A docked Switch with joycons attached to the controller base for play on a TV.
A Switch with joycons attached for portable gaming.
The Nintendo Switch (abbreviated as Switch and formerly known by the codename NX) is Nintendo's hybrid home/handheld game console for the eighth generation consoles, putting it at odds with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It launched worldwide on March 3, 2017 with a Lite version releasing later on September 20, 2019.
It is a hybrid console that can be used as a home console and portable device. Its wireless Joy-Con (or "joycon") controllers, with standard buttons and directional analog sticks for user input, motion sensing, and tactile feedback, can attach to both sides of the console to support handheld-style play. They can also connect to a grip accessory to provide a traditional home console gamepad form, or be used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, supporting local multiplayer modes. The Nintendo Switch's software supports online gaming through Internet connectivity, as well as local wireless ad hoc connectivity with other consoles. Nintendo Switch games and software are available on both physical flash-based ROM cartridges and digital distribution via Nintendo eShop; the system has no region lockout.
The Nintendo Switch was unveiled on October 20, 2016. Known in development by its codename NX, the concept of the Switch came about as Nintendo's reaction to several quarters of financial losses into 2014, attributed to poor sales of its previous console, the Wii U, and market competition from mobile gaming. Nintendo's then-president Satoru Iwata pushed the company towards mobile gaming and novel hardware. The Nintendo Switch's design is aimed at a wide demographic of video game players through multiple modes of use. Nintendo opted to use more standard electronic components, such as a chipset based on Nvidia's Tegra line, to make development for the console easier for programmers and more compatible with existing game engines. As the Wii U had struggled to gain external support, leaving it with a weak software library, Nintendo preemptively sought the support of many third-party developers and publishers to help build out the Switch's game library alongside Nintendo's first-party titles, including many independent video game studios. While Nintendo initially anticipated around 100 titles for its first year, over 320 titles from first-party, third-party, and independent developers were released by the end of 2017.
Switch sales have been strongly tied to sales of Nintendo's first-party titles, with six games; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons having sold over fifteen million units each.
Launch Games[]
- 1-2-Switch
- Blaster Master Zero (Japan only)
- Disgaea 5 Complete (Japan only)
- Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below (Japan only)
- Dragon Quest Heroes II (Japan only)
- Fast RMX (North America and PAL regions only)
- Shovel Knight (North America and PAL regions only)
- Skylanders: Imaginators (North America and PAL regions only)
- Snipperclips
- Soldam: Drop, Connect, Erase (Japan only)
- Super Bomberman R
- Voez (Japan and PAL regions only)
- Vroom in the Night Sky (Japan and PAL regions only)