Nintendo's March 2017 launch, the portable home console hybrid called Switch, is said to be marked for retail in two packages, starting from £199 (RM1,080), leading to expectations of a US$249 (RM1,080) equivalent.

Two versions of the Nintendo Switch are expected to launch in March 2017, according to Let's Play Videogames, whose reputation for credible insider reports was enhanced by Nintendo's official Switch reveal in October.

A basic version is expected to be sold at £199.99 (RM1,080) by video game retail specialist GAME, leading to the inference that UK stockists will also target the same price point.

A second bundle, whose Switch contains more internal storage and a game, is reported to launch at £249.99 (RM1,340), according to LPVG's two sources.

Though the game was not itself named, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been strongly associated with the new console.

Nintendo's presence at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June 2016 was driven by a comprehensive, day-long demonstration of the game's features, increasing anticipation for Breath of the Wild and its expansive, open-world take on a 30-year-old franchise.

Previously teased for the Switch's predecessor, the Wii U, Breath of the Wild  had been confirmed as a Switch title shortly after a March 2017 date for the console was announced.

But for Nintendo, the obvious choice isn't always the wisest. Only one source suggested the pack-in game's name to LPVG, and so it went undetailed in the report.

Another prominent source of insider talk, Emily Rogers, then followed up with the suggestion that Breath of the Wild would in fact miss March 2017 (corroborated by Eurogamer.) She cited an adjusted localisation and testing schedule, giving it a "much higher chance" of arriving mid-2017 instead.

The Switch's US price is expected to translate to US$249 (RM1,080) and US$299 (RM1,610), cheaper than November 2012's two-model launch of the Wii U.

However, recently revised editions of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One mean that the Switch will be debuting at the same price as its most immediate (and likely more powerful) home console rivals.

The Switch differentiates itself by offering home console gaming on the go (or portable gaming at home) thanks to two controllers that can detach from its main display unit.

It can connect to a larger display, or several Switches can link up wirelessly for a clutter-free local multiplayer experience.

A late October announcement from Nintendo indicated that it would announce retail price, launch games, and technical specifications on Jan 12, 2017. —  AFP Relaxnews