Talking Point: Could Nintendo Ditch Physical Media With A 'Switch Lite?'

Microsoft prepares for an all-digital future; could Nintendo be next?

The Switch, when you really think about it, is a machine stuck between two extremes. On one side, it offers a thriving and healthy consumer base for physical games, with not a week seeming to pass without news of a new (and highly collectable) boxed edition of an existing digital release. However, on the other hand, the console is home to one of the industry's most vibrant and well-stocked digital storefronts, populated with must-have downloads. In that regard, the Switch – and Nintendo itself – currently offers the best of both worlds, and that's a situation that, for the time being at least, suits it just fine.

However, the market is changing. This week, we've heard reports that Microsoft is about to launch an Xbox One console which will be digital-only; codenamed 'Maverick', this new iteration will lack any kind of optical media drive and will be aimed at tempting players to subscribe to the company's Xbox Game Pass service, which gives access to all of the company's first-party games (as well as many third-party ones) for a flat monthly fee. While it's not totally confirmed as yet, it's a move that makes sense for a company like Microsoft, which – in the face of less-than-stellar results this hardware generation – is looking for ways to get its content on as many devices as possible. Part of that strategy will involve its much-hyped xCloud game streaming service, which – as has been hinted – could even make its way to Switch some day.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com



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