by
Emily Rogers - February 15, 2019, 1:05 pm PST
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The breadcrumbs have been laid out and sources have told us VR could be coming to Switch soon.
Nintendo World Report believes that Nintendo could make its first VR-related announcement as early as this year, according to multiple sources. We also believe that a small, select number of traditional first-party software titles may receive VR support in the not-so-distant future. While this news may surprise some, Switch’s VR capabilities have been public knowledge for quite some time. Last year, CNET reported that data miners had
discovered a screen-splitting “VR mode” hidden within Switch’s system firmware.
Over the years, Nintendo executives have tried to downplay the company’s interest in VR.
In an interview last year, Philippe Lavoue, Managing Director of Nintendo France, expressed doubts that VR can appeal to the mainstream. “Consumers are not patient with entertainment if you’re not able to deliver an all-inclusive package,” said Lavoue.
However, there is mounting evidence that suggests Nintendo is actually very interested in the technology. In June 2016,
Digitimes reported that Nintendo had delayed Switch’s launch to March 2017 to enhance the console with Virtual Reality (VR) capabilities. During that same year, it was also revealed that Nintendo had filed a
patent application for a head-mounted display that could house Switch’s tablet screen.