In 2017, Nintendo plans to change things up with the Nintendo Switch. This upcoming game console aims to consolidate their home and portable lines into one machine that allows players to take their games on the go.

The console consists of a tablet-like device with one Joy-Con controller attached on each side, and the Nintendo Switch Dock. When the Switch is inside the dock, it acts as a standard home gaming console that is operated by separate wireless controllers. However, when the Switch is removed from the dock, it is playable in any location, no matter how far from the dock it may be. In addition, the Joy-Con controllers are removable.  These controllers are small, and only have one analog stick, four face buttons and two shoulder buttons each. They make it so that two players can play on the same Switch screen anywhere.

The Nintendo Switch needs to win players back. Nintendo’s last console, the Nintendo Wii U, had relatively low sales numbers and was criticized for its lack of software, especially from third-party game developers. While it had a fair amount of games, most of them were made by Nintendo itself. However, 48 third-party developers have already announced plans to make games for the Nintendo Switch. This is a step in the right direction for the console, but only time will tell if this kind of support will be able to be maintained.

Nintendo believes that the Switch allows developers creative freedom due to its fluidity between home and portable format as well as control options. Like all Nintendo devices, it brings something new to the table. Despite this, Nintendo devices’ weakness is that they are usually weaker than their competitors, which in this case will be the Xbox One and the Playstation 4. Nintendo has not released the hardware specifications for the Switch, so whether or not they will once again need to rely on innovation to make up for their lack of power is yet to be seen. In any case, fans of video games around the world are anticipating new information on the Nintendo Switch leading up to its launch next March.