Nintendo Switch: All You Need To Know

Nintendo is set to launch its next gaming console by the name of Switch on March 3, 2017. Priced at $299.99, the console will come in two bundles, the difference being in the type of Joy-Con controllers along with it. The company held a special live-streamed event on Thursday for the grand unveiling of cost, functionality, new games coming to Switch, and (most importantly) the official release date.

Nintendo Switch can either connect to a television set like a regular console or be used as a portable device with its high-definition display screen. The Joy-Con controllers can be used jointly by a single player or two for a multiplayer experience.

Here's everything we know so far about the Switch.

• The Release Date:

The Switch is launching in just a few weeks on March 3rd. That's the same day the new Zelda game is launching, as well as a handful of other games. Pre-orders have already begun for the Switch, but it's already sold out almost everywhere at the time of this writing.

• The Price:

Nintendo will sell the Switch for $299 at launch. That's higher than investors wanted, with many pegging it at $250 before the reveal. But this gives Nintendo wiggle room at the holidays to offer the system on sale or in bundles without cutting too deep.

Accessories have also been priced. The Pro Controller will cost $69.99. An extra pair of Joy-Con controllers will set you back $79.99 or $49.99 for a single. Joy-Con Charging Grip controllers are $29.99 and Switch Docks can be replaced for $89.99. There's also a pair of Wheels for $14.99.

• The Screen:

The Switch tablet will run at 1280 x 720 (or 720p) and is 6.2 inches. In docked mode it will run up to 1080p. No 4K gaming on the Switch, which is just fine.

• The Controllers Are Pretty Cool:

The weirdly named 'Joy-Con' controllers (I prefer my idea: Switch-Blades) slide on and off of the Switch and can be used in various ways. Undocked, there's a wrist strap to help prevent lobbing the gamepad mid-play. There's also a shoulder button on the inside of the controller, which is handy.

The Joy-Cons are equipped with a social share button that can take screenshots and will, at a later date, take video as well. There's also an IR camera in the controllers that can identify objects' shape and location. We'll see how that works in practice. The controllers also have 'HD Rumble' and motion control.

The Switch is being sold with grey controllers or a pair of neon blue and red controllers. I can imagine future releases will sport different colors, similar to all the 3DS configurations out there.

• Battery Life:

There's quite a range for battery life, but Nintendo is claiming between 3 and 6 hours. It recharges via a USB-C port, which is nice. Three hours isn't much for a portable, and I'm willing to bet big, resource-intensive games like Zelda will eat battery up pretty quickly.

• Storage:

The system comes with just 32GB of storage but you can easily expand that with MicroSD cards, which are pretty universal at this point and relatively inexpensive. It also means you'll be able to, uh, switch out different cards with different games installed on them quickly and easily.

• The Games:

There aren't a ton of games slated for launch, but at least The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is. You can check out a full list and watch all the trailers for the new games here. The new Mario and Xenoblade Chronicles games look fantastic.

• Game Modes:

The Switch has three game modes: Docked, Handheld and Tabletop. In Docked mode you play on a TV. In Handheld mode you play with the Switch tablet. And in Tabletop mode you use the tablet's kickstand with the Joy-Con controllers off of the unit. This last mode will likely be used for party games or to play split screen stuff like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the go.

• No Region-Locking:

This is a nice surprise. For the first time Nintendo won't region-lock games, meaning you can play a game from anywhere in the world anywhere in the world. Want to import a Japanese game that comes out months before its NA release? No problem.

• Paid Online Multiplayer:

This is not a nice surprise. Nintendo will be charging for online play for the first time, and I have huge doubts about the quality of the service. This isn't Nintendo's strong suit and really, the last thing gamers need is yet another paid subscription service. At least the service is free for a few months.

Cheers!!!