The Nintendo Switch is the video game console that has taken the world by storm, and it has not even been released yet. It is a console that many are hoping will bring a lot of excitement to the industry as well as success to the great toy makers that are Nintendo. They have been under fire in the last few years due to the failure of the console, the Wii-U, and they are hoping the Switch will return them to prominence as well as bring third party developers as well as EA and Take-Two back to their aid.
Rumors have been flying around the console ever since its reveal back in October, and everyone is eagerly waiting for January 12th. This is the date that Nintendo is going to reveal much more about the console, such as price, release date, internal specs, among many other details. The most recent rumor that may be announced in a month's time is perhaps one of the most enticing ones; Virtual Reality.
Just the other day, a user by the name of Rö sti at NeoGAF noticed a patent that was filed by Nintendo for a Virtual Reality headset involving the Switch. As most people already know, the Switch is a console that is very much like a tablet for gaming on the go, but it has detachable controllers and a dock for home television gaming.
The way the headset would work is that it would also be a dock itself. Players would place the Switch inside the headset, not unlike the Samsung Gear VR or Google VR headsets, and use the controllers in tandem with the experience.
As someone who has read every scrap of news that has been released on the Nintendo Switch, I am pleasantly surprised at this revelation. Whether this virtual reality is experienced is announced in January or in another year's time is irrelevant at this point, because the rumor is exciting enough. Virtual reality would be a large step into the future for Nintendo, and it would represent a welcome change for the company. Hopefully this patent filing is more than just a protection of an idea and that we will get to see what Nintendo has for us in the VR world.