The Nintendo Switch

 I finished my degree in Sociology with a minor in History, and since I work at a University that will let me receive more education for free, I have decided to pursue a new degree in Information Technology. I am currently taking an entry-level tech class where I am exploring different types of technology and how it interacts with various fields, environments, and workplaces. This course is surprisingly heavy when it comes to shorter papers (2-5 pages), and so I will be uploading new content to this blog that will have a technology vibe to it.

    The Nintendo Switch changed the gaming industry by blending a handheld console and a home console into one. Its introduction fueled heavy competition like the Steam Deck and the PlayStation Portal. Nintendo was able to add an intense amount of tech into a small device that you could hold into your hands but felt like it had all the superiority of a full-sized gaming machine. Nintendo was able to bring classic games that many had growing up with through cloud services and introduce them to a brand-new generation. The nostalgia factor sent people of all ages to wait in long lines as they anticipated the arrival of this new technology in March of 2017. The launch created mass chaos simultaneously in the United States, Canada, Japan, and much of Europe as Nintendo was introducing new technology that you could not only play alone, but also on your TV like a traditional console with others, this was new and revolutionary. 

    The Switch was uniquely different in many ways back in 2017. Gamers no longer had to decide if they wanted to play alone on a handheld device or play on a larger console at home, they could now do both with one device. The device also added detachable Joy-Con controllers which made is super easy and portable. When the Joy-Cons were attached, the device worked like normal, but when you detached them, you could have 2 people playing a game together without having to bring extra controllers along. You could also have someone else bring their Joy-Con controllers to play 4 player games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros that were a big hit. The Switch also went back to using old school game cartridges. The load times were faster, the cartridges were more durable than disks, and they were smaller, which meant better for portable use. 

    Nintendo has always been family friendly and with the introduction of the Switch it launched many family friendly games that became major hits very fast. A lot of these games can be played alone or with others, which makes the Switch a perfect combination console. Nintendo exclusively holds the rights to The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario which are games many are familiar with. You could now carry those games with you to your friends’ house, hook into their TV, and play together at the drop of a hat. 

    Nintendo created a subscription service called NSO, Nintendo Switch Online which lets you play online multiplayer games like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, Animal Crossing, and many other games with friends and other players around the world. You can back up your game data to the cloud, access classic game libraries, and find games that used to only be available on consoles like the original Nintendo, the Super Nintendo, and Game Boy. You can get extra downloadable content for games like Mario Kart 8 and Animal Crossing. 

    The key components of the first Nintendo Switch that was introduced in 2017 are a 6.2-inch screen that responds to touch. It has 32GB internal storage, and you can expand that by adding more via a microSD card. The battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion one that you plug into a normal wall outlet through a USB-C port. It also has a game card slot and a headphone jack on the outside of the console. On either side of the device are the Joy-Cons that charge when they are attached. They have built in motion controls using gyroscope and accelerometer capabilities. If you want to connect the console to a TV, you place it in a dock, which has an HDMI port to hook it to the TV. The dock is powered by a wall plug and plugs into the dock via USB-C. 

    The Joy-Cons are some of the most innovative parts of the Nintendo Switch. The left one has a control stick for movement and directional buttons: up, down, left, and right. It also has a capture button for taking screenshots and videos in some games. The SL/SR buttons are used when the Joy-Con is not attached to the console and when it is held sideways. There are also some shoulder buttons L and ZL. The left Joy-Con has two motion sensors, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer. The right Joy-Con has different items built in. It also has a control stick for camera or movement, and standard action buttons labeled A, B, X, and Y. The home button opens the Switch menu, and the SL/SR buttons are only used when the Joy-Con is not attached to the console and held sideways. There are also shoulder buttons R and ZR, and it has two motion sensors, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer. This Joy-Con however also has an IR motion camera built in that detects shapes and distance. It uses infrared light to detect shapes, distance, motion, and heat in some cases. It also has an NFC reader (Near Field Communication) that scans Amiibo figures for in-game bonuses. It is like short-range wireless technology that lets two devices exchange data when they are close together, usually only just a few inches apart. Both Joy-Cons also have HD rumble, which is advanced vibration feedback that can simulate sensations like ice cubes in a glass. All that technology is packed into those two small Joy-Cons. 

    The console is the brain of the system, it runs the games, displays the visuals, and stores the data, without it you would not have a screen, processing power, and no way to play your games. The Joy-Cons are crucial because they provide input. You use them to control the games, navigate menus, and interact with the system. The special features like motion control, HD rumble, and the IR camera make gameplay more immersive and unique. Without the Joy-Cons you would not be able to play the Switch in handheld mode. The dock is crucial because it allows you to connect the console to a TV, charge the console, and use it at home. Without it you would be limited to using it only as a handheld device. The battery is crucial because it charges your device and keeps it charged while you’re playing. Without it you would not be able to play on the go or wirelessly. Each component works together to make the Switch a hybrid console so that it is portable and adaptable. 

    In August of 2019, Nintendo came out with an improved version of the Nintendo Switch that had a longer battery life. It was exactly the same design as before, but they just made the battery last longer. A month later, in September of 2019, they came out with a Nintendo Switch Lite. This smaller, lighter, and more affordable option was a handheld only and you could not take the Joy-Cons off or attach the console to the TV. I remember taking my daughter to the store to find one as they were flying off the shelves everywhere. She was set on a particular color and the game Animal Crossing to go with it. October of 2021, Nintendo released the Switch OLED model which had a slightly larger screen, improved speakers, a wider kickstand, upgraded dock, and 64GB internal storage. This month, on June 5th, the Nintendo Switch 2 was released after much anticipation. It has an even larger screen, 4K resolution, 256GB internal storage, faster reading speeds, improved Joy-Cons, built in microphone, enhanced audio, two USB-C ports, and a camera for face tracking and overlays. 

    Technology will continue to improve and the research and development department at Nintendo will continue to create better game systems that will replace the technology that is currently out there now. If Nintendo wants to stay competitive then they need to continue to make upgrades to the consoles they have and they need to improve the current Switch and make it more appealing to those who play the games and use it. Games have been a way for me to destress when life gets busy and overwhelming. I own the Nintendo Switch while my kids have a Lite edition. I mostly play it as a handheld device by myself and sometimes I hook it up to my small television if I want to sit further away and have a larger screen to see what I am doing. I enjoy playing the games I grew up on and I enjoy playing Animal Crossing online with my kids as they each have their own lives and live in different places now. Sometimes my Switch gathers dust for months as I don’t touch it and it sits inside its protective pouch; I purchased for it that also holds the game cartridges and charger for ease of use, and other times I will play Mario Kart for a week straight to get 1st place on all my favorite courses. The appeal and ease of use make the Switch great for me as I can take it with me when I travel, use it alone, or bring it to family functions to play with a group of people. Nintendo definitely knew what it was doing when it decided to combine a handheld console and a home console into one to make a very coveted gaming machine enjoyed today.

References:

Nintendo. (n.d.). Nintendo Switch – Official site. Nintendo. Retrieved June 30, 2025,
from https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch/system/

Nintendo. (n.d.). Nintendo Switch – Technical specifications. Nintendo. Retrieved June 30, 2025,from https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch/tech-specs/

Yacktman, J., & contributors. (2025, March 5). Right Joy-Con Teardown. iFixit. Retrieved June30, 2025, from https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Right+Joy-Con+Teardown/181748

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