We weren’t sure if Nintendo would actually do it, but tonight’s Nintendo Switch presentation gave us pretty much all the details we were looking for! The hybrid console will be launching March 3 in all major regions, and will be priced at US $300. As we saw in the fall’s Switch commercial, it will run in TV mode when docked, allowing you to control it with the Joy-Cons snapped into the Joy-Con grip in a standard-style controller setup. You can also play it in Tabletop Mode, using the Joy-Cons like Wii Remotes; or in Handheld Mode, with the Joycons attached to the sides of the portable Switch console.
Many of the biggest Switch rumors have been confirmed to be true. The console will not be region-locked, the Joy-Cons do indeed feature motion controls, and the Switch console has a capacitive touch screen. That means you can finally use your fingers on the screen instead of a stylus that constantly ends up lost between the couch cushions. The Switch’s battery will last between 2.5-6.5 hours in Tabletop or Handheld Mode depending on the game being played, but it can also be played while charging.
Nintendo will be offering an online service for the Switch that you’ll be able to use in conjunction with smart devices. Starting in the fall, it will be a paid service just like PS Plus and Xbox Live Gold. Of course, it will also support local wireless multiplayer, with the possibility of up to eight systems being connected to each other. Eight systems? That’s a suspiciously convenient number for a party of squid kids…
Source: Nintendo