The announcement that Nintendo fans were expecting at last month’s E3 has finally been announced and when it will be available. The new Nintendo Switch OLED is releasing later this year.
The new console is named Nintendo Switch OLED Model. It features a 7-inch screen with enhanced video and audio, a wider adjustable stand, wired LAN port on the dock and will be available on October 8.
Other than the OLED screen enhancement, there is no mention of any other hardware upgrades or 4K support. Seems that the battery capacity will still be between 4.5 to 9 hours. It will also include 64 GB of internal storage and onboard speakers for enhanced audio. Having a built-in LAN port on the dock will help connectivity issues and reduce the lag during online game play.
The OLED will also be released in two color schemes. One in the original red/blue and a new black/white. The main unit is black while the Joy-Con and the dock is white. It does appear that the new Joy-Con controllers will be interchangeable with the original Joy-Con controllers from the previous Switch.
Price for the OLED Model is set at $349.99 and will launch on October 8, the same day as the new Metroid Dread that was announced at E3. As of this writing, it does not look like pre-orders for the OLED have opened up. However Best Buy and Gamestop have “coming soon” pre-order pages up, along with a “coming soon” banner on Target’s online page.
In case you missed Nintendo’s other gaming announcements from this year’s E3, here are some highlights of new and upcoming games to look forward to.
Samus Returns
As mentioned earlier, Metroid Dread will be releasing the same day as the Switch OLED Model. This fast-paced, side-scroller is the first 2D Metroid game in about 19 years. Samus will need to explore the planet ZDR, while evading and fighting the E.M.M.I. robots that are hunting her. Find alternate pathways and upgrades to unlock new abilities.
There will also be an amiibo 2-pack of Samus and the E.M.M.I robot. Both available on October 8.
Legend of Zelda – 35th Anniversary
The Legend of Zelda celebrated its 35th anniversary on February 21. Nintendo will be releasing a special The Legend of Zelda Game & Watch on November 12 to celebrate this occasion. This Game & Watch system will feature: The Legend of Zelda; Zelda II: The Adventures of Link; The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and a few special added bonuses.
The Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Expansion Pass – Wave 1 DLC is available now and the remastered The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is coming July 16. Unfortunately there was no news of a Legend of Zelda Collection, similar to the Super Mario 3D All-Stars, that would include Windwaker and Ocarina of Time. However, there was some footage to the sequel to Breath of the Wild that could be released in 2022.
A New Fighter Joins Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Kazuya Mishima from the video game franchise, Tekken, is the latest character to join the Nintendo brawlfest. He is the fifth downloadable character from the Nintendo Switch Fighters Pass Vol. 2. His fighting style looks the same, if not similar, to his Tekken fighting style. He does have some moves that transform him into Devil Kazuya. Director Masahiro Sakurai presented an in-depth look at Kazuya in action in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Life Is Strange
For the first time, Square Enix is releasing Life is Strange Remastered Collection and Life is Strange: True Colors on the Nintendo Switch. Life is Strange Remastered Collection includes both Life is Strange Remastered and Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered. Both games feature remastered visuals across characters and environments.
– In Life is Strange Remastered, you’ll play as Max Caufield, a photography senior with the ability to rewind time. Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered is a prequel, set three years before the original game, in which you play as Chloe Price with the ability to Backtalk.
– A brand-new story is about to unfold in Life is Strange: True Colors. As Alex Chen, you’ll discover beauty and mystery in the small mining town of Haven Springs. Use your psychic powers of Empathy to alter fate and change lives, while uncovering the secrets of your brother’s death.
Life is Strange: True Colors is set to be released on September 10, while Life is Strange Remastered Collection will arrive later this Fall.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Join Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot in a game of intergalactic adventure and hijinx. It looks like you play as Star-Lord and during combat you command the other Guardians with combat tactics or combine abilities. During the course of the game you will be presented with choices, in which the decisions you make will affect the course of the storyline. The design choice of the Guardians for this game seems to have gained a bit of criticism from fans, as they chose to model them after the comic book and not the MCU versions. The game trailer shows that other Guardian members such as Mantis and Cosmo make appearances. Available October 26.
Super Monkey Ball – 20th Anniversary.
Join AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon, Baby, YanYan and Doctor as they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Super Monkey Ball series in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania. Roll, bounce, tilt and race your friends through over 300 levels. Available October 5.
A Blast From Parties Past
The latest release in the Mario Party series, Mario Party Superstars, features 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 games which includes Peach’s Birthday Cake and Space Land, 100 mini games from across the series, online play support with gamers from around the world and save your progress mid-game. Available October 29.
The Ultimate Dragonball Z Experience
Dragonball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set comes to the Switch. Follow Goku and the other Z Fighters through the Dragonball Z storyline from the manga and anime series in 4 sagas: Saiyan Saga, Frieza Saga, Cell Saga and Majin Buu Saga. Train to advance your skills, explores vast open world, gather ingredients for meals and lend a hand to some of the locals in this action packed RPG. Available September 24.
Get Ready to Tee Off
The latest release in the Mario Golf series, Mario Golf: Super Rush is available now. The game features 4 modes: Standard Golf, Speed Golf, Battle Golf and Golf Adventure. Free updates will be added for future releases, which will include new courses and playable characters. Available now.
The Hunt is On
Take a ride your monster companion in this latest RPG, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. Explorer vast landscapes with creatures of all sizes. Gather items to craft items and weapons. You’ll have to team up with your monster companion in turn-based battle to defeat other creatures for materials and rare eggs. Join with friends for co-op quests and battles. Available now.
Wario is Back and So Are the Strangest Mini Games
Wario and his friends are back for some strange and funny mini games in WarioWare: Get It Together! Play with new abilities. 2-player co-op mode. Can you avoid the falling bird poop or tweeze the armpit hair off of Zeus? Available September 10
Prepare to Battle Angels and Demons
Get pulled into another dimension where angels and demons reside in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo in Shin Megami Tensei V. Battle hostile demons in this RPG with a command-based battle system. Recruit or deny other demons and they may become your ally and fight beside you. Available November 12.
Danganronpa Decadence – Celebrates 10 Years
For the first-time and exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, 4 games in the Danganronpa series are collected together in Danganronpa Decadence – Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition, plus the board game Danganronpa S Ultimate Summer Camp. You are trapped in the school with other high school students in a literal game of life and death. Unfortunately, the only way out of this lethal game is to betray the other students. Class trials will take place as bodies are discovered and you will have to use discovered evidence to find the guilty party. Standard and collector’s edition will be available December 3.
Are You Afraid of Ghosts
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is a horror adventure game where you must use the power of your camera, the Camera Obscura, to defeat the ghosts that inhabit Mount Hikami. Uncover the truth behind the three interconnected stories. Available 2021.
Mario + Rabbids = Space Mayhem
Mario and friends team up with the Rabbids once again in Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Joining them on this space adventure is Rabbid Rosalina as they visit strange planets with even stranger inhabitants. Available 2022.
The Original Advance Wars Returns
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp has been reimagined and rebuilt for the Switch. Lead your army to victory, in turn-based strategy, against other characters in Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 – Black Hole Rising. Available December 3.
Check out these other games that are out now or coming soon to the Nintendo Switch:
Worms Rumble
Available now.
Astria Ascending
Available September 30.
Two Point Campus
Available 2022.
Just Dance 2022
Available November 4.
Crus’n Blast
Available Fall 2021.
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One DLC
Available now.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2
Available now.
Strange Brigade
Available now.
For more information on the Nintendo Switch OLED Model and these games, visit www.nintendo.com.
