Nintendo Switch

[MayImilae]

What were the big experimental choices Nintendo made each gen? Let's go through it! Not including accessories unless included with the system at some point.

NES - Making a video game system at all after the 83 north american crash, Dpad controls (technically the game and watch did it first but this was the first true video game system with one), Rob
SNES - Shoulder buttons (it's hard to think today that was a crazy idea, but it was unheard of before the SNES!) Diamond arrangement face buttons (also a brand new idea that's now ubiquitous)
N64 - Joystick, 3D infrastructure (it's much more like a modern system than a PS1 or Saturn, which work the same as the SNES+3DFX), Rumble
GameCube - Controller design, cube form factor, TEV system
Wii - Motion controls with beginning of sensor fusion, pointer controls, remote + nunchuk controller design
Wii U - Wii U gamepad, dual screen gameplay in the living room
Switch - switch between console and handheld seamlessly. Joycon. HD rumble (though that is borrowed from like the taptic engine, still new to consoles though)

Honestly, the only except to the Nintendo experimentation line is probably the Game Boy line. After the Game Boy revolutionized hand held gaming, the Pocket, Color, and even the beloved Game Boy Advance are all very iterative on the base Game Boy idea. Then of course the DS, 3DS, and Switch are true to Nintendo form.