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[Draugoth]

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has said the company’s eventual transition away from Nintendo Switch to its next hardware platform is “a major concern” for the company.

Speaking during a Japanese investor Q&A this week (translated by VGC contributor Robert Sephazon), Furukawa said the company planned to alleviate the risks of resetting its 100m+ userbase by building “long-term relationships” with its users, partly via Nintendo Accounts and by using its IP outside of gaming. Furukawa was replying to a question about how Nintendo has been able to maintain a strong game release schedule six years into Switch’s life cycle, and what his thoughts were on transitioning to its next hardware platform. In its recent history, Nintendo followed up its big successes such as Wii (101.6m sold) and DS (154m sold) with significantly less popular successors (Wii U sold 13.5m and 3DS managed 75m), and Furukawa said the company was mindful of these experiences.

We have already announced a portion of our software roadmap releasing up to next spring. Unlike the past, we continue to have a large variety of games scheduled to be released, even beyond five years of release. This is because the Nintendo Switch has had such a smooth launch, allowing us to focus all of our development resources on a single platform.

Nintendo says the transition to its next console is ‘a major focus for us’ | VGC

The company wants to alleviate the risk of resetting its userbase…

www.videogameschronicle.com

 

[kyliethicc]

“We are not sure yet how we will be able to force people to buy Mario Kart 8 again.”

 

[MidGenRefresh]

Major concern because they need to figure out how to sell you Zelda Ocarina of Time for the 6th time.

 

[Y0ssarian]

I don't know anything about Steam deck, but can Nintendo just make a more powerful switch roughly the same size but with better graphics that plays switch 1 & switch 2 games for switch 2

 

[Mr Hyde]

Nintendo need to continue with the Switch brand and the hybrid format. Full backwards compatibility is a must. Otherwise I'm probably not gonna bother.

 

[jaysius]

"We keep releasing old shit and people keep lapping it up, we take ZERO risks these days, a new console is a BIG RISK, and it involves R&D costs".

 

[Holammer]

After the double kick in the balls that was WiiU and 3DS, of course it's scary to kick off a new hardware generation.
Going backwards compatible like Xbox and Playstation did now is the way to go, but it paints Nintendo into a corner. A low powered mobile CPU corner.

 

[AJUMP23]

Major concern because they need to figure out how to sell you Zelda Ocarina of Time for the 6th time.

If you release it they will buy.

 

[jufonuk]

"We keep releasing old shit and people keep lapping it up, we take ZERO risks these days, a new console is a BIG RISK, and it involves R&D costs".

Yea because CoD FIFA and others are risky.

 

[MiguelItUp]

I don't know anything about Steam deck, but can Nintendo just make a more powerful switch roughly the same size but with better graphics that plays switch 1 & switch 2 games for switch 2

They most certainly could do something exactly like that, or VERY close to it.

But they won't.

I've always loved Nintendo since I was a kid, but man, they still make some bizarre decisions. Which I respect the hell out of cause they do whatever they want, but sometimes I wish they'd just listen to their fans more.

 

[Astral Dog]

Yeah, no doubt the pressure is big, Nintendo is a wild card when it comes to generation transitions.

I always said though, no matter what, they shouldn 't rush the Switch 2 like they did with Wii U, present it when its ready, both the hardware and software lineup. No confusing names, just be clear its the Switch successor. The first Switch can' t be forgotten inmediatly so there should be plenty of cross gen games and support,not throw it away to the trash like they did with the Wii.

 

[Y0ssarian]

They most certainly could do something exactly like that, or VERY close to it.

But they won't.

I've always loved Nintendo since I was a kid, but man, they still make some bizarre decisions. Which I respect the hell out of cause they do whatever they want, but sometimes I wish they'd just listen to their fans more.

Yeah I don't know how powerful tech has become, that's why I asked. But basically, that's all would need to do imo. Just make a more powerful switch that is backwards compatible. I think they should stick with the hybrid model

 

[lh032]

It seems Switch is too successful for them to move on.

 

[nikos]

Pretty sure most people just want a more powerful Switch. Hopefully they don't go back to gimmicks.

 

[kanjobazooie]

I hope they call it something stupid like "Switch Up" or something.

 

[Y0ssarian]

Pretty sure most people just want a more powerful Switch. Hopefully they don't go back to gimmicks.

I'm hoping it's just like they did with the progression from DS to 3DS. More powerful system & graphics, with backwards compatibility. Don't really care for 3D though, I'd take it or leave it

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Given the trend, just make a Switch 2 with beefier specs and keep making the same ~10 first party franchise games and they'll rake in the bucks.

Switch has been a giant hit being a hybrid system and MS and Sony dont touch portables, so they got the console maker handheld market to themselves again.

But lets see what they make. Ninty like to always introduce new gameplay features. I'm thinking they'll just release a standard Switch 2. But who knows. Maybe they got other ideas.

 

[STARSBarry]

“We are not sure yet how we will be able to force people to buy Mario Kart 8 again.”

Call it SUPER Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

 

[SlimySnake]

lol Major concern as if this is the first time they are releasing a next gen console. They have been here what 8 times? This isnt that hard. No one expects you to support a dated 8 year old console.

 

[retsof624]

they'll be fine if they market it correctly and it plays all your switch games

 

[Astral Dog]

Honestly, they should try some sort of 'reward' program for those bros buying their next gen system on the first 6 months. Switch 2 needs all help it can get at launch to assure its success and people would be instantly interested/hyped on free games if they advertise it

 

[Bruno_Arrais85]

just release something like the steam deck with better battery life.

 

[TLZ]

Nintendo, it's simple. All your portables sell. Just keep doing portables and you'll be fine. And keep making your games that people like. Just make sure you continue with the HDMI out so we can play them on tv too. Easy peasy.

 

[RoboFu]

its probaly a translation issue ( or click bate translation) . what they probably said was along the lines of .. that its a very serious matter and not something taken lightly.

 

[johnjohn]

They obviously don't want another Wii to Wii U situation. Safest bet would be to just do a Switch 2.

 

[Captain Toad]

I'm sure new generations are much bigger concerns than Sony or Microsoft. Xbox is fairly consistent and PlayStation pretty much always breaks 100 million.

Nintendo hits a homerun, then follows it with a complete bomb or two, only to break all-time sales records after that. They understandably don't want the Switch generation to end.

 

[Area61]

Just make a console which is backward compatible with Switch games. Simple.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Nintendo, it's simple. All your portables sell. Just keep doing portables and you'll be fine. And keep making your games that people like. Just make sure you continue with the HDMI out so we can play them on tv too. Easy peasy.

So true.

Unlike Sony and MS expectations, pretty sure all Nintendo gamers want are some good first party games and a reasonable price for hardware. The hybrid system is a hit. Improve and repeat.

It's not like the avg gamer cares about online functionality, tons of third party games or the highest fidelity console gaming either. Many of the biggest franchise third party games dont even come out for Nintendo systems, yet they dont care. And likely wont going forward.

 

[Holammer]

just release something like the steam deck with better battery life.

Like a Steam Deck, but bigger and heavier?
Coming right up! Unless we get new battery tech.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

WiiU flopped for a very specific reason. 3DS semi-flopped because of being too expensive (useless gimmick) and software drought. All of this is preventable.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

Just make a console which is backward compatible with Switch games. Simple.

But how will they sell you their old games with minimal upgrades again?

 

[AJUMP23]

I wonder if it is because they just can't release a bunch of WiiU games that were great but needed a larger audience to succeed. The profit margins on Switch SW especially WiiU developed SW on the switch must be astronomical, and they will not be able to repeat that in the next generation. If I was running the company that would concern me too.

 

[mckmas8808]

"We keep releasing old shit and people keep lapping it up, we take ZERO risks these days, a new console is a BIG RISK, and it involves R&D costs".

Your post sounds crazy, but there's truth there. Nintendo usually likes to switch it up with every console release. But they are realizing that is the worse thing they could do for their next-gen console.

 

[Area61]

But how will they sell you their old games with minimal upgrades again?

I honestly forgot how they milked Mario Kart.

 

[UltimaKilo]

I would be really concerned as an investor if the company was “not at all worried” about getting it right…

 

[Kacho]

The amount of shit Nintendo will receive if they do a hard reset with no backwards compatibility would be astronomical. Consumer expectations are rapidly changing as we transition to persistent ecosystems and digital ownership.

 

[Bragr]

Of course it's a major concern there it's a lot on the line, just like PS5 or Series X, everyone is nervous about how to transition and if they can retain customers. This is normal across all companies.

 

[jaysius]

The amount of shit Nintendo will receive if they do a hard reset with no backwards compatibility would be astronomical. Consumer expectations are rapidly changing as we transition to persistent ecosystems and digital ownership.

Untrue, they did it with the WiiU and some of their higher priced ports to the Switch are top sellers for them.

There's NOTHING Nintendo can do wrong to make their jingos hate them.

 

[jaysius]

I honestly forgot how they milked Mario Kart.

Milked? Did you see their new "booster" pass where they port over some shitty maps from their F2P app into the Mario Kart 8 and stretch that shit into sometime in 2023? They're still milking that.

 

[Jennings]

I don't know anything about Steam deck, but can Nintendo just make a more powerful switch roughly the same size but with better graphics that plays switch 1 & switch 2 games for switch 2

Didn't work for WiiU, which was the same size console but had better graphics and also played Wii discs.

 

[I Master l]

I hope they call it something stupid like "Switch Up" or something.

Switch Down and move it all around

 

[GymWolf]

Can't they just release another underpowered overpriced tablet with BC?

 

[ResilientBanana]

It's easy, Switch 2 with nVidia's next gen mobile tech. If they switch to AMD they will have BC issues.

 

[ParaSeoul]

Considering how it went from Gamecube to Wii to Wii U to Switch,if the pattern repeats itself its not gonna be good.

Disclaimer I don't think the Gamecube was a failure,its probably my fave from those 4 but to Nintendo its viewed as one last time I heard.

 

[Kacho]

Untrue, they did it with the WiiU and some of their higher priced ports to the Switch are top sellers for them.

There's NOTHING Nintendo can do wrong to make their jingos hate them.

Not even remotely similar situations. There was nowhere to go but up after the colossal failure of the Wii U. If they don’t play their cards right with the transition from the Switch to the next console it will be a disaster for them.

 

[ParaSeoul]

Can't they just release another underpowered overpriced tablet with BC?

Nah they backed the wrong horse,every new Tegra chipset seems to be made for car self driving systems and machine learning now.

 

[Punished Miku]

Not even remotely similar situations. There was nowhere to go but up after the colossal failure of the Wii U. If they don’t play their cards right with the transition from the Switch to the next console it will be a disaster for them.

Since they've closed the 3DS Line of systems, it's likely going to be a Switch 2 of some kind. They're not abandoning portability.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

As someone who knows nothing about technical architecture, could they not do what Microsoft have done and just make everything backwards compatible from the get go? Hybrid portable hardware is amazing and as long as Nintendo keep doing that, I'll keep buying their systems.

 

[Topher]

It's easy, Switch 2 with nVidia's next gen mobile tech. If they switch to AMD they will have BC issues.

I agree, but I wonder if what kind of deal they will get from Nvidia. Nvidia has complained about low margins in the past when it comes to consoles. They were able to work a deal with their older Tegra stuff, but Nvidia has shown they can be difficult to work with.

 

[onnextflix5]

Major question is, is the switch 2 going to sell 100m+ like switch 1, wii u failed, 3ds did not sell as much as ds, so i can understand nintendo being concerned,