Nintendo Declines to Comment On Touchscreen Enquiry but Confirms Switch Dock and amiibo Features

Nice to hear about the amiibo - I would've been shocked if they dropped one of their most successful ventures as of late.

The one thing we really want to know about, touch screen support.
Hope it has it.

telling IGN that it "will make additional announcements about the Nintendo Switch hardware later, before the launch of the product."

Oh, man... that means they're just going to keep quiet again for the next five months...

I'm done with touch screen ... at least resistive ones!

I've probably lost 25 styluses since the original Nintendo DS came out, between by 2 DS consoles, my 2 3DS consoles, and my Wii U </3

Yeah, touch screen doesn't seem likely.

I'll be really surprised and highly disappointed if it doesn't have touch screen capablites.

@kevfrei And I've been using my original DS Lite stylus with my 3DS.

So the dock doesn't seem to provide any hardware boosts... .

phew...my smash bros horde of amiibo are safe.

...not that i expected otherwise.

Hope it has touch screen, since it's handy for things like Mario Maker, or drawing the maps in Etrian Odyssey.

However, if the screen is in the hub then you won't be able to use it until you take it out into portable mode. For that reason, I don't think we'll get a touchscreen.

Come on now, I don't think you have to worry about touch. It just wouldn't be the main control input, and hence wasn't advertised.

The headphone jack on the other hand, that had to be advertised.

I'm more concerned with whether I can connect a hard drive to the dock to keep all my games easily available.

@A01 I'd guess it's in one of the Joy Con controllers, since you'll almost always be using them.

I'll buy everyone here a Switch if it doesn't have touchscreen.

@SanderEvers

Finding room for all my PS3 games on a 200GB hdd would take some pretty neat magic tricks, so no, just using SD cards isn't exactly what I'm hoping for

The switch most definitely is a touchscreen. This is just something they will talk about later. Same with the motion sensors and gyro controls in the Joy-Con controllers.

@gcunit

You mean a Nintendo Switch, or just a switch?

I'm pretty confident it will have a touch screen. It would be weird for a tablet like device not too. Plus aren't titles like Art Academy big for them? Not to mention any new Mario Maker style games they may venture into or Miiverse iterations that may come.

My main questions are:

Are motion and gyro controls still present? They were really fun when done well!

Are the triggers analogue now? They look digital again, an unnecessary restriction to impose on devs and gameplay.

When can I pre-order?

@gcunit Thank you, kind person. Just so you know, I prefer deluxe editions of systems, too.

@Turbo857 Probably (hopefully) they'll also allow us to use older controllers as well, just like the WiiU did.

@SanderEvers Yes I do, and I also know I'd rather not have to spend that amount of money to not have to switch cards in and out all the time

@gcunit Taking you on that.

'If a Nintendo Switch game supports amiibo then the Nintendo Switch home gaming system will as well.'

... I don't understand this sentence. Obviously the system supports it, why would a game feature amiibo support if the system it's played on doesn't...? XD

BIG focus of Wii U reveal trailer was the touch screen. I'm sure they were very, very motivated to do the opposite of that trailer.

I'm sure the display is capacitative

Was hoping the dock had maybe some additional storage inside, as like an extra back up so you'd have a decent about of GBs with the tablet but like a couple of TB at home (So you decide what downloads to take with you on the go) but meh, guess that's what those USB ports are for.....

@Ogbert

Exactly. Imagine Miiverse without touchscreen support?

@Mr_Ukulele

I'd bet on it. With Just Dance announced for the Switch, I'm sure Wii Plus Remotes'll be compatible.

@MarcelRguez Good, cos I meant it.

@c1pher_c0mplet You'll get what you're given (which will be nothing because Switch will be touchscreen)

No touchscreen, no Mario Maker, no reasonable web browser, etc. It'd be absurd.

I personally think it does have touch screen support, but I wouldn't exactly miss it if it didn't.

I don't think it will use touch screen like it did on the Wii U gamepad, but for when you have it on the go and wanting to use the browser, or go through the menu. Considering no one cared for using the gamepad screen as a menu, I could see them getting rid of that idea.

Isn't the grip thing a touchpad?

I think it will probably have a touch screen (it would be pretty insane not to) but I'm pretty certain it will only be for stuff like web browsers. Obviously when the Switch is docked when playing on TV there's no touch screen there so all games will need to be able to work without the touch input.

@ThanosReXXX nah.

My prediction is that they will reveal touchscreen (+ the middle part of the grip? yeah, that's a touchpad) and support for mobile games next week at the investors meeting. investors LOVE LOVE LOVE mobile and Nintendo's stock will sky-rocket when they announce that mobile games can be played on the switch.

@SanderEvers Yes there are, but Sandisk said it was only a prototype for now. It will probably be expensive, though.

It'll have touch. Nintendo will want you to be able to play it's mobile games on the Switch.

@gcunit Taking you up on that offer! It's too late!

@SanderEvers yup. you just leave the joy-cons at home and leave your house with just the tablet.

After seeing everything today, I'd be surprised if Switch has a touchscreen. It was never shown or commented on at all - I understand avoiding making it a focus of the reveal, but then why not even mention it as a feature if it is indeed a feature? Headphone jack, unit stand, amiibo? Check check check.

I'm guessing it may not make it in order to make the unit (more) profitable.

@gcunit I'll hold you to that

Almost every system now has some form of touch control. It may not be as prevalent as it was on the ds line and WiiU.

I wish it haves compability with 3DS and DS Games

Regarding Nintendo mobile games on Switch, Pokémon GO would be a no-go (sorry), because the console lacks cameras... (The augmented reality mode, I mean.)

@gcunit
Thank you!

Ok. This is it. You mobile device will function as a 2nd screen if supported. There will be a lot of mobile apps provided if it's compatible with your phone.

I'll be disappointed if there's no touch screen. Surely they were thinking about having DS/3DS virtual console games?

Don't know if resistive touch games would translate well to capacitive, but dropping touch screen altogether? That seems crazy to me.

@the-madprofessor Too late for what?

@Manjushri Looks like a player order indicator light, like on the Wii Remote. (1 2 3 4)

There's a song in Top Secret called "How Silly Can You Get." Play this if you're a person convinced this won't have touchscreen capabilities.

They did not show everything off. This was just a teaser for the main Nintendo followers. Next week we will have more.

More surprises to come.

@mjharper it would make no sense that is has two sets of those. I think it's the battery indicator for the two joy-cons

Touchscreens are dirt cheap nowadays thanks to the rise of cheap tablets. It'll probably be single-touch, just like the Wii U and DS/3DS, but I'm 90% sure it'll have one.
Then again, @UK-Nintendo mentioned the possibility of smartphones serving as a second screen, so maybe the main screen won't be touchscreen. Unlikely, but possible.

I wonder why they need to build the dock such that it covers up the screen like that? I mean, if the dock is only used for TV output why can't it look more like an iPad dock? What exactly is inside that plate that covers the screen?!

I really believe there will be a touch screen. I feel like the fact they aren't talking about it means they have something up their sleeve. Like maybe it will be a touchscreen that tells how hard you press it.

But, but, but, but, my future Etrian Odyssey D: ?! It has have a touch screen, right?

@Captain_Gonru Hm well now that you mention it, Iwata did talk about the Wii U successor before he passed away, mentioning how it would/should be a family of systems, all incorporating compatible software and OS and capable of running the same games (like Apple and its range of iPhones and iPads).

Still, it's weird. Maybe an error, maybe a sign of more to be unveiled...

@Captain_Gonru About time you showed up. We're you out shopping for pants with bigger pockets?

I'm going with - no NS games have touch support, but the tablet OS will. Hence the "no comment".

Can't play Candy Crush w/o touch.

@IceClimbers Well, after what Apple pulled, they probably put that in for reassurance.

Considering they listed DeNA as being involved with NS, not to mention that money-milking service known as the Virtual Console, I'd say there's no chance that thing ain't a touchscreen.

This is worrying. If they're hiding something, it's not wise to create doubt about a feature that's important to many fans. And if there just isn't a touch screen, well, they're abandoning a feature that's important to many fans. I really can't get excited until questions like this are cleared up.

I understand why it has to be like that, specially in an industry which such vocal fans, but you gotta love the PR, robot-like marketing speak. It's so funny.

It's better ******* have a touchscreen. Etrian odyssey needs a touchscreen

@IceClimbers What you did there, I see it

I think it's a touch screen. They might be tight lipped over the subject because of new technology; maybe there's a haptic engine in there or something.

I think touchscreen support is a given.

I had a slight (and silly) concern over whether developers will be able to choose if the game works in portable mode or otherwise, but thats probably my late 30s mind playing games with me.

It would seem strange in this day and age for it to not have a touch screen . I've always sort of hated touch screens though so it wouldn't bother me

@gcunit While I'm expecting it to have a touchscreen I hate to say I'm sorta hoping it won't in order to call you on your bluff.

If it has one they will want to hold off announcing it incase it stops people buying 3ds in run up to xmas.

3DS will most likely stop production at end of 2017 due to Switch

@Hikingguy Smartphones.

I don't think someone need worry about touch controls. With nintendo having art academy and mario maker, will be a way to draw.

@Hikingguy
Magic!
Just kidding. Nintendo have a solution to it, you can bet.

Everything has a touch screen nowadays, it's almost a given. In a tablet like form factor, people will assume that much and start tapping anyway.
And from the company that made the DS? It would be unthinkable not to have it.

Since DeNA is listed as a partner I would imagine it has a touchscreen. I think Switch will support all of Nintendos mobile games?! Would be a huge mistake if it's not a touchscreen: Goodbye Mario Maker, easy accessibly menus and so on. A Tablet-like device that has no touchscreen?

@A01 talking from my short experience with Marth and SMBf, of course, but don't amiibos need a 2-3 second contact for data exchange anyway? If that's correct, it doesn't sound like much hassle to keep the chip in main unit. Heck, the dock is so small for a home console, an extension cable could probably allow to put it on the sofa within the player's reach. XD

I think i'm most concerned with whether there will be a headphone/mic jack on the pro controller for online game chat. Although the tablet part was shown having a 3 pole jack being plugged into it in the airport scene.

Is there no disk drive on the system?

@Kalmaro I'd like to know about stylus support, touch screen support, dual screen support, and basic motion controls too. With those things in the mix the Switch would go from being kinda cool but not quite there, imo, to something potentially very special. And it's not because those features are revolutionary or whatever but more because it means all Nintendo's previous consoles would/should be compatible with the Switch in one way or another, even if that means simply being able to play digital versions of whatever other console's games on the system without any obvious issues/limitations; and that to me could be a game changer if handled properly. An all new console that doesn't support many of Nintendo's games found on other/previous systems (think almost all the DS/3DS titles, all the Wii motion controlled games, and a whole bunch of dual screen Wii U titles, as well as just cool stuff like Super Mario Maker and Art Academy: Atelier) isn't anywhere near as exciting to me as an all new console that's also basically every previous Nintendo console in one too (both its home consoles and handhelds). So I'm very interested to see what's announced on that front, and kind of worried too. Will I even be able to play a game like Super Mario Maker on Switch and make awesome custom levels quickly and intuitively like some game design master, or directly draw/paint amazing artwork to share with other Switch users just for the sheer fun of it? The rumours say I will, which would make me very happy, but I think I'll wait for some official confirmation on that front. . . .

@gcunit To renege on your offer!

The dock isn't the only charger though is it? I can't imagine they'd make it so you couldn't use the tablet and charge it at the same time O_o

@nhSnork Saving to amiibo takes a few seconds, but reading from them (which is what you're usually doing) is more or less instantaneous. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival actually relies on quick amiibo reading as part of its gameplay.

I hope it does I don't care if it's for the games just for main menu function

@A01 I'm not expecting too much from the SSD since it needs to be cost effect to sell to consumers and SSDs are expensive.

@Ryu_Niiyama What bluff?

@the-madprofessor That's not gonna happen.

@InternetBowser They fused their console and portable divisions to focus all efforts on one system. Very unlikely that the 3DS will have a direct successor.

I hope it has multitouch and the "Joy Cons" are motion controllers.

@impurekind Well they aren't announcing touch screen yet and without it I don't see how it will be backwards compatible. It's not a deal breaker for me but I'd be a little sad. I'm getting the console regardless.

@Kalmaro
Maybe wiiU tablets will be compatible?

The "pre-Switch waiting game" and the "pre-Switch launch waiting game" are like two movies: the first one is good, but the sequel is even better.

It will have touch. They just point to let the people focus on the switch concept right now and don't create confusion.

They want their message to be straight forward and simple.

@gcunit

Be careful what you promise. While everyone is taking the touchscreen for granted (and that makes sense looking at DS, 3DS, and Wii U), remember that the Nintendo Switch is looking to provide the same experience while playing on the TV or on the go. Therefore, having touchscreen input would provide difficulties since you won't have touchscreen input while playing on the TV, so you would have different controls when playing on TV vs playing on the Switch.

I think it will have a touchscreen, but they wanted to distance themselves as much as they could for the Wii U, so no way they were going to present it today.

I doubt it is going to be used for games, though. They'll keep it in as to control the OS when you're with the handheld part, for internet, that kind of stuff.

@manu0 Ehm... I was kidding?

Will it have a Nintendo Music Player?
Nintendo DS and 3DS music players have always been my favourite players!

@manu0 "What exactly is inside that plate that covers the screen?!"

A "dead man's switch". Well, kind of, same principle. The dock switches the screen off once you slide it in there, you can see that a couple of times in the trailer. Screen goes black just before it's entirely inserted. Probably to save power, to be able to charge it up quicker, but also so that more power is available for games and rendering to the TV.

It's hard to imagine that Nintendo would release the console without touch screen support or some very good substitute. The touch technology is cheap compared to other components and it would allow fort some sort of compatibility with WiiU and DS games/ports, as well as mobile device ports.

I'm wondering in how far the controllers could have motion controll support. The guy in the airplane seems to use both controller parts separately and indeed they could work like a wiimote and a nunchuck, something I always imagined and wished for.

@TruenoGT it might be an accessory coming. the second screen, whether lower or upper. it will either be 3d as an upper screen, or touch if the switch base unit doesn't have it. looking at the size of the switch screen, it's more likely that an accessory will be a lower square screen that the two joy-cons attach to, forming a 2ds xxl, but folding.

@gcunit, count me in too!

As dirt cheap as touch screens are lately I almost can't see a reason not to include it.

@smm1 Touchscreen input doesn't have to mean touchscreen games. This thing will have an operating system, a web browser, apps.

Switch definitely has touch screen. They're saving this reveal for later when they show that all of their forthcoming mobile games will also be fully compatible with the NS.

Also they don't want to mix the messaging right now; they want people to realize this is a serious gaming machine first and foremost, and not just a tablet with controls tacked on. When the touchscreen features are revealed it will be a bonus.

I don't see a docking port for a stylus.

I would assume that the Switch will have the same wireless tech the WiiU has, and be able to stream to the dock when it's not paired. That way you can use the touch screen while it displays on the tv at the same time.
There's also the possibility that a dock could support two Switch consoles. The reason I think this could happen is that the console is doing all of the processing of the games code, all the dock has to do is display the image on the TV. All you'd have to do is sync the console to the dock in the same way as the Wiimotes with the Wii.
I could be very wrong with these, but it's nice to think that it could happen.

I could (or couldn't?) give two craps if it had a touch screen or not.

I have yet to get "involved" with a totally touchscreen/mobile-based game.

People have forgotten something very important...

The WiiU works because it's at home in a WiFi environment.

Unless the switch also has a mobile SIM slot, there will be no mobile ONLINE gaming... Which rules out almost every modern mobile game. No server, no play.

Maybe Nintendo will have mobile/4g version as well at launch.

Touch seems reasonable.

One thing I won't be liking... If someone takes this out, whoever stays at home can't play. This is a one device per person handheld, not a one per household console. That might mean multiple docks required at home depending on battery life.

Anyone else a little concerned about the low frame rates seen during gameplay of BOTW on the tablet? Really hope they have this ironed out by release.

If it doesn't have touch screen then , what's the point of taking it with you. I know you have your phone for that but come on.

That statement on amiibo seems... off. Might seem kinda crazy, but what if the amiibo scanners are inside the cartridges or something? They make it sound like the console only has amiibo support if the specific games do.

I don't want a touch screen. I don't like touch screens. There's just fingerprints everywhere and a need for me to wash my hands thoroughly before using the system.

@Urameshi @SanderEvers I would think all the gameplay sun is actually fake anyway you know they never actually video anything off the actual screen. I'm sure it will be fine

If they really want to put a main series Pokémon game on this thing (as some rumors have said), it better have touchscreen. Can't imagine going back to having to sort mons with buttons.

So, I guess this means the Switch won't have dual screen play, like the Wii U

I think they'll make the 3DS amiibo reader compatible or maybe something similar but NFC / btooth combo rather than IR.

The touchscreen was apparently on the dev kit and the Blizzard tease makes it sound likely. The ad was likely to divert the attention from comparisons with previous hardware.

Having said that, there's every chance it was another decision to keep the cost down (like the lack of camera). The fact that the dock basically stops it being a core feature is a other sign.

The turn-based JRPGs generally benefit from touchscreens (Vita tends to utilise it well) but I think Pokemon takes the biggest hit from losing dual screen. All based on too many presumptions though, I guess. The early gens managed.

@Cathousemaster Surely it can just connect to Wi-Fi like most tablets?

I see the headphone socket for use when mobile but I'm not sure how that would work when your at home with....voice chat?

NO RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN PLEASE

Just realized that there probably won't be games like Pikmin 3 where you could have the gamepad as a map and play on the screen. Guess we're back to 1 screen gaming again, which has its pros and cons.

Not really bothered about the touch screen, I just want it now!

Nintendo Switch 2: touchscreen, motion controls in joy-cons, 3D display, gyroscope, streaming wirelessly to TV without base station, Wii U-like integration of second display, 4g. Maybe we will see some of this even in its first iteration. I'm already sold.

@gcunit Hope you are a very wealthy guy, heh.

I really don't care one way or another about it having a touch screen. Just please no more motion controls.

I'm hoping this means Nintendo is still thinking about it.
Honestly though, it would be a shame to exclude a touchscreen from it. A touchscreen layer under the display glass costs almost nothing.
And even if you can't use it in the dock, it would incredibly useful on the go.
And the most significant reason to implement a touchscreen: No one will buy a tablet without a touchscreen. This may seem like a small thing to core gamers, but the Switch will most definitely be a commercial failure if the touchscreen is missing, because that's an essential features to the masses (aka casual gamers) and basically anyone who wants to use the Switch as a Tablet too.

I will be saddened if Nintendo completely drops touch screens, something they themselves pioneered when it came to touch based games with the DS.

I appreciate them looking ahead, and I do think the motion based controls of the Wii have run their course

but I don't want them to completely forget what made their games different and unique.

I would be amazed if the screen doesn't have touch capability. There's no reason not to support it, and I think consumers now expect that with any tablet-like device. Likewise, wouldn't we all be amazed if this thing doesn't have an internet browser? Forgoing touch would also limit backwards compatibility through virtual console.

Don't be silly, of course it has a touchscreen...