A Decade On, Nintendo’s Switch Reveal Is a Captivating Time Capsule

It’s hard to believe now, with 156 million units sold, but in October 2016 plenty of people doubted the Nintendo Switch.

The Wii U had been a resounding failure. It sold only 13.5 million units over its lifetime, which made it Nintendo’s second-weakest console since the Virtual Boy. A July 2016 Eurogamer report had already revealed that the project codenamed “Nintendo NX” was a portable machine that docked to a television. Critics thought it sounded underpowered next to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and too similar to the unloved Wii U. Dedicated handhelds had also fallen sharply out of favor during the 2010s, pushed aside by smartphones and free-to-play mobile games.

Some details from that first look haven’t aged well, but much of Nintendo’s original vision for the Switch still holds up. Ten years on, here are some of the highlights from the reveal.

1. Not (only) for kids

Two things were noticeably missing from the three-and-a-half-minute video: young children, and the red and blue Joy-Cons that would later become the Switch’s signature look. Handhelds were closely tied to kids at the time, so Nintendo’s message was plain. This was a polished gadget for busy adults with active social lives, including rooftop house parties. Mario and Link did appear, but Nintendo also wanted to show that the console could run more “grown-up” third-party games like NBA 2K18 and Skyrim.

2. Sleek and understated

Even in its dock, the Switch takes up very little room, and you never mind seeing it under your TV. At one point in the footage, it sits on what looks like a narrow picture ledge. Finding attractive furniture to hold a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X is far harder than it should be, but the Switch has never had that problem. Its compact size and discreet design remain major selling points in 2026.

3. The future of Elder Scrolls

It’s rather amusing that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, a six-year-old game by then, was used to promote a console arriving in 2017. At the time, though, it was a major win for Nintendo. Third-party publishers had mostly stayed away from the Wii U because of its awkward dual-screen design and weak sales. Xbox’s landmark purchase of Bethesda was still years off, and Nintendo was the scrappy underdog. A lot can change in a decade.

Even funnier is that The Elder Scrolls 6 still hasn’t arrived, three Nintendo consoles later. (Skyrim launched in 2011, followed by the Wii U in 2012, the Switch in 2017 and the Switch 2 in 2025.) At least we know Bethesda is finally working on it.

4. The next big thing

The middle and late 2010s were the peak of esports hype. Companies like Activision Blizzard and Riot Games were building leagues and staging high-profile tournaments, pitching the scene to investors as a digital-age NBA or Champions League. Fans eventually turned to individual streamers rather than stadiums for their gaming spectacle. Even so, it’s understandable that Nintendo nodded to esports then. In this early footage, a few teams play Splatoon on their Switches before taking the competition to a huge indoor arena. The Splatoon competitive scene is still thriving ten years later. Still, I’m glad the Switch’s success didn’t depend on esports as heavily as Nintendo implied here.

5. Franchises matter

Cutting-edge technology has never been Nintendo’s strength. Instead, the company relies on a roster of cherished, long-lasting franchises that somehow rarely feel stale. Those core brands got plenty of attention in this early footage, with Mario, Zelda and Mario Kart all making appearances. In 2026, all three still drive console sales, just as they did in 2016.

6. A traveler’s friend

Before the Switch launched, people speculated a great deal about its battery life. Expecting to play something like Breath of the Wild on a flight for more than 45 minutes seemed hopelessly naive. Hardware and software updates have since extended the Switch’s battery life, and in-seat power outlets have thankfully become more common on planes. Either way, the Switch is a superb companion on a flight. What once sounded like a wild promise, a TV-quality gaming experience on the go, is now an everyday reality. Looking back at this reveal ten years later, it’s still a little hard to believe the thing works, but it does.

Source: Polygon