Nintendo’s New Console, the Switch, Is for Adults (And Everyone Else)

The last time we covered Nintendo for anything non-Pokémon Go related was when they announced Super Mario Run, their first wholly original mobile game. But the last time we covered them before that was when they released the (totally sweet) trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. At the time, Nintendo announced that the game would be available on their currently available Wii U console — and also the upcoming system, code-named the NX.

In today’s news that most excites me personally, that system is code-named no longer. Nintendo has released a trailer officially announcing their new hybrid home console/handheld system, the Switch. Take a look for yourself:

The whole gaming journalism world is blowing up right now over the Switch’s new features, like its detachable controllers, portability, docking system, and little kickstand thingy. But if there’s anything I’ve learned from my decades of video game addiction, it’s that what really gets people excited are the games. And on both of those fronts, it seems that Nintendo is reaching out to adult gamers more than ever before.

First, the new features. The trailer focuses entirely on how adults can enjoy the system: adults playing games after pickup basketball, adults playing games on planes, adults playing games at rooftop parties. I didn’t spot anyone under 18 in the whole trailer. With what appears to be console-level power and handheld-level portability, the Switch looks to be aimed more at the “core” gamer market that’s largely moved on to PlayStation and Xbox.

The same goes for the games. Most notable in the ad are portable versions of Skyrim and an unknown NBA game — games mostly played by grown-ups. Even Splatoon, a colorful shooter aimed at younger audiences, is only shown in the context of competitive eSports.

That’s not to say that the Switch is leaving young gamers behind. A Pokémon Company exec confirmed that the system would be home to Pokémon games, which skew younger.

All the same: it seems that Nintendo is expanding its outreach. The Wii was famously a console targeted at “everyone,” especially people who don’t usually play a lot of video games. Now, the Switch seems to be targeting everyone — including people who do play a lot of video games.

If you’re really dying to know everything about the Switch, Kotaku has a good summary here. According to the trailer, the system will be available for purchase in March of 2017.

What do you think? Are you going to run out and buy a Switch? Let us know in the comments below or @WhatsTrending on Twitter!