The Switch Lite seems like a very smart move indeed for Nintendo, and will no doubt prove to be decent option for its target audience. For those who already own an original Switch model, though, and those who are happy to pay for the best Nintendo can offer, it does raise one or two concerns.
When Nintendo released the 2DS - a cheaper version of the 3DS which cut back on the console's key features (sound familiar?) - we started to see fewer and fewer games utilise features like the stereoscopic 3D of the original machine. Sadly, it made sense - why would a developer spend valuable time working on a feature that only a portion of its players can enjoy?
With the Switch Lite taking away the 'Switch' part of the console, with no connectivity to the TV, and also other features like HD Rumble and the IR Camera, will we see the same here? Well, hopefully not according to Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser.
Talking to Time, here's what he had to say about how Nintendo will handle the support of both consoles going forward:
“Our developers will be very focused on the Nintendo Switch flagship device, and building games that utilize the capability of that machine. With the vast majority of existing games already compatible with both devices, that shouldn’t be as much of an issue.
But we really want [developers] to focus on making sure that there are great gaming experiences on both platforms. And it’s based on the type of game they want to build — if they want to build a game that uses much more motion control, for instance, the flagship Nintendo Switch device will be the right one. But, you could still potentially, using Joy-Cons, play it on the Nintendo Switch Lite.”
From the players' point of view, having both systems supported to their maximum potential would obviously be the ideal route. Switch Lite owners won't want to be compromised by not being able to play top games, but flagship Switch owners won't want to lose the features that make the console so great in the first place.
Here's hoping Nintendo does indeed find the perfect balance.
[source time.com]
Comments 50
They'd better, if they want to keep making so much money.
Wow... You're really churning them out today.
Hopefully the D-pad is well constructed. The one on the pro controller isn't that great.
To boost Switch Lite sales, the Switch games from either 1st party / 3rd party SHOULD include Handheld Mode gameplay on their softwares.
Otherwise, it will hurt Switch Lite sales.
Does this mean they will have to update the packaging for the Labo packs to say not compatible with Switch Lite?
I would be actually mad if this caused devs to cut back on tv mode support.
I'd guess support of the original features from now on would be more optional stuff like the split Joy-Con gameplay of ARMS (you can use a pro controller and handheld mode) rather than the compulsory nature of stuff like you can't reach the title screen of Super Mario Party without a detached Joy-Con connected.
Good to hear! I'll probably pick up a Lite in the future, but only if transferring saves are extremely quick and easy. Worried about the games that don't have cloud saves (Splatoon, Animal Crossing), so I'll have to wait and see what they do about that.
I'm all for developers using the flagship Switch in docked mode to its full potential as long as they include a way for people to play their games all the way through in portable mode. I can certainly see exceptions to this for outlying party, dance, and Labo games, but all other games should ideally be fully playable on both Switch devices.
@sikthvash I would assume they have toy for the vr kit. Everything else works (but you have to buy a second set of joycon)
This is my concern. If the Switch Lite sells much more than expected, developers may want to stop including motion controls or joy con controls in their game as the half of the userbase with the Lite can't buy the game. Look at Super Mario Party. Games like that won't work on Switch Lite and that whole group of customers can't purchase it.
I hope not. Super Mario Party requiring Joycon only is a dealbraker. Enough with the gimmicks. We need good 1st party support.
I dont hope they will focus on the lite only Im not interested in the lite duo battery life.
That is all I needed to hear. As long as Switch is the focus and not the Lite. I'm good.
@Quarth honestly it's partly because the "d pad" of the joycon is meant to double as more conventional buttons when used as an individual controller.
The nature of a d pad is such that it might make using it in ABXY buttons roles somewhat more clumsy, thus "d pad joycons" will likely never become the default product outside of specialized offerings like those of third parties.
People sound so traumatized by the Switch lite. It’s going to be fine! Your big Switch is option #1 still. Nintendo only giveth here! Option #2 for people you don’t have to worry about
@koaeinferno Considering mario party is the most casual of casual games that shouldn't be an issue.
@Ludovsky Oh, that I know. I was talking about the pro controller.
@Quarth pro controller dpad is fine.
In fact the joycon dpad works fine a great majority of the time. If you want to complain about something, complain about drift which is an actual problem.
@NinChocolate I know its hilarious, you'd think the way some people were carrying on that Nintendo were about to disable everyone's docks, or that somehow developers would ignore the 40 million Switch's already out there with plenty more flying off the shelves
maybe. (although they pretty much abandoned 3D when the 2DS came out) but 3rd party devs won't. especially not if the lite sells extremely well.
a successful lite will pretty much be the end of HD rumble support (especially from 3rd party devs)
@LexKitteh Super Mario Party will work just fine. You just need extra JoyCons.
I knew Nintendo sooner or later were gonna drop the joy cons gimmick even when they say otherwise but hopefully they don't drop the tv functionality
Good luck finding some of the moons in Mario Odyssey without rumble lol
Not that the announcement hype has settled within me (did you see my 1st post? Did ya? Did ya?!). I’m still sold on it.
I have an original and love ti. I like to play on the sofa handheld mode and docked for zelda etc. BUT I don’t like taking it out and don’t take it on flights. The lite on the other hand will be great for that. I can be less precious.
I’m not sold one way or the other on motion controls so I can’t see that being an issue for me personally.
Doesn't matter. It will work the same way People who are using the Switch as a handheld right now.
I turn off rumble if on a night flight and people sleeping around me. And I never use motion Control either. That is up to me.
They will make a standard Switch game and people will play them however they want. Not like they will ignore 36 million users come September regardless.
@AlternateButtons To each his own but to me they are way too small no D-pad kills the controller and to make them work you need even more accessories to either attached them together or make them a little bigger and not to mention the drifting problem
phew, dodged a bullet, for a second I was afraid the flood of IR enabled games was going to crawl to a trickle.
@saintayu It doesn't work well for me in some games and I've heard others complain. For example in Tetris 99 it made hard drops even though I didn't press in that direction. I made some tests in the settings, which showed that it sometimes registered left or right as up, as if it's overly sensitive.
This guy also had problems:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/as49xe/tetris_99_pro_controller_dpad_unplayable/
The same goes for the left stick. In some games the characters started running in other directions than intended. For example it happened in Super Bomberman R.
They really can't promise anything.I guess time will only tell what happens with the games.
This is great news. This means that motion control games and multiplayer on one system games won't slow down! And there's a really good thing that might come from the Switch Lite: a possible focus on touch screen games in the future (since the touch screen is always right there on the Switch Lite)
This is why I don't get why the Lite doesn't have a kickstand. You can still use Joycons with it....why not have it so it can stand on it's own?
The removal of the kickstand seems to counter what he's saying here, as they've made it more difficult to use the Joycons (and local multiplayer) than they needed to by removing it.
Granted you can prop it up yourself and 3rd party cases will likely have them, but why not just build it in if the intention is to not take that away?
I'm glad they addressed this potential issue, but we'll see how this pans out. Not including 3D in some later titles on the 3DS wasn't a deal breaker in most cases, but it was missed.
@AlternateButtons one of my favourite things about the Switch has been the joycons, and i’ve played nothing but split since I got it. Amazing controls. Means i can scratch my nose without pausing too.
Why wouldn't it be? The only difference is the mini you need to buy a controller to play some games that's it.
@graysoncharles I agree that the 3D helps chew through the battery life faster and ultimately isn't a 100% essential feature; I tend to run it at about 50% by habit and occasionally do kick it off to conserve battery if needed. I still enjoy having the option though, which some very late adopters or upgraders are starting to have issues with.
That said, many 3DS games that use the 3D effect implement it well and look much better with it on. I'd argue that it almost IS essential for a small handful of games in my library, like Super Mario 3D Land or A Link Between Worlds. Others like Fire Emblem: Awakening and the Bravely titles purely use it for cosmetic purposes, but I feel that the effect adds more to the beauty of those worlds. In fact, I had to play through most of Bravely Default in 2D as the system I had at the time (OG 3DS) really needed a new battery. The game was fine and perfectly enjoyable without the effect, but after I swapped out that battery....Wow. The developers of that game really did a great job with the effect there.
My point is that, though some people may not opt for the 3D effect - that's their prerogative - others quite enjoy it and have been somewhat disappointed that many of the more recent 3DS titles dropped it completely.
He really didn’t address the issue, he only said “our devs” will be focused on the flagship switch. Yes, Nintendo will be, just as they were for a time with 3D. 3rd party devs on the other hand...
I said it in the other post...light is the new 3DS in disguise. Soon some games will be only exclusive to light since it's handheld mode only... not sure what their movement will be
@Alucard83 The regular Switch can also do handheld.
Honestly Nintendo leaving the option of TV play out of the Switch Lite was stupid. They could have released a simple USB-C cable or basic dock (the dock as it exists now probably only costs like 5 bucks to produce.) as an external option. As it is right now, who the heck would buy Mario Party or Overcooked for the Switch Lite? Heck, even Mario Kart 8. Sure you can do online play but the real reason so many kids in particular (the focus of this console) want a game console is for multi player with their friends.
Is there any built in RUMBLE in the switch lite?
A more important thing is the fact that the Switch Lite is stuck with the slower clock speed that handheld mode uses.
As someone who likes the Switch, including the games that make use of detached controllers (Arms, Super Mario Odyssey, Legendary Fishing, etc), I don't like this development. I really think this will spell the end, or at least serious decline, in developers designing games to make use of detached Joy Cons.
@Alucard83 that makes no sense. If anything the games would be exclusive to the original Switch which can do more than the light.
R.I.P. IR camera..
I wonder if Nintendo will really try and innovate on controls next time.
I mean the Wii U Gamepad had potential but got under-utilized;
the 3DS's (awesome) stereo 3D got shafted and most people seemed pretty happy with that;
also the 3DS's gyro controls never got widespread adoption, never became essential;
Seems players are getting tired or bored of non-standard controls.
Yeah I don't believe it. Developers are going to optimize handheld play for sure. There are several games now that play better handheld and that's not a coincidence.
It does seem that words have no meaning for Nintendo anymore.
What did they once mean, who the hell even cares?
@Alucard83 what? Maybe the other way around as original switch has all of the same features as the lite...its not more powerful and switch is also able to be played completely handheld...your comment makes absolutely no sense.
@Arcamenel that's because of the lower resolution and that means less power is needed to run the games...that small HD screen is taking something made for a big 1080p t.v. screen and compacting it while on a 720p display...they can get away with cut corners as lower graphics on a smaller screen is negligible and performance can be optimized...u can't jus stretch that out on a TV and say TADA...It needs more to work with for that to happen
@gamekill I blame miyamoto for wanting to constantly push unconventional control schemes even when it hurts the overall game....this killed starfox Zero and made a game that should have been really good and challenging boring and tedious...they had to scale back on the game for a awkward control scheme....what happened to making a great game then giving the player options..
@BlackStar9000
"this killed starfox Zero and made a game that should have been really good and challenging boring and tedious"
Agreed
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