Nintendo Switch Patent Provides Insights Into VR Accessory and Console Touchscreen

VR is cool and all, but it's always so expensive... Wait... Breath of the Wild in VR?

throws money at screen

:0

Keeping all their options open. If the Switch as we know it today is a flop like the Wii U they may try this VR. If it's a hit (like I hope) I doubt this will ever be more than just a patent.

Sounds good! Do you think wii u pro controller will work with switch????

I think this is going to happen down the road

Knew this would happen. A vr headset was a given.

You know, patents can be scrapped, so we don't know if these are implemented on the Switch or not.

VR won't look that great on a 720p screen... I guess it'll still work, but every VR headset right now has much higher resolution screens.

I was never clamoring over VR, but I'd probably get it if it came out. BotW, Mario, and Zelda in VR!? Yes, please!

This looks just like the Wii! I can't wait for the switch but the fact these controllers are just like Wii motes is uncanny! It is basically the Wii brand without the Wii name! Look at them! Motion controls, small, buttons so close together and in a rectangular shape! I have nothing against the Wii but if this succeeds to Wii levels I will be surprised that history has once again repeated itself! The VR component looks neat too as Nintendo VR would be the only VR unit I would actually purchase because I trust Nintendo as a brand! I really hope this Console is as powerful as current PS4 then everything about this console will be like the Wii but better! Basically the Wii 3 😂

Hahah, no. The Switch is far too big to attach to a headset.

Exciting stuff.i think if the VR comes to be it will be for things like Miyamoto short movies,small tech demo's,possibly mini games.I can't imagine we'll get full blown games.

Haha, I called this at E3. It was obvious the Switch was going to have this capability.

Home console, portable console and VR all straight out of the box for £200-£300!???? Bye bye Sony

@JH64 not in the slightest no

@AVahne Not in tablet mode it's not.Most head sets are adjustable up to 6 inch.With the big border around the Switch,it may not fit in one of those but I would imagine Nintendo will release their own.

Breath of the Wild with Virtual Reality?

BREATH OF THE WILD... WITH VIRTUAL REALITY?!

I'm fine with it being 100% optional for those who want it. Me, I'll carry on ignoring it completely, but for those who want it, have at it. This is the approach I was hoping they'd take if they did anything with VR, and I think it being wireless makes it infinitely more appealing.

Not sure how much money VR headsets usually go for. If it's cheap enough, I might get one, but I don't know if I care enough about VR to spend the money.

As a side note, I'm glad there's a touchscreen.

@KirbyTheVampire VR headsets can be had for as cheap as 15 pounds,possibly even cheaper. Google were giving their cardboard ones away for free.

Remember that time I promised to buy everyone a Switch if it didn't have a touchscreen?

Unlucky folks

@Tetroy64 Is this your first time seeing the Joy-Con's? Where have you been for the last 6 weeks?

That's a big tablet to have in front of your face. Is there a neck support accessory?

Patents show that the Switch, get this, will play video games!

Can't wait to hear how Reggie "VR isn't fun" Fils-Aime tries to justify this one if they actually launch it.

The Switch won't be powerful enough for good VR. The base PS4 barely is, for god's sake. Don't expect this to be any more impressive than Google Cardboard with the tech it's probably running on.

Good to see touchscreen and gyro controls confirmed. Also this indicates that there's NFC and an IR pointer in the right joy-con.

Also looks like you might be able to use 4 joy-cons for when the Switch is docked.

Not really into VR. Maybe if there was a killer app that I just Had to play or try, I'd be interested. I like my 4k screen and a controller in hand.

I think it was pretty clear from the official switch video that you could put the screen into a cheap VR head set. I thought so anyway.

I love the PSVR, it's not the main reason to own a ps4 but it sure is a great side thingy to have. And also if switch did do this, no wires!!!! AMAZING, do it Nintendo!

@gcunit Haha, if you can afford buying many.

@Ralizah I don't think he said it wasn't fun, I think he said it wasn't at a point where they need to worry about it at the moment. And he's right it's not big enough yet. It's to expensive for a start. I think we will see it in the future though

"Metroid Prime VR" would be all sorts of amazing. Unsure I could manage all the craziness of "F-Zero VR" or "Star Fox VR"... but I would certainly buy the whole lot.

Had a look through, its a "Record" button on the left Joy-Con and the Right Joy-Con has NFC and Infrared Image Scanner, aka Wiimote functionality.

So don't lose the right joy-con!

Trying to confirm analogue shoulders but its not obvious.

Also it talks about different configurations for the button layouts, plus alternative Joy-Con Grips and some groovy functionality there.

The VR thing seems the least interesting part.

Oh and confirmation of shoulder buttons on the Joy-Cons and the idea that these extra buttons will be good for complex controls, i.e. motion and gripping things...

Its a real interesting read!

Oh, looks there's a shoulder button on each joy-con when held horizontally. Also, the joy-con grip will act as a battery pack for the joy-cons. Excellent.

Ugh.... Joy Con is more than enough. Please, no VR.

@PinkSpider Au contraire. This is a direct quote from the ready-bodied man himself: "I haven't walked the floor, so I can't say in terms of what's on the floor today, but at least based on what I've seen to date, it's not fun, and it's not social. It's just tech."

Source: http://www.polygon.com/2015/6/18/8803127/nintendos-fils-aime-current-state-of-vr-isnt-fun

I'll leave it to him to explain to me how strapping a tablet to one's headset is more social than just strapping a headset.

There's absolutely no way VR will work with that screen. It's likely 720p, it will look absolutely terrible and grainy. Even if it was 1080p, it would still be terrible.
It may work if they send the signal to a phone, but there'll likely be lag and lag with vr is unusable.

Most patents go unused anyways.

VR will not work for Switch, fact ,and the thing is the console is most likely not even more powerful than the original PS4 so...

@Ralizah You can strap it on in the pub...

@gcunit I think that was quite an easy promise to make...

@King47 Why wouldn't it work? It's just resolution, isn't it. Doesn't mean it doesn't work, it's just lower resolution, which worked out ok for 3DS.

@Ralizah That quote is Reggie smoke-screening you, and dissing the competition at the same time. Plus, he's not saying it has to be social - he's just implying that it has to be fun OR social, I reckon.

@Skunkfish Indeed. Even if it was wireless, though, and not a mess of cords that you were carrying around, VR is, almost by definition, anti-social. It's gear that's designed to isolate your senses from the outside world. It's a really poor fit with a console that appears to be all about integrating console gaming into normal life more.

On that note, I'll be super disappointed if Switch doesn't have something like Streetpass to encourage traveling with it. It was a lot of fun streetpassing different people as I went about my business.

That must have been one laborious patent application. There's 147 pages of pictures.

@gcunit Well, what he said immediately before is: "What we believe is that, in order for this technology to move forward, you need to make it fun and you need to make it social."

He's saying VR needs a social component. I don't see how isolating your senses in a public space is being more social. Sounds like a good way to get robbed.

@IceClimbers And there was me thinking the Switch was going to be a sandwich press with a catchy name. :3

@blackbox64 VR headsets of this type are only as expensive as the materials they're made of. A smartphone (or in this case the Switch) acts as the screen, that's the expensive part you already own. Apart from additional lenses, the rest could even be cheap cardboard as with Google Cardboard.
Nintendo would probably pick something more sturdy, but plastic options generally cost less than a game does.

@ThanosReXXX ...and yet there were people seriously doubting it didn't have a touchscreen because it wasn't shown in the reveal trailer.

I will say that VR isn't something that excites me, despite being a fan of the 3DS's Stereoscopic screen (as you could use it straight out of the box) but if this is affordable I'd be keen to check it out.

I just hope it doesn't become Nintendo's main focus for Switch because I don't think VR is worth putting pressure on the developers over.

@Ralizah I think this is where Nintendo's experience of two-screen gaming will come in: one person will wear the VR unit, while other people control what he sees - ta-dah! Social!

Also, I think you're maybe putting too much stock in what RFA says. That guy is not Nintendo, he just works for them and shoots his mouth off about anything because he doesn't have much else to contribute

@gcunit Yeah, I know. That kind of surprised me too. Seemed like sort of a given if you ask me. Oh, well... people..

@gcunit Because the pixels are right in front if your eyes.
With low resolution, you'll see the pixels and it wouldn't be able to put a nice picture.
I have the samsung gear VR, and my phone has a very nice 1440P screen, and I think it's still not perfect. I also used other VR hardware.

And keep in mind that the Switch has a a larger screen with a lower resolution, so the pixel density will be terrible.
The screen is not a problem when used normally, but in VR it's a whole different thing.

@gcunit Oh, I don't believe Nintendo suits for a second. They'll say whatever they think they need to say to maintain sales. Like: 'We won't design a 3DS with a second stick because it would split the player base,' and 'Nintendo DS is a third pillar for Nintendo, and isn't intended to replace the GBA.'

And that what you mentioned about "social VR" doesn't sound appealing at all for the person wearing it. It's VERY easy for VR to become disorienting, and one way to accomplish that is to have no control over what your character is doing.

Ugh.. I don't have high hopes for a VR feature. But the other info in the patent seems interesting!

@King47
The resolution has always been the issue that bothered me about VR from way back in the Eurogamer rumors.

BUT, people are still buying out the stock of the 3DS which has the ugliest screen in current production, anywhere. People who can handle that might be able to get excited about the pixely virtual world around them using this setup.

Snarkiness aside, there are trade-offs and the investment to make this work if you already want/have a Switch is like pennies compared to other options. Sure there's the phone options, but those have severe limitations on controls that the Switch won't have.

It could be a trade off that people are willing to make when the cost is so little. However, the VR attachment's box might benefit from including a short stack of folded barf bags.

It's only a patent though, nothing in it has to be in the production console. Stuff like support for VR might never happen, even if they are leaving their options open.

@blackbox64 If this works like the VR headsets for phones then it wouldn't be expensive at all. It's just a plastic case with lenses and it would use the gyro sensor of the gamepad.
Of course, the experience wouldn't be as good as the Vive or the PSVR, but it would probably still be very immersive

@Ralizah
"Nintendo DS is a third pillar for Nintendo, and isn't intended to replace the GBA" Why do you think they were lying about this? I think that was their intent, but what are you supposed to do when consumers drop the GBA and rush to the DS like no other device in history. You change your focus.

The second stick thing. Nintendo wasn't wrong about that. Early in the life of the 3DS it would have split the player base and even later it causes problems and resentment. Demand outweighed their plans.

Are you suggesting businesses should ignore market trends and just go with initial plans without ever adjusting? Changing your mind doesn't make you a liar. It means you've learned something.

@gcunit was joking about the social aspect I think.

@aaronsullivan Nope. I'm suggesting that Nintendo execs will say anything to keep customers buying their current hardware (with the exception of the Wii U, because there are no sales to salvage there). If you really think Nintendo didn't already have plans for the New Nintendo 3DS, for example, when that statement about splitting the player base was made, then I have a bridge to sell you.

@aaronsullivan Yeh, I was joking. Though I've gotta be careful, that can be a dangerous game around here.

Plus, disorienting someone in a VR set does sound kinda fun to me. "Come on, let's make him puke in record time!"

@King47 But it would still work.

When I open up my 3DS I see all these disgusting pixels. Still good fun though.

I knew it! Ever since i saw how slim the device was i immediately thought of phone VR. It will likely be as good as any standalone VR and much more cost effective allowing casuals and hardcore gamers alike to enjoy it. I think Nintendo is doing the opposite of Sony and releasing the VR/companion device now and the true next console along with the next gen, which the Switch will essentially become an accessory for. However Nintendo's VR is going to be much more versatile in that it can be a home and portable console, and hopefully a tablet with some computer functions too. With Nvidia as the GPU in both they'll be able to seemlessly stream games, and enhance the Switch's power too (like the Shield and PC GPU's can work in tandem) and it will provide the user with an excellent way to play console games in any room using the Switch and base (which can reportedly be purchased separate for this purpose). I was really hoping Nintendo wasn't foolish enough not to make this a VR machine, my hype for the Switch has really gone up.

Laura's report of the Switch better using it's processing power while docked and displaying at a higher resolution has been confirmed by the patent!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=226639848&postcount=127

@IceClimbers Actually, that was already confirmed by sound reasoning logic...

Introducing the Nintendo 3DSVR

@ThanosReXXX True, but plenty here would still doubt it's the case anyways. Too much cynicism

@DESS-M-8 The PS4 has outsold the PS2 at this same point in its lifespan. Nintendo has no chance at catching up to those sales.

The trouble is, with a 720p screen of that size you'll be able to see the individual coloured elements that make up the pixels that close...

I just realized something... animal crossing VR! Is it too much to ask?

@JH64 I think even the Wii-motes are going to work on the Switch.... Here is the explanation to why I think that. Has anyone wondered why a small portion of the Switch tablet sticks out the top of the Switch Dock? I think the top part of the Switch tablet houses an IR sensor similar to the sensor bar of the Wii and Wii U. Anyways, that's just my opinion.

Even YouTuber Super Metal Dave thinks the same and has done a video showing that.

@Skunkfish Yeah.... But until the official discussion on January 12th we are only assuming the screen is 720P based off rumors, it might be a 1080p screen, who knows. Let's just wait and see.

@LeRaposa I love Nintendo but I don't even think the Switch will catch the Xbox ONE this generation. I don't even think the total sales of the Wii U combined with the total sales of the Switch will pass up the PS4 sales this generation.

@spawn1210 Orrr maybe if that's the case, it's for the Joy-Cons, seeing as they'll have motion controls as well?

@LeRaposa got nothing to do with anything. The sales are mutually exclusive. There's no reason why Switch couldn't sell 100 million in its life cycle. It could bomb aswell but you have no idea. Same position pre-Wii launch right now. No realistic prediction of how big a game changer it could be .

If switch is to be the new way for are for Nintendo and you take total sales of Wii and 3DS then it could have the potential to outsell even the PS2

I doubt we're getting VR for the Switch any time soon if it even happens at all. Nintendo hasn't shown much interest in VR recently.

As for the patent, companies have lots of reasons to patent new ideas even if they don't have any current intentions of using them. For instance, they may decide to use it in the future, or they could use an idea in a completely different concept. Plus having patents helps defend against patent trolls.

The Switch controllers don't look anything like that precious patent which had part of the screen around buttons. Some parents will get used, and others will never see the light of day.

@gcunit

You like to live life on the edge, don't you?

@SaKo

For the record, where was it confirmed it will have a 720p screen?

@SaKo Indeed. Using cardboard with my iPhone 5S which has a higher resolution looks ok, but you can definitely notice all the pixels.

@iGen Even if it was 1080p, which I seriously doubt (and hope not, for price's sake), it wouldn't look that good.

@spawn1210 They don't need to match the PS4 or XBone, they just need better-than-3DS numbers and they'll be safe. Any more than that is just profit, and that's not counting their own game sales.

@nab1

Eh. They're Nintendo. They'll make it work, like they always do.

@iGen That's what it's rumoured to have.

@SaKo

Refer to comment #84.

This looks like Google cardboard, but if it's a 720p screen and a massive, not so light piece of hardware, then this will easily be some of the worst VR tech on the market. Hope this venture isn't pursued, it can only lead to disappointment.

Nice. In pictures there seems to be seperate accelerator sensor in middle unit and both left and right side terminal. Lower terminal (stand) doesn't seem to have anything more than HDMI out, 3x extension terminals (USB slots?) and power.

Vein authentication is in the patent, and heartrate monitoring using the ir sensor which explains its placement, likely not a wiimote thing at all.

@iGen Always better on the edge - things tend to get pretty smelly in the middle

I wonder what the next fad will be once "Virtual Reality" has outlived its welcome.

@spawn1210 what if you don't have the switch under your TVs?

@SaKo that was my thought. I've used a VR headset with a Samsung phone which I'm sure is twice the resolution of what the switch will be and it is still pixelated.

@shaneoh Vitality Sensor.

That's actually mentioned in the patents. Supposedly the IR sensor on the bottom of the right Joy-Con can be used for "vein authentication" as well as measuring your pulse.

Don't necessarily think that'll make it into the final product, but it would be cool if used properly. Imagine it affecting a game like Doom, Outlast, Fatal Frame, or even a new Eternal Darkness.

@IceClimbers
I think you've tagged the wrong bloke

VR headsets for this are going to be insanely cheap. Like the Wii wheel pack-in with mariokart style cheap. I hope it comes to pass...

@IceClimbers I have always thought that using the vitality sensor like that in a game would be an interesting idea as well, but I think it ended up in the shredder, or it's going to do something in Nintendo's Quality of Life program, if that's even still a thing on their own radar.

Some time ago, when the rumors started to take shape in confirming what we now know, I was still digging for something that would make it special or add something extra because a "Wii U done right" (which is what I thought of it initially, in between my bouts of disappointment over the EuroGamer "contraption" actually being the real deal) didn't seem all that special to me, let alone be something so new and unique and never seen before that Nintendo should be afraid of the competition stealing their idea.

And to some extent, I STILL don't think that the Switch is all that unique, since all that we know of it so far, is simply based upon other ideas that have already been on the market for years, so I'm not seeing anything truly new or revolutionary (yet).

In the end, I decided to stop my hunt for that something special, and I just accepted that this is what the Switch is. But then, right around and after the Tonight show event, even Nintendo themselves started hyping the device up again, saying things like "you need to experience first-hand to understand what it is" and "there's more hardware on the way, this isn't all". (first quote by Reggie Fils-Aime, second one by mr. Kimishima as well)

That once again triggered me to renew my search for that something special, and lo and behold: my attention was once again drawn by that little bit of text that said "advanced haptic vibration force feedback" in a couple of official Nintendo documents and patents.

Take a look at this one, might be relevant and it's certainly interesting, and to top if off, it's cheap enough for Nintendo to seriously consider incorporating it into the Switch, or in some of it's peripherals:

Virtual Boy is making its big comeback!

@KingofSaiyanZ
I'm still calling it a fad even if it does come to Nintendo consoles.

What's the point of having a touchscreen if you can't use it while the system is docked? Unless the Switch doubles as a tablet featuring a popular OS, a touchscreen for it seems rather unnecessary, at this point.

Called it. I knew once we saw what the Switch was that they'd address VR this way. I suspect the headset won't be available at launch, but we will see it at some point in the Switch's lifespan.

I predicted this month's ago well before the switch was unveiled and made this mock-up

The VR could be a huge selling point, if all that's needed is a cheap headset add on it would potentially be one of the cheapest VR options out there

VR is a gimmick. Nintendo using it or not.

@KingofSaiyanZ
Heh, stubbornness is really common. I just think the novelty of "VR," as it's called, will wear off in a few years.

This is brilliant !!!!!! on other systems you need to go out and buy an expensive headset with lots of cords coming off it. This way the switch has a PORTABLE vr option built into it. If it works well enough this could really help the success of the switch. I would love them to say something about this on the 12th

@ThanosReXXX I really hope you're right about that. That is such cool technology.

@gcunit

I'll bet.

VR is too expensive, and I doubt nintendo will delve into that until they know that they'll have a solid foundation for the SWITCH (meaning, enough people buying it)...also, they'll wait and see how the VR still continues to sell. PS4's is selling greatly, but I'm not sure about XBONE's or the cell phone ones...to me, it all makes you look like ROBOCOP. I'd pick up sony's, but only if I know it's going to stick around and...the most important reason...drop down in price. As for SWITCH, it's all going to be up to sales, but I think everyone knew that it would have the motion controls (Just Dance gave that away), and I'm still certain that touch screen will be in play (since there are screen protectors being shown in various store websites for it), but also...if Super Mario Maker is coming to the SWITCH, it would have to have some sort of touchscreen for it...also, does anyone know if it has a rumble feature on the tablet, because that takes up battery power quickly if you can't turn it off or down? Other than that, don't get too excited everyone...the system still has to sell, and sorry to say, there's no way it's going to outsell the current systems at the moment and I don't really see it taking off like the Wii did...I hate to say that, especially since I love nintendo, but I don't think they're going to make a strong comeback until their next console...hoping I'm wrong, but I just have that gut feeling.

@ronnande Don't forget that nintendo does many gimmicks...the Zapper on the NES, Super NES and even the Wii didn't stick around for long on either...the balance board, second analog for the 3DS, the microphones for N64 and Gamecube, the Voice thing for Animal Crossing on Wii (forget what it's called), the expansion pack for N64...the list could go on. Nintendo's not the only company that does a ton of gimmicks, but they do them, and this would be something up their alley if it continues to sell as well as it is!

@Gauchorino Probably cables that can hook into the tablet and then the TV. I think nintendo's trying to sell it more as a handheld, than a console, and if it has the touchscreen, it's a definite handheld over a console. You're right though, how would it work when it's docked???? Something tells me, nintendo will make money with accessories for it...lots of various cables and other parts needed to play it fully, and that's where it will quickly go to a $300 console or more.

I called the VR helmet option when the Switch was first publicized on NintendoLife (Thu 20th Oct 2016).

Comment #56 "So where is the VR helmet for the switch screen".

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/10/gallery_lets_take_a_look_at_the_nintendo_switch

Do I get a prize.

@JLPick Perhaps there will be an accessory for it down the line that can be inserted into the cradle while the Switch is removed from it to display additional on-screen images on the TV besides what is displayed on the Switch's own screen. After all, how else will they be able to (reasonably) resell all their Wii U gems?

@Gauchorino That's where the motion controls in the joyconns come in, much like Trauma Centre for the DS and Wii, you can easily replicate touch controls without a separate screen.

It's also possible the Switch could wirelessly connect to smart TVs like some tablets do & allow you to play without the dock. However, this would lead to a performance drop.

@JLPick The only thing I'd say is that Nintendo has stated that the Switch is console first that happens to be portable. People are choosing to see it as a handheld... but this isn't how Nintendo is choosing to market it. You're possibly correct that that IS what the Switch really is, but for me it's not a problem. My last console was the PS3, the Switch will still be the most powerful console OR handheld I've owned.

Any one know if the Switch will have motion control?

@KirbyTheVampire Well, it's not my theory, so I wouldn't be right, but the guy that posted the video. Having said that, I agree that it could be something great and would definitely add to the experience, and the way it was explained, made it seem that it could easily work both with and without VR, so this would be a separate "gimmick". (hate that word)

There's also another one, related to Augmented Reality, a technique that Nintendo has already dabbled in with the 3DS, and which could also be implemented into the Switch, and that is called "Interactive Dynamic Video":

Well, the switch screen must be very light in order to use it in VR.

Still, the only thing that got hold of my attention was the touchscreen aspect.

@kenzo I called it before the unveil. When it was still the NX. Lol

Skyrim VR? rool:

Bring it on Nintendo please

I hope they remember that VR is useless for people who are long sighted. Having the ability to focus the head set is a must.

@easygoingthief They did that 20 years ago on Virtual Boy. I'd be surprised if they took a step back now.
Also considering such things as not releasing the vitality sensor because it didn't work perfectly for 1% of the testers.

I get the complaint that 720 isn't a high enough resolution and that "not quite PS4 power" isn't enough juice. I'm not seeing anyone mention the possibility, though, that maybe the headset has its own higher resolution screen built in that draws power from docking the switch. And I'm sure everyone is aware of how stellar Nintendo is at making things beautiful and smooth with relatively low power. As a happy owner of a Vive I'm very excited to see what Nintendo might be able to accomplish with VR tech.

@Siskan
I wouldn't be surprised. it is really annoying when things are not thought through properly.

I would think that the screen would have motion controls for the VR to work...

@DanteSolablood That makes sense. I still wonder how they'll do the Wii U VC on it, though. I doubt they'll use ridiculous methods similar to what they did with DS VC on Wii U.

@ThanosReXXX Hmm, that would be interesting. I just wonder how pricey those things would be to produce? I could be completely wrong, but it seems a bit odd that the Switch's rumored price could be so low if it did end up having something like what was shown in those videos, especially the vibration. Maybe it's nothing new and it just has never been used in portable devices before?

@KirbyTheVampire Well, I believe they said that the tech was small and cheap to make, so combine that with the Tegra hardware which also isn't that expensive, and the combined cost probably wouldn't have to be more than $250 - $300.

And keep in mind: it could also be used for additional peripherals, so it doesn't necessarily have to be incorporated into the Switch itself, as far as the force feedback tech is concerned. The AR gimmick is another thing, because that should already be in there.

@ThanosReXXX Ah, I gotcha. Well, let's hope it's in there. As much as I'm not a big fan of gimmicks being a system seller, it would be very helpful in this case in order to get the 3rd parties to stay on board. Plus, depending on how they utilize it, it could be a pretty cool part of gameplay.

My only complaint about using half the controller for a game, as pictured above, is that you're stuck with only one joy stick.

@Lunarsickness Presumably that option would only be for games with simple controls, like Mario Kart. The rest of the time you'd use the Pro controller or the JoyCons/JoyCon controller thingy.

@ThanosReXXX
That is indeed a cool tech. The problem of resistance and feeling a virtual world with games that use hand controls is important so this is going to get plenty of attention. Would be a nice addition to Switch.

I'm also waiting for someone to crack the touchscreen surface that can bump up physical buttons or control sticks that can pop up and down dynamically (Apple had patents for this years ago). That way you can have virtual onscreen controls of many kinds that you can feel like standard physical controls. That oval NX rumor/fake would be doable... but it could also mean physical controls on smartphones so it might not be great for the prospects of Nintendo hardware.

@aaronsullivan "the touch screen surface that can bump up physical buttons"

That would probably be this one, from Tactus Technology:

@invictus4000 Unfortunately, that wouldn't work. VR takes a lot of power, so games that use as much processimg power as BotW will not work (especially not at any frame rate above 30, which would cause serious motion sickness). It's the same reason Sony hasn't released The Last of Us or Uncharted 4 for PSVR.

@ThanosReXXX Yeah, that's a start, but the idea is to have it dynamically placed programmatically by individual apps. So, you could do braille reading in the same place you'd make a game button, or even simulate a control pad cross, where it could even depress as it registers pressure. Anyway, I'm just dreaming.

@aaronsullivan Well, the original demo they showed at CES a couple of years ago showed that the buttons could be tied to any app, so they weren't just fixed to a single keyboard.

I'm not sure how it makes much sense using this thing with a VR display if the specs of the screen are what I expect, which is 720p at around 60Hz; that would be sickness inducing VR.

There is no way this would be worth playing on any nintendo console, they continue to be under powered in exchange for innovative ideas. The HTC vive isn't even powerful enough for good vr. IT is considered to be the best while its resolution is low enough to count the pixels and has latency issues. I sincerely doubt nintendo managed to pack the power of a serious gaming pc into a 6.5 inch tablet.

Just to point out... if this was a VR headset, then they would have called it that, and there would also have been some mention of a divider to separate the view of each eye so that each could only see half of the screen... this is nothing more that that the name suggests... a head mounted display... likely for use with motion controls while away from a TV.

Unless the screen is min 1080p and the system has been created specifically with proper VR in mind (not just an afterthought), I don't think VR would work particularly well on Switch, but it's possible.

If Nintendo is going to get into VR, I'd like it to be done right rather than being a bit of a half-*ssed throwaway gimmick. So, if this thing comes to pass, I hope it's given the attention, detail, and respect its due.