Why Nintendo Called It ‘Switch’: Company Reveals Reason Behind Console’s Name

Anticipation is high ahead of the release of the Nintendo Switch console, even if Nintendo has not disclosed specific details about it and its features yet. Nintendo has revealed something, however, about the wisdom behind the console's name.

The reason for naming it "Switch" is pretty straightforward. It's about the Nintendo Switch feature that lets players easily switch between a TV screen and the console's own display, a spokesperson for Nintendo told the Japanese publication Nintendo Dream, Nintendo Everything reports. The Nintendo Switch can also "switch" people's gaming habits, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson talked about the Nintendo Switch's trailer as well, saying it was meant to demonstrate how enjoyable the console will be. "It allows people to enjoy a home console experience not only in front of a TV, but in rooms with no TV, or outside altogether," the spokesman said.

Precise details about the Nintendo Switch won't be revealed until an event in January 2017, but for several months there have been a lot of rumors and reports about its features. Among the most exciting rumored features are motion controls, which allow controlling the system and playing games through body movements. GameStop's CEO Paul Raines has indicated that the Nintendo Switch will have motion controls, describing in an interview early last month that kids would love it for being a movement-related game.

There has also been a lot of talk from prominent personalities about how it can change the face of gaming. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, for instance, believes the Nintendo Switch will redefine the industry, GameSpot reports.

Nintendo has invited journalists, analysts, and business people to the January 2017 event, which will be streamed worldwide from Tokyo. Nintendo's presentation is expected to not only be about the Switch's features, but also its exact release date in March 2017, its line-up of games, and pricing.