Tag: Nintendo Switch

Nintendo begins selling Switchs’ without Docks

The Nintendo Switch is a unique console that acts as a video game system that can seamlessly switch (pun intended) into a handheld. Some people treat it as a handheld system and rarely place it on the dock or play it on the TV. Out of 148 participants on a GameFaq forum, 17 people would play the Switch without the dock. In Japan, Nintendo has recently been selling the Switch as a standalone handheld.
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The Nintendo Switch Second Set is selling at 24,980 yen which is about $250. You can charge the system with a USB-C adapter. No word on whether it will be released in the West.

Would you buy a Nintendo Switch Second Set?

Sources:

Eurogamer

Nintendo Japan Announcement

GameFaqs Forum

Nintendo announces future Super Smash Bros Test in Japan

Super Smash Bros (Name Pending) for the Nintendo Switch will be having a huge tournament at E3. While only selected players are allowed to play at the tournament, Nintendo has announced future Smash Bros tournament in Japan. Whether they announce events in the West remains to be determined but expect more news soon from Nintendo. If you happen to be in Japan, these are the following events.

  • Rage 2018 Summer on June 17 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba
  • Jisedai World Hobby Fair 2018 Summer from June 23 to 24 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba
  • Jump Victory Carnival 2018 Tokyo on July 16 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba
  • Jump Victory Carnival 2018 Osaka on July 22 at Intex Osaka

I look forward to seeing what Nintendo and Sakurai (Creator of the Smash Bro’s series) will show this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWuzQb9vNg

Sources:

Nintendo JP

Xbox One Sales numbers released by EA

In this current console war, Xbox has greatly fallen behind PlayStation. End of 2017, Xbox Ones have sold 30 million units worldwide compared to the 73.6 million PlayStation 4. In Electronic Arts‘ reports, they discuss the sales for Microsoft and Sony. In a statement by the CFO, Jake Jorgensen stated “Turning to our expectations for fiscal 2019, we expect sales of current-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony to continue to be strong, with the installed base growing to 130 million consoles by the end of calendar 2018 from 103 million at the end of calendar 2017,” he said. With Sony confirming their sales numbers earlier this year of $79 million, Microsoft makes up for the rest. Microsoft has not officially announced the sales numbers for the Xbox or their gaming division for 2017.

What’s next for Xbox?

Xbox has difficulties staying relevant in the competition. Many of their recent IP releases didn’t sell as many copies as they liked or player base dropped after a few months. Halo 5: Guardians sold 4.8 million units worldwide and Gears of War 4 sold 3.4 million but longtime fans disliked the overall changes. Despite the good sales, the game didn’t leave lasting impressions. Sea of Thieves and Sunset Overdrive are new IP’s that sold relatively well but had a drop off in player numbers after the initial month. Microsoft has been adopting a new strategy by selling some of their exclusive games with cross-play capabilities for Windows. Their backwards compatibility is much better than Nintendo’s and Sony‘s. Their games have better graphics for the Xbox One and if you kept your original copies, you didn’t have to pay any additional cost. Nintendo recently announced there are no plans to bring the Virtual Console store to the Switch and PlayStation 4’s have no backwards compatibility and some ports have performed poorly.  On May 8th, they also announced plans to develop a new studio who will work on new IP’s and are hiring people with “experience shipping high quality titles at AAAA standards.” Whether Microsoft will be able to stay ahead of Nintendo Switch remains to be seen. Microsoft will need to release a huge IP to compete with PlayStation considering their strong year in 2017 with Horizon Zero Dawn and Persona 5 and 2018’s God of War and upcoming Spider-Man game. There is one more month until E3…

Sources:

Variety – EA releases Xbox One’s sales numbers

Variety – Microsoft’s new studio

Halo 5’s sales numbers

Gears of War 4’s sales numbers

Kotaku – No Virtual Console for Switch

Details on Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. World Tournament at E3 2018!

Nintendo will be hosting a tournament at E3 for Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Switch. The tournaments will be hosted at E3 2018 in Los Angeles on June 11th and 12th. There will be two different formats for both games. Nintendo has announced they will continue to release E3 announcements next month.

Splatoon 2:

Splatoon 2 will be 4 way round robin tournament with 4 teams at E3. One form Japan, the U.S./Can, Europe, and Australia/New Zealand. Winning the Splatoon 2 US/Canada Inkling Open 2018 online qualifiers will qualify your team for a spot. Qualifiers begin April 21, 11 a.m. PT, and finals will take place on April 28 at 8 a.m. This will be Splatoon 2‘s first World Championship. There is no entry fee and rules are in the link below. You can register online via this link http://e3.nintendo.com/splatoon-2-inkling-open

Super Smash Bros:

Nintendo has announced that the Smash game will be for Nintendo Switch. It will be a invitational with a non-disclosed amount of players invited by Nintendo. Details on whether its a new Smash game or a port of Smash 4 for the Wii U is still undetermined. The tournament will appeal to casual and competitive Smash players. Bill Trinen, Nintendo’s senior product marketing manager, said it will be similar in structure to the E3 2014 Super Smash Bros. invitational. Top players from the Smash community such as Mango, Hungrybox and ZeRo won in E3 2014 for the Super Smash Bros for Wii U.

Sources:

Nintendo