The Wii U did not do so well, especially when considering the sales of the Sony PlayStation 4 as well as the Microsoft Xbox One. However, Nintendo are now hoping to change their fortunes by releasing their new and improved gaming console - the Nintendo Switch - much earlier compared to their competitors. The console was revealed last Jan. 14 in a live stream from the Tokyo Big Sight in Japan.
Along with the hands-on event that coincided with the Switch reveal, Nintendo also released around 20 minutes of gameplay footage for the new "Zelda: Breath of the Wild" game. The footage shows the game being played in both of the Switch's modes. The first portion of the gameplay showcases the game on television mode, while the latter half features the game being played in the Switch's unique portable mode.
What's even more important perhaps is how the gameplay shows how the Switch is able to transition between its two modes rather seamlessly, Dual Shockers reported. The shift between the two modes simply involves removing the "Joy-Con" controllers from the main console, which is then placed back in the dock. The game stream will then be returned to the user's television in the span of only four seconds.
The Nintendo Switch will be made available on March 3 for just under $300, with the low price point possibly due to the poor performance of the Wii U. It has been confirmed that "Breath of the Wild" will be released as a launch title for it. Already, Reggie Fils-Aime - the president of Nintendo of America - has high hopes for their new consoles, which he says will be widely different.
"When we first showed off the Wii U for example it was misinterpreted that it was simply a tablet and not a device that truly was connected to your TV and could create two-screen types of gaming experiences," Fils-Aime told USA Today when asked what went wrong with the Wii U. "With Nintendo Switch we are being very aggressive and clearly communicating the proposition that it's a home console you can take on the go wherever and whenever you want," he explained.
Watch the latest trailer for "Zelda: Breath of the WIld" below: