It seems outlandish to think about now that it’s sold 156 million units, but there was a lot of skepticism about the Nintendo Switch in October 2016.
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The Wii U had been a massive flop, selling just 13.5 million units in its lifecycle, making it the second-worst-selling Nintendo console since the Virtual Boy. Thanks to a July 2016 Eurogamer report, observers already knew the project codenamed “Nintendo NX” was a portable system that used a docking station to connect to a TV set. To skeptics, the NX sounded underpowered compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 360 — and had too much in common with the unpopular Wii U. What’s more, handheld consoles had fallen pretty dramatically out of fashion amid the rise of smartphones and free-to-play mobile games throughout the 2010s.
While some aspects of that first look haven’t aged particularly well, much of the company’s vision for the Switch remains consistent even today. A decade later, let’s take a look back at some highlights from the reveal.
Not (only) for kids
Screenshot: Nintendo via GameSpot/YouTube
Two things were conspicuously absent from this three-and-a-half minute video: young children and the red and blue Joy-Cons that would become the Switch’s trademark color scheme. Handheld game consoles had a pretty strong association with children at this moment in the industry, so the point Nintendo was driving at here is clear: this is a slick piece of tech for busy adults with social lives — and rooftop house parties to attend. Yes, you could see Mario and Link, but Nintendo also wanted it to be abundantly clear that this machine also played more “adult” third-party games like NBA 2K18 and Skyrim.
Sleek and understated
Screenshot: Nintendo via GameSpot/YouTube
Even while docked, the Switch doesn’t take up a ton of space, and you won’t grimace to see it docked beneath your television. At one point in the footage, you can see the Switch sitting on what appears to be a slim photo ledge. It’s far harder than it should be to find non-ugly furniture to house a PlayStation 5 or Series X, but that’s never been a problem for the Switch. The small footprint and unobtrusive design are still massive selling points, even in 2026.
The future of Elder Scrolls
It’s pretty funny that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, then a six-year-old game, was used to sell a new Nintendo console launching in 2017. And it was a huge get for Nintendo at the time! Third-party companies had largely avoided porting games to Wii U due to the dual-screen hardware’s quirks and lousy sales. Xbox’s landmark acquisition of Bethesda was still several years away at this point, and Nintendo was the scrappy underdog. A lot can change in a decade.
What’s even funnier is that we still don’t have The Elder Scrolls 6, three Nintendo consoles later. (Since Skyrim launched in 2011, we’ve had Wii U in 2012, Switch in 2017, and Switch 2 in 2025.) But at least we know Bethesda is finally working on it.
The next big thing
Screenshot: Nintendo via GameSpot/YouTube
The mid- and late 2010s marked the pinnacle of hype for esports. Companies like Activision Blizzard and Riot Gry were establishing leagues and hosting big-ticket tournaments, positioning the space to potential investors as a digital-era NBA or Champions League. While fans eventually gravitated toward individual streamers instead of stadiums for their vicarious gameplay experiences, it makes sense that Nintendo nodded to it at this moment in time. In this early footage, a couple teams played Splatoon on their Switches, then took the action to a large indoor arena. The Splatoon competitive scene remains alive and well a decade later. But I’m thankful the Switch’s fortunes were not tied to esports as much as Nintendo suggested here.
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Franchises matter
Bleeding-edge tech has never been Nintendo’s thing. Instead, the company leans on a stable of beloved and enduring IP that somehow rarely gets old. Those core brands were a major focus in this early footage: Mario, Zelda, and Mario Kart all made appearances. All three of those are still massive system sellers in 2026, just like they were in 2016.
A traveler’s friend
Screenshot: Nintendo via GameSpot/YouTube
In the leadup to the launch of the Nintendo Switch, there was a lot of speculation about the battery life. It seemed hopelessly naive to expect to play something like Breath of the Wild for more than 45 minutes on a plane. Admittedly, hardware and software updates have improved the Switch’s battery life over time, and in-seat outlets have (thankfully) become more common in planes. But there’s no denying the Switch is fantastic on a plane. The once-wild promise of a TV-worthy gaming experience on the go really is an everyday reality. Looking back on this reveal 10 years later, it’s still kind of hard to believe this thing works — but it does.
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