-selling of any Nintendo system and one of the fastest-selling systems of all time.[88][89] The Nintendo Switch was also the best-selling game hardware in March 2017.[90]
The Nintendo Switch also became the best-selling Nintendo console at launch in Europe.[91] In the UK, the Nintendo Switch sold 80,000 units over the weekend of its launch.[92] In France, over 105,000 systems were sold at launch, selling better than any other console at launch.[93] By the end of March 2017, the console had sold over 137,185 units in the UK.[94]
Post-launch
In December 2017, it was announced that, according to Nintendo’s internal sales figures, the Nintendo Switch had sold over 10 million units worldwide.[95] In the United States, the console was announced to have sold over 4.8 million units in ten months, making it the fastest-selling console of all time in the region, beating the Wii.[96][97]
Hardware revisions
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch Lite is the first major revision for the Nintendo Switch hardware, released in September 2019. Designed to be a purely portable, handheld model of the Nintendo Switch, the device features integrated buttons and improved battery life, while lacking the ability to connect to a television.[98]
HAC-001(-01)
In July 2019, it was confirmed that a revision of the original Nintendo Switch hardware, model number HAC-001(-01), would be entering production.[99] Released in August 2019 in most regions and in September 2019 in Europe, the updated model uses a smaller, more power-efficient variant of the Tegra X1 and more efficient LPDDR4X RAM chips that allow for improved battery life, lasting approximately 4.5 to 9 hours undocked depending on the software.[100][101]
Nintendo Switch (OLED model)
The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) is the second major revision for the Nintendo Switch hardware, released in October 2021. Its main selling point is the new wider OLED display, a new adjustable stand for tabletop mode, enhanced audio, increased storage capacity, and a new dock sporting a built-in LAN port.[102]
Gallery
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The Nintendo Switch in «TV Mode» with Joy-Con attached to the Joy-Con Grip.
-
The Nintendo Switch in «Handheld Mode».
-
Separating the Nintendo Switch from the Nintendo Switch Dock.
-
Using the Joy-Con controllers for multiplayer with two Nintendo Switch units.
-
The various hardware and functions of the Nintendo Switch.
External links
 Nintendo Switch on other NIWA Wikis: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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- Nintendo Switch on Wikipedia
- Official North American website
- Official Japanese website
- Official European / UK website
- Official Australian website
- Official Korean website
- Official Hong Kong website
- Official Taiwanese website
- Official mainland China website
References
- ↑ Top Selling Title Sales Units. Nintendo. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Switch supports up to 256 GB microSD cards. Nintendo Everything (January 13, 2017). Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 NVIDIA Technology Powers New Home Gaming System, Nintendo Switch. Nvidia (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nintendo Switch Teardown. Tech Insights (March 3, 2017). Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017. Nintendo (YouTube; January 12, 2017). Retrieved January 13, 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Switch and Play 게임 생활을 보다 액티브하게! 한국닌텐도, 「Nintendo Switch™」 12월 1일 국내 정식 발매 결정. Nintendo of Korea (September 20, 2017). Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ↑ Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. Nintendo. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Consolidated Results for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2022. Nintendo (November 8, 2022). Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ↑ Reggie calls the Nintendo NX a home console. Wii U Daily (June 19, 2015). Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ↑ PR — First Glimpse of Nintendo NX Coming Tomorrow at 7 a.m. PT. GoNintendo (October 19, 2016). Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Nintendo Switch world premier demonstrates new entertainment experiences from a home gaming system. Nintendo (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ Earnings Release: Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2016. Nintendo (April 27, 2016). Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 First Look at Nintendo Switch. YouTube (Nintendo; October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Nintendo talk about the origins of the Switch concept. Japanese Nintendo (December 24, 2017). Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Nintendo to Gamers: Try Staring at Each Other, Not the Screen. The Wall Street Journal (January 16, 2017). Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Nintendo’s Big Switch: Q&A With President Tatsumi Kimishima. Bloomberg (October 28, 2016). Retrieved October 28, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo on Switch’s name, goal with the announcement trailer. Nintendo Everything (December 6, 2016). Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 March 17, Wed. 2015 Presentation Title. Nintendo (March 17, 2015). Retrieved June 16, 2015.
- ↑ No NX Reveal at E3, Nintendo Says. GameSpot (May 11, 2015). Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Nintendo President: NX Is Not the Successor «to the Wii U nor to the 3DS». IGN (May 16, 2016). Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo NX Will «Change The Concept» Of Home Console And Handheld Gaming, Says Pokémon Company President. Nintendo Life (September 20, 2016). Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- ↑ Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2016 — Q & A. Nintendo (April 28, 2016). Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ↑ Wii U was expected to sell 100 million units. GamesIndustry.biz (July 7, 2016). Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ↑ No, Nintendo’s NX Will Not Be Running On Android. Forbes (June 2, 2015). Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ Report: Nintendo’s fear of imitators kept NX out of E3. Polygon (June 29, 2016). Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Didn’t Show NX at E3 Because It Was Worried About Copycats, Says Miyamoto. GameSpot (June 29, 2016). Retrieved October 22, 2016).
- ↑ Q&A: ‘Skyrim’ Creator Todd Howard Talks Switch, VR and Why We’ll Have to Wait for Another ‘Elder Scrolls’. Glixel (November 21, 2016). Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo: Switch is a home gaming system ‘first and foremost’. Polygon (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch event to reveal further details in mid-January. Polygon (October 26, 2016). Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ↑ Nine Months Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2017. Nintendo (January 31, 2017). Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo’s Boss Promises the Switch Won’t Have the NES Classic’s Supply Issues. Wired (January 13, 2017). Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2017. Nintendo (April 28, 2017). Retrieved April 28, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Using Costly Air Freight To Meet Demand For Switch Faster. Nintendo Life (May 1, 2017). Retrieved May 1, 2017.
- ↑ Outline of consolidated financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2017 and consolidated earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. Nintendo (October 30, 2017). Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo president expects Switch sales to match the Wii. Gamasutra (February 2, 2017). Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 36.7 36.8 Technical specs on the official Nintendo Switch website. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ Immersion and Nintendo Enter into Agreement to Bring Immersion’s TouchSense Technology to the Nintendo Switch System. Immersion Corporation (January 13, 2017). Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Nintendo Switch Teardown. iFixit (March 3, 2017). Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Nintendo Switch: Nintendo confirms lack of retro-compatiblity… for physical media, note about battery life. Perfectly Nintendo (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 Nintendo Answers (And Avoids) Our Switch Questions. Kotaku (January 19, 2017). Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ↑ Here’s how you can take and share screenshots on the Nintendo Switch. VG247 (February 23, 2017). Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ↑ I hit my screenshot limit… r/NintendoSwitch (March 17, 2017). Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ↑ Switch has a set number of screenshots that can be held on the system and microSD card. Nintendo Everything (March 19, 2017). Retrieved March 19, 2017.
- ↑ There is a limit to how many videos you can save. 100 on internal memory, and 1000 on a MicroSD card. r/NintendoSwitch (September 29, 2019). Retrieved December 26, 2022.
- ↑ Video: Yep, When You Buy Loads of Games the Nintendo Switch Has An Extra Menu. Nintendo Life (March 17, 2017). Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 Nintendo Switch’s storage could be expanded with USB drives. Gamereactor UK (January 13, 2017). Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- ↑ microSD Card FAQ. Nintendo Support. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 Nintendo Switch online service on the official Nintendo Switch website. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch — Official Website — Nintendo’s New Video Game System. Nintendo. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Direct 4.12.2017. Nintendo (YouTube; April 12, 2017). Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo announces new adjustable charging stand for Nintendo Switch. Nintendo (May 9, 2018). Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch day-one update takes less than a minute to download. Polygon (March 2, 2017). Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ↑ What to expect from Switch’s day one update. Nintendo Everything (February 25, 2017). Retrieved February 25, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch System Updates and Change History. Nintendo Support. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
- ↑ Switch firmware version 2.2.0 now available. Nintendo Everything (April 17, 2017). Retrieved April 17, 2017.
- ↑ Switch — Firmware update 2.3.0 available. GoNintendo (May 15, 2017). Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch OS Version 3.0.0 Is Now Live. Nintendo Life (June 19, 2017). Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- ↑ Switch Firmware Update 3.0.1 Is Live, Fixes Battery Charge Indicator Issue. Nintendo Life (August 1, 2017). Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ↑ [1]. Nintendo Life (September 6, 2017). Retrieved September 6, 2017.
- ↑ «Nintendo Switch en Argentina: ¡Precio y fecha de lanzamiento oficial confirmados!». Cultura Geek (in Spanish) — Preci, Augusto Finocchiaro (July 24, 2017).
- ↑ «Switch and Play 게임 생활을 보다 액티브하게! 한국닌텐도, 「Nintendo Switch™」 12월 1일 국내 정식 발매 결정». Nintendo of Korea official press release (in Korean). September 20, 2017.
- ↑ «Switch and Play 讓遊戲生活更有趣味 「Nintendo Switch」 2017年12月1日、NTD9,780(含稅) 在台灣發售». Nintendo (Hong Kong) Ltd. official press release (in Traditional Chinese). September 20, 2017.
- ↑ «Nintendo Switch — Official Philippines Version will be released today!». Maxsoft’s official Twitter. November 30, 2018.
- ↑ «לראשונה בישראל – תור גיימינג משיקה את נינטנדו בארץ ביבוא רשמי». IGN Israel (in Hebrew). March 12, 2019.
- ↑ «The Nintendo Switch is officially launched today in Oman!!». Active Gulf’s official Facebook. September 27, 2019.
- ↑ «Nintendo Switch To Officially Launch In China Next Week». Nintendo Life. December 4, 2019.
- ↑ «Jogos de Nintendo Switch e 3DS serão distribuídos no Brasil». Vice (in Portuguese) — Falcão, Pedro (May 25, 2017).
- ↑ «Nintendo is bringing the Switch to Brazil at last». Engadget. August 19, 2020.
- ↑ «The Nintendo Switch goes on sale in Brazil on September 18th». Engadget. September 7, 2020.
- ↑ Developers Respond to Nintendo Switch. IGN (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ Bethesda Bethesda says they’re ‘thrilled’ to be working on Switch. GoNintendo (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ 72.0 72.1 Xbox Bosses Praise The «Bold Vision» Of Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Life (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ Sony says Switch is «unique» & «interesting», believe it to be «good for core gamers», talk Nintendo mobile efforts. GoNintendo (December 6, 2016). Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Stock Value Drops 6.5 Percent After Switch Reveal, Some Analysts Doubt Its Appeal. GameSpot (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch Console Is Met With Skepticism From Investors. The New York Times (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ «Who else but die-hard Nintendo fans will buy the Switch?» GamesIndustry.biz (October 20, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch preview trailer becomes most watched video on NoA YouTube, surpasses 10 million views. GoNintendo (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ↑ The Nintendo Switch Reveal is the Top Trending YouTube Video With Over 10 Million Views in One Day. Gamenesia (October 21, 2016). Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ↑ Switch reveal viewed by over 23 million people, reactions 95% positive. GoNintendo (October 26, 2016). Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ↑ Semi-Annual Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2017. Nintendo (October 27, 2016). Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ↑ 81.0 81.1 Nintendo Switch has sold 1.5m worldwide — SuperData. GamesIndustry.biz (March 14, 2017). Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ↑ SuperData: Nintendo sells 2.4 million Switch consoles worldwide in first month, above original forecast. VentureBeat (April 14, 2017). Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch、発売3日間で国内推定販売台数33.1万台を記録 『ゼルダの伝説 ブレス オブ ザ ワイルド』国内推定販売本数は19万3060本. Famitsu (March 7, 2017). Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ↑ 週間ソフト販売ランキング TOP50（集計期間：2017年2月27日～3月5日）. Dengeki (March 9, 2017). Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch Took Only Four Weeks to Sell Over 500,000 Units in Japan Against Seven Weeks for PS4. DualShockers (March 29, 2017). Retrieved March 29, 2017.
- ↑ Nick Wingfield on Twitter (March 6, 2017). Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo on Facebook (March 9, 2017). Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Launch Sales Numbers Revealed. IGN (April 13, 2017). Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ↑ NoA PR — Nintendo Switch Becomes the Fastest-Selling Video Game System in Nintendo History. GoNintendo (April 13, 2017). Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ↑ NPD Group: PS4 Outsells Xbox One During March 2017 While Switch Takes Top Spot. Game Revolution (April 13, 2017). Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ↑ Europe: Switch sells more in its launch weekend than any other Nintendo hardware in history. Nintendo Everything (March 7, 2017). Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch UK launch sales hit 80,000. GamesIndustry.biz (March 6, 2016). Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ↑ La Nintendo Switch bat tous les records de ventes en France. Le Fiargo (March 7, 2017). Retrieved March 7, 2017.
- ↑ UK: video games sales for March 2017 (Nintendo Switch debut). Perfectly Nintendo (April 6, 2017). Retrieved April 6, 2017.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch sells 10 million worldwide. Nintendo (December 12, 2017). Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ «Within 10 months, #NintendoSwitch has become the fastest-selling video game system of all time in the US!» Nintendo of America on Twitter (January 4, 2018). Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ NoA PR — Nintendo Switch Becomes the Fastest-Selling Home Video Game System of All Time in the U.S.. GoNintendo (January 4, 2018). Retrieved January 4, 2018.
- ↑ First Look at Nintendo Switch Lite: New Addition to the Nintendo Switch Family. Nintendo (YouTube; July 10, 2019). Retrieved July 10, 2019.
- ↑ Nintendo announces new model of the original Switch with longer battery life. Nintendo Everything (July 17, 2019). Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ↑ Compare systems. Nintendo. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ↑ We Tore Down the New Nintendo Switch. What’s Different? iFixit (August 19, 2019). Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ↑ Nintendo Switch (OLED model). Nintendo (July 6, 2021). Retrieved July 6, 2021.
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