PARIS: Japanese video game giant Nintendo announced Wednesday that its new Switch console would be available on June 5, starting the countdown for one of the most hotly awaited gaming launches in years.
Millions of fans around the world were glued to an hour-long presentation from the Kyoto-based company about the Switch 2 — an update to the 2017 original model that has sold around 150 million units.
The new console retains many of the features of its best-selling predecessor, including its detachable “Joy-Con” controllers, but features a larger, higher resolution screen and quicker processing speeds.
Having given a glimpse of it in mid-January, the company gave further details about some of the new features, including a “C” button that activates “GameChat”, allowing players to speak with each other while playing.
When paired with a camera, it will enable them to do video calls and monitor each other’s progress on-screen.
“Using GameChat even when you’re apart, you can play games and hang out as if you were together in the same room,” the company said.
Nintendo also announced a new version of its legendary Mario Kart game, called “Mario Kart World”, which features race tracks around the world but also allows players to go exploring off-grid.
It will launch on the Switch 2 in June and be included for the sale price, which was not revealed.
Numerous other games for the Switch 2 featured during the launch presentation including a new 3D adventure game, “Donkey Kong Bonanza” and “Kirby Air Riders”, as well as Street Fighter 6, Hogwarts Legacy, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Borderlands 4, and Hitman: World of Assassination.
The Switch 2 will have eight times the memory of the original Switch at 256 GB, and a screen that measures 7.9 inches (20 cm) versus 6.2 inches for the first Switch.
Its controllers, which attach with magnets rather than sliding on, can also be used like a computer mouse, a new functionality the company is clearly hoping game developers will make use of.
Analysts had predicted that the company would opt to bring out an improved iteration of a winning formula, rather than announce revolutionary changes, and that appeared to be the case overall.
“When you ask gamers, they mention performance and game software, but in reality, they seem to want the same experience as the original Switch,” Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Japanese brokerage Toyo Securities, had said beforehand.
“I think what they truly want is simply higher performance.”
The Switch won favour with gamers of all ages thanks to its hybrid concept, which allows players to use it on-the-go and connected to a TV.
