Nintendo surprised with an update of its classic Switch console. This promises up to two more hours of battery life. That is, video game lovers can use it between 4.5 and 9 hours. As confirmed by The Verge, the original version of the Nintendo switch has an estimated battery life of between 2.5 and 6.5 hours.
While Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch Lite, a smaller and more portable version of the Nintendo Switch with built-in controllers, yesterday, and made it clear that there would be no new model (see: something like a Nintendo Switch Pro) launching this year, it seems that the original Nintendo Switch will receive a physical update of its internal components.
As reported by The Verge, Nintendo appears to have applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update some internal components in the original Switch model. The presentation, which you can check here, is a way for companies to update existing technology without going through the certification process required for new products. In short, it is essentially a method to say: “We are changing these things, but functionally it is the same in general” to the government. According to the presentation, it seems that the original Switch is receiving a new processor and flash storage, which although small, is not entirely insignificant, especially considering that there is no more robust version of the Switch on the road this year.
Yesterday, Nintendo officially announced the Nintendo Switch Lite, the new Nintendo Switch model. As part of the press announcement for the Lite, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser confirmed that it would be the only new hardware model this year. The important difference between the Lite and the original, beyond some specific design iterations and color options, is that the Nintendo Switch Lite is a handheld only console, which means there is no base to connect it to a TV or monitor
Another important distinction between the Lite and the regular Nintendo Switch? No Joy-Cons. Instead of having removable controllers, the new model seems largely the form factor of the Wii U gamepad, even if it is smaller. You can watch the video announcing the new hand switch model only above. In it, Nintendo describes it as “compact, lightweight and simple to require with you anyplace.
“The original Yo-Kai Watch is approaching Nintendo Switch, developer Level-5 revealed. The news came during the most recent episode of the Level-5 virtual series on YouTube, which revealed not only that the game is being ported from 3DS to Nintendo Switch, but also provided a release date on September 20, which It’s when Nintendo Switch Lite is ready to arrive. And since the series is originally a 3DS series, it makes sense that Level-5 takes the popular 3DS title to the Switch next to the Lite, which is aimed at the multitude of 3DS that has not yet leaped the Switch.
At the moment, it is not clear if the port is just a straight port, or if Level 5 plans to update the visual elements of the Nintendo Switch version. At this time, it seems that the first is the case.
For those who don’t know: Yo-Kai Watch was once released as the next Pokemon. Unfortunately for Level 5, that did not happen. While the series is very popular in Japan, it hasn’t gained much traction in the western market. Surely he sells copies in the west, but he didn’t enter the market as much as many thought he would.
The first game in the series, which is now being ported, premiered in 2013 through 3DS, and has been seen from three major sequels and some side effects on both Nintendo and mobile platforms. The most recent release of the mainline, Yo-Kai 4 Watch, launched in Japan this year through the Switch and is scheduled to come west at some point in the future.