UPDATE: Seattleites looking to get their hands on the new Nintendo Switch console are in luck. The hybrid console will be available through the Amazon Treasure Truck this afternoon.
https://twitter.com/treasuretruck/status/837723326130745344
Amazon is also selling the Switch at its bookstores in Seattle, Portland and San Diego today.
https://twitter.com/amazongames/status/837709158329659392
Original story below
The highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch is here.
The new hybrid console officially went on sale at midnight Friday in some areas, including a launch party in New York City. Super Mario apparently took some time off from trying to save Princess Daisy to make appearances at the party and around town this morning. Executives from Nintendo — yes, there is a Nintendo VP named Doug Bowser — attended as well and greeted fans in line.
https://twitter.com/thetruebowser/status/837550829561233409
https://twitter.com/NintendoNYC/status/837531265519632388
https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/837668175911190528
This morning, fans lined up at stores all over the country, some braving chilly temps to get their hands on the new $300 console. Social media posts seem to show a lot of lines, but not always extremely long ones.
https://twitter.com/SamNBCBayArea/status/837673555496034304
https://twitter.com/yensid98/status/837678192429129730
https://twitter.com/TwiggethGAMER/status/837690495757344768
For those who don’t want to wait in line or don’t the have time, Amazon is offering the new console for delivery via Prime Now, but only in select cities and not in the company’s home town of Seattle.
https://twitter.com/amazon/status/837529908033146883
By 8:30 a.m. Friday, Amazon customers could only get the console through third-party sellers, and some stores were sold out.
https://twitter.com/mmarkaholic/status/837681505711374338
https://twitter.com/Dizzy_Desiree24/status/837701512386093057
The Switch, Nintendo’s seventh console, is a crucial launch for the company following disappointing Wii U sales compared to competing devices like the Xbox One and Playstation 4. The portable handheld console can also be hooked up to a TV via a docking station for big-screen gaming.
Don’t be surprised if you start seeing a lot of Facebook friends posting about their progress in Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The consoles comes with Facebook integration, allowing gamers to log-in with their Facebook credentials and share their achievements via screenshots on the social media platform. Facebook has similar login integrations with PlayStation, Xbox, PC, web, and mobile games.
We at GeekWire got our hands on an early review unit this week. Our GearedUp podcast goes hands-on with the took a look at the console’s impressive features, and a few shortcomings. We also tested out the new Legend of Zelda, which our co-host Andru Edwards of Gear Live called “the best game I’ve ever played.”