A Japanese police officer got into big trouble after he was too busy playing Nintendo Switch while on duty.
In a rather tragic story, a Japanese police officer recently got into trouble after being reported for playing Nintendo Switch while on duty at the Tenri Police Station. Nintendo's handheld/home console hybrid took the world by storm after its release, quickly becoming a hot product from an iconic Japanese game studio. Switch has sold more than 130 million units during the 7 years since its launch, ranking in the top 5 best-selling game consoles of all time. So it seems that attraction fascinated this cop and his love for gaming consoles got him into trouble.
Since the Switch's launch, Nintendo has positioned the console as a top draw for families with gamers of all ages. Nintendo's biggest brands are also concentrated here, with Super Mario and Pokemon being among the many attractive game lines for all ages. Nintendo's family approach even extends to award shows, with Super Mario Bros. Last year's Wonder won the “Best Family Game” award at The Game Award 2023. Through all that, it is not difficult for gamers to love this series, but a recent story is a reminder for gamers. Fans should always keep their love for Nintendo consoles in check.
As Dexerto reports, a police officer with the Tenri Police Station in Japan's Nara prefecture was recently reprimanded for playing their Nintendo Switch while on duty. According to the report, the officer used the Switch in the police station's break room multiple times while on shift, for a total of 17 hours. The misconduct was discovered during an inspection of the police department's break room, which found the Switch still connected to the TV. The police department confirmed that they will deduct the hours spent playing Switch from this police officer's salary.
This Japanese police officer's violation, in a positive light, is an interesting testament to the widespread popularity of Nintendo handheld game consoles. The second half of 2023 and early 2024 will see many major releases for Nintendo consoles, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario RPG. Nintendo also has a number of high-end games set to launch in the coming months, with Princess Peach: Showtime launching last weekend and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD launching in June.
While the Nintendo Switch remains one of the most beloved platforms in gaming, leaks and rumors have begun to reveal the console's successor. The rumored “Switch 2” is expected to have superior hardware compared to Sony's PS4, while maintaining the Switch's fusion of portable and home console design. Rumors also suggest the Switch 2 could launch sooner, with recent insider information suggesting a Q1 2025 release date for the Switch 2. Nintendo's next home console will seeks to build on the Switch's successful elements.