Nintendo Switch User Interface Revealed
By Dalton Cooper 16 January 2017
During the special Nintendo Switch Treehouse presentation, Nintendo offers fans a look at the possible user interface for its upcoming Switch console.
Since the conclusion of the Nintendo Switch release date and price reveal presentation, new information on Nintendo’s next console keeps coming. Thanks to a special Nintendo Treehouse event focusing on the Nintendo Switch and its lineup of games, quite a bit more has been revealed about the new console and what it will entail, including what its user interface will look like.
As seen in a screenshot snapped by GameSpot, the Nintendo Switch user interface looks sleek and simple. The main focus seems to be giving users quick access to games, though it’s probable entertainment apps will likely be included front and center as well. The Switch’s UI also seems to give players quick access to the eShop, settings, and other areas of the console, and generally looks like it will be less cumbersome than Wii U’s user interface.
Switch’s UI is a step in the right direction for Nintendo, but while it looks great, there are some unanswered questions. For example, it’s unclear if the Nintendo Switch’s UI will allow gamers to create folders to organize their games and apps. Console user interfaces that look similar to the Nintendo Switch’s have added folders in post-launch updates, as was the case with firmware updates for both the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4, so it would be nice if the Switch had folders at launch.
Another unknown is how easy it will be to actually switch between downloaded games. In the screenshot, four games are shown on the UI, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Breath of the Wild‘s file size takes up half of the Switch’s built-in memory, which means it’s unlikely that Switch owners will be able to switch between that many downloaded games without having to purchase microSDXC cards for extra storage space. And of course, those with game cartridges will have to swap them in and out to switch between different games, so the convenient-looking UI may not be much of a factor for them.
Regardless, the Switch’s user interface looks like it will be easy to use, though it’s worth noting that it could change between now and launch. After all, the Wii U’s user interface went through some changes before the console released to the masses, and it’s not uncommon for companies to constantly tweak the UIs of game consoles. It’s also possible that the Switch’s user interface will look the same at launch, but will go through drastic redesigns in future updates, as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have both experienced.
Nintendo Switch will be available on March 3rd.
