News

Nintendo Switch + Tech Program To Seed Startups For Hardware Improvements

The application for the program is open now and runs up to June 9.

April 13, 2018 8:10 AM

Nintendo has an abundance of quality software already on and coming to the Switch, but the company isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to the hardware itself. The gaming giant is partnering up with a venture capital firm to find start-ups that can improve the Switch’s capabilities in the future.

Gameindustry.biz reported on the move, revealing that San Francisco’s Scrum Ventures will be responsible for cultivating the relationships between Nintendo and these start-ups and “expand the scope of Nintendo Switch in gaming and beyond.” This statement is taken from the official website for Switch + Tech:

"Nintendo Switch + Tech, managed by Scrum Ventures, seeks to find technologies that could lead to new experiences on Nintendo Switch. We welcome applications for all types of technologies that could be leveraged by Nintendo as the company continues to innovate experiences for Nintendo Switch, ranging from hardware to software.

Opportunities are wide open for startup teams of all stages, research teams at universities, or technology teams from larger corporations worldwide. A selective group of chosen applicants will have the unique opportunity to talk with the engineers behind Nintendo Switch and demo their technology."

The applications to participate in Nintendo Switch + Tech are open now and will close on June 9^th. Selected candidates will pitch their tech to Nintendo in early Autumn. The application process and schedule are Switchplustech.com.

While this focuses explicitly on hardware and not software, I’m hoping that it will open up the door for entertainment media applications on the platform in some way. The Switch is a wonderful and versatile gaming console, there’s no doubt about it, but having Netflix or other apps on the platform would be a nice boost. Memory is a concern, so it’s possible a start-up out there has a solution that best suits the Switch.

Charles Singletary Jr

News Editor

Charles Singletary Jr keeps the updates flowing as the News Editor, breaking stories while investigating the biggest topics in gaming and technology. He's pretty active on Twitter, so feel free to reach out to him @The_CSJR. Got a hot tip? Email him at Charles.Singletary@Shacknews.com.

Filed Under