#NintendoSwitch Price is Announced with a March 3rd Release Date

 

Nintendo revealed during the Nintendo Presentation that the Nintendo Switch, will release on March 3rd worldwide. It will cost $299.99 in the US, £279.99 in the UK and 29,980 yen ($260) in Japan; this was slightly more than a majority of reports were pointing too.

 

Whilst the unit is in tablet mode, the tablet can provide 2.5 to 6.5 depending on the game and application that is being used. You can use the AC adapter that comes with the system to charge the tablet whilst you are out and about via a mains socket. When the Switch is being used at home, the tablet component slots into a dock that connects to a TV set via HDMI.  The games will be available in small cartridges, just like previous Nintendo consoles from days of old, which is kind of a little throwback.

Below is a rundown on the need to know details for the Nintendo Switch:

 

*Console comes with 32GB of storage – extendable with a MicroSD card slot.
*The console will not be region locked as with previous consoles, meaning games could be played on all consoles – no matter where in the world they were bought.
*A subscription will be required to play online, initially free but will be later paid for at the end of 2017.
*The subscription service will offer free monthly games, but they will be NES and SNES titles and you will only keep them for a month (Unlike Nintendo’s competitors PlayStation+ and Xbox Live Gold were it allows players to keep their monthly games as long as their subscription continues).
*A Smartphone app will be required for social aspects of games, including chat function such as party chat. “Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games ─ all from your smart device.“
*2 Joy-Con controllers that work as the portable tablets controllers, but also offer Wii-Mote like functionality with motion controls.

*The Switch bundles currently include the system with either 2 grey Joy-Con controllers or two Joy-Con controllers with one being blue and the other being pinkish-red.

 

 

Nintendo have confirmed that there are currently 80 games in development, including a new Mario game called Super Mario Odyssey, out late in 2017. One of the few new titles announced there is also a motion-controlled boxing game, known as Arms due to be released this spring.

 

 

The presentation which is viewable above is possibly one of the most underwhelming presentations I have seen in regards to a console announcement, in my opinion (and I’m a huge Ninty fan). Not many titles were shown and not enough info was revealed in regards to the Switch console itself.

 

We have no solid information on the system specs, processor or framerate in which the console will perform at. We also don’t know what the online functionality will offer, other than online play or the timed “free” games (which are essential rentals). Don’t get me wrong, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of Wild looks amazing and Super Mario Odyssey looks amazing, but with only The Legend of Zelda being present at launch, the launch line-up is looking very poor. Worse that the Wii U’s launch and that’s saying something.

 

Below you can see details on the Nintendo Switch’s accessory pricing.  In the UK, the Switch Pro Controller is has an RRP of £64.99 and the Joy-Con controllers at £74.99 (though you might be able to save £5 here and there if you shop about).

 

 

The accessories are far too expensive and from a consumer point of view not very promising or appealing in comparison to the cost of a PS4 or Xbox One controller, even with its technology it isn’t justifiable in my honest opinion, but I still have the system on pre-order as I am curious about it.

 

The Nintendo Switch will be releasing March 3rd worldwide with the below launch titles confirmed, with more to follow at a later date.

 

Nintendo Switch launch games confirmed so far

*The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
*1-2-Switch
*Super Bomberman R

Post-release first-party Nintendo games

*Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! (March, eShop)
*Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (April 28)
*ARMS (Spring 2017)
*Splatoon 2 (Summer 2017)
*Super Mario Odyssey (late 2017)
*Pokémon Stars (late 2017)
*Fire Emblem Warriors (late 2017)
*Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (TBC)
Third-party Nintendo Switch games

*Rime (May 2017)
*LEGO City Undercover (Spring 2017)
*Puyo Puyo Tetris (Spring 2017)
*Project Sonic 2017 (late 2017)
*Shovel Knight (2017)
*Just Dance Unlimited (2017)
*Sonic Mania (TBC)
*Dragon Quest X (TBC)
*Dragon Quest XI (TBC)
*Dragon Quest Heroes I and II (TBC)
*Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (TBC)
*Seasons of Heaven (TBC)
*Stardew Valley (TBC)
*Redout (TBC)
*Cube Life: Island Survival (TBC)
*Constructor (TBC)
*Skylanders Imaginators (TBC)
*Minecraft: Story Mode – The Compete Adventure (TBC)
*Farming Simulator (TBC)
*Has Been Heroes (TBC)
*Syberia 3 (TBC)
*Steep (TBC)
*Fast RMX (TBC)
*NBA 2K18 (TBC)
*New Shin Megami Tensei (TBC)
*Rayman Legends: Definite Edition (TBC)
*Project Octopath Traveller by Square Enix (TBC)
*The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim (TBC)
*New Travis Touchdown game by Suda 51 and Grasshopper (TBC)
*EA Sports FIFA (TBC)
*The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (TBC)

 

How do you feel about the announcement? Let us know in the comments or via our Twitter and Facebook pages.