Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa says 70% of Switch Lite purchasers are first-time Switch owners.

In a Q&A session for Nintendo investors, Furukawa revealed some interesting stats about the Switch Lite. 43% of purchasers already own at least one Switch console. That means 57% of new Switch Lite sales are first-time owners.

Furukawa pointed to Pokemon games on handheld systems as a driving factor for purchase. The Sword/Shield Special Edition Switch Lite likely helped pick up those sales. Another key demographic of the Switch Lite is women purchasing their first Switch console.

He also credits family-friendly software like Ring Fit Adventure will helping bring in new people. The exercise-focused game helps bridge the gap to consumers who bought the Nintendo Wii. Furukawa says Switch Lite sales are contributing nicely to ‘high Switch demand.’

Is the Switch Lite worth it?

The Switch Lite can play many of the same games as the Nintendo Switch, but there are a few limitations. For now, the Switch Lite is handheld-only and is not compatible with games that require TV support.

Games that don’t work on a Switch Lite include:

  • 1-2-Switch
  • Just Dance
  • Super Mario Party
  • Fitness Boxing
  • Ring Fit Adventure
  • All Nintendo Labo Series

If you just want a portable console to enjoy Nintendo games, the $100 off might be worth it. The Switch Lite features the same gyroscope and accelerometer as its larger cousin. The only differences you have to worry about is lack of TV support.

Switch game packages will show whether the game supports handheld mode or not.

One word of caution though – Switch Joy-Cons are notorious for their drift. The Switch Lite features built-in controls, which means you will likely experience drift at some point.

You can learn how to fix Joy-Con drift if you experience it here. If you’re brave, you can also replace the Joy-Con yourself with guide.