The Nintendo Switch will launch on March 3rd 2017, the company has revealed.

Speaking in a special Nintendo Switch presentation live from Tokyo, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima revealed the console would launch in the US, Canada, major European countries, Japan, Hong Kong and other territories. The system will also be region-free "in general".

The Nintendo Switch will be priced at $299.99 (¥29,980 and £280).

Online Services and battery life

Kimishima also revealed some news about the new Online Services for the Nintendo Switch. While free to try at first, from Autumn it will cost money to access.

Also revealed during the presentation was the console’s battery life when undocked, which depending on the game will last anywhere between two and a half hours to six hours depending on the game.

Up to eight Nintendo Switch’s can be connected together over wi-fi for local multiplayer.

Joy-Cons

The Nintendo Switch controllers, called Joy-Cons, can be removed from the tablet and grip and used on their own with a wrist strap.

These have a built-in accelerometer and gyro motion to make motion control possible. They also come with what Nintendo has coined as "HD rumble". During a demo, it was suggested that through the sensing and vibration technology, users would be able to feel how much ice is in a glass, and know that it was filling up with water, for example.

Interestingly, the Joy-Cons come packed with a sensor that means users can turn and face each other to play games. A demo for launch title 1,2 Switch showed two players facing off in a pistol duel.

Launch games

Launch titles for the Nintendo Switch include 1,2 Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Other titles such as Super Mario Odyssey, Dragon Quest Heroes 1 and 2, Xenoblade Chronicles and Splatoon 2 are set to come at a later date.