From exploring Hoenn in Pokemon Sapphire when I was twelve, to the fast-paced fantasy action of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy in my early twenties, I’ve long appreciated handheld video games. I’m not alone there. As smartphones grow ever more powerful, the mobile gaming market has become a very big deal in Asia, while still being looked down upon in the West.
Amidst Sony and Microsoft trying to outdo each other, Nintendo stands apart. What the company lacks in technical prowess, they make up for with innovation. They also have a long history of dominating handheld gaming. Thus in 2017, the Nintendo Switch was released: a hybrid console that you could connect to a TV for HD graphics, and then carry around to continue right where you left off on a smaller screen. It’s the kind of thing that future generations are sure to take for granted, but was absolutely mind-blowing for its time.
And then Nintendo did something surprising: they backtracked. Their newest offering, the Switch Lite, belies its own name. It’s a Switch that can’t switch. The Lite is a smaller, cheaper device which is meant for handheld play only.
Because you see, the data shows that a lot of people out there don’t switch, preferring to play in handheld mode. These are the people who either don’t have a TV or rarely play on one. They’re interested in premium portability: a handheld that plays console-quality games.
I am one of these people.
Today I’m talking about the Nintendo Switch Lite.
First, a disclaimer: I am late to the party. Much of what I’m about to say applies just as much to the original Switch. That said, I admire the system far more for its handheld capabilities. Docked to a TV it’s merely an underpowered console. Much of the discussion surrounding the Lite was about why it even exists, but this is exactly why. The Lite is the embodiment of the former.
So yes, I am most definitely in the target demographic.
Likewise, I won’t be dealing with the actual tech and design of the Lite in detail. There are plenty of reviews out there that examine these aspects. If that’s what you’re looking for, go read those1. What I am talking about is why I find the Lite appealing.
First, because unlike the most successful smartphone games, Switch titles use traditional pricing.
Let’s digress into the dominant mobile business model: free-to-play.
You Buy, You Own
Mobile games are relatively cheap to produce compared to the millions in money and man-hours that go into AAA games. They are often free-to-play. But as the late Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo once said, the term is misleading. These games are not truly free. They make money from plentiful microtransactions once you’ve played enough to be invested. And what they don’t cost in money, they cost in attention.
I know, I know. Last year I was singing the praises of mobile gaming. By now, however, I’ve gotten jaded. The free-to-play model makes more money than traditional single-purchase games, which is why so many developers have jumped on the bandwagon. The problem is that the success of these games is not measured in units sold, but in keeping players engaged for as long as possible in order to maximize the chance of them spending money.
It’s turned video games into the business of addiction.
I just spent a year playing PUBG Mobile. I have fond memories of playing with friends and family, of thrilling shootouts and glorious victories. But I also grew frustrated with this ‘free’ game’s methods of seeking out profit. Cosmetic rewards squirreled away in loot boxes, which have been compared to gambling. The recurring Seasons which set you back every two months, making sure you’re constantly grinding for the next tier or shiny new outfit.
The scarcity principle, the sunk cost fallacy. The usual suspects. I found myself feeling compelled to play, and I resented it.
I was also playing Kingdom Hearts III on and off this year. Though the game has nostalgia and production values in spades, it dawned on me that I did not feel compelled to play KH3. (I still haven’t finished it, which kind of proves my point.) Certainly not in the same capacity as PUBG Mobile. There was a difference. One was a choice; the other had become an obligation. I realized I had to quit.
None of that changes what’s great about PUBG Mobile. It’s a fun game! The actual gunplay is still awesome as ever. But it’s also a game that never ends, that’s designed to keep you playing into eternity, preferably spending some money while you’re at it. This is a product you can never truly own. It’s a game as a service.
Some people say this is the future of gaming. Perhaps they’re right. Addiction is a two-way street, and I’m not saying these issues are solely the responsibility of the companies involved. I’ve been down this road before. We ourselves must be responsible consumers.
But forgive me for being cynical. I’m tired of being addicted.
Which brings me back to the Switch Lite: most Switch games follow the traditional pricing model2. You buy, you own. It’s that simple. No need for marketing and psychological hacks to keep you coming back for more; you’ve already paid the price of entry. It’s both nostalgic and refreshing.
You’re also paying for better quality games.
Premium Portability
The first game I got for the Switch Lite was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
That’s right, Skyrim. One of the biggest and most influential games of all time? This a title I spent over a hundred hours in on the Xbox 360 five years ago, and I still cleared less than a quarter of the content. The fact that such a massive world is now portable is frankly unreal.
Due to technical limitations, handheld games have long been secondary to PC and consoles. Now, at least where Nintendo’s concerned, that gap has closed. The Switch is their flagship system. New entries in beloved franchises like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokemon Sword & Shield aren’t inferior in the slightest. These are mainline titles, the best and brightest in gaming. Older masterpieces like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Divinity: Original Sin 2 have been ported over as well, providing a more mature balance to Nintendo’s family-friendly fare.
These are console-quality games in the palm of your hand. If this is the future of gaming, I can get behind it. Excuse me while I go play Skyrim in the toilet. You better believe I’m playing again as a dark elf Imperial.
Jokes aside, these massive games are a serious investment. Where do you find the time?
Time of Your Life
The last big-budget RPG I played was Dragon Age: Inquisition. In the end I’d racked up 120 hours of gameplay. I look back on it fondly, with a fair bit of nostalgia. A few nights per month spent at home on the PS4 that slowly added up. Much like a beloved TV show or series of novels, this game represents almost a year of my life.
But I could only play at home, at night, on a TV.
From simple portability to the built-in sleep function that means you can turn off games at any point without fear of losing progress, the Switch Lite lets you pick up a game and put it down whenever you want. It's the ultimate level of freedom.
That's the most important thing I love about the Switch Lite: it lets you play on your own time.
When I was a kid, I spent countless hours at home with nothing better to do, getting lost in fantasy worlds. Those days are long gone. I’m an adult now. I have a job, relationships and responsibilities. I have books to read, words to write, that fantasy novel I still haven’t finished. Sorry, Wraithblade. I’ll get to you soon, I promise.
Consoles and PCs still have better graphics and faster processors. TVs have bigger screens. But there’s something special about being able to take a game with you everywhere, be it your workplace during lunch, cafes and commutes, and the comfort of your own home.
You’re playing on your own time. And as we all know, time is the most important commodity we have.
While I’ve always loved games, I recognize that this is a passion that must be limited. I’d never get anything done otherwise.
Those other worlds are still calling, though.
1 - Many have been spooked by the unfortunate hardware failures known as Joy-Con drift, in which the Switch's controllers eventually wear down and go haywire. For the record, my own Lite hasn't had any such problems so far. Fingers crossed.
2 - Not to imply that all mobile games are free-to-play. There are plenty of quality titles out there as well. I never did finish Crashlands, for example. But I know I can go back to it anytime because I own the game, bought and paid for. Thank you, Butterscotch Shenanigans, for choosing traditional pricing.
