Nintendo Switch: all you need to know about launch (price, launch line-up, Q&A, more)

In this post, you will find everything there is to know about the Nintendo Switch. When is the console launching in my region? What games will be available? How much money should I save? You will find the answer to those questions (and more) just below!

Nintendo Switch – Launch date and price

The Nintendo Switch will be launched on March 3rd, 2017 in the following countries:

• Japan
• most European countries (Austria, Andorra, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hungary, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Vatican)
• South Africa
• Australia
• New Zealand
• North America (United States, Canada, Mexico)

By the way, the console is NOT region-locked, which means you can import one if the Nintendo Switch isn’t releasing on March 3rd in your country.

The Nintendo Switch will cost:

• Japan: 29 980 Yen (+ taxes)
• United States: $299.99 (+ taxes)
• Canada: CA$399.99
• United Kingdom: £279.99 (but retailers are free to set the MSRP)
• Europe: €329.99 (but retailers are free to set the MSRP)
• Sweden: 3599KR
• Australia: AU$469.95
• Hong-Kong: TBC

Nintendo Switch – What’s in the box?

At launch, the Nintendo Switch will be available in two packs, which are exactly the same (contents and price). The only difference is the colour of the Joy-Cons: Grey in the first one, and Neon Red + Neon Blue in the second.

Here’s the contents of the two packs:

• Nintendo Switch console
• Right and Left Joy-Cons
• Strap for the Joy-Cons
• the Grip
• the Dock
• the HDMI cable
• the AC Adapter

NB: in Japan, users will be able to chose the colour of the Joy-Cons when buying the console on the My Nintendo Store.

Nintendo Switch – Launch line-up

Europe

• [Retail/eShop] 1-2-Switch [49.99€ / £39.99]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild [69.99€ / £59.99 / 649KR]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Limited Edition (click here for more details) [99.99€ / £89.99 / 1399KR]
• [Retail/eShop] Super Bomberman R [49.99€ / £49.99]
• [Retail/eShop] Skylanders Imaginators [59.99€ / £49.99]
• [Retail/eShop] Just Dance 2017 [59.99€ / £49.99]
• [eShop] I am Setsuma [€39.99 / £29.99]
• [eShop] Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (24.99€)
• [eShop] Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment (9.99€)
• [eShop] VOEZ (20.99€)
• [eShop] New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers (€9.99/£7.99)
• [eShop] Vroom in the night sky (€8.99/)
• [eShop] ACA NEOGEO THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’98 (€6.99 / £6.29)
• [eShop] ACA NEOGEO METAL SLUG 3 (€6.99 / £6.29)
• [eShop] ACA NEOGEO WAKU WAKU 7 (€6.99 / £6.29)
• [eShop] ACA NEOGEO WORLD HEROES PERFECT (€6.99 / £6.29)
• [eShop] [eShop] ACA NEOGEO WORLD SHOCK TROOPERS (€6.99 / £6.29)
• Othello (€4.99 / £4.49)

North America

• [Retail/eShop] 1-2-Switch [$49.99]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild [$59.99]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Special Edition (click here for more details) [$99.99]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Master Edition (click here for more details) [129.99]
• [Retail/eShop] Super Bomberman R [$49.99]
• [Retail/eShop] Skylanders Imaginators [$59.99]
• [Retail/eShop] Just Dance 2017 [$59.99]
• [eShop] I am Setsuma
• [eShop] Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove ($24.99)
• [eShop] Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment ($9.99)
• [eShop] New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers ($9.99)

Japan

• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild [6 980 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Collector’s Edition (click here for more details) [9 980 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Deluxe Collector’s Edition (click here for more details) [13 870 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] 1-2-Switch [4 980 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] Dragon Quest Heroes I & II [8 800 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] I am Setsuna [4 800 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] Disgaea 5 Complete [6 980 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] Super Bomberman R [4 980 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] Puyo Puyo Tetris [4 990 Yen + taxes]
• [Retail/eShop] Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence with Power-up Kit [9 800 Yen + taxes]
• [eShop] Soldam ~Kaika Sengen~
• [eShop] Snipperclips – Cut it out, together
• [eShop] The King of Fighters 98
• [eShop] WakuWaku 7
• [eShop] Shock Troopers
• [eShop] World Heroes Perfect
• [eShop] Metal Slug 3
• [eShop] VOEZ
• [eShop] Blaster Master Zero
• [eShop] Frontier Day Founding Pioneers
• [eShop] Othello
• [eShop] Vroom in the sky

Click here to find out all the games confirmed for the Nintendo Switch so far, and here for the Upcoming Releases planning!

Nintendo Switch – Accessories

Here’s the various official (as in, from Nintendo, not just officially licenced) accessories launching alongside the console:

• Carrying Case & Screen Protector — $19.99 / 19.99€
• AC Adapter — $29.99 / 29.99€
• Joy-Con L and R (Neon Blue + Red, Neon Blue, Neon Red, Grey)  — $79.99 / 79€
• Joy-Con L (Neon Blue, Neon Red, Grey) — $49.99 / 49€
• Joy-Con R (Neon Blue, Neon Red, Grey) — $49.99 / 49€
• Joy-Con Charging Grip — $29.99 / 29.99€
• Joy-Con Strap (Neon Blue, Neon Red, Grey) — $7.99 / 5.99€
• Pro Controller (Grey) — $69.99 / 69.99€ / 749KR
• Joy-Con Wheel (set of 2): $19.99 / 19.99€
• Nintendo Switch Dock Set: $89.99

Q&A

Q1: Will the Nintendo eShop be available at launch?

Yes, but you will need to download the Day 1 Firmware update.

Q2: Will the Virtual Console service be available at launch?

No. More details will be shared at a later date.

Q3: Will there be a Day 1 Firmware update?

Yes, and it will add some features such as the Nintendo eShop. But it will not be required to play games and use other basic features.

Q4: Can I use funds from the Wii U / Nintendo 3DS eShop on the Nintendo eShop of the Nintendo Switch (and vice-versa)?

Yes, but you will first need to link the Nintendo ID used on those platforms to the Nintendo Account to be used on the Nintendo Switch.

Q5: Will I be able to purchase game from Nintendo’s website and have them download on my Nintendo Switch automatically?

Yes, but you will need to visit the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch at least once.

Q6: Is the Nintendo Switch region-locked? What about the Nintendo eShop?

No, the Nintendo Switch is not region-locked.

About the Nintendo eShop, it will be launched for everyone at launch, so we don’t quite know how it will work. All we know so far is that the region of the Nintendo eShop is determined by the region of your Nintendo Account, so in theory, you can change the region there. Alternatively, you can use up to 8 different accounts on a single Nintendo Switch, so you can always use separate accounts for each region.

Q7: Can I transfer my Mii?

Yes, you can either do so via your Nintendo Account, or by using an amiibo. You can also create one from scratch, though there’s no camera to help you along this time.

More questions/answers will be added soon, stay tuned!

Finally, here’s a video showing what you have to do to begin using your Nintendo Switch the first time you launch it:

See anything missing? Want to see something in particular added to this post? Make sure to let us know in the comments below!