Nintendo Switch listed for 399 Euros on GameStop

While most retailers like EB Games Australia command outrageous $725 Nintendo Switch pre-order prices, GameStop Italy has opted for a more conservative price of just 399 Euros.

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GameStop Italy has listed Nintendo's new Switch handheld-and-console hybrid for 399 Euros, which could indicate the system's actual launch price. In this case, the MSRP of specific hardware is typically priced the same across Europe and the U.S., so if the Switch costs 399 Euros, it'll be priced at $399 in the United States as well. However, it is worth noting that GameStop Italy doesn't confirm the actual pricing, and this could be a placeholder: "the official release date will be announced later. In the event that the price will be lower it will be refunded the difference," reads a disclaimer on the listing.

We've originally reported the Nintendo Switch could release in two SKUs--a $249 basic bundle and a $299 deluxe bundle--but $399 is the same price of a PlayStation 4 Pro that offers upscaled 4K gaming and performance that, quite frankly, will likely wipe the floor with the Nintendo Switch.

Read Also: Nintendo Switch GPU hits 302MHz on the go, full 768MHz while docked

Expected Nintendo Switch specs and performance

(Note: most of this information has not been officially confirmed)

Console Mode

• Chip type: highly-customized, revamped Tegra, possbily 20nm Maxwell or 16nm Pascal
• Power: USB Type-C, charged docked
• Video out: HDMI
• GPU clock: 768MHz (max, could be variable based on game/app/program, won't always hit max perf)
• CPU clock: 1020MHz (consistent perf)
• System RAM: 4GB unified memory (unified VRAM and DRAM)
• Resolution output: native 1080p switched over from handheld's 720p resolution
• Unreal Engine 4 GFX display settings: High

Handheld Mode

• Chip type: highly-customized, revamped Tegra, possbily 20nm Maxwell or 16nm Pascal
• Power: USB Type-C, external charger
• Video out: N/A
• GPU clock: downclocked to 302MHz (maximum based on game/app/program, won't always hit max perf)
• CPU clock: 1020MHz (consistent perf)
• System RAM: 4GB unified memory (unified VRAM and DRAM)
• Battery Life: ~3 Hours?
• Resolution output: 720p resolution in 6.2-inch tablet handheld
• Unreal Engine 4 GFX display settings: Medium

Nintendo Switch Info and Specs

• Nintendo Switch handheld tablet uses non-removable, rechargable 3.7V Li-Ion battery
• Both 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi supported
• No LTE/cellular internet support
• USB Type-C confirmed
• No Ethernet port in the Switch cradle/dock, requires USB-to-ethernet adapter, compatible with Wii's LAN adapter
• Switch handheld supports MicroSD for expanded memory
• Laptops can be hooked directly to the cradle
• Detachable JoyPad controllers are connected via Bluetooth
• Low-power Bluetooth, likely Bluetooth 4.0 +
• AC Adapter output (from dock to handheld) DC 5 V - DC 15 V, 2.6 A - Switch has max power draw of 39W while charging on cradle, supports Type-C quick-charge*
• AC Adapter input (from wall to dock) AC 100 - 240 V, 50 / 60 Hz, 1 A - standardized power, hinting the Switch may be region-free (the Wii U's adapter, however, is similarly rated and isn't region-free)

*Basic formula to convert volts to watts is Watts = Volts x Amps, so we plug in the Switch's 15V times the 2.6A to get 39W, meaning the Switch will draw a max of 39W while docked.

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So why cover this if we're pretty sure it's a placeholder and the Switch won't cost $399?

The real story here is how much cheaper GameStop Italy's pre-order price is than other retailers, and that the chain is even opening up pre-orders at all. But at the same time, pre-orders aren't that premature considering Nintendo will unveil Switch pricing, launch date, games and more at a special event on January 13.

Other European retailers like Argos have opened up affordable Nintendo Switch pre-orders. In fact, Argos is charging 299 GBP for Switch pre-orders, which fits right into our previous reports. Again, Argos' 299 GBP pricing should translate to $299 USD due to the typical MSRP policies; but if the actual conversions were applied, the Switch would go for about $350.

I don't expect to see GameStop's U.S. branch open up pre-orders until Nintendo announces the official pricing tier, so don't get too excited and start calling around your local stores.

The Nintendo Switch will release March 2017, and check below for a massive catalog of everything we know about the console so far.

Everything we know about Nintendo Switch so far:

• Nintendo Switch to get 'lots' of Unreal Engine 4 games
• Nintendo Switch adverts go up, delay unlikely
• EA only bringing a 'game or two' to Nintendo Switch

• Nintendo Switch certified for Vulkan and OpenGL 4.5
• Nintendo Switch portable GPU speeds halved to 302MHz, docked GPU speeds only hit 768MHz max
• Nintendo Switch has higher GPU, CPU perf while docked?
• Nintendo Switch may support head-tracking mobile VR
• Nintendo Switch switches to full 1080p while docked
• Nintendo Switch to have Gamecube Virtual Console games
• Nintendo Switch listed at $245, to release March 17?
• Porting games over to Nintendo Switch might be easy
• Nintendo Switch to get full HD Pokemon Sun and Moon port
• Nintendo Switch price to start at $249, deluxe at $299
• Nintendo Switch launch games teased, 2017 will be huge
• Nintendo Switch to let you play modded Skyrim on-the-go
• Zelda Breath of the Wild may not be a Switch launch game
• Nintendo Switch may have 4GB unified memory pool
• Nintendo Switch handheld delivers console-quality gaming
• 3DS won't be cannibalized by new Switch console, Nintendo President confirms
• Nintendo Switch to have wide array of hardware add-ons
• Nintendo Switch may use USB Type-C for power
• Nintendo Switch has 6-inch 720p display with 10-point capacitive multi-touch
• Nintendo investors hate the Switch hybrid
• Everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo's new transforming handheld console hybrid
• Nintendo to reveal Switch pricing, specs, launch games and more on January 12, 2017
• 3DS won't be cannibalized by Switch, says Nintendo
• Nintendo Switch gameplay graphics and features are subject to change
• Nintendo Switch is single-screen only, says Nintendo
• Nintendo Switch to launch only as complete bundle
• Nintendo expect 2 million Switch console sales at launch
• Nintendo Switch may have extra power while docked
• Nintendo Switch isn't backward compatible with Wii U games
• Nintendo Switch's battery may only last 3 hours?
• Nintendo won't reveal full Switch console specs until 2017
• Nintendo Switch gets a much-needed splash of color
• Nintendo's new Switch console powered by NVIDIA Tegra
• Nintendo Switch may sport dedicated game video recording
• Skyrim hasn't yet been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch