Nintendo Switch Rumors: ‘Skyrim’ May Not Be Coming To The System
It has been just over a week, and despite what the company had hoped, media outlets are still bombarding the internet with Nintendo Switch rumors. Skyrim Special Edition released this week, and many feel that this was the version that Nintendo showed in the three-minute reveal of the Switch on October 20. While a version of Skyrim can be seen, the makers of the popular fantasy title would not officially confirm it for Nintendo’s next console when speaking to Game Industry.
“We’re happy to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Nintendo on the video. While we are not confirming any specific titles at this time, we are pleased to announce our partnership with Nintendo and support of the Switch. We look forward to revealing specific games and details in the future.”
It would seem to most people that it would merely be a formality. However, Takashi Mochizuki from the Wall Street Journal claimed to have information regarding the initial file size of games for Nintendo Switch. According to Mochizuki’s Twitter feed, the standard capacity for a standard Switch game card will be 16 gigabits (GB). He goes on to clarify that it is about “enough for a one layer Blu-ray game.”
If what Mochizuki says is true, Skyrim Special Edition will be too large to fit on a standard capacity game card. Skyrim‘s download size is just under 23GB. That is about four times larger than the size when it was released for the Xbox 360 in 2011 according to WCCFTech. While it is possible the Nintendo Switch game card could handle the 360 version, it would seem implausible for Bethesda to release a 5-year-old game on a system after releasing a definitive version months before.
It should be noted that this is of course just a rumor. Mochizuki did in fact use the verbiage “standard Switch game card.” Detailed analysis of the Nintendo Switch reveal video giving a frame-by-frame breakdown showed the cartridge to have a connect point not unlike a standard SD card. Standard SD cards can reach capacities twice the size of the mentioned standard 16GB for relatively inexpensive prices.
Nintendo Switch rumors didn’t end with size issues of the game card. Let’s Play Video Games writer Laura Dale stated that her sources (who have been very reliable in the past) stated that the Switch will use up to 128GB Micro SD cards. Furthermore, the Micro SD cards may not be proprietary. The slot for the card is located underneath the kickstand.
Dale also commented on external storage capacity for the Switch. According to another source, there is not a USB port on the docking station that will support external hard drives. This is a different direction than Nintendo took with the Wii U which did allow for external hard drives to increase storage capacity.
According to the report, Nintendo felt that it would make the system less portable. They felt that they wanted players to have the ability to disconnect the tablet from the dock at any time and continue with the same experience. Again, these are just rumors, and in a discussion with shareholders this week, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima stated all will be revealed on January 12, 2017.
Until January, there is sure to be more Nintendo Switch Rumors. Skyrim probably will not be confirmed until that date as well. In the meantime, how do you feel about the limits Nintendo may be putting on the Switch. Do you feel a Micro SD card is the way to go for storage, or would you rather have the ability to hook up an external hard drive? Does this change your feelings on Nintendo’s next system?
[Featured Image by Nintendo of America]
