Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch (codenamed Nintendo NX during development) is a Nintendo gaming console and successor to the Wii U. Officially announced on 2016-10-20, the Nintendo Switch is a hybrid home/handheld gaming console, though it is marketed as mainly being the former. During its reveal trailer, footage for Splatoon 2 was showcased, and the game was officially unveiled on 2017-01-13 at the Nintendo Switch Presentation in Tokyo, Japan. . The Nintendo Switch was released on 2017-03-03.

Features
The Nintendo Switch consists of a tablet-like console that can be placed into a docking station. When the system is in the dock, game footage will be displayed on the TV screen. When the console is detached from the dock, game footage is displayed on the console's screen. The two "Joy-Con" controllers can be removed and used either as separate controllers (similar to SNES controllers), used together as a single controller (similar to the Wii Remote), or docked into a grip to give a more traditional experience. A traditional controller, called the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, is also available. This controller has the same set-up as the Wii U Pro Controller, with the exception of the second analog stick being set below the face buttons. This controller is shown to be compatible with Splatoon 2.

The console, like the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, uses ROM cartridges based on the SD Card format, making it the first home gaming device to not utilize optical discs since the Nintendo 64.

Players can also locally connect up to eight Nintendo Switch consoles to each other.

Nintendo Switch Online


Nintendo Switch Online is the suite of online services for the Nintendo Switch console. It was announced at the Nintendo Switch Presentation Event 2017 on 2018-01-12.

Nintendo Switch Online encompasses both the online service itself and the Nintendo Switch Online App, used for SplatNet 2 and Nintendo's online party system.

The service was said to launch in Fall 2017, but was then pushed to September 2018 later on. Until that period of time, users are given free access to the limited version. Nintendo Switch Online will cost US$19.99, £17.99 or €19.99 upon full launch.