Nintendo finally confirms the launch date for its long-awaited Nintendo Switch console, giving gamers time to plan their schedules around the upcoming March release.

For consumer, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride composed of rumors and speculation following the official reveal trailer for Nintendo's new console, the Nintendo Switch. However, one thing that's remained steadfast throughout it all is the platform's March release window, which Nintendo has confirmed a number of times it remained on track to hit. Fortunately for those that have been waiting for the Switch's eventual release with bated breath, the house of Mario finally narrowed down on an exact date for fans to drop their hard-earned dollars on the device.

Through an official presentation, expertly titled 'Nintendo Switch Presentation', the hardware manufacturer confirmed to the masses that the next iteration of its hardware will officially be arriving on March 3, 2017 in North America. This goes against a leaked retail listing for the Nintendo Switch, which prematurely ousted the placeholder date. While gamers now have a date to mark on their calendars though, they'll have to ensure that they have enough in their budget to afford the modestly priced console now that the Nintendo Switch's price point has also been revealed.

For many, this date will seem a lot earlier than previously believed. Despite consumers knowing that the release would occur in March 2017, the very beginning of the month didn't strike many as a possibility. Still, Nintendo surprised everyone with the news, demonstrating that it still had a few tricks left up its sleeve for the big showcase. Of course, fans were placing their real attention on the platform's pending Year One library.

While the system itself will be making its way to market sooner rather than later, some of the titles announced are still a little ways off. For example, the newly revealed Super Mario Odyssey isn't slated to arrive until Holiday 2017, while Splatoon 2 is currently slated for a Summer 2017 release. Even then, the general reaction to this date seems to be positive, but whether or not this date pays dividends for Nintendo's sales forecast will remain to be seen.

Of course, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be available on March 3rd as well, which should bode well for fans that were concerned that the title would miss launch. Admittedly, it's a rather difficult exclusive to top for Nintendo and its new Switch console.

The Nintendo Switch will arrive in North America on March 3, 2017.