The Nintendo Switch will launch with a selection of downloadable indie games, but no Virtual Console.
Nintendo have confirmed that when the Switch hits stores on March 3 there will be a range of indie games available to download from the new console’s eShop. To promote the line-up there will be a Nindies Showcase video presentation broadcast on Tuesday February, 28, 2017.
Nintendo have also promised that more than 60 independent games will come to the Switch in 2017, in addition to the digital versions of standard retail games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In Europe there are three titles so far confirmed for release at launch.
First off the mark is FAST RMX from Shin’en Multimedia. The Switch exclusive is the follow-up to last year’s FAST Racing Neo, the well-received F-Zero-like racer that was released on Wii U. It’s joined by Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment and Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove from Yacht Club Games, the last of which is a limited-time Switch exclusive.
Today’s update from Nintendo also included a few other nuggets of news, some good, some disappointing. On the plus side if you funds remaining in your Wii U or Nintendo 3DS account, you will also be able to access them on Switch. Unfortunately, to use the eShop a day one system update is required. Let’s hope that it’s not as large, or as slow to download, as the Wii U’s infamous day one patch. According to Nintendo it will be a quick install.
Nintendo has also confirmed that the Virtual Console will not be available at launch, with more details to be announced soon.
You can view the Nindies Showcase video presentation via the Nintendo website on February, 28 at 9AM PT. There will be a localised European version broadcast at 17:30 GMT.
