Multiple sources are saying that the FTC testing for the Nintendo Switch show no signs of 3G or LTE support, and no way swap for a larger battery.

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2016/12/28/nintendo-switch-to-support-bluetooth-and-5ghz-wi-fi-no-3g-or-lte/

http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/news/nintendo-switch-possibly-region-free-does-not-have-3g-or-lte-support-1642707

This is highly dissapointing news to me. The Switch is the first Nintendo console I have been looking forward to for a long time. I still really like the concept, but without any kind of mobile connectivity, I just reall don't see the purpose of this being a portable device. The absolute refusal from both Sony and Nintendo to offer connectivity to their portable devices blows my mind. In a day and age where you can get data plans for the Kitchen sink, this is a major low blow to those that support devices built for games and entertainment.

Hopefully, this is not the full story, and we will learn more come January 12th. I have not fully given up on the Switch, yet, but if it lacks mobile data, then even if I do buy it, it will go from a device I planned to use daily, to a device, I will only use for the rare Nintendo exclusive.

Wouldn't that kind of functionality needlessly drive up the cost of the device, considering Wi-Fi would be much better for playing any kind of multiplayer game?

But what about playing Mario Run on the go?

You don't always have access to Wifi. LTE would have been good for downloading games and just general function as well.

OT: The rumor was that LTE would be limited to a higher priced item. I'm very disappointed in this.

That would only make sense to include.. if Switch was a phone to..

Just like gps and other things.. Switch will just use the smartphone in peoples pocket.

I think they will make some kind off app for phones.. that gives acces to all these things

Good. I don't want to play with people with shit reception. Smash Bros already has issues against people with wifi. Playing with people with 3g/LTE that have shit reception would be even more horrible. Specially the latency. People that think that 3g/LTE online play would be a good thing for serious online gaming need to get off their koolaid. One day we might be there but that day is decades away.

No upgradable battery is a bummer but exactly how many tablets have removable battery these days? Not saying its a good thing but certainly not out of the norm.

who the hell wanted this? it'd just drive up costs and make lag even worse...


Oh, and the switch uses usb-c. Just use a portable battery or something. i'm sure 3rd party accessories will get very creative with that.

Hopefully the rumor of it charging fast is true. But im at least glad that I can charge it while im on a Computer or laptop and using my portable chargers.

3G would have been an awesome addition...... but I want this thing as cheap as it can be. I dont think it work to well for the Vita?

Nope, 3G/LTE hardly costs a thing. The cost is in monthly data charges.

The problem is, the few people that use it on the go will have to tether with their smartphone, which is connected via 4G, and that will cause even more problems.

As above, this will only cause more issues. 

The thing is this adds even an additional layer of latency to things, because now people will have to connect to wifi via there LTE smartphone. 

This is extreamly bad news if true. Without 3G/LTE very few people are ever going to use this thing outside of the house. Those that do will be forced to tether to their phone for online gaming and network features. This will be even more of an issue for Nintendo and the online gaming community.

I don't see Switch taking off without simple network connectivity. If this is true Nintendo has dug themselves a massive hole. The core gaming community may see this as a positive, but from a mass market perspective, this thing has very little potential without mobile network capabilties.

1) Lol wut? That doesn't even make any sense... The only way that people will play online now is via wifi which has extremely less lathency than LTE. I doubt majority of people even use their phones as wifi hotspots to begin with except in rare cases and I highly doubt they will do it with the Switch.

2) Or better yet, they won't at all so the rest of us won't suffer. How is it going to be more of an issue for the online gaming community? Cause guess what? Now we don't have to deal with people with horrible reception lagging all our games. If you mean chatting with our friends, people have phones anyway. This isn't meant to be a phone replacement by any means.

3) Yea cause the 3ds totally didn't take off without 3g/LTE. And it does have simple network connectivity, its called wifi... Guess what, the Vita had a version that had 3g connectivity which was AT&T exclusive. Guess how well the vita sold? Oh thats right, horribly. Guess how much the 3ds sold without that functionality... A shit ton better. 3G/LTE isn't going to determine the success of the device, the games and other things will.