Nintendo Switch
 ニンテンドースイッチ Nintendo Switch | ||||||||||||||||
 The Nintendo Switch in TV mode with the Joy-Con in the Joy-Con Grip | ||||||||||||||||
Release dates
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Technical specs
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Related information
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External links
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The Nintendo Switch (Japanese: ニンテンドースイッチ Nintendo Switch) is Nintendo's hybrid console for the eighth generation of video games. It is both a home console and a handheld console.[1] Unlike many previous Nintendo systems, the Nintendo Switch is not region-locked (outside of Mainland China).
First officially announced during a special presentation on October 20, 2016, the Switch (previously referred to by its codename NX) is the successor to the Wii U and was released on March 3, 2017. The console features a 6.2-inch touch screen-capable controller, as well as two detachable controllers called Joy-Con controllers. It comes with the Dock, which the Nintendo Switch can be placed in to run in TV mode.
A longer battery revision was released on August 13, 2019. A cheaper handheld-only model, the Nintendo Switch Lite, was released on September 20, 2019. An OLED model with 64GB of internal storage, enhanced audio, a wider display, and a wider adjustable stand was released on October 8, 2021.
Play modes
The Switch has three distinct play modes: TV Mode, Tabletop Mode, and Handheld Mode. In TV Mode, the Switch is placed in the Dock so that it is displayed on a TV screen while being controlled by detached controllers. In Tabletop Mode, the Switch is placed on a surface so that multiple people can play with detached controllers. In Handheld Mode, the Switch functions as a handheld game system, with Joy-Con controllers attached to each side.
Motion controls (other than the gyroscope) are only usable in TV Mode and Tabletop Mode. The touch screen is only usable in Tabletop Mode and Handheld Mode.
Technical specifications
Body
- Size: Approximately 4 inches high, 9.4 inches long, and 0.55 inches deep (with Joy-Con attached). The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.12 inches.
- Weight: Approximately .88 lbs when Joy-Con controllers are attached, 0.66 lbs. otherwise.
- Screen: 6.2-inch LCD screen with multi-touch capacitive touch and resolution of 1280 × 720 (720p).
- CPU/GPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor.
- Storage:
- Networking: Wireless (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 4.1. LAN available in TV mode.
- Video: Supports up to 1080p via HDMI cable in TV mode, or up to 720p in tabletop mode and handheld mode.
- Audio: Compatible with 5.1ch Linear PCM output. Output via HDMI connector in TV mode.
- Speakers: Stereo.
- Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM.
Dock
- Size: Approximately 4.1 inches high, 6.8 inches long, and 2.12 inches deep
- Weight: Approximately .72 lbs
- Output: USB Port (USB 2.0 compatible) ×2 on the side and 1 on the back, System connector, AC adapter port, HDMI port
Joy-Con
- Size: Approximately 4.02 inches high, 1.41 inches long, and 1.12 inches deep
- Weight: 1.7 oz (left), 1.8 oz (right)
- Wireless: Bluetooth (both), NFC (right)
Features
- Joy-Con controllers can slide onto or off of the system, and communicate wirelessly with it.
- The system can be put into a home console TV mode by inserting it into the dock, or into a portable handheld mode by removing it.
- Motion controls through accelerometer and gyroscope
- Brightness sensor
- Near Field Communication (NFC): Can communicate wirelessly with objects above it.
- Nintendo eShop
- Capture Button: when pressed, saves a screenshot. The button is located on the left Joy-Con.
- Motion IR camera: the right Joy-Con's camera can recognize hand gestures or objects as input.
- HD Rumble
Pokémon games
All releases listed are the year in which the Japanese version was released.
| Title | Genre | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Pokkén Tournament DX | Arcade fighting | 2017 |
| Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! | Core series RPG | 2018 |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Versus fighting | 2018 |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | Core series RPG | 2019 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX | Dungeon crawler | 2020 |
| New Pokémon Snap | First-person rail shooter | 2021 |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Core series RPG | 2021 |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Core series action RPG | 2022 |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | Core series RPG | 2022 |
| Detective Pikachu Returns | Cinematic adventure | 2023 |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | Core series RPG | 2025 |
Nintendo eShop
Nintendo eShop titles
| Title | Genre | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Quest | Action | 2018 |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass | Core series RPG (DLC) | 2020 |
| Pokémon HOME | Utility | 2020 |
| Pokémon Café ReMix | Puzzle | 2020 |
| Pokémon UNITE | MOBA | 2021 |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero | Core series RPG (DLC) | 2023 |
Retail titles
| Title | Genre | Release |
|---|---|---|
| Pokkén Tournament DX | Arcade fighting | 2017 |
| Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! | Core series RPG | 2018 |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Versus fighting | 2018 |
| Pokémon Sword and Shield | Core series RPG | 2019 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX | Dungeon crawler | 2020 |
| New Pokémon Snap | First-person rail shooter | 2021 |
| Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Core series RPG | 2021 |
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus | Core series action RPG | 2022 |
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | Core series RPG | 2022 |
| Detective Pikachu Returns | Cinematic adventure | 2023 |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | Core series RPG | 2025 |
Nintendo Switch Online games
Nintendo Switch Online games are old games that were originally released on past consoles and have been made available to players with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Note that Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance games require a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription.
| Title | Genre | Original system | Original release | NSO release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pokémon Snap | First-person rail shooter | Nintendo 64 | 1999 | 2022 |
| Pokémon Puzzle League | Puzzle | Nintendo 64 | 2000 | 2022 |
| Pokémon Stadium | Battle simulation | Nintendo 64 | 1999 | 2023 |
| Pokémon Stadium 2 | Battle simulation | Nintendo 64 | 2000 | 2023 |
| Pokémon Trading Card Game | Card game | Game Boy Color | 1998 | 2023 |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team | Dungeon crawler | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | 2024 |
Gallery
TV mode with Joy-Con controllers in Joy-Con Grip
Tabletop mode
Handheld mode
Dock
Joy-Con controllers
Pro Controller
Let's Go, Pikachu! & Eevee! Edition (front)
Let's Go, Pikachu! & Eevee! Edition (back)
Let's Go, Pikachu! & Eevee! Edition Joy-Con controllers
Cameos
- Players have a Switch in their bedroom in Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu!, Let's Go, Eevee!, Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, Scarlet and Violet.
- A special Pikachu-Edition Nintendo Switch can be found in a dummied out Player's room in Legends: Arceus.
- Mustard has a Switch in the Master Dojo's living room of Isle of Armor, playing Pokémon Quest.
Trivia
- The Nintendo Switch is the only Nintendo video game console to have its first core series Pokémon title not be the start of a new generation.
- This excludes the Game Boy Color. Pokémon Yellow (outside of Japan) and Pokémon Gold and Silver were both Game Boy Color games that were also compatible with the Game Boy, but Pokémon Yellow was marketed as a Game Boy game that is enhanced on Game Boy Color, while Pokémon Gold and Silver were marketed as Game Boy Color games that are playable on Game Boy. Pokémon Crystal was the first Pokémon title to be exclusive to the Game Boy Color.
- The Nintendo Switch is the first home console to natively play core series Pokémon titles. Previous home consoles require a peripheral (such as the Super Game Boy, Transfer Pak, or Game Boy Player) to play core series Pokémon games.
- The Nintendo Switch is the only Nintendo home console not to be region-locked (except in Mainland China, where it is region-locked).
- The Nintendo Switch is the first Nintendo system to have more than two generations of core series games released for it, being everything from Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! to Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
- It also has the most core series games released for it, so far being ten.
- Of the Nintendo systems with core series Pokémon titles released for it, the Nintendo Switch is the only one in which none of them are among the top five best selling games for the system, despite the second and third best selling Pokémon games of all time being released on this system.
- It is also the only one with more than one release of a solitary core series game.
- On May 31, 2023, Nintendo discontinued purchases and code redemptions for the Nintendo eShop in Russia. However, already-purchased software would still be available to redownload.[2]
- The Nintendo Switch is tied with the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS for having games from the most number of generations released for it, being three: in this case, the Generation VIII and Generation IX games, as well as one core series game and three spin-off games from Generation VII.
External links
- Nintendo of America
- On ARMS Institute
- On Fire Emblem Wiki
- On Inkipedia
- On Nookipedia
- On Super Mario Wiki
- On WiKirby
- On Zelda Wiki
References
- ↑ Nintendo.com: "Nintendo Switch is designed to fit your life, transforming from home console to portable system in a snap."
- ↑ Nintendo eShop to effectively shut down in Russia | Game Developer
| Game systems with Pokémon games |
|---|
| Nintendo handheld consoles |
| GB (Pocket · GBL · SGB · SGB2) • GBC • mini • GBA (SP · GBm · GBP) DS (Lite · DSi · DSi XL) • 3DS (XL · 2DS · New 3DS · New 3DS XL · New 2DS XL) Switch (Lite · OLED) |
| Nintendo home consoles |
| SNES (BS-X · SGB · NP · SGB2) • N64 (DD) • GCN (GBP) Wii (Family Edition · mini) • Wii U Switch (OLED) |
| Sega consoles |
| Pico • CoCoPad • Beena |
