Nintendo Switch: better pack a powerbank for Zelda

The Nintendo Switch comes out in just over a week, promising a hybrid machine that supports portable gaming as well as the traditional home console experience.

But just how good is the portable part of the equation? Or more specifically, how much juice can you get out of it?

Well, Engadget has published its preview of the Nintendo Switch, reporting that Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild doesn’t last very long at all.

“And if you were wondering how much portable Zelda you’ll be able to play at once, I have a disappointing answer: two and a half hours,” the publication wrote.

Nintendo Switch owners can expect to get less than three hours of playtime when playing the latest Zelda game

Fortunately, as Engadget notes, you can use a USB Type-C cable to charge the Switch up. But it’s still a ho-hum figure for those on long-haul flights or away from power plugs.

The Nintendo Switch launches on 3 March worldwide, with South Africa also being included in the initial rollout. Gearburn was fortunate enough to try out the console last week, with writer Graham van der Made calling it an “incredibly well-built machine”.

More specifically, van der Made wrote that the HD Rumble tech was “incredible” and hoped third-party developers would get on board.