Everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch

Now that the dust has largely settled on Nintendo's Switch announcement, it's worth asking the question: what was all that about then?

We've pretty much been bombarded by information ever since that first January 13 event, to the point where it can be tricky to get a precise handle on what the Switch is.

So then, here's a concise summary of everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch. Starting with a simple one, for those who have absolutely no idea what we're talking about.

The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo's next games console, and the direct successor to the Wii U. However, it's a bit special, because it's also a successor of sorts to Nintendo's 3DS handheld console. This is a hybrid system.

The core of the Switch is a 6.2-inch 720p tablet computer. Then, two separate controllers called Joy-Cons can clip on either side of the machine, making it look and behave much like a PS Vita. Or, you can remove the Joy-Cons and use them remotely, with the core Switch (via a built-in stand) doubling as a portable TV of sorts.

The key twist is that you can also insert the Switch into a powered dock that's plugged into your TV, and whatever you're playing will seamlessly switch to the larger display.

The Nintendo Switch will hit shops worldwide on March 3, 2017.

You'll be able to pick up the Nintendo Switch on its own, without any games, for £280 / $299 / €299. This has sparked some controversy, as it's higher than the price of the Wii U before it, and also more than the current PS4 and Xbox One models.

Online Nintendo Switch pre-orders are running out fast, but check out this feature for more details.

There will be five games available to buy on the Nintendo Switch's March 3 launch day:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• 1-2-Switch
• Just Dance 2017
• Skylanders Imaginators
• Super Bomberman R

Coming up in the month or two following the Switch release, which many would call the 'launch window,' are the following games:

• Has Been Heroes (March)
• Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! (March)
• I am Setsuna (March)
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (April 28)
• ARMS (Spring 2017)
• LEGO CITY Undercover (Spring 2017)
• Sonic Mania (Spring 2017)

Where's Mario?

Don't worry, Mario's on his way. Nintendo gave a preview of Super Mario Odyssey at its January 13 event, but it won't be ready until the end of the year.

It's shaping up to be an intriguing entry, though, and seemingly a return to Mario's more adventurous, boundary-pushing roots. Nintendo has confirmed that this globe-trotting entry will include a sizeable hub area, like Super Mario Sunshine and Mario 64 rather than the more linear Super Mario 3D World.

Oh, and Mario will have a chuckable talking cap. Naturally.

Apparently not. EA has promised to show up with a version of FIFA, which isn't a massive commitment. Ubisoft is bringing Just Dance, Rayman Legends, and Steep, all of which are existing properties. Ditto with Activision's Skylanders and Bethesda's Skyrim. Essentially ports, one and all.

On the plus side, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 from Monolith, Project Octopath Traveller from Square Enix, and a new Travis Touchdown game from Grasshopper all sound like intriguing new games from established third party players.

Yeah, about that. If you thought the console and games were a little pricey, wait until you see how much a spare controller will set you back.

You'll be able to buy a new Switch Joy-Con Controller - that's a second set of two-part controllers the Switch ships with - for around £75. Then there's the Switch Pro Controller, which is basically a dedicated home console controller like the one that ships with the Xbox One or PS4, for £60.

That ain't cheap, any way you cut it.

While the Switch itself is a pretty unassuming black slab of a tablet, it's the Joy-Cons that really provide that Nintendo magic. As already mentioned, their default position is to be attached either side of the Switch as a unified set of controls. These include twin analogue sticks, four buttons under and above the left and right stick respectively, and two should buttons on each side.

When removed from the Switch, these Joy-Cons can slot into a dock to form a stand-alone controller. Alternatively, they can each be held horizontally to form a pair of NES-like controllers - with an additional pair of shoulder buttons on each to form a SNES-like formation of six buttons and an analogue stick.

Also, both Joy-Con components have advanced accelerometer technology, so they can act as Wii-like motion-sensitive wands, while the right one also has an IR Motion Camera that can sense depth and shapes. Both have 'HD rumble' abilities, which can provide nuanced vibrational feedback.

Yes. The Nintendo Switch's display is a 6.2-inch capacitive touchscreen. This is the first time Nintendo has used such a component - previous touch devices like the 3DS and Wii U have used a resistive display.

The difference is that capacitive screens respond to the warmth of your finger, like a modern smartphone, rather than to the physical pressure of a stylus. Capacitive screens can also respond to multiple inputs - up to ten fingers simultaneously, in the Switch's case.

We don't know exactly what custom tricks Nintendo has applied to the Switch, but we do know that the Nintendo Switch is powered by some variation of Nvidia's Tegra X1 chip. This is the mobile SoC (system on chip) that powers the Google Pixel C tablet and the Nvidia Shield Android TV

Yes, Nintendo has announced that there will be a paid Nintendo Switch Online Service for online multiplayer games. Rather strangely, the Nintendo Switch Online Service will include a smartphone app that connects to the Switch and helps you connect with friends for online play sessions.

However, this subscription service won't launch as a full paid service until the autumn. Before then, there'll be a free trial service that will allow online play through your Nintendo Account.

The service will also include a single NES or SNES game to download and play every month - though it seems you won't be able to continue playing this game beyond the month in which it's available.

Nope. One of the unexpected bonuses of the Switch announcement was Nintendo announcing that it wouldn't feature region-lock technology. This means you'll be able to buy a game in the US (or anywhere else) and play it on your UK Switch console - and vice-versa.

Yes it will. Nintendo's NFC-equipped figurines were one of the rare successes of the Wii U era, and it's not going to let that go lightly.

The Right-hand Joy-Con controller contains an NFC reader/writer in it, so you just need to hold an Amiibo up to it to register.

Nintendo estimates that the Nintendo Switch battery will last between two-and-a-half and six hours, depending on the nature of the game you're playing. With a complex game like Zelda, the Switch will last around three hours, while simpler games should cause less of a strain.

The battery will charge using the USB Type-C standard, which is the universal standard that's been adopted by most new high-end Android phones, as well as Apple's newest MacBook models.

Meanwhile, those Joy-Cons will take 20 hours to charge.

The Nintendo Switch will come with 32GB of internal storage as standard, but this can be expanded by up to 2TB through an included SDXC slot.