Nintendo is clarifying (and not) questions regarding its upcoming home console-handheld hybrid.

Kotaku reached out to the House of Mario with a set of questions which recently replied. Those that stand out the most are:

• No backwards compatibility with games and controllers for other systems. However, support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update.
• No games being bundled with Nintendo Switch
  
• 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards (up to 2TB, when available on the market)
  
• Capture button to take screenshots, which can be viewed and edited before sharing on social media. No video capture at launch but planning to add the ability to record video in the future.
• Mii Maker app on the Switch
• No video streaming at launch but is being considered for a future update
• Region-free

You can read the full response below:

Is Switch backwards compatible in any way? Will you be able to download or play Wii, Wii U, or 3DS games?

The Nintendo Switch system is not backward compatible with games designed for other systems, and is not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems. Support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update. We have nothing to announce regarding Virtual Console or other types of digital purchases at this time.

How if at all does the Switch connect to Wii U and 3DS owners’ existing accounts?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

Will the Switch be compatible with existing Virtual Console purchases?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

Will the Switch have its own library of Virtual Console games that starts from scratch, or will it bring over the Virtual Console library from 3DS and Wii U?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

How will SNES online functionality work? Which games will it support?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

For those concerned about the 32GB of storage, how will that work for playing downloadable games? How will it work for DLC and patches?

The Nintendo Switch system has 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards.

The SDXC standard supports up to 2TB of storage. (Note that 2TB cards are not yet on the market, but Nintendo Switch will support them when they are.) External USB hard drives are not supported at launch, but we are researching the possibility of supporting them in the future.

If no microSDXC card is used, everything is stored in internal NAND memory. If a microSDXC card is used, game save data is stored in internal NAND memory while data that can be redownloaded, such as digital games, game updates, and DLC, is stored on the microSDXC card. Nintendo Switch game cards are non-writable; game save data is stored in internal NAND memory.

Is there a trophy or achievements system?

We have nothing to announce at this time.

The 3DS has built in games and the Wii and Wii U were bundled with games. Are there any games being bundled with the Switch?

There are no games being bundled with Nintendo Switch.

Every launch is different, and with each one we try to make the best decision for the consumer, marketplace and our company. We believe the hardware configuration at the price point we’ve chosen is a great consumer value. The consumer will have their choice of great software for the system.

How does the Share button work? Does it allow you to capture video as well as screenshots? Will it allow you to stream on Twitch or YouTube?

The Capture Button is located on the Joy-Con (L) controller and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and lets users grab screenshots from their games. They can then view, edit (add text of various sizes, colors and positions) and post them to social media. The original unedited screenshot is also saved.


We are planning to add the ability to record video in the future.

Switch won’t have Miiverse - will there be Miis? Or any other equivalent?

While Miiverse will continue to be supported on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems, our approach with the Nintendo Switch system is to make greater use of other established, broadly used social platforms. For example, captured gameplay screenshots can be shared on popular social networks, and social features such as voice chat are possible with smart devices through our app.

There is a Mii Maker on Nintendo Switch. The software to create Mii characters is now located in System Settings, and no longer resides on the HOME menu as a standalone application. You can also create a Mii character from the Profile screen. Making Mii characters is similar to the method used on past systems.

Mii characters can be used to represent a user profile, but are not required. Users also have the option to choose a profile picture from an included library of Nintendo character images. Mii characters can still be used in games if developers choose to include them.

You can send/receive Mii characters through local wireless communication between Nintendo Switch systems, or use an amiibo figure to transfer Mii Characters from Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems.

Mii characters on the Nintendo Switch system are similar to past iterations, but they have some different options. More facial components and colors for hair and skin have been added, while the following attributes have been removed: creator’s name, favorites, birthday, copying, and “public.”

Will Switch support Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Go, or any other streaming services?

All of our efforts have gone toward making the Nintendo Switch system an amazing dedicated video game platform, so it will not support any video-streaming services at launch. However, support for video-streaming services is being considered for a future update.

Will online stores be region-free or just cartridges?

The Nintendo Switch system is not region locked, but we recommend that players buy games within their region to ensure full service and support. The user will access the Nintendo eShop that corresponds to the country identified in their Nintendo Account. (Up to eight user accounts can be created on a single Nintendo Switch system.)

SOURCE

 

[thorasgar]

The console should support a external drive while docked (drive plugged to the dock), that is perfectly doable and would help people manage their libraries of games and choose what they wanted to bring with them.
Just another wasted good feature it could have. It would be like a charging station of games.

That is being very optimistic, we can only hope. The term I would use is small selection.

 

[JeepX87]

32gb and no usb port? I hope those games aren't installing on that tiny nand memory, because big SD cards aren't cheap like 60 dollar 1tb external drives.

RIP digital games

Does USB port is necessary to hacking and load the homebrew menu or other softwares that aren't approved by Nintendo?

I'm sad that Switch's saves will be stored in NAND and hopefully anyone could find way to extract the save out of NAND, or find developers to make games with full exploitable.

PS4 save resigner hasn't come out for 3 years.

 

[Viri]

Does USB port is necessary to hacking and load the homebrew menu or other softwares that aren't approved by Nintendo?

Ummmm... what?

 

[stanleyopar2000]

Wii U Pro controller compatibility would've made me so fucking happy, hope they consider adding it in a future update ):

You serious? This is Nintendo we're talking about. They're going to make you shell out $80 for the switch version

 

[JeepX87]

Ummmm... what?

What? If you can't understand my question so please left to other members to answer.

 

[Sketchy1]

32gb and no usb port? I hope those games aren't installing on that tiny nand memory, because big SD cards aren't cheap like 60 dollar 1tb external drives.

RIP digital games

to get around the storage space problem i figured you could just slap these three adapters together and hook them up to an hdd:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221149...7290-0%26rvr_id%3D1156602213083&ul_noapp=true

https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/prod...al-USB-with-SD-extension-cable_946512886.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677562,&A=details&Q=

so you could have as much space as you want at home, and only worry about space on games you plan to take with you. though it would be extremley impractical because of the clutter and youd have to leave the micro sd door open on your switch while its docked.
but i suppose leaving the door open wouldnt bother too much....... if it meant i get that extra space.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Does USB port is necessary to hacking and load the homebrew menu or other softwares that aren't approved by Nintendo?

cant tell if its rhetorical, but if your actually asking, then ofc not.

 

[the_randomizer]

Why did people expect a console with an ARM CPU to work with games written for a PPC CPU? I don't get that. That's not how backwards compatibility works XD

 

[Sketchy1]

Why did people expect a console with an ARM CPU to work with games written for a PPC CPU? I don't get that. That's not how backwards compatibility works XD

those are the same people pissed off about saves going to nand.
that is really no different then the wii or xbox. only gba and ds line actually had the ability to save to cartridges (but to be fair, others like the gcn, xbox 360, and ps2 had removable proprietary storage.).

but can we really blame then for nand writes?
i mean really, it takes one 3ds to set up homebrew for another, so it seems to me like their just trying to adapt to whats come forth.

 

[the_randomizer]

same people pissed off about saves going to nand.
that is really no different then the wii or xbox. only gba and ds line actually had the ability to save to cartridges (but to be fair, others like the gcn, xbox 360, and ps2 had removable proprietary storage.).

but can we really blame then for nand writes?
i mean really, it takes one 3ds to set up homebrew for another, so it seems to me like their just trying to adapt to whats come forth.

Er, I was talking about the Switch not playing Wii U games due to a different CPU type, not the save files to NAND.

 

[Sketchy1]

plus, we have to remember the fact that its still a Home console too.
they typically write to nand anyway.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Er, I was talking about the Switch not playing Wii U games due to a different CPU type, not the save files to NAND.

i know. i said same people angry about that are angry about saves
fixed post to get better understanding

 

[geodeath]

Ummm ps4, xbox1, wii ,wii u??m
None of the saves were on the game.
In fact the DS and gameboy line are the only ones.
Everything else was on a memory card or system.
I dont see a problem with this and you can put the save data on the external sd card.

I can not say if they will have a cloud, but im sure they will have a tranfer or backup to sd card.
Idk if the saves are lock to accounts, but i dont see the fuss.
There doing what everyone else have been doing.

Well, you said it yourself. All of the consoles you mentioned store games on DISKS. Since there is no way to write to disks (in this environment at least), game saves were traditionally stored in cartridges because of many reason, either for not having to provide ports or buying memory cards etc. Making a system that uses cartridges AND saving in the console (and not even in the sd) is dumb as hell. Classic Nintendo. This time they are going for the ultimate cheapskate award.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I want someone to tell me how 1 2 Switch is equal in value to Breath of the Wild.

Somehow, a marketer somewhere in Japan, thinks people are going to flock to shops to buy it. Because you know, Nintendo and stuff.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Yeah, I do believe there were launch day bundles but they were unofficial and/or added to the price.
http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/24/4553174/ps4-available-amazon

Nope. Not unofficial at all. I got my ps4 at launch day with killzone, the box was custom and it was a pack in. All official. So we do not need the Switch to come with a free game, but rather have bundles for people to save money when stocking up multiple items. Much like the more expensive black WiiU that came with 3 games and the pro controller.

 

[JeepX87]

The max size for micro SD card on market is 256 GB right now but Switch games are likely to be up to 20 GB or little more, but it is unlikely to hit 50 GB or 100 GB per game like PS4 and Xbox One did.

You can delete any games that you don't play anymore, also I don't think that installation is mandatory on Switch because cartridge is faster to read than optical drive.

 

[xile6]

Well, you said it yourself. All of the consoles you mentioned store games on DISKS. Since there is no way to write to disks (in this environment at least), game saves were traditionally stored in cartridges because of many reason, either for not having to provide ports or buying memory cards etc. Making a system that uses cartridges AND saving in the console (and not even in the sd) is dumb as hell....

The vita did it.
And i still see nothing wrong with it.
You can save to internal or sd card. There cheap as hell so i dont see the fuss.

 

[VMM]

Why did people expect a console with an ARM CPU to work with games written for a PPC CPU? I don't get that. That's not how backwards compatibility works XD

The 3DS was ARM, it would make perfect sense for Switch to have backward compatibility with 3DS.
For WiiU it's highly unlikely, but if Vita did then this shouldn't be impossible

 

[Lumstar]

The best thing for Nintendo right now is to reinforce Switch is NOT an addon. Get "Wii" and the legacy it left behind in the public eye (shovelware, convoluted controls...), out of sight out of mind as quickly as possible.

 

[Bladexdsl]

to get around the storage space problem i figured you could just slap these three adapters together and hook them up to an hdd:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/182157656273?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

https://wholesaler.alibaba.com/prod...al-USB-with-SD-extension-cable_946512886.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...ap=y&m=Y&c3api=1876,92051677562,&A=details&Q=

so you could have as much space as you want at home, and only worry about space on games you plan to take with you. though it would be extremley impractical because of the clutter and youd have to leave the micro sd door open on your switch while its docked.
but i suppose leaving the door open wouldnt bother too much....... if it meant i get that extra space.

yeah that's not gowna work. the usb ports in the dock don't accept any hard drives or storage media they are for plugging the switch accessories like charger etc into them only reg already said this in an interview. the only storage option this time is micro SD plugged into the tablet.

 

[the_randomizer]

The 3DS was ARM, it would make perfect sense for Switch to have backward compatibility with 3DS.
For WiiU it's highly unlikely, but if Vita did then this shouldn't be impossible

Either porting or emulation. 3DS would look horrible on HDTVs to be honest.

 

[JeepX87]

Either porting or emulation. 3DS would look horrible on HDTVs to be honest.

Yes, that's true, but it may help to people who are visually impaired and need big monitor to play 3DS games.

Not fond of playing DS/3DS emulation on PC due to touchscreen.

 

[the_randomizer]

Yes, that's true, but it may help to people who are visually impaired and need big monitor to play 3DS games.

Not fond of playing DS/3DS emulation on PC due to touchscreen.

Who knows what Nintendo's gonna do.

 

[DrkBeam]

The vita did it.
And i still see nothing wrong with it.
You can save to internal or sd card. There cheap as hell so i dont see the fuss.

I read even on digital are saved to the nand, on the vita at least you have an option