
OSAKA -- Nintendo is betting big on its new Switch Lite hand-held system to make a splash in the U.S. and China, a gamble that will test the appeal of a dedicated device as consumers increasingly turn to smartphone games.
The September release in the U.S. is strategically timed to cash in on sales opportunities in the fall. In China, the company is working with Tencent Holdings to boost its appeal. But competition is increasingly intense as tech giants such as Apple and Google announce forays into the gaming sector.