The release of the Nintendo Switch is fast approaching. And yet, we’re still getting news about the new console and informing the public on the inner workings of the system.
This past weekend, during the announcement of a Splatoon 2 “Global Testfire” event, Nintendo also announced that the Switch will have a wired LAN mode.
As stated in Nintendo’s press release:
In addition to this, a new feature called LAN Play will be added to Splatoon 2, allowing up to 10 docked systems—eight players and two spectators—to connect via wired LAN. This feature allows players to create local Private Battle tournaments without the need for an Internet connection. Local wireless play is perfect for your regular gaming get-togethers, but LAN Play is where it’s at when you want to organize a serious tournament event with your fellow players.
While this sounds interesting, we must also remember that unlike the PS4 and the Xbox One, the Switch does not have an ethernet port on its TV-connected dock. So, to make use of this feature, you’ll need to purchase a separate USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
The last time Nintendo truly embraced the LAN party was during the Gamecube era. Back then, via LAN cable, you could connect up to eight Gamecubes together, and have a lot of mutiplayer fun with games like Mario Kart: Double Dash.
The Switch will also feature wireless LAN capabilities. In its portable mode, up to eight consoles can be connected — two less than is possible with a wired LAN connection.
We don’t know yet whether or not other games will support that many docked and connected systems, or whether games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will have LAN support at all. But we’ll be sure to keep you updated as more details are released!
