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Nintendo 'Switch' Gaming System Arrives in March

Switch features two detachable controllers on either side of its display, offering loads of gameplay options.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Heads up, gamers: Nintendo today unveiled a new gaming system, dubbed Switch, which features detachable controllers.

Here's how it works: At home, your Switch will rest in a dock that connects the system to your TV. When you're heading out, you can lift Switch from the dock and the system will "instantly transition to portable mode" so you can take your game with you. The system is slated to launch in March 2017, but Nintendo did not offer up an exact release date.

Switch also features two detachable Joy-Con controllers on either side of its display, offering loads of gameplay options.

Nintendo Switch

"One player can use a Joy-Con controller in each hand, two players can each take one, or multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people," Nintendo explained in its announcement. If you're with a group of people, you can connect several Switch systems together for "local multiplayer face-to-face competition," the company said.

You can also slip your Joy-Con into a Grip accessory, so they mirror a more traditional controller, or get a separate Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to use instead of the Joy-Con controllers.

"Nintendo Switch allows gamers the freedom to play however they like," Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime said in a statement. "It gives game developers new abilities to bring their creative visions to life by opening up the concept of gaming without boundaries."

Nintendo has not yet released pricing details or a full list of specs for the system, but we know that Switch is powered by Nvidia technology and features an HD display. A number of game publishers and developers have already announced support for Switch, including Activision, Bethesda, Capcom, EA, Epic Games, Telltale, and Ubisoft.

For a look at Switch in action, check out the video below.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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