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The Nintendo Switch dock is only for charging and TV output

The Nintendo Switch dock is only for charging and TV output

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The core concept of Nintendo's upcoming Switch console is that it's a portable device with games that you can also play on your TV at home by way of a dock. But don't expect the docking unit to provide more storage or performance capability to the tablet — Nintendo has confirmed that it's primarily a way to get the tablet-style portable's games onto the bigger screen.

"The dock is not the main console unit of Nintendo Switch," a representative tells IGN. "The main unit of Nintendo Switch is the unit that has the LCD screen, which the two Joy-Con controllers can be attached to and detached from. The main function of the Nintendo Switch Dock is to provide an output to the TV, as well as charging and providing power to the system."

The Switch is the opposite of the Wii U

You might have noticed that this is the exact opposite of how the Wii U works — Nintendo's present console keeps all the processing power in the box below your TV and beams a video feed to the touchscreen-equipped GamePad controller, which doesn't work unless you're fairly close to the console. The Switch, meanwhile, is designed to be taken anywhere.

It's possible that the Switch could eke a little more performance out in the dock because it wouldn't be as constrained by battery life, but we know almost nothing about its tech specs right now. Nintendo wouldn't even confirm to The Verge whether the system has a touchscreen.


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