NEW YORK (news agencies) — Nintendo’s Switch 2 is bigger and better than its predecessor of eight years past as the video game developer pushes to bring its brand into “a new era” where social experiences are at the forefront.
media and other members of the media got an exclusive look this week at Nintendo’s latest handheld, TV-console hybrid, which dives head-first into the social world of online gaming.
The Switch 2 will hit the market June 5 at a price of $449.99.
“You’ll be joining us as we step into a new era of Nintendo,” Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s president, told those in attendance before they scattered to test out the new Switch.
Video and audio chats and game-sharing functions are huge parts of the new console. One of the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons — it’s controllers — even has a “C” button to quickly access “GameChat.” Click the button and up pops window views to others players’ gameplay, lined up at the bottom of the user’s screen in squares like a video conference call.
A camera attachment — sold separately — allows gamers to project themselves into those windows instead of sharing their own screen, while some games let the camera-user appear in the game itself. A microphone is now built into the console for audio.
Another feature, “GameShare,” allows users to share the game they are playing temporarily with other consoles that don’t have it.
And then there’s a function to control the console’s Joy-Cons like a computer mouse — an appeal toward the growing PC-based gaming audience — something developers are excited for people to try.
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