The rumors had been leading up to this for quite some time, and now, Nintendo has made it official - the Nintendo Switch family is getting its first new member since the initial launch. Nintendo Switch Lite is a new version of Nintendo's console that's all about handheld gaming, leaving behind its hybrid form factor.
Compared to the original model, the Nintendo Switch Lite has a smaller 5.5-inch screen, instead of a 6.2-inch panel. It also builds the Joy-Con controllers into the main body of the console, taking away the ability to remove them, and it swaps out the direction buttons on the left for a traditional directional pad. You can still connect Joy-Con if you have them, though.
In terms of removed features, you won't be getting HD rumble, the IR camera, or the ability to connect to a TV. It also doesn't have a kickstand, so even if you do have extra Joy-Con, you'll need to find another way to hold the console up.
Because of these limitations, some titles, such as 1-2-Switch won't be playable out of the box. The Nintendo Switch Lite will work with any Switch game that supports handheld mode, which, in fairness, is the majority of the console's library. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, as well as the Pokémon titles will all still be playable.
The Nintendo Switch Lite will be available on September 20, the same date of the release of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. It'll come in three colors - yellow, turquoise, and gray - and it costs $199.99 - a full $100 below the regular Switch model.
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Nintendo of America's website also lists a special edition of the console for Pokémon Sword and Shield, featuring the legendary Pokémon on the cover of each game, as well as two-tone buttons on each side of the screen. It will cost the same, but it will only be released on November 8.
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