Nintendo Announces March 3 Launch for Nintendo Switch

Posted on January 13, 2017

Nintendo has announced that its new portable Nintendo Switch console will arrive in stores on March 3. The device will cost $299.99. Two versions of the Switch with different colored controllers will be available.

Nintendo announced the console last October. It is unique in that it is designed to transition from a console that connects to your TV to a portable device. It becomes portable once it lifted out of the Nintendo Switch Dock. Nintendo has shared more details about the Joy-Con controllers. The controllers have advanced HD Rumble for extra game realism. Nintendo says this effect is so detailed a player could "feel the sensation of individual ice cubes colliding inside a glass when shaking a Joy-Con."

The Joy-Con remotes also have an IR Motion Camera that can detect the distance, shape and motion of nearby objects in some games. Nintendo says it "can tell how far away a player's hand is, and even if the hand is forming a rock, paper or scissors shape."

Nintendo also mentioned some of the upcoming Switch games. These include EA Sports FIFA, The Elder Scrolls, NBA 2K, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, ARMS, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, Super Mario Odyssey, Snipperclips and 1-2-Switch.

A Reuters story says investors are disappointed because there is concern over the price in Japan where it will cost about 20% more than its predecessor. The price for the Switch in the U.S. is the same as the Wii U. With the Switch coming out in March this does give Nintendo the opportunity to discount the item over the Black Friday shopping period later this year.

Here is a trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In a very good sign for the system the trailer video has far more likes than dislikes on YouTube. Take a look: