The Nintendo Switch is almost upon us and there seem to be reports that the cartidges taste terrible. While we don’t condone putting such things in your mouth, it seems that the foul taste is quite intentional.
As it turns out, in an effort to discourage people (and children) from accidentally or intentionally putting the things in their mouths. This is new coming from Nintendo, given that their old carts don’t have any particular taste (please don’t go around tasting them anyway).
The new Switch cartridges are actually coated in a bittering agent called Denatonium Benzoate. The material is non-toxic, but tastes foul as a deterrent. The stuff is literally the most bitter substance known to mankind, being 1,000 times bitterer than quinine, and even small quantities will instantly put you off.
Agents like these are often found in products that are poisonous to act as a deterrent, from antifreeze all the way to special kinds of nailpolish that stops people from biting their nails.
The Nintendo Switch hits tomorrow, alongside a handful of much anticipated games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which hopefully will be a lot better than it tastes.
