Way to kick off a presentation! A launch date much sooner than we expected. That's right Nintendo's next console, the Switch, has a March 3 release date. And although local pricing hasn't been confirmed yet it will retail for $299 USD over in Trumpland. With the Nintendo Switch reveal having just wrapped up (and it was definitely a very weird event) we now know quite a bit about the console. Click through for a quick summary.

Here's the skinny on the hardware.

• The console will launch in most global regions March 3, 2017
  
• The console will be region-free
  
• A Nintendo Switch paid-for online service ala Xbox Live is planned for the second half of 2017
  
• Battery life on the console will vary from game to game but run anywhere from 2.5 hours to 6 hours of playtime
  
• The Switch can charge over USB, and there is a play-and-charge mode
  
• The Switch unit itself will support both Wifi and local-multiplayer for up to 8 different Switch consoles
  
• The two Joy-Con controllers feature NFC tech for Amibo, capture buttons to snag screenshots and video, motion sensors, hidden L/R buttons, something called HD rumble, and will come with wrist straps and be available in multiple colours.
  
• A separate pro-controller will be sold separately, but with the Joy-Con controllers two-player functionality will be available out of the box.

Speaking of the box, here's what will be in it.

#NintendoSwitch arrives on March 3.

Here’s what’s in the box. pic.twitter.com/S2hLpkZSuL

— Nintendo AU NZ (@NintendoAUNZ) January 13, 2017

So far so good right? Well, outside of tech specs, local price-point, and what the hardware is capable of visually this all sounds pretty good. And March 3! That's like right around the corner. So then, how about some launch games!

Okay, so this is where the presentation took a turn for the weird. And bizarre. Where right up until the end of the presentation the only launch title announced for the Switch was something called 1-2 Switch. A bizarre throwback to the Wii-era where motion controls, simple mini-games, and looking real people in the eyes are the order of the day. Oh, and it will be sold separately to the console.

Check it out.



From there the Wii-era festivities continued with a look at a non-launch mid-2017 release for a new Nintendo IP called ARMS. Which yeah, kinda looks like Wii Boxing 3000. But if the motion controls work as showed then it could be a very fun local multiplayer game.



From there the presentation switched (insert Nintendo Switch sound here) to titles that wont be ready for a while, starting with the admittedly awesome looking Super Mario Odyssey slated for a Holiday 2017 release. Also thrown in were looks at Splatoon 2, Xenoblade 2, Fire Emblem Universe, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, something called Project Octopath Traveller (no kidding!), and developers like Suda51 thinking about making games for the Switch.

It kind of felt like Nintendo weren't ready to launch the console.

Yeah, bizarre.

But really, all we wanted was a list of launch titles and then a look at what else was in store for 2017.

And so just when we were about to chalk the entire thing up to an interesting but ultimately pretty dull and weird presentation -- outside of Mario that is -- came the saviour. The one game Nintendo has been talking about for the last year or so. And that is The Legend of Zelda - Breath of the Wild. And just when you thought you'd seen it all, came the following launch trailer.

Prepare thine eyes for awesome.



Zelda. March 3. Switch. Launch Title.