In a video today, Nintendo introduced Nintendo Switch Lite, a device designed specifically to play Nintendo Switch games in handheld mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite system launches Sept. 20 at a suggested retail price of $199.99 and will be available in three different colors: yellow, gray and turquoise. A carrying case and screen protector set for Nintendo Switch Lite will also be available.
Adding Nintendo Switch Lite to the lineup gives gamers more color and price point options,” said Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser. “Now consumers can choose the system that best suits how they like to play their favorite Nintendo Switch games.”
The flagship Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017 and offers three different play modes: playing in TV mode by placing the system into a Nintendo Switch dock, playing cooperatively or competitively in tabletop mode by sharing Joy-Con controllers and playing in handheld mode. The system comes with either Gray Joy-Con controllers or Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con controllers.
Nintendo Switch Lite has integrated controls and is smaller than the flagship version of Nintendo Switch. It has no kickstand and, as a dedicated handheld gaming device, does not support video output to a TV. Therefore, it does not come with a dock or HDMI cable. For a full list of the differences between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite, visit https://www.nintendo.com/switch/compare.
The new device can play all games in the robust Nintendo Switch library that support handheld mode*, although some games will have restrictions. Compatible game modes will be listed on the back of game packaging and in Nintendo eShop.
Source: Nintendo of America
This is Nintendo’s biggest error in the last years. If you take away tha ability to play on the go AND docked, then you loose the system’s biggest feature.
Mistake*, sorry.
Counterargument, here’s an affordable switch I can buy my kid sister on Christmas.
And counter argument again: My mom now has an affordable console that she want’s to buy to play Animal Crossing on.
another counterargument, it’s an OPTION. Not like it makes current Switch owners feel cheated or want to get it.
This seems like just a replacement to the 3DS and not in competition to the main Switch and this feature. Most of us who still want an actual TV gaming console will of course prefer the original model and/or wait for the Pro version that’s been rumored.
I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration and I don’t see it as a mistake at all. Whilst it has no interest to me as I’m more than happy with my normal Switch, there have been plenty of people wanting a cheaper handheld only Switch since it launched so I expect it to clean up this Christmas and continue to do well into the future. Great decision imo
It might be cheaper than the standard Switch, but $200 still isn’t very affordable. I paid $200 for the Hylian Shield 2DS XL back when it released, and that really hurt me that month.
Not only that but if you wanna play a game that doesn’t play in handheld or need multplayer with friends your going to end up forking over enough money to get the real deal, the switch lite looks good and it has a great price but the biggest mistake it has is it’s features, this is something that will most likely sell during the holidays though.
A ridiculous take. This isn’t a product for you. This is a product for kids who don’t have a switch and will want to play the new Pokemon, but their parents are hesitant because of the cost. There are a whole lot of those customers. This is a 0 risk venture. There’s no way they spend more making a cheaper console than they make on the sales to parents of small children. It doesn’t have to outsell or match the standard Switch’s sales. How can it possibly be their “biggest error in the last years” when they stand to lose virtually nothing by it, even if it doesn’t take off? At absolute worst, it doesn’t sell and they are stuck with inventory, but since we don’t know how many they’re producing for the initial release, that might not be a risk at all either.
I dont think it’s an error. Here is why it breaks things further for future Switch owners what a person really prefers equally handheld/TV or just Handheld. They can still buy a joycon and connect with regular Switch for playing with. It will be fine.
Yeah, maybe i was a little bit harsh, but still think that it was not the best Decision. Yes your kids will have a new one, but when he is going to be with friends and playing multiplayer, they will miss the Switch main funtion, that is to be a system that can be played docked and on the go
Not really I and a lot of friends have been waiting for an only handheld console,I own a ps4,an xbox and a pc I don’t need another home console to gather dust,sure there are some games like zelda that look better or are straight up only in dock mode,but I also know that a lot of people don’t care for those games but for games like octopath and the world ends with you,that work perfectly on handheld mode. It’s the BEST decision they could have done
I play in 100% handheld mode anyways, when I play alone. I only have it docked on tv when I take it to friend’s houses for parties. So for me, this is perfectly fine. I can get a Lite for the D-Pad and for when I travel, which I do semi-regularly. And, since I already have a regular Switch, I can still take that to parties and play on their tv’s normally. Granted, I’ll have 2. But still, even if I didn’t have the regular Switch, this would still work perfectly well for me.
Same with me. I play handheld way more than on TV. But I still dont need it and here is why?
Even if it does support the joy Cons, how you going to play it without a kickstand? How are you going to play Super Smash Bros. ? You cant even play Smash bros that good with Joy Cons.
Not my deal, but this should appeal to parents wanting something to give their younger kids.
The only game I play in handheld mode TWEWY, everything else is docked
Not for me but that D-Pad and Yellow color are AWESOME. However I’m one of those folks with friends and I enjoy the coach co-op on TV. For other games I like to chill back and use handheld by myself. I didn’t think much of the versatility at first before buying the Switch but now it’s my favorite feature. I use both options often.
Wait, holy shit. It has a D-pad? I didn’t look closely enough. *runs back*. Well I’ll be damned. They fixed the crappy joycons. I might just buy this thing *just* for the D-pad.
This is making me feel that, if the lite version doesn’t have docked mode, maybe the pro version It wouldn’t be portable, but a powerful home console, and the original Switch can still be that the neutral console, ideal for switch from one to another way of gaming.
Basically just a replacement for 3DS, and a more affordable option for parents to get for their kids.
Despite all that, removing the option to dock it destroys the Switch’s best unique quality.
But, eh, whatever. I think we all saw this coming. That turquoise color does look nice. I hope they have colors like that for a future pro version of the system (if it ever happens).
That’s how I see it. I see it as a 3DS . But I wish it could play 3DS tittles even if it went from $199 to $249 just to have the 3Ds console embedded in there. It would still give the “Switch ” name meaning.
Now you can take two consoles on the go with one. Your Switch and 3DS at the same time? But they didnt think of it when the Switch mini was in R&D.
It also could have gave. Developers a choice to still work on 3DS games if they wanted to. So then even us Switch Owners would still need a Switch Mini.
They could had made the Switch Mini more worthwhile than just a joyconless Switch.
it could be a replacement for the 3DS but Nintendo might stop supporting the system.
It looks like a god damn PS Vita ripoff. Wtf…
Yeah except PS Vita actually had Netflix
Yeah, except this will actually have games.
Well it actually just looks like the Switch but with the joy con integrated. How else did you expect it to look?
I was expecting it to not look like some Chinese knock-off?
“I was expecting it to not look like some Chinese knock-off?”
It’s aimed at kids. Do you know many children’s toys that sport the grey and black motif these days?
Waste of money.
It looks like a Wii U Gamepad
Lol it does
I… don’t need it.
Nice for the people looking for options. I would like a revised or more powerful switch with the improved pad and better battery life
Why is it called Switch if it can’t be docked? This must confuse big segments of the marked.
This is pretty neat, although I’d be a bit dubious because I’ve worn out the analogue stick on the left joycon and had to change it due to playing way too much smash bros. Being a complete console would be more expensive to replace.
This is pretty neat although I’d be a bit dubious as I’ve had to replace the left joy con from wearing out the analogue switch from playing way too much smash bros. As this is a whole unit gona be more expensive to replace.
Do NOT make me shift over to newer models for newer games/features (or else it’s the New Nintendo 3DS all over again)
Did you not enjoy Sega CD 32X games?
What are you talking about?
It really ought to have some TV cable you can buy separately. I love the look of these things, and the price point is very attractive, but no TV mode is a deal breaker.
*Sees it has no detachable Joy-Cons and no TV connectivity or HD rumble*
To be honest; I’m rather disappointed.
And for the record; I blame those “Switch Mini” mockups for giving Nintendo that idea.
I love the colors and general design of the Switch Lite, and the price point is very attractive, but no TV option? That’s the whole point of a Switch…
How are people going to play Mario Party, Smash, Mario Kart, or many other huge multiplayer games without that? It can technically play all the games but it really can’t if it can’t connect to a TV.
I get it’s made that way so it can be cheaper, but this thing would be an instant buy for me and a lot of my friends and family that were looking for getting 2+ consoles per household if there was a separate $10-20 cable I could purchase to plug it into my TV.
It looks like it has the same plug on the bottom, so does that work the cables in the dock and if I already have a dock in my household I can just take the cord out of it and use it to have a Switch Lite go to TV mode? If it’s not, they should patch that, or just release a cheaper dockless full-size Switch with more color options…
I guess if it was using the TV it would kill regular Switch sells.
🙄🙄🙄 They could have announced that at E3…. Nintendo did that out of pure spite of the rumors.
lol I have to agree. Petty Nintendo.
I didn’t want to believe it was coming.
A Switch that doesn’t “switch” between it’s three modes? A Switch that doesn’t fit in Labor? And mostly, a Switch that doesn’t properly play Mario Odyssey, Mario Party, Pokemon Let’s Go and Arms? It just doesn’t make sense.
It would had made more sense if the Switch Mini had a 3DS slot. So if developers wanted to make games for 3DS they still could have or be able to play 3DS games too.
I hope the rumored Switch Pro can do that.
Of course it won’t be able to!?
You’ve never heard of a 2DS then or the other times when Nintendo released a cheaper version of a system and removed features from it. Surprised by the reactions on here tbh
Right? They’ve done this many, many times. The Wii Mini was a stripped down Wii. The DSi cut the GBA slot. The Snes Jr. did not output RGB video. The Toploading NES was RF only. I suspect a lot of the reacts here are from people just old enough now to pay attention to the news as it happens for the first time. No judgement. Just a guess.
Very surprised and perplexed by the majority of reactions to this announcement. Fine the name doesn’t really make sense with this one but outside of that I don’t understand any of the issues with it. It quite clearly states that this is aimed at people who are only interested in a handheld Switch therefore the fact it can’t connect to a TV, do multiplayer on a TV or the Switch screen and do anything else like connect with Labo is irrelevant. It’s another option at a reduced price with features removed that reflect that reduced price. It sounds like a lot of people just want a Switch at a cheaper price with no concessions. You’ll probably have to wait a bit if that’s what you want. I see this Lite doing really well.
Don’t worry. If Switch Pro gets announced soon, too, there will be people upset by that one being more pricey than the base Switch. Might even complain if the Switch Pro forgoes the handheld mode and is purely for TV play.
Don’t like the Lite or Pro’s lack of switching, there is good news! You can buy a base Switch that has the switching ability!
Looks nice, but I’d be a bit dubious considering I’ve had to already replace my left joy con from the analogue stick playing up from too much smash bros.
As a whole unit would be too expensive to replace.
Looks nice, but I’ve had to replace my left joy con already from way too much smash bros.
Wouldn’t like to replace a whole unit.
This is one of these times where I have to defend a company. Why upset by the Lite’s lack of a TV mode? Just stick to the base Switch then. It definitely does sound like people just wanted a cheaper Switch without any drawbacks to the base Switch’s ability to switch between handheld & TV mode. In that case, I suggest asking for Nintendo to drop the price of the base Switch then. Of course, it’s not gonna happen since we all know the Switch is selling well & consoles that sell well rarely have a price cut. In which case, better go to eBay, GameStop, or your local pawn shop & see if you can buy a used Switch for a cheaper price. … Okay, maybe not GameStop for a used Switch since they’d probably sell it for just 20 bucks less.
20 bucks less than a brand new Switch.*
I know right?
Holy Crow they made a Switch Lite in Yellow….
i’ll buy one, depending on what all was either cut or left onto the system.
I would take a SuperSwitch any day.
this looks promising to us. I like it.
I’m perfectly happy with my switch and il be major hyped when and if they do a more powerful version, but for now I’ve owned every Nintendo console/handheld from the nes so I’m gona get one and def use it. Hopefully will be able to link accounts with my current switch as I have a stack of digital games ( and I wonder if save data could be mirrored?)
Also as links awakening is releasing 20th sept too I wonder if there will be a bundle. My birthday is actually the 19th so I might change it the 20th and get my Mrs to get me this combo. £250 though!!
No TV out is a deal breaker. Handheld mode on the regular switch is terrible and I would’ve traded it in for a mini any day, but not if I can’t connect to tv
This is great news! My kids are always wanting to play my Switch or they play it and drain my battery so when I want to play it it’s dead. Now I can buy them their own Switch.
So….how are people supposed to play Super Mario Party on this if the Joy-Cons don’t detach? Does it work with a separate set of Joy-Cons?
For games that do not support handheld mode, players can wirelessly connect compatible controllers (sold separately) to Nintendo Switch Lite. If using separate Joy-Con controllers, users will need to have a device to recharge them, such as the Joy-Con Charging Grip.
I know I’m probably late to the party on this but, the fact that Nintendo of America President’s last name is Bowser is just too perfect.