When Nintendo released the Wii back in 2006, there was a lot of head scratching over the choice of name. The Wii was meant to embrace people playing together, so the emphasis was on "we." Nintendo used that word as a starting point for the name, but changed it to Wii as the use of "ii" represented two people standing together playing, but also the Wii Remote and Nunchuk.
So why did Nintendo decide to call its next home console/portable gaming device Switch?
In Japan there is a games magazine called Nintendo Dream. As part of its latest issue, Nintendo Dream includes answers to a number of questions it sent Nintendo regarding the Switch. One of those questions asked them to explain the name.
Nintendo Everything translated the answers, and it turns out there's two reasons for opting to use the word "switch." The first is the most obvious one and relates to the dual use of the console. Nintendo sees Switch as representing "change," more specifically, "the ability to seamlessly 'switch' between the TV screen and Switch's screen."
The second reason is to do with another change, this one related to the overall experience of play. Nintendo describes it as, "embodying the idea of being a 'switch' that will flip, and change the way people experience entertainment in their daily lives."
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It's clear from these responses and the overall design of the Switch that Nintendo is attempting to break down a few gaming barriers with its new platform. We've always viewed console and portable gaming as separate pursuits, but the Switch is both at the same time. No matter what situation you are in, at home or away, the Switch will be available to entertain you.
Although we will have to wait until January 12 for more details regarding the Switch hardware and launch games line-up, I think these answers do point to something we all suspect: Nintendo not only intends to replace the Wii U with the Switch, but also the 3DS. There's just no point in announcing that, because the 3DS is still a very popular portable device. However, how much of a future it has left depends entirely on how popular the Switch ends up being next year.