After the Nintendo Switch system is unveiled to the world during the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 in Tokyo on Jan. 12, Nintendo’s next home gaming system is traveling across North America to provide hands-on time for fans, gamers, families and everyone in between. Nintendo Switch will be the star of an interactive multi-city tour that is open to the public on select days.
The currently scheduled cities that are part of the tour include:
- New York – Jan. 13-15
- Toronto – Jan. 27-29
- Washington, D.C. – Feb. 10-12
- Chicago – Feb. 17-19
- San Francisco – Feb. 24-26
- Los Angeles – March 3-5
The first two days of each of these tour stops is invite-only, but Nintendo is changing things up and asking fans to join the fun on the third day. The Sunday stop of each tour is open free to the public, so anyone that wants to be among the first people in the world to experience Nintendo Switch will have her or his chance. Space is very limited, however, and fans will be let in on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended.
The interactive and engaging tour will let people of all ages experience Nintendo Switch for the first time and play select launch games in very original and surprising settings. Each of these unique areas will highlight the different ways Nintendo Switch can be played.
In addition to these tour stops, Nintendo will bring Nintendo Switch and launch games to PAX South in San Antonio (Jan. 27-29), PAX East in Boston (March 10-12) and SXSW in Austin, Texas (March 16-18). Anyone that misses out on the Preview Tour can catch Nintendo Switch at one of these events.
Additional details about Nintendo Switch will be revealed during the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 on Jan. 12.
Before I read the story I was thinking about how my definition and Nintendo’s definition of “near” probably aren’t the same.
Of course I can’t blame them for not wanting to come to Podunk, FL.
At least for you there isn’t a whole ocean between you two.
Holy Crow it’s coming to Texas at some point…
That’s cool.
Only problem I have with this is that it’d probably cost more for me to drive down to one of these cities, have hotel accommodations, and have meals just to be in town so I can play the Switch than it would for me to just buy the Switch… Oh well, for those already living in those cities or living in cities really close to those cities, that must be very exciting!
One of the sucky things about living in a smaller city is that I ALWAYS get left out of events like this. Because they always go to the same, bigger cities every time.
Do you live somewhere close to them? Chicago is semi far away but a good 5-7 Hours depending on where your at.
No. I’m several hundred (or thousands) of miles from every one of them.
Also, note how it says “very original and surprising settings” and “each of these unique areas will highlight the different ways the Nintendo Switch can be played.” Might give evidence to the VR we saw in the patent actually happening? Who knows, that’d be cool!
Lame to bad it won’t make stop in Indianapolis
I’m surprised that they arnt going to Houston with the super bowl being there
Next me? Fortaleza,Brazil….Please Nintendo!!!!!
Why isn’t it coming to Seattle? Nintendo of America is here, after all. I guess it’s probably better for me not to play it early, because it might hype my anticipation of waiting for its release.
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Yes they added San Antonio, Austin and Boston and two of those cities are close to me!
san antonio and austin, might have to start planning a trip to either since they are the closest to me
Yea NYC I knew it was on on the list.
Too bad the SXSW in Texas is over $1000 per person to attend.
Gah. 1:19pm, I got an email about tickets, I didn’t see it until 1:25pm. They were gone for every day VERY likely thanks to the +1 system where you could invite one guest (and I bet some of these people will try to sell spots, as that +1 needs no ID). I’m on the wait list, but I’d already mapped out a Sunday plan as an emergency backup in case this happened.
Sunday is the public day where anyone can attend without a reservation, meaning it’ll be a verrrrrrrry early get out of bed and subway trip for me.
BTW, the event is NOT at Nintendo World, but at a secret location further downtown.
So, Geelw. . . It’s NOT at the Nintendo World Store in NYC? Ugh. I don’t do well with secret locations. :/
Well, it’s not a hard to get to spot at all (about 20 blocks down from the store – yes, there’s a map) and I can see why it’s not at the store. I’m betting they want no focus on outside distractions and people shopping in the background. That, and I see from the Eventbrite post that the capacity is about 250 people with sessions running three hours each. I don’t think there will be 250 Switch stations, though. Each session seems to be timed so that we get in, play whatever is there, notes get taken by Nintendo reps and we get booted out when time is up.
Ha! I wasn’t expecting it, but I just got an email saying a slot opened up on Saturday from 7-10pm, so yep, I jumped on that and claimed it. I’d have preferred Friday’s first session, but hey – I’m not complaining!
I still may show up Sunday anyway, but I’m thinking of how insane that’s going to be thanks to this year’s Toy Fair running a for-public paid event right next to the trade-only area and how crazy that got in a hurry. Also, the Sunday session isn’t timed, so I’d gather it may be hard to get people off the systems even if the demos are timed. We shall see. Meh, I may stay home on Sunday, as I won’t get back until maybe 11:30pm and the prospect of popping out of bed before 5am to get back downtown at 7am and wait for 3 hours in the cold might keep me under those blankets after all…
Ok. Thanks for the heads up, but there’s four directions, and by “20 blocks from the store”, it could be 20 blocks north, 20 blocks south, 20 blocks east, or 20 blocks west. It’s basically a 1-in-4 guessing game at this point in time. I wonder if it’s possible to see the map? Because if so, I’d be at ease regarding the chances of me getting to the location quickly enough to try out the Switch.
I’m impressed you got an invite to the event. Then again, I don’t live in NY, and my most recent My Nintendo account got started only a few months ago.
According to a post on Reddit that has an FAQ for the event, photos and video can apparently be taken and posted to Social Media. Does that happen to be true?
And one last thing: Thanks for all the help and knowledge. I’m looking forward to trying the Switch for myself, whether it be via an invite-only spot that miraculously opens up, or on Sunday the 15th.
Yes, they’re encouraging attendees to share pics and videos from the event, as that’s the best way to get he word out about the system.Direction-wise, it’s south from the store, but not in a retail space. To be a bit more precise (copy/paste):
The Nintendo Switch system is the star of an interactive multi-city tour providing hands-on time for fans, gamers, families and everyone in between.
This interactive and engaging tour will let people of all ages experience Nintendo Switch for the first time, play select launch games in very original and surprising settings and participate in impromptu competitions. Each of these unique settings will highlight the different ways Nintendo Switch can be played. Space is limited and early arrival is highly recommended.
Ticket is non-transferable.
Important to note: This is a secret venue and is not listed on map programs. The entrance is located one door south of the Hotel Eventi main entrance (towards 29th street).
FAQ’s
What cities will the tour visit and when?
New York – Jan. 13-15
Washington, D.C. – Feb. 10-12
Chicago – Feb. 17-19
Los Angeles – Feb. 24-26
San Francisco – March 3-5
All dates are subject to change
What are the locations and hours of the events?
We will announce the locations and hours in the future.
How do I register to attend?
Friday and Saturday are invite-only events. Sunday is open to the public on a first-come, first served basis and no registration is required.
What is the cost to attend?
There’s no cost to attend – all events are free of charge.
Can I bring friends with me?
You may have the option to register yourself plus one guest depending on your ticket type. If registering a guest, you do not need to provide your guest’s name.
Do I need to print out my ticket(s)?
You can either show your ticket electronically (via the Eventbrite app or on your phone) or print out your ticket.
What if I am unable to register?
If you receive the message that tickets are “sold out”, tickets are no longer available.
If you’re experiencing an error, please refresh the page and try again.
If the error persists, please click on “contact the organizer” via Eventbrite for assistance.
How long can I stay at the venue?
Registered participants: Each session’s times are listed on your ticket. You are welcome to stay as long as you’d like until the end of your session.
Walk-ins (Sunday): You will be allowed entrance on a first come, first serve basis and are welcome to stay as long as you like. Early arrival is strongly encouraged.
How many people can be accommodated during the Sunday walk-in session?
Capacity at each venue varies, with an average of 250.
Are there any age restrictions?
There are no age restrictions, but minors (17 years of age or younger) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
I don’t see my city on the list. Will you be doing additional tours in the future?
We don’t have any additional cities planned at this time.
What games will be featured at the event?
We will announce the game lineup in the future.
Can I take pictures/video? Can I post on social media?
Yes, we’d love for you to share your experience.
What can I do if I registered for an event but can no longer attend?
If you registered via Eventbrite, please cancel your order on the “Tickets” page.
Are my tickets transferrable?
Tickets are non-transferrable.
Do I need to bring an ID?
Yes, please make sure you have ID on you (if you have a guest, your guest does not need to provide ID).
Will there be a coat check?
No – we encourage you to leave anything at home that you do not want to carry around during the event.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for all the help. The (possible) fact that the location is within walking distance of Peen Station is very relieving to me. As the info says, all dates, locations, and times can be subject to change at any time, so I’ll simply wait for more information to be revealed by Nintendo.
Thanks for all the help, geelw. I’m grateful and I’m sure a few others are grateful for this info, but can you confirm if the location you mentioned (Kimpton Hotel Eventi) is the correct location for the public walk-in day?
Well, it may not be IN the hotel, as the note states:”The entrance is located one door south of the Hotel Eventi main entrance (towards 29th street)”. There will very likely be someone stationed outside during the invite sessions just to make sure people aren’t wandering into the wrong place and making the hotel staff nuts with questions.
I’m gathering the hotel’s location is used as a landmark, as it’s *really* easy to find. There’s definitely going to be a line on Sunday if that ends up being the day you attend if you don’t get that email.
If I were going to be invited, I’d have received an email by now. It looks like I’m gonna be standing in line for 3-4 hours – AGAIN. Last time I stood in line for 3+ hours was the Sm4sh demo at the Best Buy in either Woodbridge or Edison, NJ.
That being said, this event will be worth the time, cost, and risk of frostbite. I appreciate all the info you’ve been providing, but I have 1 question: How’d you get all this info?
All that info came from my inbox thanks to Nintendo and Eventbrite. I figure that demystifying most of it is a help to some folks, lo. Anyway, I’m hoping the weather isn’t too cold, but yeah… mid-January generally isn’t supposed to be spring-like. Well, cold I don’t mind as much as windy and cold. If it’s above 30 degrees, I’m happier!
Same here.
I wish they would swing by The Villages/Ocala FL.
Well, Chicago’s about 7 hours away from me here in Des Moines. I suppose that’s doable. With Des Moines being a mid-sized city (too big to call “small”, but not big enough to call “big”), I really doubted they were coming here unless they were doing something crazy like a 100 city tour or something. Usually these things just focus on the “major major” cities, and while not exactly “Podunk” for sure, Des Moines definitely doesn’t fit the bill of some massive national icon city, either, does it?
I suppose Chicago is not a terrible outcome for me all things considered. The rest of the NNR gang and I could carpool there, split the expenses, and check it out together. One of us even drives cross country in a semi for a living, so we can stick all the driving on him! Sorry, Erik! :-D
Though it would’ve been nicer if they could’ve at least swung Minneapolis – it’s about 3-4 hours closer, I know that city so much better (it’s actually surprisingly “Des Moines” feeling, considering the size difference), and my brother lives in a suburb up there, so I could spend a little time with him. You’d think it’d be big enough. But then again, it’s only about half the size of the DC metro, which I believe is the smallest city on this original list (about 3.5mil metro vs about 6 million), so maybe not if their noses are going to be THAT high in the air.
Cheers!
John – Nerd Noise Radio
p.s.my first ever comment on My Nintendo News! :-D
I hope they do a Seattle stop. Hard to see why they wouldn’t. I went to an event thing before the WiiU came out and that was pretty fun. Looking forward to new games :)
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Nintendo has a stop in the Woodbridge Mall in Woodbridge, NJ to demo the Wii U and 3ds a few years ago.
Why couldn’t they go here again?
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