Daily Debate: Would You Have Preferred the Hyrule Edition Switch Lite Be a Full-Size OLED?
Posted on July 12 2024 by Jared Eubanks
In addition to the surprise release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, a gorgeous new variant of the Switch Lite (Hyrule Edition) was announced to coincide with the game’s release. The new handheld edition features a golden console body, black buttons and sticks, a small Triforce insignia near the right stick, and a large Hylian Crest on the back. This beautiful piece of hardware will be sure to sell quickly, and it’s unknown at this time how limited its production will be. As a bonus incentive, a 12-month membership of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack will be included.
The Zelda franchise has received numerous pieces of official Nintendo customized hardware over the years. The Switch has seen the Skyward Sword Joy-Cons depicting the Master Sword and Hylian Shield and the Tears of the Kingdom Switch OLED with its custom green and gold Joy-Cons, white dock, and Zonai-themed console back, which were released to coincide with their respective games. The 3DS saw multiple variants across its lifecycle including the 2DS XL Hylian Shield edition, which is my personal favorite of the lot, which came out along with A Link Between Worlds and another for Majora’s Mask 3D. The Wii U had the Wind Waker HD Gamepad with golden accents around the perimeter, and the Wii provided us with the golden Wii Remote to celebrate the release of the original Skyward Sword.
However, some Zelda fans may be asking why a Switch Lite for the Hyrule Edition? As compared to the current flagship OLED model, it has multiple limitations or downgrades. Its screen is smaller (7 inches versus 5.5 inches), and battery life is shorter (4.5-9 hours versus 3-7 hours). It lacks rumble, and it is undockable for play on a larger screen. It doesn’t seem as if the golden body would have stopped Nintendo as the Mario Red Edition of the Switch OLED has a fully red console body outside of the screen to match the Joy-Cons. The only reasons for choosing the Lite model seem to be that either Nintendo didn’t want another Zelda Switch OLED competing with the Tears of the Kingdom edition, and/or they thought it would sell better at the (presumably) lower price point of $200.
Would you have preferred the Hyrule Edition Switch Lite to be a full-size OLED? Do you plan to buy the golden Hyrule Edition Switch Lite either way? Where do you think this piece of official Zelda hardware stacks up against previous consoles and controllers? Let us know in the comments below.
Jared Eubanks is a staff writer at Zelda Dungeon, and he is also a husband, father, and engineer. He is originally from the Atlanta, GA area and still lives there. He graduated from Georgia Tech and is a proud Yellow Jacket. He loves to play boardgames, build Lego, and read books with his family. He’s been gaming since childhood with the original NES and GameBoy, and he enjoys retro gaming, collecting, and modding consoles and handhelds. His favorite Zelda game is Breath of the Wild but is also fond of the older classic titles.
