Nintendo Switch UK release date confirmed for March 3rd, priced at £280

Mark it down in your calendars. The Nintendo Switch is launching on March 3rd worldwide. It will cost 29,980 Yen and $299.99 in the US. European prices will be left up to individual retailers, but Nintendo UK has since tweeted that it will be available for 280 on the Nintendo UK Store.

The news comes straight out of Nintendo’s Switch Presentation event in Tokyo, where it finally unveiled the Switch’s official price and release date.

Originally unveiled via a short teaser trailer last October that showed off the console’s mobile/home hybrid design for the first time, players and critics alike have been speculating for months about how much it will cost, whether there will be multiple storage SKUs like the Wii U, and, most importantly, exactly when we’ll be able to get our hands on it.

Now we know. Contrary to previous rumours, the Switch will be available in just one storage configuration. It will have 32GB of onboard storage, and will support microSDXC cards. It’s not yet known what the maximum capacity is. Also, in an unprecedented step, the Switch will be region-free.

There will be two different bundles available – one with the regular grey Joy-Con controllers and one with coloured Joy-Con controllers (see below). Both will be the same recommended retail price. The dock and Joy-Grip will be included in the box.

Here’s a more detailed look at what’s inside the box:

Controllers and dock

As most people know, the Switch is a hybrid console designed to be played both on the move and the TV at home. Its detachable Joy-Con controllers slot on to either side of the main display when players take it on the move, and it can also be docked in a cradle device that outputs video to the TV when they return home.

They have individiual accelerometers so each one can be used as fully-functioning controller in its own right. They’re small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and there will be two colour variations available at launch: Neon Blue and Neon Red. A Joy-Con Strap will also be available in these colours to attach to your wrists.

It also has an HD Rumble feature, that, curiously, will let you sense up to three ice cubes instead the controller, as well as the presence of water in that glass.

Each Joy-Con has an IR sensor on the bottom, too, which is able to sense depth and different hand gestures. There’s a Share button on the left hand Joy-Con, while the right hand Joy-Con has a Home button that doubles up as an NFC reader for amiibo. The sticks can also be pressed in like regular buttons.

A dedicated Pro controller will also be available, as well as a Joy Grip accessory that turns the detachable Joy Con controllers into a more traditional kind of game controller.

Battery life

Nintendo estimating that players should be able to get around 2.5 to 6 hours of play from the Switch on a full charge.

The console charges via USB-C and a power adaptor will be included in the box. You can also charge the system while playing. Zelda will last around 3 hours on a single charge, but other games, Nintendo said, may last longer depending on the type of game it is.

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You can watch the full presentation below: