Nintendo Switch Deals

The first mention of the Nintendo NX

Nintendo’s late president Satoru Iwata fired the starter pistol on the speculation over Nintendo’s next console in March 2015, saying “let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated gaming platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename “NX””.

Iwata’s mention of a membership service that would encompass the 3DS, the Wii U and the NX caused a further stir, with speculation centering around where the NX would sit within Nintendo’s console offering if they were to continue with the 3DS as the flagship handheld and the Wii U as the dedicated home console.

The NX gets a launch date

Any doubt as to whether the NX was to be a fully fledged new piece of technology rather than an upgrade on either the DS range or the Wii U was extinguished in April 2015 when, in an investor’s meeting, the Japanese gaming giant revealed the release date for the new hardware as March 2017.

Breath of the Wild unveiled as a launch title

Although Nintendo disappointed many of their legions of hardcore fans by not revealing any details whatsoever about the NX at the E3 expo, they did offer a tantalising glimpse of the future by revealing that the upcoming The Legend of Zelda title, The Breath of the Wild, was to be released on both the Wii U and the NX as a launch title.

Creator of the Mario and Zelda series Shigeru Miyamoto stated that Nintendo weren’t more forthcoming about details of the NX because they feared that it would be copied if they revealed information too far in advance of launch.

Hardware rumours abound

In late July, various leaks centering on the specifics of the NX’s core design and some of the technology it would be using began to be reported. Most significant was the speculation that the NX would be an unusual hybrid concept that was capable of functioning as both a home console and as a portable, courtesy of a pair of controllers that could attach to either end of a tablet-like body.

Further rumours linked in the NX to Nvidia’s Tegra mobile processor chip, and suggested that the console would use cartridges like those of the 3DS rather than less handheld-friendly discs.

The Switch is officially unveiled

Following months of speculation, the Nintendo Switch - as it is now known - was unveiled. As had been previously rumoured, the Switch is a hybrid device capable of being played in both handheld and console modes.

The official announcement was accompanied by a launch trailer that showed the three main ways the console could be used; as a traditional console-TV-controller set up, as a portable with the Joy-Con controllers attached, and in tabletop mode using the built in kickstand.

The date is set

At a livestreamed event in Tokyo, Nintendo unveiled further details of the Switch’s hardware, showcased some of its launch titles playing on the system and, most importantly, revealed the worldwide launch date for the console; March 3rd.

The event showcased Nintendo’s dedication to the system, which many argued had been lacking from their pre-launch promotional efforts for the Wii U. This enhanced backing culminated with a spot during the Superbowl in the US.

Switch on

The Switch is launched on March 3rd and almost immediately sells out worldwide, with estimates suggesting that the system sold between 1.5 and 2 million units in its first week, a record for a Nintendo system.

The Switch was aided by its launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was released to critical acclaim, with many reviewers suggesting it deserved to be part of the conversation about the best game ever.