Nintendo maneuvers to turn things around with the upcoming Switch console. Nintendo director Shinya Takahashi expounded that with Nintendo's previous consoles, focusing on proprietary development tools was a "high priority" for the company. This time, with the Switch, Nintendo changes things up.

Nintendo Switch vs Older Nintendo Consoles

Takashi said that from the beginning of Nintendo Switch development the company has been targeting to build an environment in which a variety of diverse third-party developers are able to conveniently develop compatible software.These scopes of work include making it compatible with Unity and Unreal and even with Nintendo's own development tools.

Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto added that third-party developers who are building PC title can "now easily adapt" those games for the Switch. "In the recent development setting, Iʼd say that it would entail less than a year for them to port a PC game to Nintendo Switch," he was quoted as saying by Kotaku. As a result, even companies with only a few developers have already started making games for the new console.

Nintendo has also made changes to its corporate structure internally to streamline development. Software creation teams for handhelds and home consoles that used to be in different departments have now been merged, according to Miyamoto.

Nintendo Switch Features, Price & Availability

Nintendo Switch is an edgy, millennial-angled home and mobile hybrid. The system has three basic modes: TV Mode, Tabletop Mode and Handheld Mode. The Joy-Cons are like next-gen Wii remotes with advanced internal "rumble haptics that can distinguish different sensations." Nintendo says the Switch's battery life lasts 2.5 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game, shares TIME Tech.

Among Wii U's chief hitches was third-party support. This time, Nintendo is making sure not to repeat that blunder with the upcoming Switch. Whether all these pan out nicely as Nintendo wants it to be still remains to be seen. The Nintendo Switch is expcted to be released worldwide in March 3 for $299.99.