Nintendo finally revealed key metrics of the Switch Thursday, showcasing its launch lineup, pricing and release date, and several developers that are currently brewing up titles for the system.
The Switch is Nintendo's new console after the embattled Wii U, fusing together handheld and home console experiences into a single system. The DS' gimmick was its touchscreen. For the Wii U, it was motion control. Not only does the Switch feature both of those gimmicks, but it's got a unique selling point too: instant and seamless shifting between docked and portable modes.
Anyhow, the real determining factor of a system's sell value is the games that can be played on it, and Nintendo says that over 80 Switch titles are being developed by a slew of publishers. Chief among those is Electronic Arts, popularly known for its sports games. Patrick Soderlund, the company's EVP, is a Nintendo fan himself, and he explains why EA is supporting Nintendo's latest console.
Why EA Is Backing Up The Switch
"We've been with Nintendo for a very long time," Soderlund tells IGN. "I'm a Nintendo fanboy since I grew up. Nintendo is the reason I got into gaming."
Soderlund says that what impresses him about Nintendo is its continuous predilection to push boundaries. Even in a climate of different consoles warring over power, Soderlund thinks Nintendo has stood out among the competition.
"What I like about Nintendo is that they come to the table with a slightly different approach," he said. While he notes that Nintendo's approach doesn't always end up being successful, he still praises its willingness to think outside the box and ability to cough up products that are unique and original.
"Nintendo forces us to think differently," he said.
Why Start With FIFA On The Switch?
Soderlund believes that FIFA is the brand with the widest feel. Hence, it's headlining EA's early Switch support.
"It's the brand that spans across the most markets. It's the brand that spans the biggest age demographic," he said, adding that a huge number of people want to play EA's FIFA titles.
Still, Soderlund hints that FIFA is just one of the early titles — an overture, so to speak. He says that the game also represents its first spark of commitment for the Switch — proof that it's "going to be there" for the console.
Additionally, Soderlund is optimistic about the Switch's ability to rekindle interest in a dedicated handheld console in spite of dwindling interest for such a platform, given mobile gaming's soaring adoption rate. The rise of very capable mobile devices is blurring consumer's necessity for a handheld gaming device. The popular rationale goes: "I already have a smartphone, why buy another system just for gaming?"
But that could change. Soderlund thinks and hopes it will.
"The types of game experiences you can get on the Switch will be different than what you can get on a smartphone," he said, even if he recognizes that smartphones are probably the most widely used platform as of this time.
The Nintendo Switch hits shelves March 3, retailing for $299. The FIFA title in question comes out "later this year." Despite its due skepticism, preorders for the console have sold out.
What do you think about Soderlund's comments on smartphone gaming? Will you get the Switch, and by extension, the FIFA title in question? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
