Nintendo Switch: What We Know Pre-Press Event

The Nintendo Switch presentation revealing the new console/handheld hybrid to the press will take place tomorrow at 11 PM ET/8 PM PT. The contents of the Nintendo stream are still up in the air, but we assume it will answer the majority of our questions about the Nintendo Switch. However, before the press event occurs, we want to take the chance to review what we know so far about the Nintendo Switch's games, release date, specs, price, and other tidbits.

Nintendo Switch Games

So far we've only seen six games actually displayed on the Nintendo Switch hardware:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the "most confirmed" game for the Nintendo Switch. It's the one title Nintendo has explicitly, multiple times, referenced when speaking about the Switch. However, whether or not it will make launch is up in the air. Rumors have said that it won't be ready in time to be a launch title, later rumors have said it will be a launch title. The consensus seems to be that we'll see The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launch alongside the Nintendo Switch in March.

Mario Kart

The Nintendo Switch first-look trailer shows a Mario Kart game playing on the Switch. Nintendo hasn't stated whether or not the Switch version of Mario Kart  will be a new game or a port of Mario Kart 8 that features new content, though.

Splatoon

The version of Splatoon shown for Nintendo Switch shows features, not in the Wii U version of the game, namely customizable hairstyles. More than likely this is an updated version of the original game as opposed to a sequel.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Although this was featured prominently in the Switch first-look trailer, neither Nintendo nor Bethesda has confirmed Skyrim as a Nintendo Switch title. A GameStop page that has since been changed did list Skyrim as being playable on the console/handheld, though, and it would be an odd move to show the Switch playing Skyrim and not actually offer it as a title.

A new Super Mario title

A Super Mario game in the vein of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine was shown in the first-look trailer. Nintendo hasn't released additional information about the title.

An unnamed NBA game (more than likely NBA 2K17)

The first-look trailer shows an NBA game being played on the Switch. The most likely culprit is NBA 2k17, though 2K Sports hasn't confirmed this yet.

Additionally, the following companies have been confirmed to be supporting the Nintendo Switch:

• 505 Games
• Activision Publishing, Inc.
• ARC SYSTEM WORKS Co., Ltd.
• ATLUS CO., LTD.
• Audiokinetic Inc.
• Autodesk, Inc.
• BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
• Bethesda
• CAPCOM CO., LTD.
• Codemasters®
• CRI Middleware Co., Ltd.
• DeNA Co., Ltd.
• Electronic Arts
• Epic Games Inc.
• Firelight Technologies
• FromSoftware, Inc.
• Frozenbyte
• GameTrust
• GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE INC.
• Gungho Online Entertainment, Inc.
• HAMSTER Corporation
• Havok
• INTI CREATES CO., LTD.
• KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
• Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
• LEVEL-5 Inc.
• Marvelous Inc.
• Maximum Games, LLC
• Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
• Parity Bit Inc.
• PlatinumGames Inc.
• RAD Game Tools, Inc.
• RecoChoku Co., Ltd.
• SEGA Games Co., Ltd.
• Silicon Studio Corporation
• Spike Chunsoft Co., Ltd.
• SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
• Starbreeze Studios
• Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
• Telltale Games
• THQ Nordic
• Tokyo RPG Factory Co., Ltd.
• TT Games
• UBISOFT
• Ubitus Inc.
• Unity Technologies, Inc.
• Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
• Web Technology Corp

However, how or in what capacity they will be supporting the Nintendo Switch is currently unknown.

Rumors have pointed to a Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon Sun and Moon called Pokémon Stars. Nothing concrete has been reported yet, but the same GameStop Switch listing which previously mentioned Skyrim, also mentioned an unnamed Pokémon title as being part of the Nintendo Switch's line-up.

The Indie title Seasons of Heaven has been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch as well. However, no release date has been set for this game yet.

Nintendo Switch Release Date

Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch would be released in March on the same day they released the first-look trailer. However, there's been rampant speculation since on what day in March the Switch would hit stores. Recent rumors, supported by a product listing by UK game seller GameSeek, points to a date of March 17.

However, any rumor about the release date should be taken with a grain of salt. Many retailers put placeholder dates in their systems when they post pre-orders, so this could just be a random date instead of the Nintendo Switch's actual release date.

Nintendo Switch Price

The same GameSeek page that stated a March 17 release date lists the Nintendo Switch's price as being £198.50 (around $244.06 USD). A Switch pre-order listing by the Canadian branch of Toys R' Us in November, since removed, showed the price of the Switch as $329.99 (around $245 USD).

These prices are close enough together to seem like a correlation. However, $250 USD seems like almost too reasonable of a price for a device capable of what the Nintendo Switch looks like it'll be able to deliver. Either Nintendo is taking a financial hit on hardware and hoping to make it back in software, or the Switch will cost more.

Nintendo Switch Specs

Exactly what chipset is powering the Nintendo Switch, and what its capabilities will be is up in the air. We know for sure that NVIDIA is providing a "custom" Tegra system on a chip (SoC) for the Nintendo Switch and its been very enthusiastic about the Switch platform. Exactly what this SoC's specs are, or if it's based on an existing Tegra product is unknown. However, NVIDIA has stated on their blog that they've created a new API for Nintendo called NVN to help developers program or port games to the Nintendo Switch. Khronos Group has also announced that the Nintendo Switch supports the OpenGL 4.5, OpenGL ES, and Vulkan graphics APIs.

The most prolific features of the Nintendo Switch is its handheld/hybrid nature. The system can be inserted into a dock to be played on TV like a console, or taken on the go in its tablet form. Rumors state that the tablet form contains a 720p display, and 1080p is output when the Switch is linked to the dock.

The new controller for the Nintendo Switch is called the "Joycon." Like the Switch itself, the Joycon can convert into several forms. When the Switch is docked, the two Joycon halves dock to a central battery unit to be used wirelessly when playing on TV. When you take the Switch on the go, you slip the Joycon off its battery unit and attach it to either side of the Switch, which then makes the controls more like a Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita. What other control methods or capabilities the Nintendo Switch will have is unknown at this time.

Additionally, we talked with Snakebyte about their line of Nintendo Switch accessories at CES 2017.

Nintendo Switch Presentation Press Event

The Nintendo Switch Press Reveal Presentation Event will take place tomorrow evening at 11 PM ET/8 PM PT. Details are still scarce as to what exactly Nintendo will reveal. However, we can rest assured that the Switch itself, and the launch titles will be displayed prominently.

You'll be able to tune into the Nintendo Switch presentation at the Nintendo Switch website, which will be live streaming the event.

Make sure to check back tomorrow night with Shacknews as we bring you all the stories from the Nintendo Switch press reveal.