Nintendo has “no plans” to release handheld-only Switch bundle in the US
Nintendo has “no plans” to release handheld-only Switch bundle in the US
In a comment to US Gamer, Nintendo stated that the company has “no plans to release this configuration in the Americas”, making it also seem unlikely that Nintendo will launch this particular bundle in the UK or Europe.
This stance makes sense for Nintendo, as the handheld console market is extremely popular in Japan, making a handheld-only console bundle most viable in Nintendo’s home country. Japan achieved high sales figures for both Nintendo’s DS/3DS and Sony’s PSP/PS Vita, making it the market for a handheld-only Switch console. Nintendo’s 3DS has more lifetime sales than the PS2 in Japan.
The ultimate goal of the Switch “2nd Set” bundle is to offer handheld only users a cheaper device and to make it easier for families to own more than one Switch console per household. Nintendo should know how popular the Switch is both docked and undocked in each region, which should give them a clear idea where a handheld only bundle is most viable.
You can join the discussion on the Nintendo’s plans to keep the Switch’s handheld only option as a Japan exclusive on the OC3D Forums.