Switch.jpg

With the Nintendo Switch now revealed, one of the ongoing questions has been around whether the high-definition screen on the console is also touch-based. For quite some time its been suggested that the console screen does support multitouch controls - such as in this increasingly accurate Summer post by Emily Rogers - though the concept showcased in the trailer raised some doubts.

How could a touchscreen be effective when the console is docked for use on the TV? Would Nintendo allow the potential issues of segregating some touch-based experiences between the console and TV play? While we've heard (including since the reveal) from multiple sources that the screen would support touch inputs, Eurogamer has shared insight from its sources that perhaps indicate a simple way this will be worked around (in part) for TV play.

First of all, Eurogamer repeats detail from the aforementioned article by Emily Rogers, claiming the screen is 6.2" in size, is a 10-point multitouch display (rather than the capacitive screens on Wii U, 3DS and DS) and has a 720p resolution.

The solution for touch-based experiences when the console is docked is apparently an IR (infrared) sensor in the right Joy-Con controller, which can be used in conjunction with a receiver in the dock - a re-tread (in essence) of the Wii Remote / Sensor Bar technology. It's not beyond the realm of possibility, though multitouch experiences likely can't all be recreated successfully with a pointer-based experience. With that in mind, there are still question marks over how successfully touch-based experiences could transition in the Switch feature of play on the TV.

In any case, it wouldn't surprise us if the bulk of this report is correct. As mentioned above we've heard from multiple sources that a touchscreen is included, though this IR feature in the right Joy-Con is an interesting new detail.

What do you think of this potential workaround for touch controls on the Nintendo Switch?

[source eurogamer.net]