6 Big Questions We Have About The Nintendo Switch

We’ve waited for what's seemed like an eternity and now we've finally got our answers about the Nintendo NX. Well, some of them anyway. The Nintendo Switch, as it's been named, is the hybrid device we hoped it would be, a home console experience on the big screen that can be transformed into a slick mobile unit for handheld gaming on the go. The console’s announcement trailer showcased The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild as well as third party support from popular publishers 2K and Bethesda, confirming both that Nintendo plans to target a wider audience with Switch, and that the console is powerful enough to run big open world titles such as Skyrim. There’s more than just the hybrid aspect to its design as a USP though, with a local multiplayer functionality offered by its detachable controllers. The Switch’s two clampable control units can be used as individual controllers, and it also has a foldable stand that allows it to be conveniently mounted for stationary use. Speaking of controllers, the Switch features an elite-style controller, which will come as a relief to serious gamers who prefer a traditional analog experience. Nintendo is hitting all the right buttons then, but before we all get too carried away singing their praises and proclaiming day one purchase, there's still a host of big questions that we’d like answered.... Price Price is a pretty obvious sticking point for many consumers, and it’s been a make or break factor for several console launches in days gone by. PS3, for example, launched at a stratospheric price that was a huge off put for many gamers, especially when the rival Xbox 360 console was marketed at a lower price point. Xbox One had the same issue, too, when it launched versus the cheaper PS4 unit. But both of those systems were home consoles; the Switch is neither a true home console or a true handheld, so how do you price a hybrid unit that's offering a USP from other consoles? On the one hand, given the innovation pioneered by the Switch and the fact that we’re pretty sure, specification-wise, its going to be similarly powered to the current base model PS4/Xbox One, a $300-$400 price tag seems likely. Yet, on the other hand, the Switch isn’t a fully fledged home console, and given that Nintendo seem to want to merge the market with the handheld market, the price is going to have to be competitive to get everyone on board. Nintendo can’t afford to have a soft launch after the poor sales of the Wii U, but this unit can’t be priced as low as handheld systems, can it? Battery Life Battery life is the biggest hurdle for any mobile device, especially ones that are tasked with displaying high resolution, performance-guzzling open world games such as Breath Of The Wild or Skyrim. Most handheld systems, such as the Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita, offer around 5-8 hours battery life, and even though battery technology has progressed significantly thanks to the mobile phone industry, we can’t see the Switch beating that under full steam. That isn’t to say it's impossible though, given that the Nvidia Shield tablet, of which the Switch’s Tegra chip is based on, is good for up to 10 hours, albeit with more room for a larger battery. If the Switch can’t muster at least a similar battery life to previous handheld consoles though, that makes the mobile aspect of its design slightly less appealing, especially to potential handheld gamers that are jumping across from the 3DS. The handheld aspect to the Switch is going to be a big seller in Japan, a market in which mobile gaming is astronomically bigger than in the west, and battery life is going to be a determining factor as to whether the Switch can truly replace the 3DS, PS Vita and mobile phone as a viable handheld device. Launch Line-Up Other than the news of third party support, Nintendo wasn’t quite ready to give us any clues about the Switch’s launch line-up. We know Breath Of The Wild looks fantastic, and the thought of exploring that beautiful open world on the go, as well as from the comfort of one’s own home is a delight. But the Switch is going to need much more than Zelda alone to succeed when it launches next March. Nintendo fans are certainly loyal, but many felt somewhat burned by the company’s painstakingly slow delivery of first party content for the Wii U, and given that the Wii U has had nothing in the way of notable software for the past 12 months, the Switch better have a decent launch line-up. We did see a brief glimpse of a 3D Mario title, which looked rather like Mario 64, and fans will certainly be hoping that everybody’s favorite Italian makes a return come March 2017. Metroid, too, would be nice. Nintendo needs to show intent with a solid batch of games, and though the third party support is great to see, that shouldn’t be a substitute for a quality first party offering right off the bat. Interface, Connectivity, Achievements Steam, PSN, Xbox Live; the lion’s share of the video game community are used to a certain standard of user-interface and the Switch needs to impress us with an intuitive interface that functions as well as it is pleasing to use. A decent online store, the ability to connect easily with other users through a central hub; these aspects have become an altogether much bigger component to consoles during the 7th console generation. A solid achievement system, too, similar to PlayStation’s trophy system or Xbox’s achievements, would be a neat feature, and it seems a logical inclusion given how integral it has become for these rival consoles. A competent achievement system for future Nintendo games would add a ton of replayability and extra challenges; a feature that absolutely compliments a handheld device. Past Games Library We know for sure that the Switch is not a backward compatible device, and that’s certainly a bummer given that the Wii U, though not featuring the largest of libraries, did have some pretty standout content. Even later remasters such as Twilight Princess aren’t going to be an option on the Switch, at least not initially. The big question, then, is how are the Wii, Wii U, and Nintendo classic games going to be accessible for Switch owners? We’re hoping that Nintendo plans on making some of these titles available, though we’d prefer that it doesn’t plan on reselling them at extortionist prices, which wouldn’t be too hard to imagine. If Nintendo can create a synergy between the Switch’s software and the past games library, interface and even a potential achievement system, that would be a huge selling point for both newcomers and Nintendo veterans. The thought of being able to access an online games library and then download and play classic Nintendo titles with achievements sounds pretty awesome, don't you think? Those Detachable Controllers We’re stoked about the idea of being able to turn a solo handheld unit into a local multiplayer device, but can those controllers really work as advertised? Seriously, they look minuscule and you can almost already hear your friends complaining about a disadvantage while playing Smash Bros. or Mario Kart. At first glance, it’s a snazzy addition to a pretty slick looking unit altogether, but we’re dying to know whether it’s more gimmick than a truly functional gamepad. Would anybody really want to play with what looks like a micro NES controller with an analog stick? Nintendo clearly thinks it’s a winner based on the amount of video footage they spent showcasing it, which in itself is slightly concerning. Reassuring gamers that the Switch is a capable home console and then dedicating 60% of the reveal trailer to demonstrating a detachable controller suggests that Nintendo is trying to push this feature as a big USP, when it really ought to be a sideshow to the hybrid features.