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Nintendo Switch Lite announced at $199, launches September 20th, "dedicated handheld" (smaller, has D-Pad, has gyro, no HD Rumble, no dock/TV output)
- Thread starter NotLiquid
- Start date
It's probably not cost saving at all. The functionality is likely still there and would be more complicated to 'remove' it rather than lock it out by software. This is first and foremost a move to make the regular switch look like a better value proposition.
You seem hostile to the idea people want to buy a system that suits them. Would it bother you if it could dock optionally?
It is a marginal feature set even now, you're right.
The name of the console is a reference to that feature set. We won't be 'switching' anything. It's far worse than even Kinect. It speaks to the strength of Nintendo as a brand, that they can screw up this badly yet again and it doesn't even matter. I wonder if they'll bother with any visionary new concepts with the next platform. They probably still will because by the middle of it's lifespan they can just drop it and it won't even matter.
This definitely isn't for me. I play my Switch docked and handheld and don't see the point in a version that can't do both. On the other hand, my wife really wants the new Animal Crossing and this would probably be a good choice for her since she still plays her 3DS a lot.
..Well Era is more negative on this than I was expecting. A $200 Nintendo Switch Portable is a slam dunk imo. 3DS launched at $250 and the Switch specs are several generations ahead compared to that 240p mess.
Waiting to see if GameSrop does a trade in deal for for this. Gotta dump my One S and hoping for a pretty even swap.
Because to make it aimed at more people costs absolutely nothing? The functionality is a platform level feature of the Tegra.
Two problems I see with this:
1) Most people are not going to check to see if the games that use joy con only will work with the system without extra joy con or not. "Check the back of the box" isn't going to work. I really hope they come up with a better solution to that, or there's gonna be a lot of angry parents around Christmas when they get their kid this and Super Mario Party.
2) $200 seems EXPENSIVE considering the price of a regular Switch and the missing features. It doesn't connect to a TV and doesn't have HD Rumble or the IR sensor. If you want to buy a pair of joy cons for certain games or for multiplayer, that's going to run you an extra $70. That brings it up to almost $270 and at that point, you might as well get the one that lets you connect to the TV if you change your mind for $30 more if that's your plan. (I'll admit that's not who they're targeting but since they're giving you the option to sync the joy con, it's worth pointing out).
Otherwise, pretty cool! Lowers the barrier to entry for people who never plan to dock the thing, the D-pad is a nice feature, longer battery. I don't plan on getting one myself (I play handheld usually but I like being able to remove the controller at anytime if someone wants to play Smash, plus after getting a 1080p TV I've been playing some games docked more often) but it'll be cool to see these out in the wild.
Also the colors are giving me major DS Lite vibes. Good stuff.
1) Most people are not going to check to see if the games that use joy con only will work with the system without extra joy con or not. "Check the back of the box" isn't going to work. I really hope they come up with a better solution to that, or there's gonna be a lot of angry parents around Christmas when they get their kid this and Super Mario Party.
2) $200 seems EXPENSIVE considering the price of a regular Switch and the missing features. It doesn't connect to a TV and doesn't have HD Rumble or the IR sensor. If you want to buy a pair of joy cons for certain games or for multiplayer, that's going to run you an extra $70. That brings it up to almost $270 and at that point, you might as well get the one that lets you connect to the TV if you change your mind for $30 more if that's your plan. (I'll admit that's not who they're targeting but since they're giving you the option to sync the joy con, it's worth pointing out).
Otherwise, pretty cool! Lowers the barrier to entry for people who never plan to dock the thing, the D-pad is a nice feature, longer battery. I don't plan on getting one myself (I play handheld usually but I like being able to remove the controller at anytime if someone wants to play Smash, plus after getting a 1080p TV I've been playing some games docked more often) but it'll be cool to see these out in the wild.
Also the colors are giving me major DS Lite vibes. Good stuff.
TBH the portability was always the most important USP and that's still fine here. Better than ever even. And it looks like that uniqueness will continue long into the future considering the complete lack of any other dedicated portable gaming devices.
I think you can still pair Pro controllers to Switch Lite. Was it confirmed you can't pair Pro controllers?
This doesn't make me want to sell my Switch and buy it, but if I was a new customer I would absolutely get this one. It's just more handy for portable.
Artificial.
Do you seriously think the Lite has the active cooling required to cool down in docked mode?
It is, but the Switch will not have the chips to support it (unlike most smartphone/tablets)
Plus, even if it did, it would look REALLY bad since it won't upscale the resolution at all.
User banned (one day): System wars.
They literally disabled a feature that it literally still in the system hardware but you literally will defend anything Nintendo do since you literally have switch in your display name 😂😂
The high end is on par with many laptops and tablets official "estimated" battery life. The low end is on part with most gaming laptops (FYI I'm saying that's bad).
The "wireless streaming tech" in the Wii U was just a dedicated wireless card in the console that talked to a dedicated wireless card in the controller, plus some software for encoding and decoding and handling data control.
It'd have been totally doable in the Switch if Nintendo were willing to dump two wireless cards in it.
It'd technically still be doable, if Nintendo thought that people would be willing to accept their Switch (and Switch Lite) being offline while streaming.
I think the most likely reason that there won't be any such functionality is that people mostly don't want it.
It's not about saving US$100 though. It's about reaching a price point that makes the console available to people who it wouldn't have been available to at US$300.
The size makes sense I think. I understand the argument for smaller size from a historical perspective, because every Nintendo handheld has had one (or all) form factors with a screen smaller than this, but Nintendo will probably have considered the proliferation of 5.5-inch+ devices, the popularity of the larger DS and 3DS models, the resolution of the screen and need to account for more detailed HUD elements (some games have text that's bordering on too small on a 6.2-inch screen - that'll suck on a 5.5-inch screen but would have been even worse on something much smaller).
It's probably also getting trickier to source good-quality 720p displays in smaller sizes.
No one else is answering this as far as I can see, so I'll give my guess that you can't. I'd expect that the Switch Lite will pretty much have the functionality of a current Switch so won't be usable as a controller for another Switch. Maybe they'll add that in future as a general update though.
I'm not sure why you'd account for a tablet and 2nd Joycon. There'll be people who get everything that they need from this model - they won't feel the need to account for functionality that is extraneous to them.
US$200 might still be pricey for them, yes. I'm not sure what you'd suggest as a solution to that though. There's not much scope for cutting other stuff, they're down to pretty much the bare essentials with this. They will probably aim to reach lower prices eventually.
Trust me, you don't want to see a game dropping below 540p in a big screen. It looks horrible. Like, connecting an old console to a LCD TV with composite and 480i resolution kind of horrible.
Sure it will sell like crazy but that's none of my concern, not a shareholder, don't own a store.
It's a hard pass for me. At least get me a TV Out...
It's a hard pass for me. At least get me a TV Out...
Paying $200 for the "privilege" of having the Wii U 2. You're a crazy bastard, Soap. I like it.
I guess you will be able to, would be strange if you couldn't, but does it have a stand and that's not very practical when in a car or a plane.
Yes, and a dock can have a fan in it. The differential is not massive, and the Switch lite can just run at handheld mode on a TV if it really has to (it does not).
Ignore us, for we are the bubbles.
I'm personally happy they have the Switch Lite at a more affordable price.
Seeing as there's no public hack for even ipatched Switch's you'll be waiting a while...
External cooling does not have the same effect on thermals at all.
Apart from Mario Party and Nintendo Labo, every Switch game supports handheld mode.
No, this isn't to me, this is based on what we know objectively about both systems.
Also, bold claim to make considering that the 3DS (most recent example) had each new iteration that sold less than the previous. Especially when you ignore the fact that the Switch right now is at 35mil sold. Pokemon and Animal Crossing by themselves, are not enough to surpass 35 million units sold (most like 40mil now considering the information was released in April).
The two indents are really weird, yes. Maybe for protection case.
I already have a switch and the lite is perfect for my GF. But she wants to be able to play Pokemon on TV if she wants, and there is no easy solution to do it.
The save system is really a problem every time you need it.
Except it does. Additional cooling. Redesigned dock. Etc.
It costs money. Buy an OG Switch if you want those features
If this charges via USB-C is there a chance that third-party dock replacements could actually work to display it on TV?
If so, I'm buying my second Switch. If not, I don't think I have a use for this, because I can't even cloud save Pokemon games to use one Switch as a home console and one as a portable, right?
If so, I'm buying my second Switch. If not, I don't think I have a use for this, because I can't even cloud save Pokemon games to use one Switch as a home console and one as a portable, right?
Because they want you to spend your money on the product with more added value and better ROI. Wait for the Pro or buy an OG one.
The Mini is just not for you.
This is a good one - 32GB, I'd assume, can't imagine they'd have removed the memory expansion port either.
Edit: just checked the video, looks like it's there.
God damn all three of those "base" colours make it look absolutely hideous. The Pokemon one is mildly better but the weirdly coloured buttons and sticks make it stand out for the wrong reasons.
I totally get the idea and the appeal of making a dedicated handheld version of a console in which the whole point was you didn't have to choose between home and portable play but couldn't they have made it look less ugly as shit?
I totally get the idea and the appeal of making a dedicated handheld version of a console in which the whole point was you didn't have to choose between home and portable play but couldn't they have made it look less ugly as shit?
I know we love to give our arm chair expert industry advice here (though we do have actual people from the industry in here, and I'm no exception since I'm coming in with a hot take myself), but I think you're doubting the huge library of games the Switch has. And now they made a cheaper product without devaluing the OG model. This is going to sell very, very well. Think about all the people that haven't bought a Switch yet for Pokemon. This is probably THE version to get for them.
As we have already discussed, this stuff isn't true. The ways the Switch Lite are smaller have no relation to the cooling system. 99% of the differential comes from a smaller screen and no-joycons.
Yeah, I'd like this. I already have a Switch, but my girlfriend might be interested in this for Pokemon, and it'd be nice to have another controller for Mario Kart or whatever.
Official comparison says nothing but the CNET hands-on says 32GB
Does xenoblade 2 support handheld modr
time to get a switch lite then.
I am fine with handheld only
