Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch (codenamed NX in development) is a video game console developed by Nintendo, and the company's seventh major home console. Officially unveiled in October 2016, the console was released worldwide on March 3, 2017. Nintendo has sought to acquire heavy support from third-party developers and publishers to flesh out the Switch's game library alongside Nintendo's own exclusive titles. Over 100 titles were in development by 70 developers as of January 2017.
Metroid Prime 4 was announced as in development for Nintendo Switch at E3 2017. Kensuke Tanabe, the producer of the Prime Series said in 2015 that the next proper Metroid Prime title would more likely release on the Switch (NX at the time) than the Wii U, and suggested it would involve a time-shifting mechanic and/or Samus Aran confronting Sylux. In January 2017, Reggie Fils-Aime hinted that Metroid would have a future title on Switch, saying to "talk to me in a year and let's look back and see what's happened." It will be released in 2025. Metroid Dread, another long awaited Metroid title, was released on October 8, 2021 on Nintendo Switch. A remaster of Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime Remastered, was released on February 8, 2023.
==History==
The first announcement of the Switch occurred during another announcement, of Nintendo's partnership with Japanese mobile firm DeNA on March 17, 2015. Nintendo referred to the console under the codename "NX", and described it as a "brand new concept". Information from then on was sparse. The next announcement was not given until an investor's meeting in April 2016, when Nintendo announced that the NX would see release worldwide in March 2017. While Nintendo did not unveil the NX's hardware at E3 2016, it did announce that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally announced as a Wii U-exclusive, would also be released for the NX. Shigeru Miyamoto explained that the lack of information was due to company concern that competitors could copy ideas from the NX if they revealed it too soon. Rumors began to surface surrounding the nature of the console, including its use of Nvidia Tegra hardware, use of cartridges similar to Nintendo's handheld consoles, and being a "hybrid" device intended for both home and handheld use.
On October 20, 2016, Nintendo officially announced the console under the official name Nintendo Switch, through a three minute trailer that demonstrated the hardware's nature as a hybrid device. It offered little information about hardware specifications, the Switch's release date, price or games that would be available for it. This information was revealed at a press conference livestreamed in Tokyo on January 12/13, 2017.
==Hardware==
The Switch is considered by Nintendo as a "hybrid" console, with both home and handheld play being possible. It is designed primarily as a home console with the main Console unit inserted onto a docking station to connect to a television. Alternatively, the Console can be removed from the Dock and function similar to an iPad through its LCD touchscreen, or placed in a standalone tabletop mode to be playable by several people. The Switch's most distinguishable features are the Joy-Con controllers, which replace the Wii Remotes. Joy-Cons are detachable controllers that can be either attached to a "Grip" to provide a traditional home console gamepad form, attached on either side of a main unit for handheld play, or used individually in the hand like the Wii Remote. The Switch supports both physical flash ROM cartridges and digital content for games and software, and does not use region locking, unlike previous Nintendo consoles.
A revised Switch model, OLED, was released on October 8, 2021, the same day as Metroid Dread. It features a larger 7 inch OLED screen, wider kickstand, built-in speakers, a LAN port in the dock and 64GB of internal storage, and can be purchased in white or neon red/blue. Gameplay footage from the Dread Announcement Trailer appears in the OLED model's trailer.
The Switch features an app called Nintendo News, which provide press releases and articles pertaining to upcoming Nintendo games.
==Nintendo Switch Online==
[[File:Switch Metroid icons.png|thumb|Three Metroid-related user icons. The Screw Attack symbol was notably present in a February 2022 trailer giving coverage to the simultaneous release of Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings, a September 2022 trailer for future Nintendo 64 games coming to Nintendo Switch Online, and an October 2022 trailer confirming the release date for Mario Party and Mario Party 2.]]
The Nintendo Switch Online service, also known as Nintendo Switch Online, was a subscription service that launched on September 18, 2018, and was given coverage in the September 13 Nintendo Direct. It included features such as the ability to back up save files for any games on the Nintendo Switch, a rewards system, and, most notably, the ability to play ports of various NES, SNES, and Game Boy games. The Game Boy component in particular was capable of emulating the link cables via Wi-Fi allowing for competitive play of up to two players, and also had screen settings that can allow any emulated games to use the screen colors of the Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, or Game Boy Color. It eventually came with an expansion pack, which included, among other things, a Nintendo 64 component, SEGA Genesis component, and Game Boy Advance component regarding playing ports of old games. The GBA component, similar to the Game Boy component, was also capable of emulating link cables via Wi-Fi, allowing for competitive play of up to four players via locally or global settings. However, this aspect requires registered friends.
Both Metroid and Super Metroid were among the games made backwards-compatable for Nintendo Switch Online, with the former even having a trial version involving beating Ridley with all items unlocked.
A prize system was also introduced into the game, using My Nintendo Silver Coins as currency. The system allowed the player to craft their own user icons. Metroid was involved in these prizes a few times. Most famously, one of the user icons, the Metroid Prime-styled Screw Attack logo, was utilized in the September 2022 Nintendo Direct when making a surprise announcement of 007: GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64 being included in the Nintendo 64 lineup later on, as well as the release date trailer for Mario Party and Mario Party 2. Aside from this, Samus and various Metroid characters were included in Volume 4 of September 2022 to promote NES aspects. From March 3 to March 17, icons promoting Metroid Prime Remastered were issued in waves of 2.
==Metroid games for the Nintendo Switch==
*Metroid Dread
*Metroid Prime Remastered
*Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (not yet released)
==Metroid games available through backwards compatibility==
*Metroid
*Metroid II: Return of Samus
*Super Metroid
*Metroid Fusion
*Metroid: Zero Mission
These games are available with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, although the latter two require the NSO + Expansion Pack.
==Metroid cameos for the Nintendo Switch==
;Standard games
*Bayonetta
*Bayonetta 2
*Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
*Luigi's Mansion 3
*Paper Mario: The Origami King
*Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
*Tetris 99
*WarioWare: Get It Together!
;Nintendo Switch Online
*Kid Icarus
*Kirby Super Star
*Kirby's Dream Land
==See also==
*Join Samus Aran in classic Nintendo games! (Nintendo Switch)
==Gallery==
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 1.png|Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set, a licensed product first offered in 2018 and later added to Nintendo.com. The Switch dock is made to resemble a SNES Super Metroid cartridge.https://www.nintendo.com/products/detail/switch-skin-super-metroid/
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 2.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 3.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 4.jpg|The Switch is displaying a superimposed image from Metroid: Samus Returns (for the Nintendo 3DS) in this photo.Shinesparkers (Shinesparkers). "Other products in the range feature screenshots from relevant games connected to the product, that have been superimposed to the Switch. With all of this in mind, we are confident that this isn't confirmation of Metroid: Samus Returns arriving on Nintendo Switch. (3/4)" 11 November 2020 7:48 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/Shinesparkers/status/1326507193244528640
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 5.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 6.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 7.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 8.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 9.png
Super Metroid Skin & Screen Protector Set 10.png
Nintendo Switch groups.png|Groups on Switch, which were added in a system update on March 21, 2022.Nintendo of America (NintendoAmerica). "The latest #NintendoSwitch update is now available, including a new feature to create groups for software on the console. ¶ More information: http://ninten.do/6016wYD0a" 21 March 2022 8:07 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1506059917274370057
Nintendo Switch Online Missions & Rewards Samus icon teaser.png|Then-upcoming Samus icon offered as a reward through Nintendo Switch Online.Glaedrax. NES Metroid user icons soon available on Nintendo Switch. Shinesparkers. September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
NSO Samus Icons.jpg|The five icons, available from September 26-October 3, 2022.
NSO Metroid Prime Remastered icons email.jpg|Icons based on Remastered, released between March 3rd-17th.Ridley Revolution (RevolutionRidly). "Apparently Nintendo have sent an email to fans who had bought Metroid Prime Remastered in Japan. From 3rd March to 17th March, Metroid Prime Remastered is getting icons for Nintendo Switch Online. Meta Ridley is one of those icons." 22 February 2023 6:10 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/RevolutionRidly/status/1628351445333422081
MPR both waves of NSO icons.png|The first and second wave of Remastered icons.
NSO Classic Games at Nintendo Live (including Super Metroid).jpg|Display promoting Nintendo Switch Online at Nintendo Live in 2023.
==References==
Category:Consoles
Category:Nintendo Switch