The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid system- it is a modular gaming tablet that, when cradled in its dock, becomes a home console for big screen play. Without the dock, however, it can act as a handheld device only. Without the dock, which is surprisingly expensive, it also can be sold for cheaper- a necessity, if you want multiple Switch units sold per household, in advance of upcoming games like Pokemon.
And that is what Nintendo has taken to doing in Japan- it is now selling a variant of the Switch without the dock (or the power cable, for that matter…) through its online store. This is, therefore, a limited initiative now- but it is our first indication that Nintendo might be willing to decouple the Switch from the dock if it has to to sell it at a lower price.
And, indeed, if Pokemon actually is launching this year, a cheaper, dockless handheld version of the Switch is something that could find a lot of traction…