Nintendo Labo is a new DIY way to play games on the Switch
Nintendo has revealed a whole new lineup of video game accessories for the Switch ... and they're all made of cardboard.
Nintendo Labo is a new line of accessories that allow players to transform their Switch console and Joy-Con controllers into new ways to play. The different Labo creations (called Toy-Cons) include one that turns the Joy-Con into a fishing rod and another that turns the Switch into a 13-key piano. They all require a bit of DIY construction and interact with the console in different ways.
Nintendo Labo takes advantage of the infrared motion camera in the right Joy-Con to detect what's happening with the cardboard creations and translate it into a game. For instance, with the Toy-Con Piano, when players press down a key, the Joy-Con will sense it and trigger that note in the game you're playing.
Nintendo Labo is launching with two different kits, the Variety Kit and the Robot Kit. The Variety Kit contains multiple Toy-Cons, including the Toy-Con Fishing Rod, the Toy-Con Piano, two Toy-Con RC Cars, a Toy-Con Motorbike, and a Toy-Con House. The Robot Kit turns your Switch and Joy-Cons into a Toy-Con Robot that allows you to control a robot with a backpack on your back, a visor on your head, and straps for your hands and feet.
One of the most interesting Toy-Cons is the one that turns a pair of Joy-Cons into an RC Car that you control with the Switch's touch screen. Instead of using wheels to move around, the Toy-Con RC Car uses the controllers' HD rumble feature to move via vibrations.
The Toy-Con House is basically a cardboard house that's home to a cute creature you can interact with and feed, like a souped-up tamagotchi.
For fans of racing games, the Toy-Con Motorbike turns the Joy-Cons into handlebars which you twist and turn to control a motorbike on the Nintendo Switch's screen.
The Variety Kit and Robot Kit, which are $69.99 and $79.99 respectively, come with all the necessary components — including software — to work. Both kits launch on April 20.
Nintendo Labo is one of the first projects on the Nintendo Switch that utilizes the right Joy-Con's infrared motion sensor outside of a few of the minigames in the launch game 1-2-Switch.
Nintendo Labo is being marketed toward younger gamers, but there's no reason an adult wouldn't enjoy putting together their own cardboard fishing rod for some indoor angling. Or outdoor angling, because the Switch is portable.
On top of the announced Toy-Cons, the reveal video appears to tease a few other Labo creations — including one that looks like a camera and one that looks like a gun.
Topics Gaming Nintendo Nintendo Switch Innovations
