Nintendo Switch touch screen seen in action for the first time

Nintendo has been pretty coy about details of its Switch "convertible" console. It wasn't until recently that it even officially revealed, though not exactly announced with gusto, that the tablet-like device is, indeed, a tablet with a touch screen. Nintendo seems to downplay that part of the Switch in order to focus on its Joy-con controllers, but that's not going to stop anyone from wondering about it. Fortunately, some from Skylanders, accidentally or otherwise, gave the world its first glimpse at that oh so smooth touch interaction.

There's a saying that goes "if you've got it, flaunt it" but Nintendo is clearly not adopting that outlook. While its specs for the Switch does mention a 6.2-inch touch screen, it doesn't go into much detail about that. We had to scour other sources to learn of its 720p resolution or its touch controller made by Immersion.

So when you actually see the touch screen in action, you're sure it's a rare sighting. At around 6:36 in the video below, you get to see Skylanders Imaginators being controlled with nothing but touch. No controllers.

There could be various reasons why Nintendo is opting to be mum on the touch screen, but it probably boils down to image. Nintendo probably wants to distance the Switch from taking on a mobile image, despite its mobility, or, worse, a Wii U image. It will most likely require that games and apps be driven entirely using the Joy-con controllers and only optional with touch.

The next question is whether that screen will also support a sort of stylus. Such an accessory would make something like Mario Maker a wonderful thing on the Switch, presuming the game even makes it to the Switch.

VIA: IGN