Watch us unbox the Nintendo Switch!

By Mike Epstein February 23, 2017

Nintendo’s next console, the Switch launches in just over a week. It’s time to start getting excited. We’ve already been putting the console through its paces, so we can give you the full scoop in our review next week. In the meantime, we took to Facebook Live on Thursday to show off the console and some of it’s features. You may have missed it — it was kind of a casual, impromptu affair — but that’s ok. We held onto the video so you can take a look too.

There’s a lot going on with the Switch hardware. With so many control schemes and components right out of the box, there are million things that could go right (or wrong). We talked about everything that’s in the box — the Switch console, the joy-cons, the dock, the joy-con grip, the joy-con straps — as well as what isn’t in the box, like access to the eShop, Nintendo’s digital storefront, and a micro SDXC card.

Also, we should let you know that we don’t talk about any games in this video. That will come in another video on another day. If you want to know more about games coming to the Switch, you can check out our rundown of all the games that have been announced for the console. For now, we are totally, one-hundred-percent focused on the Switch itself. You want to know how the joy-cons feel in your hands? We talk about it. How’s the build quality? We’ll let you know about that too.

Still have some questions for us about the Switch? Ask away in the comments and we’ll let you know as much as we can.

The Nintendo Switch hits stores March 3. Keep an eye out for Digital Trends’ review of the console, coming soon.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of…

Gaming

Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase: how to watch and what to expect

Chai points a finger gun at a robot in Hi-Fi Rush.

After lots of rumors (and a lot of educated guessing), Nintendo will finally give players a new Direct presentation this week -- just as it does almost every February. This time, however, we aren't getting a full-scale Direct bursting with first-party news. Instead, Nintendo will host a Partner Showcase that will focus on third-party games. While that would usually be a bit underwhelming, its notable considering that Xbox just announced that four of its games are headed to other platforms.

As such, the 25-minute showcase is one you probably won't want to miss. It's sure to give us a broader picture of what the last leg of the Nintendo Switch's life span will look like. Here's everything we know about the show and how you can watch it.
When is the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase?
The Partner Showcase will take place at 6 a.m. PT. on Wednesday, February 21. Nintendo notes that it's a 25-minute showcase. It will launch as an on-demand video rather than a traditional livestream, so the stakes are a bit low here. Even so, you'll probably want to tune in right at 6 a.m. to see what Nintendo has in store.
How to watch the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase?
Nintendo's on-demand video will debut exclusively on its YouTube channel. There's no placeholder video live for it at the moment, so it will likely be uploaded right at 6 a.m PT. Keep an eye on Nintendo's channel that morning so you don't miss it.
What to expect from the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase

Gaming

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is getting a miracle Switch port this summer

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition running on Nintendo Switch.

Over the years, a lot of impressive native Nintendo Switch ports have happened. Games like Doom, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Alien: Isolation all seem like they shouldn't run that well on the console, but do. With the hybrid console's more powerful successor on the horizon, only a few of these kinds of ports are probably left. Today, we learned that one of those will be Bandai Namco Entertainment's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, which will come to the system on July 11.

First released for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2019, this exhilarating combat flight sim is coming to Nintendo Switch as Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition. There currently aren't many flight sims like this on Nintendo Switch, likely due to how graphically intensive the game's full 360-degree aerial battles can get. As such, it'll be quite impressive if Bandai Namco Entertainment manages to get Ace Combat 7 up and running smoothly on the Switch, which isn't as powerful as the consoles the game initially released for.

Gaming

An AI company may have just leaked the Nintendo Switch 2’s name and release month

An image of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Mario Red Edition.

As part of the ongoing wave of AI-related news at CES 2024, Altec Lansing revealed an artificial intelligence-powered successor to GameShark called AI Shark. More interestingly, the press release regarding this software claims that the Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in September 2024.

"Formerly known as GameShark, AI Shark is set to redefine the gaming landscape with its revolutionary AI-enhanced technology," Altec Lansing explains in a press release. "The innovative gaming software is set to mark a significant leap forward in the gaming experience, bringing enhanced gameplay for beginner-level users. The official launch is planned to coincide with the Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2024."