The Nintendo Switch will launch in Japan, the US, Canada, "major European countries" and Hong Kong on March 3, Nintendo announced in a Japanese presentation late Thursday night. The system will cost $299 in the Unites States, 29,980 yen in Japan, and cost will vary by retailer and country throughout Europe.

Hardware-wise, the system's 6.2" capacitive touch screen clocks in at a 1280 x 720 resolution. The system comes with 32 GB of internal game storage, which can be expanded with standard microSD cards. Games will also be available on small cards, similar to those in the DS line.

Battery life for the system in portable mode will range from 2.5 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game. "For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played for roughly 3 hours on a single charge," Nintendo writes on its website. The system will be charged by USB Type-C.

Nintendo also announced the system will not be subject to a region lock and that all software would work on systems released in all countries.

The basic Switch package will include a console, two one-handed Joy-Con controllers, two wrist straps (which include expanded shoulder buttons), a grip that joins the two Joy-Con controllers into a single dual-stick configuration (separate from the tablet screen), the TV connection dock, an HDMI cable, and an AC adapter. Two different color configurations will be available—one with gray controllers and one with red and blue controllers—both at the same price.

A "charging grip" accessory, which combines the Joy-Cons into a larger controller while keeping them charged, will retail for $30. Additional TV dock sets, with included HDMI cable and charging adapter, will sell for $90. Additional Joy-Cons will be available for $50 each, or $80 in a matched left-and-right pair. A separate Pro Controller, which closely resembles a standard Xbox or PlayStation pad, will also be available for $70.

In addition to Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, "up to eight Nintendo Switch systems can be connected for local wireless multiplayer gaming," Nintendo said. Up to eight Joy-Con controllers can be connected to a single console as well, which could theoretically mean local, 64-player mayhem with enough Switch hardware on hand. After its video presentation, though, Nintendo quietly announced that a paid subscription will be required to play the Switch online.

























The joy of Joy-Con

The Switch's "Joy-Con" controllers, which can be slid off the side of the capacitive touch screen tablet for detached play, will sport a motion IR camera that Nintendo says can detect the distance of a hand held in front of it, and "tell the difference between rock, paper, and scissors" on that hand. The system also makes use of what Nintendo is calling "HD rumble," which can reportedly let players differentiate "the number of ice cubes in a virtual glass" and the water filling that glass.

A "capture" button on the left controller will let players store and share screenshots of Switch games, though video capture and sharing will only be coming "in the future." An NFC reader on the right Joy-Con controller will allow for Amiibo connectivity.

Two games were announced to specifically show off some of these Joy-Con features. 1-2 Switch is a collection of mini-games focused on casual local multiplayer sharing available at launch. Arms is a simplified fighting game with aimable, an extendable boxing glove controlled by Joy-Cons held and moved in each hand, available in the spring.

A new open-world Mario game, entitled Super Mario Odyssey, is planned for lunch in the 2017 holiday season . The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, on the other hand, will be available alongside the Switch on March 3.

A sequel to Wii U favorite Splatoon, dubbed Splatoon 2, will also be available for the Switch in the Summer. New stages and weapons will be available over the original game, and as further additional DLC after launch.

EA was on hand to announce its next FIFA game would be coming to Switch. Bethesda was on hand to confirm that Skyrim would eventually be ported to Switch. A representative for Sega, meanwhile, merely said "we will consider new games for Nintendo Switch and will present them soon." Our own Sam Machkovech has a fuller write up of the Switch software we know about so far.