‘Skyrim’ comes to the Nintendo Switch with motion controls and more

By Jayce Wagner June 11, 2017

skyrim nintendo switch e3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s official, Bethesda is bringing the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the Nintendo Switch with a host of new features. Or well, something like that. The core gameplay appears to be the same, but there are a couple important tweaks that lend the game an undeniable Nintendo vibe.

First up, you’ll now be able to use compatible Amiibo to unlock in-game rewards like a full outfit that turns the Dragonborn into a different sort of hero. Spoiler alert, it turns you into Link. Yeah that one, the one from Zelda.

Further, Skyrim will now feature full-on motion controls, compatible with actions like firing a bow — also like a certain Hylian hero — and smashing dragons. So what else did we find out about the Switch release of now-venerable Skyrim? Precious little.

Previously, we learned that Skyrim would be hitting the Nintendo Switch just after the console’s initial announcement. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the forthcoming release, including some important details.

For one, it’s unclear whether or not the Switch version of Skyrim will feature all the bells and whistles released in the most recent Skyrim remaster, or if it will have any support for mods. We can assume the content released in the expansions for Skyrim will be included in the Switch version, but it’s unlikely we’ll see anything new beyond some Nintendo-themed add-ons.

Bethesda also announced a few games alongside some big changes to its mod community for Skyrim and Fallout 4, but there’s no confirmation that those changes will trickle down to the Switch version.

More likely, you’ll see “mods” added to your game via collectable Amiibo figurines. It’s not much, and there are certainly details we’d like to see in the future — like a definite release date and performance specs — but the upcoming Skyrim release illustrates the strength of the Nintendo Switch as a versatile gaming platform.

Digital Trends will continue bringing you the latest news from E3 throughout the week.

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A staff writer for the Computing section, Jayce covers a little bit of everything -- hardware, gaming, and occasionally VR.

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What games will Nintendo Switch 2 launch with? We have some ideas

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We’re officially on “new console watch.” Reports from credible publications like Eurogamer say that Nintendo secretly showed developers its next system behind closed doors at this year’s Gamescom. While it’s only a rumor, it’s a realistic one. We’re six years into the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan and even the longest-running consoles turn over at eight. If Nintendo’s next system is one or two years away, it’s time to start lining up support from third-party developers.

We’ve speculated on features we’d want in a new system before, but the reality of a new platform has me asking another question: What games would you launch with something like this? The Nintendo Switch’s launch day was crucial to its long-term success thanks to a bonafide classic in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While the rest of its launch lineup wasn’t as impressive, Nintendo capitalized fairly quickly with titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Splatoon 2. If Nintendo’s going to push Switch owners over to a new system, it’ll have to roll out the big guns.

Gaming

Nintendo’s next console may feature DLSS and ray-tracing support

Mario high-fives Nintendo Live guests.

New reports affirm the rumors that Nintendo has started to show its next-generation console -- referred to colloquially by fans as Nintendo Switch 2 -- behind closed doors at a recent video game industry expo. It reportedly featured tech demos highlighting features like Nvidia DLSS support and ray tracing.
Gamescom 2023 was held in Cologne, Germany, between August 23 and August 27. Nintendo attended the European game industry event, and shortly thereafter, rumors emerged that Nintendo had shown its next console behind closed doors. Now, new reports from Eurogamer and VGC are corroborating these claims.
Specifically, both sources say that Nintendo showed tech demos for its next game console in private during meetings with some other game developers at Gamescom. Both sources confirmed that an upgraded version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was shown off on this "Switch 2" hardware.
VGC also had a source who claimed that the impressive The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo -- used to promote Epic Games' new engine and the power of the PS5 and Xbox Series X back in 2021 -- was also shown to developers and seemed to confirm that the new Nintendo system will support Nvidia's upscaling DLSS tech as well as ray-tracing. Keep in mind that tech demos for systems often don't make the transition to full-game releases.

We don't know much else about what was shown, although VGC claims that this system will be usable in a portable mode like the Nintendo Switch is. Currently, the launch window for Nintendo's next new piece of hardware is expected to be sometime in fall 2024, although Eurogamer's source stated that "Nintendo is keen to launch the system sooner if possible."
Nintendo has not commented on these rumors, and is unlikely to ahead of an official console reveal. Still, the idea that the next Nintendo console is nearly upon us should be exciting for fans of one of the video game industry's most storied companies.

Gaming

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom DLC is not happening, says Nintendo

Link and other characters from Tears of the Kingdom.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the year's most successful games, but a developer from Nintendo has confirmed that it doesn't have plans to make any DLC for it. Speaking to the Japanese publication Famitsu, series producer Eiji Aonuma confirmed this was the case because the development team had already explored all of the ideas they wanted to in the base game and is now looking to the future.

"At this time, we are not planning to release additional content. We feel like we have already fully explored and exhausted the gameplay possibilities in this world," Aonuma said in comments translated by Video Games Chronicle. "Initially, the reason we decided to develop a sequel was because we believed there was still value in experiencing new gameplay within that particular Hyrule. If, in the future, we find a compelling reason, we may revisit that world once again. Whether it’s another sequel or an entirely new title, I believe the next game will offer a completely new experience."
While Aonuma's explanation is sound, it's still a pretty surprising move by Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild received two expansions after it came out in 2017. Some fans expected that Tears of the Kingdom would follow in that game's footsteps, especially as it would make sense for Nintendo to find more ways to capitalize on a game that has already sold 18.51 million copies. Still, it's probably best for Nintendo to move on from Tears of the Kingdom and create something new rather than making underwhelming DLC for the sake of having post-launch content.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now for Nintendo Switch.