New Code Found in Unreal Engine 4 Further Reinforces Claims of Handheld / Docked Power Gap with Nintendo Switch

Not fussed about the power in the hardware, what devs decide to make on it is the important part.

Internet- It runs worse undocked? Outrage!

Internet 6 weeks earlier- We have no intention of using this as a handheld.

I think it's going to be great, having all Nintendo content in one place after the 3DS winds down. Hopefully 3rd party support will continue to be solid if the Switch gets off to a good start.

I think this is good news, while it does point out that the Switch won't be as powerful as the XB1, it does show that there will be very little difference when it comes down to actually developing games. Not only does the Switch run the full UnrealEngine, but it's already running on a default setting.

Also, another leak from Nvidia has stated that the Switch chip is actually a new custom chip built from the ground up rather than a stock X1/X2 (an additional unconfirmed leak).

Basically, the Switch is easy to code for. Something which is FAR more important than power this time around!

Still too early to say it's gonna be another gloomy one for Nintendo so will hold off on the umbrella until January.

Not a PS player at all so no idea how it worked, but how did the Vita versions of games compare to the PS4 (or was it PS3). I'm guessing it would have been a similar story?

Start your engines! I am very worried that the Switch will be underpowered and forgotten about by third parties after 6 months. The Switch will be far easier to develop for than the Wii U. That was a pain in the backside.

Waiting for the people who said Eurogamer were spreading untrue rumors to come in and claim this is BS also.

You guys never give up lol

An interesting thing to note here is that this engine automatically scales not only the quality of the rendered image, but actual rendered objects, such as view distance, shadows, textures, and effects. While that does show that simply reducing the rendered image quality doesn't provide enough of a drop in power use and heat for a portable, it does give us hope for a decent battery life, not to mention bringing up ease of developing again.
(And there will be no excuse for "docked-only" games!)

@Riff-the-Don Vita versions were terrible usually, and that platform is standard def. Mostly the worst part was the awful framerate. Walking around in a sparse area in FFX and you'd be chugging along. Add in some NPCs, basically unplayable. Borderlands 2 I hear is also terrible on it. MGS wasn't THAT bad.

@Riff-the-Don The PS Vita was pushing PS3 graphics (not quite as good but the smaller screen made it indistinguishable). It's hard to compare the Switch and PS Vita in any real way as Sony made some mistakes that Nintendo have already seemingly avoided (expensive proprietory memory etc.)

@Menchi187 I only played the PS Vita a few times so I'll take your word for it. It's one of the VERY few handhelds I've never owned. May pick one up just for some games you can't get in the UK.

Should make ports easier, even though games will need two settings.
I don't know why people will think games will need two versions, one for docked and one for undocked, where PC games must support a large variety of settings and resolutions as well as very different graphics card. The Switch is just one graphics card with two settings.

@kobashi100 Hi, I'm one of those people.
The difference with this report is that you can actually look right now in Unreal Engine 4's code and see these settings.
The issues I have with the Eurogamer report is that A) the author used a fallacious VentureBeat article to back up the original sources, and B) there's no way to know who the original sources are. (Not to mention claiming the Switch uses a stock Tegra X1 when Nvidia's official report makes a custom chip more likely.)
Edit: It's common sense that the Switch won't be as powerful in portable mode than console mode. Running the Switch at full power undocked would burn through both the battery life and possibly the Switch itself (and anyone holding it), not to mention the fact the smaller screen resolutions are easier to render. I don't understand why people are having issues with that.

Found some discussion about this on GBAtemp. Switch is targetting 1080p in Console mode and 720p in portable mode. The UE4 numbers there are interesting. 0-3 stand for low to epic settings. XB1 apparently usually reaches 2.7 with 30fps. Switch looks like it will reach 2 in console mode and 1 in portable. Those are the pre-sets though. Console mode could reach 2.5 with tinkering (optimisation).

https://gbatemp.net/threads/nintendo-switch-technical-specifications-discussion.445838/page-26

It's good to see that Nintendo is putting a good amount of power into this console. While it may not be as powerful as the PS4/XBone, the power gap is small enough so that Triple A titles can be ported to the system, and first party Nintendo games will hopefully look gorgeous.

@Menchi187 & @DanteSolablood

Thanks for the info, was it off-tv play streamed to the Vita from the PS3? In that case I guess the graphics took a hit.

I think that as the Switch is a dedicated HD portable console, with increased HD output for home play - surely the drop in portable play is a sacrifice to keep it within a reasonable budget & battery life setup.

Unless I missed it, there hasn't yet been a mention of online play and/or how it would work when portable? Maybe the SD slot could be for a mobile sim? Would definitely make it more appealing to be able to access the eshop on the go & battle anywhere on multiplayer games ... or am I thinking too far away from the concept of what's possible from Nintendo? 😔

As long as it plays games well, has a battery that lasts longer than the Wii U gamepad (seriously, sick of having that red light come on), and has the GameCube on VC then I'll be a happy customer.
Oh, and playing Splatoon locally as a team, Mario Kart, Zelda Botw and who knows what else all on the go, you'd have to be dead inside not to get a little excited.

@Riff-the-Don I can't confirm this, but there was talk in a rumour a while ago about 4G compatibility for the Switch (think it may have been the Foxconn rumour). Nintendo seem to be taking a lot of ques from Nvidia this time around & relying less on their "we know best" mentality.

I mean, if there wasn't a significant downgrade, it would kill the battery life. Makes a lot of sense for mobile mode to run in a game's "low setting" on Switch.

Even with downgraded visuals, the handheld portion will still look miles better than anything on the Vita, let alone the 3DS with its piddly 240p screen. And, if someone wants the best visual experience, they can keep it docked.

I think people will eat this up once it actually releases. People just like to complain about stuff when they're bored.

Whatever. It's a win-win, really. Third-parties focusing on the home console aspect can make their games dock-only while we'll still get our sweet portable Pokémon games. The main draw is still there: it's like owning both a Wii U and a 3DS, except you pay for only one system. Everybody wins.

@Riff-the-Don The stuff I mentioned were all games natively played on the vita

@Sakura And that puts us back at pre-Eurogamer leak levels of power. Maybe not raw power, but since (and this is me assuming based on ease of development) the Switch is easier to optimize a game for than the Xbox One, we really could be seeing ports of Xbox One games that are nearly identical visually (in docked mode).

My wife wants to get this system (she's hoping for a good Animal Crossing game), but I'm still not buying it...it doesn't still (at least yet) look interesting to me. Zelda's graphics look kind of cartoony, and I was hoping for a Zelda game that looked like Ocarina or Twilight Princess, instead of a cartoony version...plus, I want to wait until I see actual games coming out for it (and not 2-3 years down the road, like nintendo seems to always do). Other than that, I just don't want a bunch of 'ports' coming to the system, I'd want something 'new' instead, but that's what seems to be coming...ports and ports. Plus, after the Wii U fiscal (even with nintendo not delivering the best and giving up on it early), it makes me grow cautious about the company anymore. Don't get me wrong, I still love nintendo (Gamecube is still the great system it was before), I just wish for them to be the company that they once were, instead of the arrogant airheads that they are seeming to be now (business wise, they're in their own little world without listening to anyone).

internet before frequencies got leaked: what about muh battery life???

after low frequencies got leaked that promise pretty good battery life: but what about muh power on the go???

Sounds amazing can't wait

Hm...I will try to buy the game first while waiting for good bundle with color that I want.

If thats the default numbers then this is very very good news.A handheld that uses the latest engine developers are migrating too 'right now', that will run in 1080 when docked.Only thing this doesn't show is framerate, which will be true telling number.Exciting stuff, cannot wait to see how developers take to the switch in january.

Being able to play alot of console/PC games on the go at a reduced spec, then at a better spec on your TV at home? that is amazing.

what people are completely forgetting is: the frequency war has been over for a decade now! and that's all we know about the switch chip set, we don't know ANYTHING else!

and as I just mentioned: lower frequencies are very good for battery life

@KiWiiU_Freek get the bigger battery for the gamepad makes a huge difference I haven't seen my battery light for ages😉

@JLPick Totally agree with you about the ports Nintendo needs NEW games to try and get customer base back.
To be honest it sounds like there must be some extra hardware in the dock to that it can run extra fast.
Also it was obvious that the graphics would be down when mobile as it has a smaller screen compared to most peoples televisions.

That totally makes sense that the resolution is higher when docked, the screen is ridiculously bigger so it's simply not necessary to have that resolution on the go, total waste of battery.

@SanderEvers I agree actually. No need for the tone of this piece @nintendolife . Just comes across quite negatively when it's not necessary.

@Bunkerneath The extra hardware in the dock is called "a fan and electrical supply". Thermal throttling and battery life are major issues on a handheld, so the dock doesn't need to do much to boost performance.

Personally I think the Switch needs ports and new games, just one or the other alone isn't going to be enough.

@AlexSora89 They won't make games dock-only. The hardware probably doesn't allow for that, and it would destroy the point of this particular machine.

not interested in power i'll wait to see the games, i mean older system prove it's not the power but the games that sell them. i mean if it was power... would the vita lose to the 3ds?

Another thing to note is most devs are actually pretty lazy with UE, especially when it comes to UE4. Almost all the UE4 games out there are lazy and sloppy. Batman remasters on console are a perfect example, as are many indie games on console/pc.

Conversely, using the Xbox One version of Gears of War 4 (because of limited hardware vs the pc) it's a technological marvel when done right. Great graphics and effects, with a near perfect lock on 30fps (frame rate discussion aside). Yes it used a dynamic frame buffer but it's well documented that it spends 98%+ time at 1920x1080 but the overall point is as long as the devs step their game up, not just for the switch versions, but with programming in general, this will have less of an effect on switch games. Not saying it's magically gonna pump out Gears 4 level games, but it'll help make the switch a viable option for people to buy 3rd party for, which in turn makes it a viable option for devs to develop for.

These days WiiU + Unity is fairly easy to develop for. Nintendo's done a really good job recently of improving their tools and backend systems (even if certain things still have some distance to go). I think they've learned the lessons of WiiU's inital state, and moreover, I feel like they recognise now that investing in tools for 3rd party devs benefits everyone. I suspect a lot of devs who developed for WiiU in the early days have now returned to work on switch, to find things have much improved in the interim.

Performance wise, danger is that in a couple if years time, we'll start to see Scorpio & PS4 Pro only titles (esp. for VR). Whereas porting a Ps4/x1 title to switch it seems is doable, I expect Scorpio/Pro to switch won't be. So Switch has maybe 18months to build an install base that justifies exclusives and/or can survive missing out on the latest AAA blockbusters hitting Scorpio & Pro.

Wait, people were worried that portable mode might be weaker then console mode? Isn't that kind of... duh?

Just worry about it's console mode performance. It doesn't necessarily need to match or exceed X1 or PS4, just be within a reasonable ballpark.

I stopped caring about it a month ago. I may have moved on from Nintendo for the time being.....at least the home console. We'll see what they have to say in January.

@JamesCoote scorpio could fail in the same thing if it's too expensive it's premium product is all ms will say.

@dkxcalibur this could be there new handheld too, they say it's not but they said the same lines for the gba once.

with pokemon company making remarks about it makes me think that's the gameplan, to sell these as handhelds and consoles and then do a dsi/new 3ds upgrade kinda thing in the future.

@Ralizah
Yep, but on the other hand the lack of dock-only games - when taking the power gap into account, that is, mind you - could also destroy the point of a machine meant to bridge the power gap Nintendo consoles have, in turn, between them and their respective rivals in each generation.

Men the more i read into every tekst the more genius it sound in my ears.

Even my brother who was never a fan of anything nintendo related, is now hyped for the Switch lol.

I think being less powerful than the Xbox One is a big mistake, this is just going to be the Wii U all over again. Publishers will support it to begin with but they'll soon stop bothering.

If the system had more oomph than the Xbox then multi-platform games might have been a fairly easy "why not?" choice for publishers. But being less powerful means developers will need to spend time optimising for the weaker hardware. Plus unlike the Xbox which is basically the same APIs and environment as the PC, this will be an ARM chipset with its own OpenGL implementation. If they can keep that similar to the PS4's implementation then there might be room for some code sharing there, but the gulf in power will probably make that less straight forward.

I'll be getting a Switch, just as I've bought every Nintendo console since the NES but Nintendo still aren't doing enough to encourage third party support.

@JLPick I find ports would be good. 2 reasons: it gives people who never played the wii u and therefore missed out, an opportunity to try them. It gives nintendo time to prep new releases of current IP or generate new UP. While I get ports aren't the answer they also don't hurt when attracting old/new customers into the nintendo fold IMO

@AlexSora89 Where are you getting this idea that it's meant to "bridge the power gap"? Stuff's pointing towards roughly half an Xbox One/three Wii Us taped together, when docked.
The Switch is aiming for the casual/handheld market; a lot of devs just happen to see potential in it and are going to offer strong initial support in case things pan out.

@seb5049 It's half a generation behind a la the Wii, just much easier to port to.
Insiders have compared Switch ports to PS4/Xbox originals as the difference between Xbox 360 and Xbox One releases.

@CrazedCavalier
Bear in mind I, as a Nintendo fan, of course have always been fine with Nintendo home consoles being less powerful than their rivals from the get-go. However the fact third-party support always drops because of this is a problem, and the cause-effect relation has never dawned on me until about, like, this summer. Whether the Switch bridges the gap or doesn't, I'll be perfectly okay with third-parties coming back. That's all.
As long as it sell, we Nintendo fans can lay back and focus on the fact it's the hybrid many of us have been waiting for so long.

@Yorumi
Wait, what? It sounds like a conspiracy theory but the catch here is that I'm genuinely intrigued. So the fact certain franchises - and publishers - have died in obscurity is because of this? Is this why no one today remembers, say, the Crystal Dynamics games such as Gex from the nineties?

@AlexSora89 I don't think this machine is really meant to bridge the power gap. If it were, they would have never opted to make the games portable, a design decision with huge ramifications for the console's ability to play modern games.

@shaneoh what devs decide to make for it largely depends on the power of the hardware.

Nonsense. I only believe it when it is OFFICIALLY confirmed!

@MrGawain I think the outrage was more to the fact that the dock mode is slower than a three-year-old Xbox One, which at the time itself was considered an underpowered console.

@JamesCoote Sony seems reluctant to split the user base (so far) with the Pro, and I think the Pro is a good indicator of how the Switch might fare. If it's as easy to port a game to switch and scale it for console vs. portable as it seems to be to update existing games for PS4 Pro, I think Switch might do fine. Plus, Nintendo has already shown they're willing to do a mid-gen upgrade with the New 3DS, so your 18 months comment seems about right to me. If they don't have a decent user base by then, it'll be another Wii-U.

Could someone please explain Frame rate to me? I think I sort of grasp the concept, but I'm still confused why it matters so much. Thanks.

@shaneoh: Amen. I simply do not understand why I should care about this. For all of the talk about the Wii U being underpowered, the right developers (hmm, Nintendo) made some visually arresting games. And the Switch will be more powerful than that.

@2CUTE4YOU go onto youtube and find a video that supports a 60fps mode. As you watch the video, toggle on and off the 60fps mode.

That's the easiest way you're going to see it and understand it.

@bluedogrulez lol you can't be serious

@gatorboi352 I disagree. The power gap has become less important in recent years because the additional power is mostly being used for additional effects. PS4 and XB1 games aren't significantly different from PS3 and 360 games in the same way that PS3 and 360 were a substantial jump up from Xbox and PS2. Scaling is much more important now. Developer comments about the ease of porting games to Switch are much more positive when compared to the general confusion about the architecture of the Wii-U at launch. If it's as easy to program for as developers are saying, I think it could stand to see reasonable support because, unlike the Wii-U, it won't require a dedicated team to make a Switch version.

I think people need to detach themselves from a comparison mindset and look at what we're being presented independently. I look at what we're seeing as a resurgence of Nintendo understanding they've made some mistakes and are looking to right some wrongs. Portability + Docking? Hell yes! I'm not concerned about it being as powerful, I own a PS4, Xbox 1 , 3DS, Wii U and Vita and probably a Scorpio upon release as well, so in essence if you're a gamer disconnect the toxic fanboy mindset, i love each system for what they provide and damn sure looking forward to the Switch

@NoxAeturnus I hope you're right, however just like with Wii U, the 3rd party support may be there early on but will it be there 2, 3 years down the road?

@gatorboi352 That's the worry for sure. If they can't get decent sales in the first year, 3rd parties will back off because of the low install base. I'm not too worried about it though. There's so much less confusion about Switch. Non-gamers I know understand that this is a new console and get its concept already. Wii-U is still confusing some people as to whether or not it is an add on for the Wii. Still.

@DanteSolablood 'Nintendo seem to be taking a lot of ques from Nvidia this time around & relying less on their "we know best" mentality.'

My god I hope you're right. Nintendo need to be dragged kicking and screaming into this age of gaming. We Nintendo fans of course want the games any which way. That's fine. People will buy it who are on here. But we aren't the wider world. Nintendo needs to speak to the people who might get/have a ps4 or xb1. No bones about it, ports are great at the start but the switch needs to be able to place games that are planned for 2017/18/19..... not games that are out now.

Of course everyone knows the tablet will be weaker on its own, it's the portable part, no one has a problem with that. Most people will have a problem (no matter how you spin it) with a system that is connected to a TV being weaker than the other two. Wii won't happen again guys. Smartphones with 99¢ games have been around for a long time. That's where that casual market is now.

Again, I'll be buying day 1, like most people on here or any other Nintendo fan site, but you have to think outside those sites. People will look at ps4 (which has some amazing games too, I have the pro ) which will be (rumoured to be getting a price cut in January) cheaper as of now. It's a battle ground for the 3 companies. Nintendo need to have power while it's docked. And I think they will, in the next iteration of the switch pad that could come in 2 years.

There is a lot of potential really. But Nintendo have to ABSOLUTELY get it right this time. Nvidia I hope will guide them in what the majority of gamers and casuals want.

@Yorumi
I'm by no means an economy genius, but how is "buying up studios and closing them down" a good business strategy? There's no income from this, aside from less competition. And more IPs I guess, but those are usually dormant.
I also forgot to mention in my previous reply to your comment that I always assumed this survival of the fittest was due to the economical crisis we're still struggling to get out of. What part do you think the crisis itself plays in the bigger picture?

@Ralizah
I just hope the compromise Nintendo opted for - aside from creating what might possibly be my dream console - is for the best. You know, the "lesser of two evils" kind of stuff.

@kenrulei Very, true....and I love the 3DS so that's probably the only reason (plus their amazing games) that has me hanging on. I'm just sick of the games they pull on the consumer. Sorry for venting.

@AlexSora89 It has the potential to be my dream console, too. I've never been so excited for a new console before. But yeah, I hope Nintendo made wise decisions, as I really don't want the hybrid dream to begin and end here.

@JamesCoote That's why it's very likely that we'll see a mid-gen upgrade. That's the only way Nintendo can keep up. If they don't do that, they will have officially lost their minds.

@MetaRyan Desperate for more info (I want to know how the tech works), but I'm not too worried. Just below XB1 level is what was suggested ages ago. Need to see the games running though to convince either way in terms of how successful the console might be. And I feel the price (though I've already pre-ordered) will surely be an important factor for wider success.

I think it would be pretty dumb to expect the handheld part of switch to run at the exact same quality as it being docked. that seems pretty difficult to do when u have to consider battery life as well. anybody whos is nay saying that this is bad are just looking for reasons not to get this epic console and probably didn't want it in the first place.

@Dakt That would be this gentleman:
https://twitter.com/mochi_wsj/status/811851139553456128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

And he is not so much an analyst, but more of an industry insider, and from all reports a rather reliable one, so who knows.
If he is right, then the Switch will be 1440p when docked and the image quality would then be in between Full HD and 4K.

Don't know if we should call that 2K or 4K Ready, though...

@Yorumi
Man, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, isn't it. Why worrying about seeing a new Mega Man game when we'll most likely never see Hogs Of War 2?

Patiently waiting for January 12th to see confirmed games and actual footage That will tell the real story

I said it from the start. Graphics will be scaled back, but the hardware will still ru the CoDs and the Sports and whatever else.

Trust Uncle Ersatz.

@Ralizah
I also want the Switch to start a trend. I mean, if the Wiimote resulted in bland imitation, why shouldn't the competition also create a home console that also works as a handheld?

The red flag for me is how exactly do we know this guy is telling the truth since from what I understand you need to have a PS4 developers license and such to access this sort of info.

Also last I heard there was no mention of Switch in UE Master

It doesn't concern me that it will be 720p undocked. What is the resolution for the Wii-U gamepad? Games look great on it.

As long as the devs don't mind any of that babble and still make non-watered down games for the Switch, then I could care less about all that hooey. I'm just waiting to see if the 3rd parties remain "in" or if they are ready to start jumping ship come January. That's all I'm waiting to hear.

Well I'm guessing the screen size is probably a lower resolution setting because naturally 1080 or even 720 in the size of the portable device would pointless. Also the lower settings on shadows and stuff, which doesn't seem that drastic, would be tough to notice in the smaller screen as well.

@gatorboi352: These "under-powered panic rumors" are not worth our time. I like to have all of the facts before I get my panties in a bunch . . . .

@rdrunner1178 The Wii U GamePad is 480p, so non-HD.

C'mon ppl... it's a fricken tablet. Why would anyone with half a brain expect this to be on par with a console? Nintendo knows where it makes its money at and where the support is. That is its handheld devices. Always has been and always will be. Regardless of the power or graphical stats, it's pretty much in a great spot for support. The handheld and dedicated console departments were combined. Furthermore the 3ds is dated. This is its next step. It's a smart move on Nintendos part to combine it. We all worry about the third part support but look at an aging device like the 3ds and tell me how it's doing with its third party support. You all worry to much because of the WiiU. The WiiU was a great "idea" but the handheld was better. The switch is both.

I'm not concerned about the machine's capability. I'm concerned about how readily third parties are going to work around the difference. Exclusives are nice, but Nintendo's pigeon-holed themselves as "the weird other" of the industry, and exclusives don't really help that. Thank goodness the design and marketing encourages normal controls first, even if motion and touch/pointing is present.

@Rect_Pola Despite the consoles unusual status as a hybrid, this will probably be their biggest return to "normalcy" in quite some time. Modern architecture that isn't from the GameCube era is a huge help, plus there's no Gamepad. There will be motion controls, but they likely won't be shoe-horned in like they were with the Wii. I don't expect to see very many instances where motion controls will be used outside of some of Nintendo's first party content and games like Just Dance, or at least not to a huge degree. Plus, Nintendo seems to actually care about the 3rd parties and understand that they matter. They won't just leave them to fend for themselves like they did with the Wii U.

Overall, everything we've seen so far points to the system itself being very capable, and Nintendo understands that they need to give it everything they've got in every aspect. All we need now is for the system to sell well, and we could be looking at a true game changer. At the very least, we can count on great support from Japanese 3rd parties, seeing as it's almost impossible for this thing to not be a hit in Japan.

@sandman89
Which one do you have?
The Nyko U Boost is the only one I know of.
Your recommendation would help me decide as I've been interested but didn't know how good they actually are.
Cheers.

@gatorboi352
It's irrelevant, you can have cutting edge technology, but it won't matter if the games aren't enjoyable.

@shaneoh true, but the games on PS4/XB1 are enjoyable.

@gatorboi352
Never said they weren't, I've played a few enjoyable games on them. The consoles aren't exactly powerhouses, particularly as they are now a few years old, but it still doesn't stop them from having fun games (which is basically my point in my first post).

@KiWiiU_Freek official Nintendo one. You replace the old one with this larger capacity one find it on amazon no problem around £20 definitely worth it

@KiWiiU_Freek
I'm in Australia too and bought a larger battery a couple of weeks ago. If you ring up Nintendo of Australia (have a debit/credit card handy) you can order a larger battery for $35AU. There's no shipping costs, and believe me, it's well worth it.

@sandman89 @shaneoh
Thanks guys.
Will give Nintendo Australia a ring early next year.
Thanks again both of you for your input.
It's really driving me nuts at how little it lasts and I didn't know you could get a bigger battery from Nintendo.
Awesome news.

@JamesCoote

"Performance wise, danger is that in a couple if years time, we'll start to see Scorpio & PS4 Pro only titles (esp. for VR). Whereas porting a Ps4/x1 title to switch it seems is doable, I expect Scorpio/Pro to switch won't be. So Switch has maybe 18months to build an install base that justifies exclusives and/or can survive missing out on the latest AAA blockbusters hitting Scorpio & Pro."

Looking at the slow start of the PS4 Pro, I highly doubt PS4 Pro games will ever come true. That would require the 45 million plus to upgrade at very brisk pace. And that isn't happening anytime soon if at all.

@Yorumi

So with the game industry a few of the giants are pushing development costs to astronomical levels and smaller studios have trouble competing. That's why you see so little middle ground, it's basically big AAA dev or tiny indie game with little to nothing inbetween. You think it's just a coincidence that EA is buying up struggling studios and closing them down?

This. So much. This is exactly what happen last generation with developers bankrupting themselves to release HD titles on the XBox 360 and PS3.

This find on NeoGAF also states that Epic has the new Unreal Tournament running on Switch. C'mon Epic, make it happen! Would be so dope to have Unreal Tournament on my Switch.

Isnt this sensible for a smaller screen and to preserve battery life?

Specs are no problem for a device like this. The problem is that how lazy devs will be. They need to make games and also port some games well and really use their brains instead of trying easy cash ins.

The good thing about Switch seems to be that it's really versatile and flexible in that it has proper Unity and Unreal Engine 4 support. Would be interesting to see also id tech bend to Switch.

@Malakai I think a number of things will drive PS4 Pro adoption. The biggest (ironically) being Scorpio. As dumb and generalising as it sounds, xbox gamers tend to see themselves as a bit more hardcore. The scorpio being a higher-powered machine, xbox gamers can say "Ah, we might have lost this gen in the console wars, but now xbox has regained its place as the most powerful games console!" In turn, that'll encourage more developers to make games which take advantage of the better hardware, and those upgraded games will make their way onto the Pro also. (In the same way at the start of a new console gen, games will release on both new and old, but with the old getting a graphis downgrade).

Secondly, VR will drive Scorpio and Pro uptake. The Pro is arguably a response to Sony realising the regular old PS4 doesn't really have the horsepower for VR. Scorpio should run VR games as well, and whilst it may not happen in 2017, it won't be long after that some PSVR games come out as Pro only. Don't be surprised if there's a PSVR-Pro bundle at some point next year.

Thirdly, both Sony and Microsoft have long term strategic objectives for making mid-gen / half-gen work as a concept. So I think both will become more and more aggressive in pushing the concept next year. The fact the old X1 and PS4's still have some trade-in value and Scorpio/Pro can play all your existing purchases will take the edge off the pain of upgrading.

All of which will take time to then filter through into true Scorpio/Pro exclusives. But when it happens (not if), that's when the clock timer runs out for Switch to have solidified its place in the market. And/or as others have pointed out, Switch could easily end up also with NN3DS style mid-gen upgrades, especially if the switch tv-dock does turn out to provide a way to boost performance (where most 3rd party AAA games will be played at home on TV, making the fact they run poorly or maybe even not at all on the go less of a factor).

Seems like a good idea to me.

And if 720p is the main thing you're worried about whilst you're playing a basketball game on Switch ON A BASKETBALL COURT WITH YOUR MATES then you've got bigger issues