Support NeoGAF

[IbizaPocholo]

Reggie Fils-Aimé reveals Nintendo had adaptive controller in development

The former head of Nintendo of America revealed that the company was developing an adaptive controller similar to the Xbox's, and it would've worked for all three consoles.

www.gamedeveloper.com

According to Reggie Fils-Aimé, Nintendo was hard at work on creating an adaptive controller. In a recent interview with Inverse, the former Nintendo of America CEO disclosed that the product was in the works, and the publisher had some interesting ideas for it.

Microsoft launched an Adaptive Controller for the Xbox One in 2018, made with the aim of being a more affordable and approachable controller to those with limited mobility. It featured a variety of customization options, reprogrammable buttons, and support for third-party accessories.

While controllers for disabled players exist in some capacity for all three consoles, Microsoft is the only one to have a controller under the official Xbox brand. Nintendo's controller, in his words, would've been completely functional for the Xbox and PlayStation. "Imagine a controller you could play with your latest Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo platform," said Fils-Aimé. "That's what we were working on three years ago."

Since Fils-Aimé left three years ago in 2019, this controller would've been made for the Nintendo Switch (2017), and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (2013). Presumably, the controller would've worked with the latter consoles' upgraded models, the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One S | X.

As enticing as that sounds, Fils-Aimé admits that he's not sure what came of the project, or if it's even still in development. But he hopes it'll see the light of day, particularly because of its touted feature of being a controller for all three major consoles. "My hope is that controller — and the ability for that controller to connect with all of the various systems — is launched and shared with consumers as quickly as possible.”

Fils-Aimé thinks that going forward, the industry must make better strides towards being accessible for players, particularly in regards to controllers. "I do believe the best solution is an industry solution that can work for all of the dedicated gaming platforms and for PC, and can truly be tailored to the player depending on their physical capabilities and what they can do.”

 

[jaysius]

He can tell us they were working on a competitor to Xbox 360, it doesn't matter it didn't happen.

I'm not sure why we're still listening to this overhyped under performer.

 

[Robb]

I’m sure they work on a lot of stuff that never make it to market all the time.

I’d be more interested in hearing what happened to the Wii Vitality Sensor and what games they had in development for that thing. I remembered them showing it at an E3 presentations so it seemed to be fairly close to being finished and to actually launch before they pulled the plug.

 

[hemo memo]

How can he share this even though he is no longer an employee?

 

[Robb]

How can he share this even though he is no longer an employee?

I think it’s more likely to be the reverse. If he would still be employed he’d likely be under a NDA and would not be allowed to say anything.

He’s probably been away from the company long enough that a lot of NDA’s are void by now.

 

[lh032]

New Nintendo slogan： Feel the drift!!!!

 

[Kataploom]

I think it’s more likely to be the reverse. If he would still be employed he’d likely be under a NDA and would not be allowed to say anything.

He’s probably been away from the company long enough that a lot of NDA’s are void by now.

Don't those NDA last years after one leaves the company?

 

[Votron]

Don't those NDA last years after one leaves the company?

usually..But aparently the coivd years have really froze time. Do You Realize He left Nintendo like almost 4 years now?

 

[Robb]

Don't those NDA last years after one leaves the company?

This is just pure speculation on my part, but I would assume he’s under multiple NDA’s (or one NDA that cover a ton of different things). Some may last long enough for him to pass away before he’s allowed to talk about it (i.e. they’ve made sure he will never be able to publicly speak about certain things), while some may be a lot shorter.

Likely it depends on the economic damage (or damage in general) Nintendo believes some things could do to them if it got out.

 

[jigglet]

The adaptive controller is all about customization and tweaking to adapt to your needs. Nintendo first party games have, to my knowledge, never featured more customization than control layout options A, B or C. Big talk Reggie but this could have never come from Nintendo.

 

[Moses85]

Reggie

 

[JimboJones]

The adaptive controller is all about customization and tweaking to adapt to your needs. Nintendo first party games have, to my knowledge, never featured more customization than control layout options A, B or C. Big talk Reggie but this could have never come from Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch does let you customize the controller at a system level now.

 

[solidus12]

Hey Nintendo

 

[hemo memo]

I think it’s more likely to be the reverse. If he would still be employed he’d likely be under a NDA and would not be allowed to say anything.

He’s probably been away from the company long enough that a lot of NDA’s are void by now.

Still he can’t just announce stuff as a person in his position will know stuff that are 5-10 years future plans.

 

[Robb]

Still he can’t just announce stuff as a person in his position will know stuff that are 5-10 years future plans.

If he isn’t bound by an NDA or some other legal forms for that info I’m pretty sure he can disclose whatever he wants just like how you or me can provide info on the companies we’ve worked at previously.

 

[Elysion]

I’d be more interested in hearing what happened to the Wii Vitality Sensor and what games they had in development for that thing. I remembered them showing it at an E3 presentations so it seemed to be fairly close to being finished and to actually launch before they pulled the plug.

I believe they actually mentioned this at some point when they were asked (probably at an investor meeting). They said that the sensor wasn’t precise/reliable enough to work consistently (if I remember correctly).

 

[Robb]

They said that the sensor wasn’t precise/reliable enough to work consistently

Makes sense I guess. Would be cool if we ever got to find out if they had any games in development for it that got scrapped. Or if it was plannned to be included as a feature in any of their games.

I remember reading something about ideas for horror games that would adapt the tension to your pulse, for example.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Power Glove 2.0

 

[darrylgorn]

If I can get a controller for my couch PC that gives me as much precision as kb and mouse, then count me in Nintendo.