Entertainment

Nintendo Switch arrives in the UK

Nintendo Switch arrives in the UK
Nintendo Switch arrives in the UK Nintendo Switch arrives in the UK

Nintendo Switch, the Japanese gaming giant’s new video games console which can be used both at home and remotely, has gone on sale in the UK.

As well as being used as a home system, the Switch contains a six-inch screen which can be lifted from a docking station and played remotely using modular controllers that either attach to the side of the display or connect wirelessly.

(Nintendo)

The Joy-Con controllers can also be split in half to enable two players to compete against each other.

The launch is Nintendo’s first new console since the Wii U was released in 2012 and has widely received positive reviews ahead of its debut.

Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima called the Switch a “brand-new kind of home gaming system that offers a wide variety of play modes”, and said the company hoped to “introduce the world to new experiences” made possible by the console.

(Nintendo)

However, some critics have raised concerns over the number of high-end games that will be available to play on the Switch in launch day, with only a handful appearing alongside a greater number of indie games.

The price of the console – £280 – has also been called too expensive by some, as has the price of a new pair the Joy-Con controllers, which are £75 or £43 individually.

Nintendo has been fighting to compete with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One since both consoles first went on sale in 2013, offering higher end graphics and wider entertainment experiences.

(Nintendo)

However, Nintendo retains a hardcore base of fans for its consoles and game – including the Legend of Zelda franchise, the newest instalment of which is a launch title for Switch, while a new Super Mario game is due at the end of the year.

The Japanese firm will hope the Switch’s unique capabilities will help entice new users to its platform.