With less than a month left in the launch of Nintendo Switch which releases on March 3, 2017, rumors keep bubbling out for this highly anticipated next big thing in the console segment. The recent being the ability of Switch to support virtual reality gaming. Getting on a conclusion is not a simple task here since the company has refrained from confirming any VR accessory such as Nintendo Switch VR headset for the console. However, the same cannot be denied as the patents filed by Nintendo offer detailed images of Nintendo switch VR usage which showcases a high possibility of the addition of VR support in the Nintendo switch console in the near future.
About Nintendo Switch
Coming as the seventh major console release from the company, Nintendo switch aims at being a hybrid solution to the users making it the next big thing in the world of gaming consoles. Primarily designed as being a home gaming console, it also lets users slide the main console into its joy controllers making it well suited for gaming on the go. The joy con, which consists of standard buttons and directional joystick for motion sensing, tactical feedback and of course the user input, can attach to the both sides of the console offering a traditional home gaming pad form to the users.
As the company describes it, there are three different gaming modes available with the console, first being the TV mode with the console attached to the dock to support gaming on the TV screen. The tabletop mode being another mode makes use of a kickstand for shared gaming on the console away from a dedicated screen and the handheld mode converting the console into a portable gaming device. Users can easily switch from one mode to the other by inserting or removing the console from the dock or by making use of the kickstand or the joy-con wireless controllers.
Available at a price of USD299 from March 3, 2017, Nintendo Switch sports a display of 6.2-inch with a 1280 x 720 resolution with a pixel density of LCD 237 PPI. Its 4310mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery life can last up to six hours which is subject to the software and usage conditions. Users can expand the storage space up to 2 TB, though the console comes with an internal storage of 32 GB. It also features parental control to manage how your family interacts with the switch. Nintendo has the support of many third-party publishers and developers to expand its library of its games along with over hundred gaming titles under developments by its own developers. It will also provide online functionality for downloading and purchasing games via Nintendo E-shops and voice chat.
The console is impressive for sure. Not only does it look impressive but also the stuff it has to offer is commendable. It lets users compete against friends or team up at home. Along with it, there comes a support for multiplayer games with other switch players and the ability to link up to eight systems to play games anywhere. Despite the recent failures the company has gone through in the recent time, especially due to increased competition from mobile gaming sector, and the not so impressive sales of its previous console Wii U, the company still hopes high and with the launch of Nintendo Switch. It aims at appealing to wider demographic of gamers due with its greater flexibility and innovation.
Is Nintendo Switch a VR ready Console?
As the rumors suggest it, there has not been any official statement confirming the support for VR technology in the gaming console from Nintendo. Though the expectations have led to fans coming up with Nintendo switch headset gadgets, the company officials have not gone any distance beyond than stating that the company is studying VR and figuring out the ways to allow users to play for longer durations without problems. This itself is ambiguous statement since it does break hopes of fans anticipating their favorite in Nintendo switch VR environment but it manages to bring in the hope that there lie high chances of it becoming a reality soon.
The patents which were filed by the company in the month of June which was recently published and they clearly point out company’s interest in the evolving segment of Virtual reality which without any doubts is being considered as the future of the entertainment industry. The patent showcase the main console unit with an apparatus which can be strapped to user’s head, a combination which is widely used now for offering VR experience to the people.
The switch unit would slide into the Nintendo Switch VR headset just like Google’s daydream and Samsung’s Gear VR. Featuring an infrared camera in the bottom of the right joy controller, the console is capable of detecting hand movements and gestures enabling the users to interact with games using the two of its joy controllers to add user inputs. Thus it seems to have the capabilities of becoming one of the better VR solutions available in the market if the things are converted from planning into a reality.
As the Company president states on the possibility of Nintendo Switch VR being offered to the consumers, the near future definitely seems like we’ll be witnessing the result of the labor the company has put in its latest console in the form of a virtual reality experience. But does it have what it takes to impress people with the experience it will be providing?
Challenges Ahead
The announcement of the launch of Switch console received mixed response mainly due to its first promotion being aimed at people falling between the categories of core gamers and casual gamers who want a more engaging experience and would not be spending much time gaming. The segment of such buyers seems to be a thing of concern for many since its success might be subject to the presence of enough buyers to justify this innovative console from Nintendo. Those who have high hopes for the product believe that since many do not possess high definition televisions for console gaming, the portability on offer with Nintendo switch would prove to be an attractive deal for this demographic.
The console’s success is expected to be much higher than the previous consoles with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild being a key driver to sales. The results also significantly depend upon the support Nintendo offers and the lessons it has to learn from the previous mistakes with promotion and marketing of its predecessor Wii U. As far as things are concerned for a possibility of Nintendo Switch VR, there are some questions the company needs to find answers for.
There are some serious challenges which the company would need to come ahead of to turn the patents it recently made into a reality. Some being the discomfort current VR consoles offer to the users like nausea, headaches, and heaviness due to the weight being felt which brings problems in gaming more than a period of time. As the company puts it, it is still in the study phase finding out the ways, through the Nintendo Switch VR headset it brings out can make gaming easy and longer usages a breeze for the customers.
Apart from ‘traditional’ problems it might suffer, Nintendo Switch VR would also be limited by its own specifications. In the portrait mode, the console will only be able to run in 720p at a frame rate of 60p at max which does not sound too impressive especially for heavy titles which require much higher specifications to even look fair in VR experience. But the company obviously must refrain from bringing such titles’ support to the VR. Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 2, and Yooka-Laylee are some of the major titles likely to be considered since they are based on 3D worlds which should look good in the Nintendo Switch VR headset running at 720P.
The Bottom Line
The statements made by the company president and officials makes one thing pretty clear; that Nintendo is showing interest towards Virtual Reality industry. This is only going to be beneficial and add value to the future of VR industry. As far as the things go for any possibilities of Nintendo Switch VR headset being available to the users, the deal does not seems to be an immediate affair with the launch of Switch console. Users might need to wait for some time as the company would be aiming at offering the best experience to the consumers. Especially to gain back the place in the market with the recent revenues being as low as they could get, which it believes will only improve with the latest addition to the array of its gaming consoles. Additionally, the company will be bringing more accessories for the modular consoles following its release on March 3, 2017, so it’s also a possibility that Nintendo Switch VR headset might not be that far as well.
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