You may have thought that the Nintendo Switch was the ultimate portable console, but you have not seen anything yet. Nintendo’s Starlight Gaming Station – not in itself a new console, but a special version of the Switch designed for hospitals and healthcare centers – is equipped with 25 games and can be rolled to different rooms.
The Gaming Station, which is the latest collaboration between Nintendo and Starlight, was announced last year at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Washington. The same hospital receives the console, which is available in four designs (Mario, Princess Peach, Yoshi and Donkey Kong), specifically designed to be easily disinfected and cleaned. The 25 games pre-loaded on the Gaming Station include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Party, Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu, Super Mario Odyssey, Stardew Valley, Cuphead and Minecraft. What a trek!
We end with this heartwarming quote from Starlight himself, who says it better than we ever could:
“Play provides happiness to children trapped in the hospital by providing entertainment and much-needed distraction from stressful situations. It can even provide emotional support, leading to reduced anxiety and improved mood.”
Yup, then we’ll just be here and cry in our joys.