Nintendo Unveils the Switch Lite For The Younger 3DS Audience
The rumors of a smaller and lightweight Switch have turned out to be true and the Nintendo Switch Lite will be released later this year.
Nintendo has released a short video about the new gaming device, a version of the original Switch that is only capable of playing games in handheld mode.
The video and accompanying website reveal a September 20 launch for the Switch Lite, and a price point of $200, $100 less than the standard Nintendo Switch which still retails at $300 currently.
The Switch Lite cannot connect to the TV, but additionally, it now has its Joy-Cons baked into the unit itself, unable to be removed, and the IR sensors for motion controls and HD Rumble are both gone, meaning you still need extra Joy-Cons if you want to play games that use them. Interestingly, the left Joy-Con side now has a D-pad instead of buttons.
The Switch Lite supports any game that has handheld capabilities, and it is able to play games online through Nintendo’s service.
Nintendo is trying to break new ground with the Lite, releasing something into the wild for those that haven’t bought a Switch yet, even if its price point is already on the lower side of what’s available across other consoles. But $200 is high, considering the game roster Nintendo has built up for it, and that these are console quality games on a handheld.
A special Pokémon-themed version of the Nintendo Switch Lite system will be also available in North America starting Nov. 8. The Nintendo Switch Lite Zacian and Zamazenta Edition features stylish cyan and magenta buttons and illustrations of the two new Legendary Pokémon from the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games for Nintendo Switch. This system will be available at a suggested retail price of $199.99, while supplies last.