Game Console Preview: Nintendo Switch
Photo courtesy of GameRant.com
The latest console from Nintendo is scheduled to launch next year: the Nintendo Switch. Originally codenamed the “NX,” this console will bring the industry headfirst into the ninth generation of video games.
While the previous Nintendo consoles have had varying degrees of success since the American launch of the Nintendo Entertainment system in 1985, they have all contributed to creating a sizable and loyal fanbase. Their handheld systems, however; have been consistent leaders in portable video games since the original Game Boy launched in 1989. With the Switch, Nintendo aims to combine both fronts into one unit.
A video on the company’s YouTube channel shows how it works: the console can be used in all manner of settings, both at home and on the go. The system can not only deliver a gaming experience that Nintendo has built its name on, but it also aims to capture the emerging market of mobile gaming beyond what a game on a cell phone or other device can offer.
Although many are unsure how the console itself will perform, the idea in itself has generated a considerable amount of hype for the Switch. In addition to key games like Mario, “Pokémon” and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” confirmed to be in development for the system (not to mention newer IPs such as “Splatoon”), many big-name third-party developers such as Sega, Activision and Bethesda have pledged their support for the Switch.
Even though there hasn’t been that much information revealed, there is a strong feeling that the Switch can succeed in a gaming market that’s been increasingly obsessed with mobile games. At worst, it’s hard to imagine the console being a bigger failure than the Virtual Boy.
Above all, the Switch has the potential to revolutionize the way we all play video games. As the introductory video shows, we could all enjoy “Breath of the Wild” from our living room to a plane at 40,000 feet. The experience can be whatever you make it out to be. Now you’re playing with power: Switch power!
Review by Steven Pryor
