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.

Another sales milestone

Less than a year after launch, the Switch hits 14.86 million units sold, putting it more than a million ahead of how many consoles the Wii U sold over the course of its entire lifetime. There’s no denying it; Nintendo have a hit console on their hands.

It’s great news for gamers too, with the more consoles sold the more AAA games the system is likely to receive.

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.

Nintendo share price rockets

Despite worldwide shortages of the Switch, it continues to sell in incredible volumes, and rarely stays in stock for long anywhere. The Switch’s early unbridled success does much to put minds at ease about Nintendo’s ability to make up ground after the Wii U, with the Japanese company’s share price reflecting that. In May, it hits a seven year-high.

E3 offers more reasons to be cheerful

Even with expectations high for what Nintendo would announce at the annual E3 convention, Nintendo arguably surpassed them with a slew of game showcases that left fans in little doubt as to the long term prospects of the Switch. A Kirby game, a Pokemon RPG, Metroid Prime 4 and a Yoshi game represented a predictably strong first party lineup, while Rocket League was a surprise third-party announcement, joining Skyrim with a Q4 2017 launch.

Stock worries ease

Supported by an increasingly strong lineup of games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2, the Switch continues to perform fantastically well, although stock is now easier to find generally. Nintendo also announces a new Mario Odyssey hard bundle for the Switch, to sit alongside the Splatoon 2 bundle launched in July.

Odyssey begins a legacy

Super Mario Odyssey, the Italian plumber’s first sandbox-style adventure in years, is released. It achieves critical acclaim to rival that given to Switch launch title Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and has gamers asking if any console has ever had two better games in its first year. Critics predict that Odyssey and Zelda will duke it out between them for the honour of ‘game of the year’ titles in a year that will go down in even Nintendo’s storied history.

The jewel in the crown

Nintendo caps a superb year with Switch launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild winning Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2017. They use the award to announce the launch of the second piece of DLC for Breath of the Wild, which features the game’s first story expansion. Also announced are Switch ports of Bayonetta 1 and 2 and a new Switch exclusive, the third game in the series.

Switch going strong

After several months of excellent sales numbers, fantastic games and increasingly solid stock levels, Nintendo revise their sales target for the Switch. Having originally forecast 10 million units sold by March (a year into the console’s life cycle), they now aim to have moved 14 million units. The PS4 sold a similar amount, while the Xbox One hit around 10 million. The 14 million mark is also significant, as it would mean that the Switch had surpassed the Wii U’s lifetime sales in under a year. Nintendo are back.

Mini Direct lays out the Switch’s upcoming titles

With E3 2016 announced games like Metroid Prime 4 and Pokémon still a long way off, Nintendo launch a Mini Direct to unveil some upcoming games. The most significant announcements are a new edition of Mario Tennis, Mario Tennis Aces, a remastered version of the classic Dark Souls, and a re-release of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Also previewed are DLC and updates to Super Mario Odyssey, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Pokken Tournament DX.

Nintendo LABO launches

Nintendo have always been known for their out of the box thinking, and LABO is an example of just that – as well as thinking with the box. LABO enables gamers to create their own cardboard creations and bring them to life with Switch software. April sees the first two kits launch, the Variety Kit and the Robot Kit, which lets players build a backpack and becoming a Godzilla-size robot, rampaging through a city.

Undocked

Nintendo begins selling a version of the Switch in Japan without the dock and AC adaptor. The logic behind the move is that they want to encourage those who live in a house with a Switch, but who don’t own one themselves, to buy a console without having to pay for a dock they don’t need. No word is given when we might see a similar option in the UK.

20 million

Nintendo announce that 19.67 million Switch consoles have been sold as of the end of June, meaning that by the point they make the announcement, the total is more than 20 million. Nintendo also have set an ambitious target of selling 20 million units between April and March 2019. While they’ve sold around 2 million so far, with Super Smash Bros Ultimate and two new Pokemon games on the way, don’t rule it out!

Nintendo raises the crowd at Gamescom

Nintendo had lots in store for Gamescom 2018, showcasing a plethora of new gameplay from already-announced Switch titles including DAEMON X MACHINA (coming 2019) and the hotly anticipated Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. From their booth in Cologne they also had playable titles of Starlink: Battle for Atlas and Dark Souls: Remastered. Plenty for Switch fans to get excited about.

Four exciting new bundles announced

Rumours of a Super Smash Bros Ultimate bundle and Diablo III: Eternal Collection bundle were rife in the months leading up to September. These were officially announced to fanfare and stand as two of the most popular Switch bundles to date. Two new Pokémon Switch bundles were also announced in September to commemorate Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

Switch outsells the GameCube

The Nintendo Switch’s popularity shows no bounds as it outstrips the Nintendo GameCube’s lifetime sales after less than two years on the market. Worldwide sales reached 22.86 million units in October, while the GameCube only managed 21.74 million units from the period 2001 to 2007. Now all eyes are on the N64 and whether the Switch can top the 32.93 million units it shifted. Ready, set, go!

Two-year anniversary of Switch reveal

It was on October 20, 2016 when Nintendo officially announced their next-generation console under the name Switch. The Nintendo Switch immediately grabbed the gaming community’s attention with its hybrid design. Technical details were released on January 13, 2017 to ramp up excitement for the console. The Switch was officially released on March 3, 2017 in all key markets including the UK.

New Switch models incoming?

Rumours spring up that we may be getting not one, but two new iterations of the Switch in 2019. The first is a Lite version of the Switch, which may not include a dock in the box and may have fixed Joy-Cons either side. The second is a pro version, with upgraded graphical capabilities and an improved screen. Nintendo denies the rumours.

Switch outsells the N64

After ousting the Gamecube, the Switch makes short work of another iconic Nintendo console’s total sales numbers – the N64. Despite having boasted the likes of Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Mario 64, Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Major’s Mask and many, many other bonafide classic titles, the Switch has taken just over two years to eclipse the N64’s lifetime sales.

Let's a go! Mario and Zelda get the VR treament

In an unexpected announcement, Nintendo enable VR modes – using the LABO VR headset – within Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Mario Odyssey’s VR modes consists only of mini levels, while Breath of the Wild’s mode enables you to play through the entire game while immersed in VR. It’s Nintendo’s first real foray into the VR arena since the ill-fated Virtual Boy console in the mid-90s.

Switch outsells PS4 in Japan

Japan has always been a Nintendo stronghold, with other console manufacturers always struggling to dethrone them from the console throne in the Far East. This is hammered home as the Switch cruises passed the lifetime sales of the PS4 in May, despite the PS4 generally performing well in Japan and having a three year head start on the Switch.

Switch v2

No sooner have Nintendo refuted rumours that a Pro version of the Switch then we get an explanation for all the speculation flying around. While Nintendo aren’t launching a fully-fledged new version of the Switch, they are upgrading the existing model of the classic Switch. The main difference? Quite significantly enhanced battery life. The easiest way to differentiate between the original and the updated models will be the packaging – the original Switch’s box features the console in front of a TV and a white background, while the new version will feature a bright red background.

No Pro in 2019

As the Switch Lite is announced, Nintendo also pours water on the rumours that we’ll be getting a new, ramped up Pro version of the Switch – at least in 2019. There had been rumours of Nintendo planning on upgrading the Switch, but Nintendo make it clear this is not the case currently.

Lite at the end of the tunnel

After months of rumours, Nintendo finally confirm that they’ll be releasing a new version of the Switch. Named the Switch Lite, the new model will lack any connectivity to a TV and is an all-in-one unit, unlike the classic Switch with its detachable Joy-Cons. Other than physical differences in the hardware, the Lite and original Switch are the same, playing the same games and both offering compatibility with the same set of controllers. The Lite will come initially in three colours, with a special edition Pokemon Sword/ Shield version already confirmed, and launches in September.

New Switch hits shelves

The upgraded version of the classic Switch starts appearing on UK shelves, with its distinctive red background box making it clear to shoppers which version of the console they’re getting.