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'Splatoon 2' brings new weapons, stages and fashion to Nintendo Switch
When Splatoon announced its late July Splatfest would be its last online multiplayer event, there was a collective sigh from the Miiverse. The multiplayer shooter dragged Nintendo into a competitive-gaming space it had never competed in before -- it was fun, frantic and had a lot of personality. Thankfully, the franchise lives on. Today Nintendo announced the Switch version of Splatoon isn't a remastered port, but a full sequel.
'Super Mario Odyssey' puts Nintendo's plumber in the real world
Super Mario Odyssey is Nintendo's latest Mario game, and it's due to hit the Switch during the holiday season this year. The new adventure is a sandbox-style game that throws Nintendo's famous plumber into environments from the real world.
'Arms' brings shooter-esque boxing to the Nintendo Switch
Nintendo isn't wasting any time with original games for its new Switch console. During its launch live-stream tonight, the company announced Arms, a boxing game that shares a lot with shooters. It relies on motion controls to attack enemies from a distance. In practice, it looks like you're punching with a bit of a delay, thanks to your freakishly long arms (get it?!). In many ways, Arms looks like the successor to Wii Boxing that we've been waiting for. Unfortunately, it won't be ready for the Switch's launch -- you can expect it sometime in spring.
Nintendo finally discovered capacitive touch screens
At Nintendo's Switch press conference today, the company revealed that its upcoming gaming console will have -- wait for it -- a capacitive touch screen. This is a pretty big move for Nintendo, which has traditionally gone with resistive touch displays -- the DS, the 3DS and the Wii U all had resistive touch screens and had to be used with a modicum of finger strength or a stylus. Resistive touch screens are typically not as finger-friendly as capacitive displays that are widely used in smartphones and tablets today. Capacitive screens also allow for multitouch gestures, which is lacking on resistive models. It's a small difference, perhaps, but it's a move that makes the Switch that much more enticing to a modern audience. Click here to catch up on the latest news from Nintendo's Switch event.
Nintendo Switch online multiplayer won't be free
There's a lot to love about Nintendo, but it's always been a generation behind the curve when it comes to online services. The Nintendo Wii was hampered by an awkward friend-code system, and the Wii U's network services were weird, goofy and heavily monitored. With the Switch, that all might change: Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima just announced Nintendo Online Services -- the company's latest attempt to figure out online multiplayer. Kimishima didn't reveal much about the service, but, in general, the news is good: Nintendo Online Services sounds a lot like Sony and Microsoft's multiplayer services. The bad news: Just like those services, it will cost you a monthly fee.
Nintendo Switch software won't be region-locked
Nintendo has always been aggressive with region-locking, but that's changing with the Switch. That's right, the Switch will be able to play games from any territory. Meaning, importing games from Japan and playing them on your US-based console will be totally doable -- no need to buy region-specific hardware for those anymore. Nor will you have to wait for a certain game to get translated into English. Hey, all right!
The Nintendo Switch costs $300
The Nintendo Switch will cost $300 (£280) when it hits store shelves (of the digital and physical variety) March 3rd. Nintendo revealed the price and release date -- we had only a release month previously -- during its Switch live stream on the evening of Thursday, January 12th.
Gear up for tonight's Nintendo Switch live stream
Nintendo revealed the Switch, its latest console, back in October -- but the company left out plenty of key details about the half-portable, half-living room system. So, that's what tonight is all about. Nintendo will host a live stream at 11P ET on Thursday, January 12th, intended to outline more of the features, hardware specs and games coming to the Switch when it lands in March. Watch the live stream right here with us tonight and keep the Engadget home page open for all of the news as Nintendo announces it. Until then, here are a few things to expect out of tonight's Switch event:
'Shovel Knight' is coming to the Nintendo Switch
If you still can't get enough of Shovel Knight, don't fret because even more is on its way. And for a new platform -- the Nintendo Switch. There's a bunch of other news from Yacht Club Games as well.
You can try to pre-order the Nintendo Switch in NYC on Friday
Nintendo will open up pre-orders for its next console, the Switch, at its New York City store on Friday, January 13th, starting at 9AM ET. However, things aren't that cut-and-dry. Nintendo notes that there will be a "limited quantity" of pre-orders available "while supplies last" at the store.
Nikkei expects Nintendo Switch will sell for less than $250 in Japan
It's almost a tradition: Nintendo teases a new product and Nikkei reports a key detail just before its official reveal. The Japanese paper successfully called the Nintendo DSi, key details of the 3DS and got pretty close to the Wii U's launch price. Now, paper is predicting a ballpark price for the Nintendo Switch. Nikkei says fans should plan to spend about ¥25,000 for Nintendo's next device in Japan -- about $215 at today's exchange rate.
Island puzzler 'Rime' is coming to the Nintendo Switch
It's been a while since we've seen or heard anything about Rime. The whimsical puzzle-adventure title was first shown off at Gamescom in 2013, with a young boy exploring a mysterious, tropical island. At the time it was a PS4 exclusive, however earlier this year developer Tequila Works announced that it had bought the full rights back from Sony. Today, it's been confirmed as a multiplatform release for the PS4, Xbox One and, most notably, the Nintendo Switch. IGN has all the details, including a new trailer which reintroduces the Ico-meets-The-Witness concept.
You won't be able to upgrade the Nintendo Switch's battery
Apart from the odd leak, we still don't know a lot about Nintendo's next game console. We know it has NVIDIA graphics. We know it can convert from a traditional TV set-up to a more portable one. Unfortunately, that's about where our verifiable knowledge ends -- or at least it did. A new filing at the FCC has added one more piece to the Switch puzzle: we now know that the device will probably ship with a non-removable battery.
The Nintendo Switch could be twice as powerful while docked
Just how powerful is Nintendo's next game console? We won't know for sure until January, but if the latest report from Eurogamer pans out, the answer could be kind of complicated. According to specifications provided to developers, the Nintendo Switch performance changes depending on how you use it: in its docked, TV-mode or as a gaming portable.
Nintendo will take the Switch on a 'Preview Tour' next month
Nintendo's next console launches in March, and the company wants everyone to know about it. Following its showcase on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Mario maker has confirmed a global tour for the Switch. It'll be shown off first in New York this January (13-15), followed by Toronto (27-29) and Pax South in San Antonio (27-29). It'll then head to Washington for three days in February (10-12), before making its way through Chicago (17-19) and San Francisco (24-26). The tour wraps up in March with stops in Los Angeles (3-5th), Pax East (16-18) and SXSW (16-18).
'Yooka-Laylee' won't come to the Wii U
Playtonic has announced today that its debut game Yooka-Laylee will no longer be coming to Wii U. Citing "technical difficulties" the studio says it will now release the anticipated platformer on the Nintendo Switch. Playtonic also announced a release date for the other platforms, with the game launching on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 11th 2017.
Nintendo Switch makes its live TV debut on 'The Tonight Show'
After you check out our discussion with Nintendo's president Reggie Fils-Aime, you can get a good look at the new Switch console in operation () on the Tonight Show stage. Reggie and host Jimmy Fallon played the yet-to-be-released console, taking a trip through The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild showing off its ability to go portable with the press of a button. Additionally, after previewing a bit of Super Mario Run action, Reggie announced that starting today, you can visit Apple Stores worldwide and try out a demo version before the game launches December 15th. There's not a lot of new information if you've been paying attention, but it does give a good idea of what using a Switch will be like when it ships in March. As an extra bonus, check out the second video to see Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto playing the game's theme song along with The Roots.
Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime explains why it's time to go mobile
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has garnered a reputation for being a larger-than-life character, whether he's onstage presenting his company's latest or getting ready for a one-on-one interview. He's playing Super Mario Run on an iPad mini when our meeting begins, as if he just can't stop to focus on the more mundane task at hand. "I'm gonna put this down now," he says as we get started. "I had a great run going, too."
Nintendo's Switch might play GameCube games
Following years of pining after GameCube games on the Virtual Console, it looks like Nintendo fans will soon be getting their wish. According to a recent report by Eurogamer, the Nintendo Switch is rumored to be the first Nintendo console to offer GameCube games on its Virtual Console. Citing several sources within the company, the article states that Nintendo already has classic titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee running on the Switch.
A full 'Pokémon' game could come to Nintendo's Switch
It sounds like a version of Pokémon Sun and Moon could be headed to Nintendo's upcoming Switch console. It'd be akin to Red and Blue's sibling Yellow or Pearl and Diamond's Platinum, according to Eurogamer's sources. Currently the code name is Stars. Now, for a bit of unpacking. Both Yellow and Pearl were similar to their generational predecessors, but offered new features like different legendary-class pocket monsters or starting with the adorable Pikachu at your side.
