Update:Â Nintendo’s official Switch features page actually says that the battery can last for more than six hours, and gives an example of what would make it run for less time. “Battery life can last for more than six hours, but will vary depending on the software and usage conditions. For example, The Legend of Zeldaâ„¢: Breath of the Wild can be played for roughly 3 hours on a single charge.”
Original Story:Â Ever since Nintendo first unveiled the home console/handheld hybrid console that is the Nintendo Switch, the big question has been, what is the battery life like? While we don’t have firm figures just yet, the company did give the first indication for what players can expect at their reveal event in Japan. According to the manufacturer, the Nintendo Switch battery life will be between 2.5 to 6 hours.
The large range for this is likely due to the very different way the Nintendo Switch functions. It has tons of different features and ways to play, and the games range wildly from traditional handheld games to big, AAA experiences such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
If the console can offer a minimum of 2.5 hours of play, even when playing games as big and visually impressive as Zelda, it should satisfy most gamers who want to use it more as a handheld.
It’s also not clear if the different controllers change the amount of battery power the system has to output. If you’re playing multiplayer via two separate controllers, does it decrease your battery life? Likely it does, but probably not as much as playing a more intensive game would.
Nintendo Switch hits stores on March 3rd at a price of $299.
