To help get us through the rest of the week, Nintendo held a surprise announcement, introducing a brand new member of the Nintendo Switch family; Nintendo Switch Lite.

The new system, which launches worldwide on the 20th September, is an alternative option for player who want a cheaper and exclusively handheld Nintendo Switch experience. The Nintendo Switch Lite has a smaller form factor, integrated controls, a lighter weight, a slightly smaller screen, and can only be used in handheld mode, perfect for gamers who are constantly on the go. In addition to this, the current D-Pad has been replaced with a more traditional D-Pad and features such as the IR Camera, HD Rumble, and kickstand have been removed. Due to being a dedicated for handheld, the Nintendo Switch Lite can only play Nintendo Switch games compatible with handheld mode, additionally any games that use tabletop mode will require you to wirelessly connect separate JoyCons as well as own a means to charge them, such as the charging grip. You can see what else is different over on the official website.

Nintendo Switch Lite pays homage to the DS Lite in more than just the name. The console will be launched in three pastel colours: grey, yellow, and turquoise. That’s not all, Nintendo America have also announced a special edition of the console based off Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Zacian and Zamazenta… though as it currently stands, the game will still be sold separately from the Zacian and Zamazenta Edition.

The Switch Lite already has me thinking about the future of the Nintendo Switch family. As the Nintendo Switch Lite seems to be emphasising a lot on being colourful, does this mean we will finally see the introduction of themes to customise our Nintendo Switch experience further? Is the inclusion of a more traditional D-Pad a sign that Nintendo will soon launch new JoyCons to follow suit? Finally, could we potentially see a more powerful sibling to the Nintendo Switch somewhere down the line?

What did you think of the announcement? Will you be picking up a Nintendo Switch Lite when it launches in September? What’s your favourite colour of the three? Tell us in the comments below or on our social media pages