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

 

[Bladexdsl]

I'm a little surprised that this thing doesn't support Wii/Wii U controllers. They're Bluetooth

but than no one would pay $100 AU for their switch PC!

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And how do you propose they do that?

 

[GamerUnity]

In my honest opinion, the Virtual Console should be revamped.

We don't want to buy each individual old title that we could emulate for 5$ or higher. I think it should be a bundle, like one of those 100 in 1 fake gameboy advance carts you can find.

Imagine 50 gba titles in 1 app all for the price of 5$?

They should make use of the virtual console now that the joycon (L and R) is here. Imagine sharing the "joy" with an arcade game, N64 or Gamecube title.

The launch line-up is weak, Zelda:BotW and Arms are the only thing that's favorable.
1-2-Switch, looks like it should have been included to easily demonstrate what the joycons can do, but they didn't.

I really want the Switch and it's features but I think it's best to wait for a month or so.

Titles like a new Metroid, WarioWare, a game about Waluigi, Smash Bros, could have been launch titles.

 

[smf]

We don't want to buy each individual old title that we could emulate for 5$ or higher. I think it should be a bundle, like one of those 100 in 1 fake gameboy advance carts you can find.

Imagine 50 gba titles in 1 app all for the price of 5$?

It costs Nintendo pretty much the same amount to do 50 single game VC as it would to do a single VC with 50 games, so I can't imagine they'd be willing to just drop the price like that.

You may as well wish for the switch to cost 5$ and all games that will ever be released for it to be free. The demand for that would be insane, it's just a pity the developers would starve.

 

[GamerUnity]

It costs Nintendo pretty much the same amount to do 50 single game VC as it would to do a single VC with 50 games, so I can't imagine they'd be willing to just drop the price like that.

You may as well wish for the switch to cost 5$ and all games that will ever be released for it to be free. The demand for that would be insane, it's just a pity the developers would starve.

That's why we can only imagine. :/

 

[wiewiec]

But also Nintendo and their poor eShop sales... not same as PS3/Vita/PS1/PSP tittles. So no 60% sale like PSSTORE have got...

 

[xile6]

The fact that saves from cartridges are stored in NAND is a huge bummer. Not only is this bad for savegame exploits but this also means that if the Switch breakes, you lose all your saves and if a "New Nintendo Switch" gets released you need to do a full system transfer even if you are cartridge only. Lets hope you can at least backup your saves to the cloud or to micro SD, regardless if they are encrypted or not.

Save are on sd card if and sd card is install.
It will default to the sd card for saved and dlc.
Nintedo has said this.

 

[WiiUBricker]

Save are on sd card if and sd card is install.
It will default to the sd card for saved and dlc.
Nintedo has said this.

Source?

 

[xile6]

Source?

gotta find the link.
I just remember it was a video might have been a tree house video.
But they where talking about the switch internal memory and said that the sd card would be used for save data and dlc if installed.

Which seems believable since it would be crazy to not be able to transfer saves to sd card.

 

[WiiUBricker]

gotta find the link.
I just remember it was a video might have been a tree house video.
But they where talking about the switch internal memory and said that the sd card would be used for save data and dlc if installed.

Which seems believable since it would be crazy to not be able to transfer saves to sd card.

Well I think an official FAQ from Nintendo is more reliable than a Tree House Video.

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.

 

[Sketchy1]

anyway nintendo will probably have something in play to make it so only sdxc cards can be used and not adapters

Adapters in general aren't detectable, hence their purposes lml

Titles like a new Metroid, WarioWare, a game about Waluigi, Smash Bros, could have been launch titles.

Only one I disagree with is smash, it would be WAY too early to release another IMO, and nobody needs a ssb4 port. Especially for one we already own/pirated.
But an official metroid game would be nice. With samus, not some robot BS. and waluigi I would totally get, he's pretty unrepresented. I don't think he has actually ever appeared as a protagonist/antagonist either.

 

[Ricken]

This is kinda sad. No more GCN controllers for (New) Smash games

 

[specht]

This is kinda sad. No more GCN controllers for (New) Smash games

I'm not so sure, they did mention they may consider more controller options when specifically asked about backwards compatibility. I mean, if Wiimotes and gamepad are out of the question what else is there? The only issues I see would be they couldn't be used in portable mode with the current adapter.

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.

 

[PewnyPL]

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.)

For me this is the single most important information. I live in Europe, but I had a US 3DS and WiiU. With this, it means I can link my current account with the Switch but also create a new, European one. As well as Japanese one if needed. They pretty much went Sony on this one.

 

[kehkou]

"We believe the hardware configuration at the price point we’ve chosen is a great consumer value."

Maybe it's Our faults. Maybe everyone should be typing in Japanese. Or maybe Nintendo just needs to use Google once in a while, because I'm pretty sure the entire planet was expecting a lower price. Paying $50 USD more than everyone was willing doesn't, by any stretch of the imagination, constitute a great consumer value, unless I was paying for a 500GB internal flash one or a pack-in game. It is merely tolerable.

 

[Futurdreamz]

I forgot the CAD was worth a quarter less of the USD, so i was expecting ti to be $150 cheaper...

 

[kehkou]

I forgot the CAD was worth a quarter less of the USD, so i was expecting ti to be $150 cheaper...

They must go off of 1880s exchange rates.

 

[Sketchy1]

Paying $50 USD more than everyone was willing doesn't, by any stretch of the imagination, constitute a great consumer value

craziest part is, people still will, even if they actually knew the conversion value. if they see a switch just slightly cheaper then xbox one or ps4,plus the fact that its nintendo which is litterally kid-game central, you can bet parents will drop money on it.

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but this wont actually stop smarter consumers from buying out-of-region consoles for an even cheaper cost, especially if they plan cartridge-only

 

[kehkou]

craziest part is, people still will, even if they actually knew the conversion value. if they see a switch just slightly cheaper then xbox one or ps4,plus the fact that its nintendo which is litterally kid-game central, you can bet parents will drop money on it.

Very true, the price is still tolerable at least, though even my Wii U is full of games but free of "kiddie-games".

but this wont actually stop smarter consumers from buying out-of-region consoles for an even cheaper cost, especially if they plan cartridge-only

I imagine there will be certain service walls with OoR consoles, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Sketchy1]

I imagine there will be certain service walls with OoR consoles, but don't quote me on that.

-Quoted anyway-

jokes aside, that would make sense i suppose. even when they go region free, its still region locked

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well technically, only being able to access origin regions eshop is a limitation.

 

[osaka35]

craziest part is, people still will, even if they actually knew the conversion value. if they see a switch just slightly cheaper then xbox one or ps4,plus the fact that its nintendo which is litterally kid-game central, you can bet parents will drop money on it.

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but this wont actually stop smarter consumers from buying out-of-region consoles for an even cheaper cost, especially if they plan cartridge-only

3/4 the price is only slightly cheaper?