When Nintendo gave its major Switch Presentation earlier this month, following it up with details in press releases, social media and interviews, there was a fair bit of information that was shared. While the Presentation had the task of giving the first major showcase for the system, it did however skip over quite a lot of features that are nevertheless expected. That was inevitable, ultimately - events like these can never cover all of the bases.
The system is due on 3rd March, of course, and there are some notable areas that need to be expanded upon. It's no real surprise that there were aspects of the system passed over in the core reveal, but there's still time for Nintendo to get into the nitty-gritty for its most loyal fans. Whether there'll be a Nintendo Direct to fill in gaps, or possibly just a drip-feed of details through social media, we can be sure that more information will emerge in the coming weeks.
In any case, we've picked up on five key aspects of the Nintendo Switch that should be outlined and explained in more detail before the system arrives in stores.

The eShop
This is a big one, and in preparing a feature that involves multiple 'Nindies' there's already a little disappointment in some of their responses that the eShop was largely ignored in the Presentation and, to a degree, since. Nintendo has highlighted some download-only games and pleasingly showcased them to the public, but it's been a minimal nod to the Switch's download store so far.
What we do know from a video snippet and the official websites is that the eShop brand is surviving, and that as expected it'll tie in to the Switch Online Service. We've not seen the interface, however, nor do we have a sense of any other new features the eShop could introduce.
We'll be interested to see the layout, for one thing. Will it be different when the Switch is docked in order to display fully on a TV, adopting a more 'portable' look when on the console's screen? That'd be a neat touch, and there are certainly areas that can be improved over the 3DS and Wii U iterations. In fairness to the Wii U eShop in particular we think it compares favourably to other download stores in its general look, but improvements in processes and particularly navigation speed would be very welcome. Even on Wii U the eShop is oddly slow to do, well, anything. Beyond that steps could be removed to speed things up, and product pages could certainly be more dynamic and interesting; we like the way trailers auto-play in mute on the PSN Store, for example, ready to be viewed fully at any time.
All told the eShop's primary features, ties to My Nintendo and how this all comes together in the user interface are areas yet to be discussed by the big N.

Virtual Console
What do we know about the Virtual Console? Only that it will have some NES and SNES games, potentially with tweaks to add online multiplayer; this is related to the monthly game access that will come with a subscription to the online service.
Beyond that it's largely a mystery. Reputable reports - that are nevertheless rumours until announced - have previously suggested that GameCube titles are on the way, though the lack of analogue triggers on the Switch controllers is a blow to that, albeit not a critical one. Outside of that Nintendo could really go whatever way it wants, as it's a device that's naturally suited to both TV and portable play. With that in mind, and the Tegra-based GPU inside the system, we've argued before that in theory the Switch can deliver the ultimate Virtual Console experience. Dual screen systems are out, of course, and the Virtual Boy is the Virtual Boy, but beyond that Nintendo can push the boat out.
Quite how bold Nintendo will be is anyone's guess - it depends on progress with emulation to the hardware, and the sort of model the company will pursue to sell those games to us. The status quo wouldn't be surprising, with relatively 'premium' prices and some upgrade discounts for those that have bought Super Mario Bros. et al three times previously. Whatever the case, it's a major service that fans care about, and could be central to any additional pre-launch Directs, presentations or media reveals.

Nintendo Account Services, Including Cloud Back-Ups
When the Nintendo Account and My Nintendo rolled out last year, with support for the Wii U, 3DS and mobile stores and apps, it seemed like a wise move to begin the transition before the Switch rolled around. The Nintendo Account is mentioned as the free and mandatory online ID for the Switch, which likely means the end of the Nintendo Network ID moving forward, though existing NNIDs are naturally used on the older hardware and as options to link with the newer accounts.
A key question some have is whether eShop funds shared between Wii U and 3DS will also tie-in to the Switch store, and we certainly hope that'll be the case - it shouldn't be too difficult for Nintendo to implement that for all those with a Nintendo Account.
Another key question, though, relates to whether these accounts will be tied in any way to specific hardware. We've banged this drum a lot, as on Wii U and 3DS accounts get chained to consoles, necessitating system transfers (in which multiple units go through a ponderous process with each other). Though our Wii U/3DS purchases and accounts exist as data that can be managed online and 'through the cloud', as shown when customer services can add and remove software from our units remotely, the end user doesn't enjoy that luxury. As a result switching between systems - for example when buying a special edition or replacement - can be rather fiddly, and there's also danger of losing files and save data if external memory fails.
One little detail that's reassuring with save data is that it'll apparently be stored on the Switch's internal memory, with any micro SD cards added by the user looking after big files like game and app downloads. In other words, if your micro SD fails or gets damaged, reinstalling a game from scratch should - in theory - easily pick up your existing save data. That's a positive, though we should add the 3DS has had a useful save backup option for a while, even if the Wii U - bizarrely - doesn't.
In any case, will the Switch and Nintendo Account also support cloud (online) backups and related services, also making any hardware changes far easier? This sort of thing is the norm with tablets, smartphones and indeed other current-gen consoles; we're not holding our breath, but we're hoping to see this from Nintendo.

Pre-Installed Apps
Most Nintendo systems of the modern era come with pre-installed apps - so far we know the Switch will have the eShop, an 'Album' area with your in-game screenshots, and a 'News and Announcements' shortcut. Apart from that, it's rather mysterious.
We're curious to see how many established ideas make a transition - will there be 3DS-style HOME Themes, for example? How much integrated support will there be for the likes of Twitter and Facebook, both within and potentially outside of the Album app? Will there be any short and sweet game experiences? Thinking back to 3DS we had AR Games and Face Raiders on hand, so a similarly small experience or two that make clever use of the Joy-Cons would be a nice touch; it should be noted that even small pre-installed games seem to have been ruled out, but the wording is vague. A Mii Maker of sorts is confirmed, but we also know that Switch won't have StreetPass due to the positioning of the console as a home system, but that doesn't mean there won't be some form of alternative.
Also worth noting is that the big N is evidently keen to use its Nintendo Account setup and all of that background work with DeNA to tie the Switch to smart devices. Parental Controls and online service features such as lobbies and voice chat are going to be delivered through smart device apps that connect to your Switch through your Nintendo Account. With that in mind, some of the features that typically appear on systems may be absent and delivered through smartphone / tablet apps instead. One app we'd like to see in some form is My Nintendo, with easier and more integrated reward redemptions than currently available through the service's website.
Also of note, it seems pretty clear - based on Nintendo's comments - that there won't be major video streaming or media apps available at launch: such as Netflix, YouTube etc. It seems late to reverse course on that, though not impossible, but they will surely arrive in an update soon enough.

The Touchscreen
In all of its demonstrations, Nintendo has repeatedly ignored the multi-touch screen on the Switch, and it barely features in games. Naturally when playing in docked mode this screen is irrelevant, and it seems that most games simply don't support it. It's there though, we know that much.
We've really only seen some brief video footage, which emerged recently, and Ubisoft has confirmed that the screen will be used in Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition. We assume it'll come into play in the user interface in portable mode, but there are lots of questions. Will there be some kind of mode or trigger to go into a touchscreen-centric UI or to utilise its features, and will many games at launch use it?
Frankly, until we've seen a Nintendo demo video with a translucent finger tapping and prodding a CG version of the Switch - accompanied by low-key and soothing music - we simply won't be satisfied...
Let us know what other Nintendo Switch details you want to hear about ahead of launch in the comments below.
Comments 117
Nintendo need to put wii u eshop on the switch. Why because a lot of people who did not buy 3rd parties games on the wii u they can buy eshop games on the switch. Fast racing neo is a perfect example. That's why Wiiware needs to come to the wii u eshop but of course Nintendo did not listen
When the system was first revealed, people were having a lot of fun dreaming up different Joy-Con variations. It'd be really cool to see Nintendo release a cheaper pair of GameCube joy-cons with analog triggers, basic rumble and no motion controls. I don't see it happening but it'd be a cool thing. You could have an SNES version that drops the rumble entirely but features a standard D-Pad, too.
If not now, I hope Nintendo GameCube coming to the Virtual Console at E3. I've been waiting for that since the Wii U.
@therealgamer When do they really listen? They take maybe 5-10% of fan outcry and actually apply to their hardware and software.
I sure hope theres no wack useless "mandatory" apps that will be included like they do with cell phones and tablets that will really bum me out.
@Phin68 For you yes gamecube VC will be awesome for NA!! Still got my gamecube
@Senpai_Bruh Devs stil can make games on the wii u eshop but it will be a cool idea to put the wii u eshop on the switch. DSIWARE is on the 3ds eshop. Yeah you right they don't listen
Gamecube VC... with Path of Radiance, please.
Nintendo seems to have a thing for drip-feeding information. I'm not sure why they didn't show us this stuff in the presentation. It seemed more like an hour long Switch advertisement than the info-heavy event we were hoping for.
@therealgamer Wait, what? You can't just put the ''Wii U eShop'' on the Switch and download games from there and expect it to work.. Doesn't work like that.
@therealgamer It's not a simple to task to just "put the Wii U eShop on the Switch". It's rather impossible, really. The only reason the 3DS eShop contains the DSiWare store is because 3DS is entirely backwards compatible with DS/DSi. Switch will not be backwards compatible with Wii U due to irreconcilable architecture differences, so the Wii U eShop cannot be ported over easily.
another thing web browser info, it comes or not? i'm guessing Nintendo wants ppl to talk about the switch as much as possible,
I'm shocked they haven't answered these questions yet.
I just want cube titles please ... Ok can anyone help me, has anybody seen TV adverts for Switch yet? Coz I sure as hell haven't lol they need to push advertisement more than WiiU
Something tells me we'll see a Direct between now and March.
And how is lack of analog triggers not a critical blow to GameCube games? Melee, Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and F-Zero GX made heavy use of the analog triggers and would be very difficult (if not impossible) to play properly without them.
Touchscreen is relatively easy to discern: they are trying to differentiate themselves from the tablet market. Wii U will always be 'the tablet controller' and looked like a piece of rubbish next to iPad and othe tablets.
I don't know why they won't show the UI. I think it's because of many very early NX rumours that stated the console was running a version of Android. While it's clearly not running Android, I think the interface could resemble this more than usual. Also: see above point re: touchscreen. They don't want to muddy the message. Drip feeding information helps with ensuring consumers aren't overwhelmed and it avoids people making assumptions. The reveal trailer was to sell the hybrid nature of the console; the presentation was about the joy cons and the functionality they provide. The games took a backseat; but I believe they will supply a steady stream of titles and will covet third party support. For how long I'm not sure but still, could happen.
I believe we'll get a lot of details in mid-to-late February.
Of course it feels a bit worrying that they haven't blown the lid on all of these features. Feels like they might not be quite ready at launch.
But that's just a feeling caused by lack of information.
Achievements achievements achievements achievements achievements achievements.
Please!
Web browser most important "extra" feature IMO.
I loved and stayed on wiiu for its drawing features. But switchh having no stylus and being a whopping 550$ here (if I get a game with it) is just a big no thanks. I'll paint my own dream Star Fox and Metroid games.

GameCube VC is super important!
I just hope I can transfer BotW save data from Wii U to Switch though...
If I already bought Super Mario 3 for NES do I have to pay again?
Honestly, there's still opportunity for "blow you away" reveals that would make this thing an insane hit.
1. Re-install all previous VC titles for FREE. I don't even have that many and this would make me love the Switch.
2. OR ----- going out on a limb here ---- Imagine they put the SAME 30 games as the NES Mini in the e-shop/VC day one for half the price of the Mini. $30 for the Mini experience on Switch, two built in controllers, tap that nostalgia.
Boom. Switch capitalizes on NES Mini-mania. Sells 5 billion consoles and all the third party support comes running.
As long as there's an internet browser and the Eshop isn't overrun by terrible shovelware titles that Nintendo never even bothers to check for quality, I'm fine. The Wii U Eshop was absolute trash because of this.
Frankly, I won't be looking at any other features games or anything else until I beat breath of the wild. That's all I need for now.
@keresmatic I used to have the same issue when trying to connect my 3DS to hotels with Wi-Fi that required a password and login. There's a workaround. Make sure and select the network in settings, and once you are attached to it, open the web browser, which should take you to the login page, where you can enter the login details and connect. Hope that helps. Usually works for me.
There's so much to be revealed. Why are they waiting? I don't think they're sure of how the launch day setup should be. The OS firmware will probably be worked on right up until the last day and we download a patch. More than anything I probably want them to clarify online and how it works. Just that alone has a tonne of questions. It's ridiculous, the Switch launches in less than a month and a half and we don't know this stuff. How do they expect people to spend €400 - €500 or more with so many unanswered questions?
Thete are a lot of secrets about Switch potential....
Overall I liked the UI for the WiiU, but the eshop UI was terrible. It would be wise of them to fix that. Not just for us but for them because better UI means that more people will buy games from it.
And the unknowns are some of the things that worry me the most about the Switch because they have the potential to really affect how I see the system overall, be it good or bad.
I hope people aren't putting too much stock in this Gamecube VC rumour at this stage, if it doesn't come then they'll only get upset. Best to wait for an announcement from Nintendo which I'm sure is going to come soon about their VC plans. look at what happened after the $250 rumour.
@Megas yep! Double Jump. Achievement unlocked!
@ottospooky well said, I feel like they anticipated us to wonder to build upon the hype and see what we want exactly and then BOOM! Mostly everything we wished for plus more will be revealed. It's like they knew this would all happen... or did they?
*touchscreen games
*3ds Virtual console when turned sideways
*connecting phone to Switch
*Bluetooth details
*battery expansion
*VR
*storage details (dlc, update on sd?)
*multiple accounts
I don't think it's a good idea to get too hyped for the virtual console, since it's only going to be dripped feed by Nintendo anyway, but there is hope for possible Gamecube VC coming to the switch, which makes it little bit tolerable.
Bummer about the lack of analog triggers, been waiting for Super Mario Sunshine, but no way FLUDD works properly without them. Same for the vacuum in Luigis Mansion.
Are they really not going to have a Youtube app? I know they said no streaming apps, but I assumed they meant paid services like Netflix and Hulu. And they'll never let the kids near HBO Go, which is a shame with 2 seasons left og GoT and Westworld being popular. But if they are going to let us share videos on YouTube let us look at them on Switch, it would be kind of stupid not to even for them.
There's still plenty of stuff to find out about Switch but I think they are getting the selling features out, namely Zelda. Most of the stuff in this list isn't really going to get to people pre-order when they find out. So, there's stuff we need to know, date, price, games, and stuff we want to know, this stuff. They have 6 weeks to fill, drip drip drip.
Oh, and in case anybody didn't notice, today was not Switch news day, it was 3DS day - Mario sports cards, Tank Troopers, Pikmin is coming. Nintendo can only put out so many press releases in 1 day, and that 3DS one today was a doozy.
When a movie is pretty bad, they hold back any previews to reviewers. People won't know it's bad until they shell out the money.
I suspect the UI is pretty slow or incomplete. I can't imagine any other reason why they wouldn't show the UI. Why would there be anything to "show off" in a UI?
@Megas Achievements aren't that bad, it gives some games replayability. Although I can understand that there are some games that feature trophies that are just too easy or are just no-brainers, but there are some games that feature trophies that are pretty challenging.
@thesilverbrick as long as I can make use of my Wii U GameCube controller adapter I'll be happy! Saying that, not entirely sure how it would work on the go though....
Achievements/Trophies! I love those so much. Nintendo can do so much with that idea to make it more worthwhile. Maybe even tie in My Nintendo, like they did with Mario Run.
@Megas I'm with you- I hate achievements... they ..... distract me.
And I want cheat codes too while we're at it.
@Megas 2 seems the most sensible option, but who knows what swirls around in the minds of those in charge.
@Megas Have you played WoW recently? They're asking you for achievements all the time, hell they won't even let you join without some times.
Most important of all: Does Breath Of The Wild come in a gold cartridge?!
@Megas That's fine, everybody has different opinions.
Why did Nintendo step away from analog triggers again?
Trophy system and themes please!
I heard that the pro controller has analog triggers? I hope. if not that stinks no option of that at all.
I think when the dust settles we will see a very good online infrastructure when compared to the WiiU. But if we compare it to Xbox Live for example I think we'll be seeing a lot of things lacking. I think this is just how Nintendo are, they're like an overprotective parent who refuse to give their almost grown children any freedom. In saying this I know that as soon as Super Mario Odyssey launches I'm getting a Switch.
The biggest problem with those joy-cons are the missing D-pad and no analog triggers. I am not sure what Nintendo was thinking here?
It's difficult to get excited about the Switch Virtual Console with those flaws really.
I can't really enjoy any NES or SNES game on the go without a proper D-pad, and the same goes for almost every other 2d game. And how will GameCube games work without analog triggers?
I am mostly a portable gamer, but without a d-pad, I will probably just play most 2d games on my 3DS, and not buy any for the Switch.
I really hope that Nintendo or someone else will release a d-pad joy-con for the Switch. It's the thing that bothers me the most right now.
This really does make the Switch less ideal for the go. The pro controller won't help much here.
Sonic Mania and Street Fighter without a d-pad? No thanks...
Classic Mario, Castlevania or Mega Man without d-pad? Are you nuts?!?!
I can't enjoy this, sorry. Already so many games I will have to skip
Nintendo have always got this right before, but not this time. It's like with the my old Xbox 360. I could never enjoy any classic 2d game on that system, because of a very poor d-pad on the original controller.
Does the Pro Controller have analogue triggers at least?
Yeah it would be appropriate for Nintendo to make another direct or treehouse YouTube stream to speak about the eshop and other things that were left out. Hopefully they will.
I would think they'll get the online network features and storage right this time, seeing as how they're letting DeNA handle it. That could've have been the biggest reason for their partnership.
If Nintendo wants us to part with our hard earned cash as early as the beginning of March it would be wise to start illuminating all these other elements of the system. Sooner rather than later.
I still curious about Airplane mode. If we can disable any Online connections with Airplane mode, that means Switch is enable to streaming Online even without WiFi, just like smartphone. And talking about Paid Online service, if Nintendo charge us with some fee for free Internet streaming straightly from Switch itself even no WiFi, that will be a Shock.
That will be same like smartphone did.
@audiobrainiac
No, I don't think so . But I am not sure.
i want to know how recent a console the virtual console goes. i want wii u and 3ds recent. .
An activity log like 3DS would be a huge plus for me and would largely determine whether I get the system sooner rather than later. I am a bit obsessed with statistic tracking on my systems and games which is why I love the Wii U and 3DS' apps for that.
i think "touch screen" is an other communication error. they are probably just saying .... um what do you mean? yes of course you can touch the screen.
I think Japanese gamers are ok with paying again and again for same VC games. Have not heard any complaints from Japan on lack of unified account purchases.
@Anti-Matter A mobile broadband connection would have to have been included in the FCC filing, both for the hardware and the leasing of spectrum bandwidth. They can't just say surprise!
Arcade Archives, which seems to be a separate entity from Virtual Console, is also a mystery. Will that play a factor with the recently announced NeoGeo games? And what other companies are on board there?
Nintendo pretty much has to show off at least some of this information, whether it be via a Direct (like the FE Direct) or a simple press release, prior to the Switch's release.
eShop interface: I just hope I won't need to use the search engine just to find something (just have it as an option for those who like it). Can't I just browse by alphabetical or browse the entire store? Also, do away with those pointless categories like "family fun" or "games with this character". I can also do without auto-playing videos. If I want to see a vid, I can click the damn thing myself and start it.
Touch screen: Though I highly doubt this would happen, I'd really like to see those screens used for starship bridge simulators, though it'd be best done with like five or six Switches linked together. It'd be a hit at parties if enough people bring their own systems.
Truth be told I really want an overhaul of the Eshop
As mentioned in the article, I want to see that purchases are no longer tied to hardware. It runs counter to literally every other device on the market.
In addition I really hope that VC games are cheaper than they were on the Wii/U/3DS. I'm over paying $5 for NES games and $8 for SNES games especially when emulation exists.
Lastly I hope that we have a cart feature. That is one thing that really irked me about the Wii U eShop. Like you can buy multiple DLC at the same time but I have to buy each game individually? What!? It's pathetic that I'm having to hope that the eShop includes a basic feature of every online store around but then again Nintendo has always been slow to adapt.
@Ninphysics
*3ds Virtual console when turned sideways
Oh, hadn't thought of that! Fat fingering the touch screen compared to stylus would be tough for some games, but not most. Maybe just DS though. Not sure if it can handle 3DS emulation. Maybe.
Also... the balance would be way off. Yeah, there are problems.
@therealgamer But there's no dual screen
@thesilverbrick It's funny you say that about the Gamecube games. I didn't even realise it had analog triggers on those controllers and I finished all those games just fine. I used to just press them in as hard as I could and it wasn't a big problem.
@KirbyTheVampire The original presentation was filled with a lot of info, and people already have some difficulty understanding everything that was shown. Nintendo knows that a lot of people are "slow" (to be polite) and that's probably why they don't throw all the info at once.
This, and maintaining some hype until launch.
I just want to log in and download all my games. I'll give up my saves. I just want all my Wii U eShop and 3DSeshop purchases to carry over. Is that too much to ask?
I'd buy a lot more if they. Confirmed I get to carry them thru each new device
I swear if this thing was able to backward-play both 3DS games(in 2D mode ala 2DS) and Wii games digital library, it would be a pure license to print money. Period.
The world already owns a multiplicity of 'tablets'. I own an Nvidia Shield K1 which this thing is clearly based on. So, they are not going to wow the world with that aspect. What will truly keep this thing afloat is CONTENT. Even Reggie said this at one point in a conference. So instead of rushing 3rd party developers to release new IP and pre-existing ports, we can be gleefully satiated, albeit temporarily, with a glorious backlog of games from the two previous machines. This machine is capable for sure. My Nvidia tablet emulates everything including Wii games(Dolphin) as well as android games at either fullspeed or playable framerates. I thought Nintendo liked money....
My 2 cents.
And still no answer as to why there is an airplane mode symbol on the ui. I'm still betting $0.00 that there will be some sort of 4G service that you get out of paying for the online services
Streaming to twitch
Switch is so half baked and rushed that it's disheartening. How this is the follow up to their worst selling home console of all time is absurd.
I really wanted to want one, but I now have zero desire until at least Mario Odyssey.
The analog triggers issue is absolutely insane.
Nintendo had a console 16 years ago with it! It's crazy! They still to this day have never revisited the idea of them, something that is now an industry wide standard thanks to Nintendo. Kinda like how they dumped the d-pad (save for the Pro controller). Nintendo is just maddening... Oh well, back to some Resident Evil 7. So good!
@HailFastCore Some games used the analog triggers in meaningless ways, but important functions in some games would become impossible without them, like vacuuming while moving in Luigi's Mansion, spraying the FLUDD while running in Mario Sunshine, weak shielding in Melee and precision turning in F-Zero. Those are just four examples of gameplay mechanics what are completely lost without analog triggers. In the case of F-Zero and Melee, you might be able to do without them, but Mario Sunshine and Luigi's Mansion arguably need those functions to be played properly.
Weirdly, the feature I'm waiting to hear about is the game journal. I used this all the time on Wii U to chart my 'gaming story'. It felt much more personal than gaining generic achievements.
@thesilverbrick Well, there you go. I didn't even know a lot of those games had those functions in them. Admittedly, it's been a long time since I played all of those games.
Hopefully Bluetooth headphone support too!
@gatorboi352 I think it's as good as a hybrid could be at this point in time (in terms of power), but the lack of AAA third party games is definitely disappointing. I'm seriously considering just getting a PS4 and then buying a Switch down the road when the price drops.
I guess none of those give includes a mobile SIM card slot.
I absolutely hate that PSN auto plays the video. I do not have killer bandwidth and many times I will be sitting for more than 30 seconds staring at a blank screen waiting for a screenshot to load, when suddenly the video starts.
Why the hell is it prioritising auto play over a user request? It's horrible!
Trophies/achievements pleassse. I love playing games on Steam and being able to keep track of what I've done in games and also seeing what the community has been able to achieve in games. It definitely adds replayability for me.
@keresmatic At my previous school, I used to ping the wifi connection, then give user services my MAC address and they were always able to add me manually. They were amused, too, since I have three of the things, but were happy to do it.
Oh hey now, multi touch screens this day and age are standard. It's like saying they forgot to mention what buttons do! Don't have to make out like it is a feature unless it does something special.
@keresmatic This is true though, without an internet browser many access points will be difficult or impossible to connect to.
All of them to some extent, but cloud backup takes the cake. I've said this many times as a mainly digital buyer - in our age of increasingly cheaper bandwidth (it's becoming relatively affordable even here in Belarus where 4G and speeds above 20 Mbit/s are novelties in themselves - what to say of the game industry's first world markets?), savefile cloud backup can eliminate a lot if not most of the storage issue. Although storage functions also factor in - if, say, Switch proves to handle it akin to Vita Slim (as in, an SD card insertion closing the internal 32 Gb off for anything but savefiles and media)... cloud backup could be optional in that sense since 32 Gb already exceeds PS Plus's 10 or so. XD On the other hand, unfortunate possibilities like console loss or terminal failure also speak strongly in favour of having your savefiles backed up somewhere hard to lose.
I don't care much about VC repurchasing issue since I've only got two titles so far, both played long enough that I only might CONSIDER a transfer if savefiles - boy, what a buzzword in my comments - can be shared between the consoles. Even if Pokemon Blue Switch offers online trade, I don't know if I'd be tempted enough to play all the way through the game's story again, hunting down all those chanceys and tricking out all those mews. XD
Concerning UI interface, I don't see why it would need extra hoop jumps to go from buttons to touch contols and back - 3DS and Vita menus don't, and neither did DS menu IIRC. TV mode will likely use button input alone just because the user himself won't be able to access the touchscreen in the meantime.
Nintendo switch TV app? 😏
@Megas I completely agree, they are an artificial and pathetic method of increasing the length of a game. Secret levels, yes. Hidden objects that are fun and taxing to find, yes. Additional chapters, yes. Jumped on 10 Goombas, no! Talked to citizen X in village Y 10 times even though they droned on about nothing, no! Achieved all achievements, thus allowing the publisher to state in marketing material game length is 20 hours longer than it really is, no!
100%'ing a game back in the day used to be fun. Like finding all the secret exits in Mario World so your save game went red on the title screen, or finding all pieces of heart in most Zelda games. I can no longer be bothered. Deus Ex on Wii U springs to mind. Great and lengthy game in its own right (but rubbish endings), it didn't need those ridiculous achievements!
All of this is nice and all, but really I just care about the games. I'm not going to buy the thing based on how shiny the UI is, what the web browser looks like (I have 732,000 other devices for surfing the web) or if the eShop is pretty (prices and sales interest me far more). I just want to hear about games, games, games. GameCube VC fits into this though and I would love to see a Direct confirming its existence and showcasing some of the launch/early games that are coming to it.
I hope to god that the Switch has Bluetooth access. My wireless headphones would be PERFECT for it!
I know I shouldn't be focusing on such a tiny detail but it would make things infinitely better in terms of my portable gameplay.
I just wonder how long the day one update will be this time....
I think the potential to use the IR camera to create a Wiimote-like pointer functionality deserves to be on this list as well.
There's nothing to say that it couldn't be done, and the frequent placement of the docked Switch directly below a TV screen does hint at it possibly having sensor bar-like IR LEDs in it's top edge.
The big one for me is the online and voice chat app! They need to tell us more!
Will we be able to play online with chat in the free period if the app is not ready like they are saying?
The big one for me is the online and voice chat app! They need to tell us more!
Will we be able to play online with chat in the free period if the app is not ready like they are saying?
@GravyThief But what's wrong with having them anyway? Some people like them. You can personally ignore them if you want.
What's more annoying are miiverse drawings... sometimes intrusive and consisting of penis images.
@Lord Make a Skype call.
"Dual screen systems are out, of course, ..."
Why are we assuming this? The WiiU did DS emulation with the ability to put both screens on one display. Why couldn't you do the same thing with the Switch? Also, I still want to see Virtual Boy come to the 3DS. Wario Land, Galactic Pinball, Mario Tennis, Mario Clash, Teleroboxer, Red Alarm, Vertical Force and Panic Bomber need to be seen again in all their crimson glory.
I want a left Joy Con with a real D-Pad on. I'm not bothered about 2 player.
Nintendo is like the geeky genius in the class.
Mostly, they are off doing their own thing and teacher is a little concerned, wondering what is to become of this maverick pupil and how they will manage in the world.
Then once in a while something epic is created and the day is (sort of) saved.
"features" makes it sound too majestic imho, basically, for the most part all of this just refers to confirmations of parts of the ecosystem that should have been there for years already, some even for more than a decade. Yet, much of it won't be confirmed, not for release and some of it, not for the lifecycle of the entire system.
The way Nintendo handled the whole subscription 'thing' (they sure as hell managed to turn it into a thing) and voice chat (something the original Xbox had a superior version of more than a decade ago) just proofs they are 'out of touch'. It's not a axiom anymore.
@KirbyTheVampire that would be the smart move
You forgot about the GPU details
Man, looking at all those coloured Joy-Cons...I'd love them to start making them but the current price of buying extra ones means I'll almost certainly not bother unless it's truly special. If they ever make them with GameCube button layouts they need to make them cheap. Just strip all the tech out that GC games don't need (gyros, the pointer and even the HD rumble...)
I'm pretty sure they won't let us re download anything for free or even with a discounted price, that's why they're keeping their mouths shut about that. If people find that out, they will most likely get discouraged (not to mention butthurt) to get the switch.
Support the Wii U Gamecube adapter (or update it for the Switch) and that takes care of the analog triggers problem as well as d-pad (though the d-pad is rather small on the GC controller). Sell it in a bundle as well with a controller and a code for a free Gamecube VC game.
@Thomas: Great article. I would add a BIG one for me: How exactly does the local multiplayer (linked Switches) work? How close must they be? Must each Switch have a physical copy of the game being played? Is it a bluetooth or NFC or wire connection; if not wired, expected battery life?
I would like to know the following: if I buy a switch in Japan, can I download games from the UK eshop in the same way that I could with a PS4?
I know its region free but is that limited to discs? Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated. Apologies if this has been covered somewhere and I've missed it.
@bluedogrulez
We don't have confirmation of anything but it seems most likely that Switch local multiplayer would work just like 3DS local multiplayer. They must simply be in WiFi range of each other, and each player needs their own copy of the game (a few 3DS games didn't, but even then play was more limited without it.) But we don't have much reason to believe it's not like 3DS for now. Just a WiFi-Direct connection. And battery life takes a fair hit on 3DS but not devastating, so it seems reasonable it will shave maybe half hour to 45min off play time, but that depends on wifi range and how much interference is around.
If it turns out to be BT based that would be amazing, though. BT can have range issues, but the controllers themselves are BT, so the range is fine.
@rjejr I imagine it wouldn't be too difficult for them to make some control modifications to Sunshine and Mansion to change how you can control the fludd/vac. It wouldn't be a straight ROM dump, but I doubt GCN really can be handled as ROM dumps anyway which is probably what took them so long to do GCN VC, and why they're opting for retail HD remasters instead.
Guys, can't the Switch can run mobile apps? Maybe THAT is what Nintendo meant. A separate voice-chat app running in the background on the Switch during gameplay....
@yomanation True, very true.
@Megas Jeez, it's just a little something people like. It doesn't impact your experience, so there's nothing wrong with others wanting and getting the feature.
@Megas I care about a trophy/achievement system. Better to have it surely, and people can ignore it. The other option is to not have it and lack a feature that some players would like and is standard across other systems.
@GravyThief I don't understand. All those things you mentioned could be displayed as achievements. I get that some can be rather unimaginative and slightly irritating. However, for those that enjoy them, they can greatly enhance the experience of playing a game and enable them to get the most from their product. Sounds ridiculous right? However, not sure I would have hunted down all the royal arms in FFXV without the allure of a platinum trophy off the back of it. Saves me money in the long run, by suggesting additional challenges rather than relying on the player to consistently being creative to get the most from their purchases. By the way - I suck at Minecraft - which hints at my creativity levels : )
@Shellcore you are right, they could be achievements. I'm not against them fundamentally, but I don't see the allure of having a pop up telling you you've accomplished it. The fact you have access to a new secret level is reward in itself. Or the fact you've had fun collecting all the heart pieces or stars is again the reward. I suppose you could say a trophy is like having flashing stars on your save file, except its displayed online for all to see. Not my cup of tea as I hate online gaming (especially when thousands of others will have achieved the same), but I'm not against it fundamentally.
My gripe are the unimaginative or irritating achievements, as you put it. The ones I have no desire to do and they bring no benefit to the game whatsoever. Before achievements, games never had them. I am yet to see a game that has achievements but doesn't have this type. Even great games like Shovel Knight has them, yet they didn't bother to put in any hidden levels (unless I didn't find them!).
So I guess ultimately what I'm saying is it's the way developers implement many achievements in their games that I'm against, rather than achievements themselves.
Nintendo Switch could you get the TN or IPS version. Who knows????
@NEStalgia Lol. Can't handle GCN ROM dumps...HEAD UP THE BIG N'S ASS MOMENT.
Stop defending Nintendo and their ineptitude. The Switch is a great system but really a horribly bungled mess due to Nintendo.
As for GCN, Nintendon't on Wii U has us covered. Not to mention wide-screen support! Plus I can play all my GCN back catalogue on Wii U for free, I won't be giving Nintendo another penny for their pathetic VC emulation.
THOMAS THE TIME has come and gone.
Only the blind fanboys will buy a Switch whilst Nintendo greets them at the door with a middle finger. Saying Got cha! And laughing that they sold a lie.
@liveswired I realize you're just posting to gripe about the Switch for whatever reason, but for anyone else reading, I'll point out you're commenting on my comment out of context. I never said the Switch can or can't handle GCN ROMs, I was pointing out the GCN games likely don't handle straight ROM dumps in general, outside the Wii Family of course, as you point out with the mods for WiiU. All three systems (GCN, Wii, WiiU) are basically built on the GCN platform using the same custom PPC architecture, so direct backward compatibility was possible. To do it on anything else as a straight ROM dump would require emulation which is terribly inefficient outside the power of a PC which is a general purpose computing device. I'm pretty sure no devs are complaining about leaving the PPC architecture behind.
As for the TN/IPS thing, there is ZERO information about that, only rumors and speculation. The leaked specs from months ago indicated IPS. Nobody has ever confirmed that it ever was IPS or that it's ever not. Do note however that Apple has also gone through periods of shipping both IPS and TN in the same product. It sucks, but IF Nintendo is doing that, it's not fair to accuse them exclusively when the biggest players do the same.
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