Tag: nintendo

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The updated Nintendo Switch battery is a major upgrade from the original

Nintendo will have a new Nintendo Switch Lite model to offer in September, but it now has a refresh version of the original Nintendo Switch that can offer improved battery life over its predecessor. And, it has shown a substantial increase in playtime in a test by our sister site, Tom’s Guide.

The test they conducted involved running two Nintendo Switches, an old model and a new model, side by side at maximum brightness for an endless Super Smash Bros. Ultimate match of eight computer-controlled characters with increased AI and all items enabled.

The result of the test was 4 hours and 50 minutes for the updated Nintendo Switch and 2 hours and 45 minutes for the original Nintendo Switch. It’s worth noting that the original had been purchased and in use since 2017, so the battery may have seen some degradation in charge capacity.

But, the results still speak strongly to the increases in battery life of the revised model. Nintendo rates the original Switch battery life at 2.5 to 6.5 hours, and the new Switch at 4.5 to 9 hours. The test showed both devices falling within Nintendo’s suggested ranges.

Efficiency over size

Interestingly, the size of the Nintendo Switch’s battery hasn’t changed between the revisions. The new model still has the original 4,310mAh battery capacity.

And, since Nintendo doesn’t details the specifics of other internal components, it’s unclear where exactly the battery life gains are coming from. But, there had been some early suggestions that the new Switch would be more efficient. This test seems to prove it, and it could come down to an improved version Nvidia’s custom Tegra X1 processor that powers the Switch.

If you’re in the market for a Nintendo Switch, make sure you pay attention to whether you’re getting the new or original model, as it will make a big difference in your mobile gaming experience.

Source: Tech Radar

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Nintendo confirms its plans for Gamescom 2019

Gamescom 2019 is fast approaching and Nintendo has now revealed what its on and offline plans for the show will be. 

Gamescom itself runs from August 20 to August 24 but the majority of Nintendo’s online activity will take place between the 20th and 22nd. Across these dates, those not attending the show itself will be able to watch a series of videos featuring extended gameplay from the publisher’s upcoming Switch lineup. 

Games getting some time in the spotlight will include Luigi’s Mansion 3, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, The Witcher 3, Astral Chain, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and Dragon Quest 10 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age.

Bringing the gameplay

For visitors to the show floor, Nintendo will have a booth where it’ll be possible to get hands on with titles including The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Dragon Quest 10 S, Pokémon Sword and Shield and even that highly-anticipated The Witcher 3 port. 

New gameplay is all very well and good but if you like nothing more than a good competition then you’ll want to tune into Nintendo’s one-off Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Gamescom 2019 Invitational on August 22. The event will start streaming on Nintendo’s YouTube channel in the afternoon and will see players go head to head for the chance to be flown to Japan for the Ultimate World Challenge Cup held in October.

Source: Techradar

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Nintendo and Tencent reveal Switch release plans for China

At a press event at the ChinaJoy gaming conference in Shanghai today, Tencent and Nintendo announced the first details of their strategy for releasing the Nintendo Switch console in China.

The Chinese internet giant will be providing cloud services and servers for the Switch’s online platform in China as well as localizing Nintendo’s games into Simplified Chinese. Titles like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have already been announced, with more on the way. The Switch’s eShop store will also be modified so that users can buy games with Tencent’s hugely popular WeChat payment system.

The companies’ collaboration was first revealed in April, when Tencent won initial approvalfrom Guangdong authorities to start selling the Switch. What is still not known is when the Switch will actually be released in China or how much it’ll cost. There are still various layers of regulatory approval that Nintendo and Tencent need to work their way through before the launch can take place, but the potential upside is huge.

The iQue Player.

Although China is the world’s biggest gaming market, almost all of that is accounted for by smartphones and PCs. Console manufacturers have only legally been able to sell their hardware in the country for a few years, following a ban first implemented in 2000. The PlayStation 4 became the first current-generation console to be released in China in 2015.

This isn’t Nintendo’s first attempt to crack the Chinese market with a partner. A joint venture called the iQue Player was launched in 2003; the unusual design involved cramming Nintendo 64 hardware into a customized controller that hooked up to a TV, and owners had to visit in-store kiosks to download games to memory. The effort was not successful.

Tencent may seem to be the ideal partner for Nintendo today, putting the Japanese giant in the best position to navigate cultural and bureaucratic barriers. Aside from its dominance with WeChat and its major investments in Western game companies like Riot and Epic, Tencent is responsible for some of the biggest games in China and the world beyond, like Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile.THE SWITCH’S SUCCESS IN CHINA IS FAR FROM ASSURED

Even Tencent comes with risks in China, however. The company was thrown into chaos last year when the government stopped approving new game releases, subsequently leaving Tencent out when the de-facto ban was lifted. Tencent’s most notable game release since then has been an outwardly patriotic PUBG clone that the company is allowed to monetize, unlike the original game that it was forced to shut down.

The Switch’s success in China is far from assured, then, but the size of the market means it’s undoubtedly worth Nintendo’s while to give it a shot. The mobile nature of the Switch, particularly the upcoming lower-priced, handheld-only Switch Lite, could also make it a good fit for Chinese customers — Tencent has already brought Honor of Kings to the platform. But today’s announcements came with a lot of questions, and Nintendo is a long way from being able to answer most of them.

Source: The Verge

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Nintendo Switch Lite is available to pre-order starting today

After making its debut in a Nintendo Direct last month, the Nintendo Switch Lite is finally available to pre-order at most major retailers including Amazon. 

According to information provided by Nintendo during the presentation the console only works in handheld mode and the Joy-Cons are non-removable, which could pose problems for games that require motion controls like 1-2 Switch or Super Mario Party.

That said, despite some limitations, it’s still nearly identical to the Nintendo Switch and will play all the same games minus a few exceptions.

Source: Tech Radar