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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Nintendo doesn't really need to create new franchises, a former developer has said, explaining that the company can simply wrap its fresh gameplay ideas into one of the many beloved video game series it owns already.

Speaking to Bloomberg, programmer Ken Watanabe said Nintendo doesn't "really fuss over" which of its big franchises a fun new gameplay mechanic might end up in. And, with so many existing series to chose from, there's little need to come up with more.

"New franchises haven't come out simply because there's no real need to make them," Watanabe said. "When Nintendo wants to do something new, it's basically about the gameplay mechanics first — about creating a new way to play."

At Nintendo, Watanabe worked on Super Mario Bros. Wii, Pikmin 3 and Splatoon — one of the company's biggest new franchises of its modern era. But even the first Splatoon is now a decade old.

"As for the skin or the wrapper, they don't really fuss over it," Watanabe continued. "They just pick whatever fits that new gameplay best."

More at the link:

Nintendo Has 'No Real Need' for New Franchises, Veteran Says, and Can Just 'Pick Whatever' Existing Series Fits New Gameplay - IGN

Nintendo simply doesn't need to create new franchises, a former developer has said, explaining that the company can simply wrap its fresh gameplay ideas into one of the many beloved video game series it has already.

www.ign.com

 

[Mister Wolf]

Yet they still create them. That's what I love about them. They don't rest on their laurels. We a due for them to make another RPG franchise...........from Monolith Soft.

 

[Deerock71]

 

[bighugeguns]

Thousands of years of Mario, amazing.

 

[Punished Miku]

This is common knowledge. The guy worked at Nintendo.

They make a blank slate gameplay system and prototype it extensively. They are only focused on the actual interactive nature, the controls, the gameplay loop, the fun factor. Then when that is all done, they just look and see if it fits a franchise they have. This is why they can keep so many of their IP evergreen, because it really is mostly a new thing with surface level similarities.

Of course they do still have new IP, but it's not super common.

This is the direct opposite approach of a lot of western developers, or cinematic developers like SQEX. They started with a movie in mind for Versus XIII. Then they spent a decade trying to see if they could get to the prototype stage that Nintendo starts at.

 

[BennyBlanco]

And they're not scared to make new IP either. Even if some of them stinks (arms). Splatoon is massive in Japan.

 

[Fake]

And still beat like 100x times what Sony and Microsoft did.

 

[Midway-AGNC-]

The whole "Nintendo doesn't need new franchises" argument is a very warped way of looking at things. Sure, Nintendo has a massive backlog of beloved IP, and it's smart to leverage that. But to claim there's "no need" to create new ones basically means admitting the company is comfortable relying on the same brands indefinitely instead of cultivating new ideas that can grow into the next Zelda or the next Mario. And let's be honest — Splatoon itself proves why this mindset is flawed. It was a new franchise, and now it's one of Nintendo's biggest modern hits. If Nintendo had just shoved its gameplay mechanics into an existing IP at the time ("Mario Paintball," anyone?), it never would have had the same identity or cultural impact. The same goes for Pikmin in the GameCube era. These weren't just "wrappers"; they became pillars of the Nintendo ecosystem because they were allowed to stand on their own.


The "it makes money, therefore it's right" defense is just as weak. By that logic, no company should ever take creative risks, because milking the same old formulas will always be the safest financial bet. But art, innovation, and long-term brand health don't thrive on risk-aversion. If profit alone was the only metric, then F-Zero, Metroid Prime, Advance Wars, or even Breath of the Wild's reinvention of Zelda wouldn't have been worth the gamble. Yet these are the exact titles that expanded Nintendo's legacy. Dismissing criticism with "well, it sells" is essentially shutting down the conversation. It's treating financial success as a debate-ending trump card instead of engaging with the reality that players want both: the comfort of established franchises and the excitement of bold new ones. Without fresh ideas, even the strongest IP eventually stagnates.

Nintendo has historically thrived not because it played it safe, but because it dared to create. Pretending that new franchises aren't needed because the old ones are profitable is short-sighted and reduces Nintendo to nothing more than a brand management machine instead of an innovator.

 

[Magic Carpet]

They need something to replace Pokemon for me.
After the last 2 crappy games I don't think I'll be back.

That Peach game didn't have much legs. (Peach didn't show much leg).

 

[Lokaum D+]

and that why they keep get away with it, nostalgia is a hell of a drug, they ll ride on Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid to the end of days.

fun note, their last big new IP was Xenoblade 15 years ago.

Edit: i forgot about Splatoon, Splatoon was their last big new IP 10 years ago, thanks poodaddy

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

The problem is not the IP variety.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Strong disagree. Just because the company has enough to try out new mechanics and ideas, new IPs expand your base. Take Xenoblade: many JRPG fans would buy a Switch just for the Series and will end up spending additional money on software for the device.

However, that can do it via acquisitions like Monolith. Mistwalket, for instance, would seem like a natural (and cheap) pickup for the Big N.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I miss the franchises they ignore like Kid Icarus and Golden Sun. They have a surplus of quality franchises.

 

[Evil Calvin]

You need to have new IP's. The industry is already getting stale.

Just look at the remakes, remasters, sequels...etc........getting pretty tiring.

Same crap has happened with TV and movies.

The all just want to make a quick buck with as little effort as possible and least risk.

 

[Fake]

They need something to replace Pokemon for me.
After the last 2 crappy games I don't think I'll be back.

That Peach game didn't have much legs. (Peach didn't show much leg).

I don't think they need to replace Pokemon. They need to replace Game Freak and give the franchise to other Nintendo dev team. Either Zelda or Mario or Xenoblade.

 

[Midway-AGNC-]

You need to have new IP's. The industry is already getting stale.

Just look at the remakes, remasters, sequels...etc........getting pretty tiring.

Same crap has happened with TV and movies.

The all just want to make a quick buck with as little effort as possible and least risk.

Exactly. The problem right now is that both audiences and the corporate mindset treat "financial return" like a biblical commandment that automatically shuts down any criticism or ideas for improvement. As long as it makes money, it's considered untouchable — questioning that logic is treated almost like heresy.

The irony is, the only thing that will ever break this cycle is when the model itself starts to stagnate financially. Until then, companies will just keep pumping out remakes, remasters, and endless sequels, because in the current corporate doctrine, innovation and artistic value don't matter — only the quarterly growth curve does.

 

[Flabagast]

thats kinda sad actually

 

[HJuggernaut]

why innovate when you can sell the same shit to nintendo fans

 

[poodaddy]

and that why they keep get away with it, nostalgia is a hell of a drug, they ll ride on Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid to the end of days.

fun note, their last big new IP was Xenoblade 15 years ago.

Wait, what about Splatoon?

 

[apple_of_enlightenment]

The whole "Nintendo doesn't need new franchises" argument is a very warped way of looking at things. Sure, Nintendo has a massive backlog of beloved IP, and it's smart to leverage that.

Nintendo has historically thrived not because it played it safe, but because it dared to create. Pretending that new franchises aren't needed because the old ones are profitable is short-sighted and reduces Nintendo to nothing more than a brand management machine instead of an innovator.

Yes. Most devs, especially Western, are selling the same gameplay (what gameplay?) over and over under the guise of a new IP or coat of paint.

The source is Bloomberg so no surprise, considering the in house editor there.

 

[Punished Miku]

Wait, what about Splatoon?

This guy worked on Splatoon. I'm guessing that they had that ink prototype and truly didn't think any of their IP fit.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Wait, what about Splatoon?

Splatoon isnt really that BIG outside Japan, also it is an already 10 years old new IP, but you are right, it was their last new big IP.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Ok, how about a new F-Zero or Star Fox?

 

[Chuck Berry]

Ok, how about a new F-Zero or Star Fox?

Not when you have an xbox avatar, fool

 

[analog_future]

I mean they have an amazing catalog of current IP.


There really is no need to inroduce new IP outside of maybe 1 or 2 new entries per generation.

 

[Aldric]

fun note, their last big new IP was Xenoblade 15 years ago.

They've made two new IPs in the meantime that sold around 15 million copies, what the fuck are you talking about.

 

[Punished Miku]

They've made two new IPs in the meantime that sold around 15 million copies, what the fuck are you talking about.

And they just did Wheelchair Basketball.

Again, they were probably prototyping with black and white cubes how to use the new controllers. They didn't see a fit so they made it a new IP. They really are just making interactive toys 99% of the time.

 

[Sooner]

Just because they use the same characters, doesn't mean they aren't a new series.

Splatoon originally was supposed to feature Mario characters. If it had, it wouldn't be anywhere less of a new series. Nor would have featuring a new character in Mario Galaxy had made it more of a new series.

 

[Lokaum D+]

They've made two new IPs in the meantime that sold around 15 million copies, what the fuck are you talking about.

already corrected myself with Splatoon, what is the other one ?

 

[Aldric]

already corrected myself with Splatoon, what is the other one ?

Ring Fit Adventure.

 

[Germuso]

If their fanboys buy Pokémon that looks like a cheap Unity game with Bugs...they can sell everything.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Ring Fit Adventure.

since i dont even consider this a game i just erased from my mind, but yeah, if you want to consider that one its fine, hopefully we ll get a announcement for Ring Fit 2 at the next Nintendo Direct.

 

[poodaddy]

Splatoon isnt really that BIG outside Japan, also it is an already 10 years old new IP.

I suppose you're right, I honestly think of it as bigger than it probably is because my daughter is obsessed with it lol, but not a single one of her friends play it so, can't be that big :/

 

[Punished Miku]

I suppose you're right, I honestly think of it as bigger than it probably is because my daughter is obsessed with it lol, but not a single one of her friends play it so, can't be that big :/

It's pretty popular, but in Japan it's a whole other level. When I was there, there were Splatoon shirts, Splatoon chopsticks, Splatoon everything anytime I was at a mall.

 

[poodaddy]

since i dont even consider this a game i just erased from my mind, but yeah, if you want to consider that one its fine, hopefully we ll get a announcement for Ring Fit 2 at the next Nintendo Direct.

Next one needs multiplayer! My wife and I already play together all the time even though it's single player, we just do the same exercises together and we have multiple ring cons so we can play together, and there is so much potential there for a great competitive co-op experience. The game is genuinely fun, and it fucking works great which is awesome.

 

[Aldric]

since i dont even consider this a game

Well that's the problem then, of course Nintendo don't make any new IPs if the ones they make don't count for some bullshit arbitrary reason.

Ring Fit is actually a pretty fun game outside of the exercise aspect. Part turn based RPG/part obstacle course platforming. Good art direction and OST too.

 

[KellyNole]

and that why they keep get away with it, nostalgia is a hell of a drug, they ll ride on Mario, Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid to the end of days.

fun note, their last big new IP was Xenoblade 15 years ago.

Edit: i forgot about Splatoon, Splatoon was their last big new IP 10 years ago, thanks poodaddy

Why does it have to be big ? They do create new IPs some take off and some don't. Arms and Ring Fit Adventure. Arms sold 2.5 Million and Ring Fit Adventure sold 14 million. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ring Fit Adventure to continue. Arms probably not.

And analog_future is right, they don't need to come up with many new ips each generation, one or two will do.

 

[RAIDEN1]

About time they brought out a new Kid Icarus

 

[calico]

They're all new IPs if the player is young enough. Disney has figured out it has this benefit too. Having a parent who is nostalgic for a previous iteration from their own childhood is a cheat code.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Next one needs multiplayer! My wife and I already play together all the time even though it's single player, we just do the same exercises together and we have multiple ring cons so we can play together, and there is so much potential there for a great competitive co-op experience. The game is genuinely fun, and it fucking works great which is awesome.

Well that's the problem then, of course Nintendo don't make any new IPs if the ones they make don't count for some bullshit arbitrary reason.

Ring Fit is actually a pretty fun game outside of the exercise aspect. Part turn based RPG/part obstacle course platforming. Good art direction and OST too.

Why does it have to be big ? They do create new IPs some take off and some don't. Arms and Ring Fit Adventure. Arms sold 2.5 Million and Ring Fit Adventure sold 14 million. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ring Fit Adventure to continue. Arms probably not.

And analog_future is right, they don't need to come up with many new ips each generation, one or two will do.

Sry to all

Nintendo latest new IP was Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, keep them coming Nintendo.

 

[poodaddy]

It's pretty popular, but in Japan it's a whole other level. When I was there, there were Splatoon shirts, Splatoon chopsticks, Splatoon everything anytime I was at a mall.

And my daughter wants to move to Japan when she becomes a neurologist.....sounds like paradise for her lol.

 

[poodaddy]

Sry to all

Nintendo latest new IP was Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, done.

I wasn't being a shit to ya bro, I was just talking about Ringfit with ya . I don't know why the other guys went a bit hostile, but I don't see anything you have to apologize for at all.

 

[kevboard]

waiting for someone at Nintendo to have a concept for a new Ice Climbers game.

they could jump on the Jump King, Getting over It, Pogostuck, and Only Up bandwagon with it.
you climb a snowy mountain with Pepe and Nana. and they could play with the mechanics of playing both...
maybe if one falls, you still have a chance playing with only one of them, but with less mobility options, until you reach a spot where you can bring the other character back...

lots of potential there.

 

[Lokaum D+]

I wasn't being a shit to ya bro, I was just talking about Ringfit with ya . I don't know why the other guys went a bit hostile, but I don't see anything you have to apologize for at all.

i know, but its only fair to me to apologize when i m wrong and to give credits were credits is due and that is the last Nintendo new IP, so credits to Nintendo.

 

[Aldric]

The thing with the conversation about new Nintendo IP is that it becomes extremely specific and that basically everything outside of core EPD teams products might as well not exist.

For ex, Astral Chain is a new Nintendo IP. Yes it's developed by Platinum but the rights belong to Nintendo 100% which is why it'll never get a PC port. Yet somehow it's never listed as a new IP.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

It's the same thing every single time. There's really no real news here... we've known for decades now that Nintendo workshops interesting gameplay concepts and then once it's polished enough to be turned into a full game, they decide what series it's best fit for. Not to say the Zelda team doesn't always set out to make the next Zelda, etc, but what this guy is saying is really just recycling what we already know about their general development philosophy. Gameplay first, always. Worry about the IP or the grahical polish or the story, etc later.

 

[yogaflame]

With Sony porting there exclusives to other console and pc, western California leadership, and gaas obsession, Nintendo will continue to dominate and love by fans for years to come.

 

[Spirit Icana]

The whole "Nintendo doesn't need new franchises" argument is a very warped way of looking at things. Sure, Nintendo has a massive backlog of beloved IP, and it's smart to leverage that. But to claim there's "no need" to create new ones basically means admitting the company is comfortable relying on the same brands indefinitely instead of cultivating new ideas that can grow into the next Zelda or the next Mario. And let's be honest — Splatoon itself proves why this mindset is flawed. It was a new franchise, and now it's one of Nintendo's biggest modern hits. If Nintendo had just shoved its gameplay mechanics into an existing IP at the time ("Mario Paintball," anyone?), it never would have had the same identity or cultural impact. The same goes for Pikmin in the GameCube era. These weren't just "wrappers"; they became pillars of the Nintendo ecosystem because they were allowed to stand on their own.


The "it makes money, therefore it's right" defense is just as weak. By that logic, no company should ever take creative risks, because milking the same old formulas will always be the safest financial bet. But art, innovation, and long-term brand health don't thrive on risk-aversion. If profit alone was the only metric, then F-Zero, Metroid Prime, Advance Wars, or even Breath of the Wild's reinvention of Zelda wouldn't have been worth the gamble. Yet these are the exact titles that expanded Nintendo's legacy. Dismissing criticism with "well, it sells" is essentially shutting down the conversation. It's treating financial success as a debate-ending trump card instead of engaging with the reality that players want both: the comfort of established franchises and the excitement of bold new ones. Without fresh ideas, even the strongest IP eventually stagnates.

Nintendo has historically thrived not because it played it safe, but because it dared to create. Pretending that new franchises aren't needed because the old ones are profitable is short-sighted and reduces Nintendo to nothing more than a brand management machine instead of an innovator.

I completely agree, brother!

Splatoon was almost a Mario game in fact.

This comes from Miyamoto's interview in EDGE magazine...

[''There were heated debates over who the main player character should be. Whether it should be Mario, or a squid. When we talked about the possibility of it being Mario, of course we could think of the advantages: anybody would be willing to touch it as soon as we announced that we had the new Mario game. But at the same time, we had some worries. If it were Mario, we wouldn't be able to create any new IP.'' - Shigeru Miyamoto]

Nintendo seriously considered having Splatoon star Mario

Splatoon, Nintendo's upcoming Wii U online shooter about morphing squid children with paint guns, almost starred Mario.

www.eurogamer.net

already corrected myself with Splatoon, what is the other one ?

Arms is another new IP, alongside Ring Fit Adventure (I count it), and other new game ideas that weren't covered with a Mario wrapper. ARMS got a major push too. It was successful at over 2 million copies sold, but the player engagement dropped fast. Ring Fit was a hit (over 14 million I think).

 

[MSduderino]

They have some of the strongest IP in the biz and are nowhere close to overexposing any of them. Gamers thirst for new iterations of their IPs while the old ones still sell at evergreen rates without price cuts and rarely going on sale.

 

[Lokaum D+]

Arms is another new IP, alongside Ring Fit Adventure (I count it), and other new game ideas that weren't covered with a Mario wrapper. ARMS got a major push too. It was successful at over 2 million copies sold, but the player engagement dropped fast. Ring Fit was a hit (over 14 million I think).

already corrected myself again, look at post #40