Nintendo Switch Hybrid Gaming Console Finally Unearthed, Packs NVIDIA Tegra Power

Yes, the Switch has detachable controllers. Yes, the Switch can be docked to play games on your big screen TV. And yes, the Switch features an NVIDIA Tegra processor and GeForce-class graphics. As promised last night, Nintendo revealed all this morning with a three-minute trailer which showcases the console's abilities.

The trailer starts off showing a man playing Zelda on his couch. He detaches the outer portions of the wireless controller and slips them onto the Switch, which is sitting in its docking station. He lifts the console which reveals that its display has already turned on allowing him to pick up where he left off with on-the-go mobile gaming. Later on, we can see the Switch, still in its mobile form-factor, propped up on an airplane seatback tray with a built-in kickstand. The detachable controllers are removed to allow the person to control the game, with one controller in each hand.

Slightly varying takes on this concept are shown throughout the trailer, and we must say that it’s an intriguing concept. We have to wonder though if the constant detaching and reattaching will get old after a while, and what battery life will be like for the detachable controllers (or the Switch console itself in mobile form).

The Nintendo Switch’s gaming experience is also supported by fully custom software, including a revamped physics engine, new libraries, advanced game tools and libraries. NVIDIA additionally created new gaming APIs to fully harness this performance. The newest API, NVN, was built specifically to bring lightweight, fast gaming to the masses.

Gameplay is further enhanced by hardware-accelerated video playback and custom software for audio effects and rendering.

We’re sure to hear more about the Nintendo Switch in the coming months, and will surely be awaiting its March 2017 launch.