Yesterday the long-awaited was presented for the first time Nintendo Switch. This new console winks at the future with an idea that is as simple as it is brilliant: to create a home console that allows users to play their favorite games even when they are not at home. The captivating design and the possibility of detaching the connected controls from the screen that become two distinct pads to be able to have fun with your friends, are brilliant insights that, if properly exploited, will really bring a revolution within the videogame landscape. However, proposing an innovative platform is often not enough if it is not followed properly by what the players want, namely the titles.
Nintendo's history is long and winding as it has gone from being an industry leader to being regarded as a home for children. What was the path that made it so? We will not stay here to retrace all the events of the company, but it is also right to make small observations as it seems that sometimes the past repeats itself. Wii U, as we all know, it was definitely not the best console in terms of popularity. This was a really big damage to the group, since it has not received the necessary trust from outside companies to get their titles released on this platform. The number of third-party games is the lowest in history for Japanese industry consoles, even lower than what is offered on Wii. The speech finally changed drastically with the arrival of Nintendo Switch, as the Kyoto house promises substantial support from third parties. But how will it be exploited? When the Super Nintendo, titles already published on direct competitors were re-proposed and, even, works such as Mortal Kombact were censored, removing blood and fatality, thus remaining consistent with corporate values.
Nintendo Switch will take advantage of many external development houses, but what games will they make available for this console? Let's take a more practical example: if From Software proposed a remastered of the various Souls on the new platform, it probably would not be the most appropriate move of all, since they are titles that have been played by various users for a long time now. It is also true that the many loyal Nintendo have never played this particular kind of titles, and it would be a great opportunity to recover them, but the question arises: how much longer can what is called the hard core of Nintendo in jargon? Opening up to the masses and developing new IPs would be the best way to grow revenue and make the most of all potential, as well as revive the eternal classics like Mario and Zelda. This thesis seems to be supported even more by the words of Satoru Shibata, President of Nintendo Europe:
With this preview of the Nintendo Switch I hope that players are already imagining all the possibilities offered by the freedom to play when, where and how they want. Our Nintendo teams, as well as many other developers, are working hard to create completely new and original experiences and we can't wait to show you more.
Although it is a hybrid, it must always be kept in mind that Nintendo Switch is still a home console, and the ability to turn it into a laptop does not make it its primary use. Having to power the screen and hardware will certainly be a titanic undertaking, and it is reasonable to assume that with similar dimensions the duration of the charge cannot go much beyond 3 hours. Also confirmed the return of the immortal cartridges which, in a certain sense, give a nostalgic veil that is placed between the past and the future. The innovations are all there if we add to those already listed above also the ability to connect two consoles and have fun in four. As in the most classic Nintendo style, interaction between people is also encouraged in the video game and, by virtue of this brilliant intuition, proves to be a step ahead of the competition, maintaining what has been the mantra of the company from the beginning, the much repeated and acclaimed Nintendo Difference.
But in all this sea of news, did everything really go smoothly? Despite the success of the public and the agreements with external collaborators, the console does not seem to have convinced investors, so that shares of the house of the big N fell by 6,55%. According to what emerged, Amir Anvarzadeh, Japanese stock salesman at BGC Partner, expressed his opinion on the new platform, saying that the latter would offer an experience more similar to that seen in modern smartphones:
It is a disappointing consul. It does not improve the gaming experience compared to that available with your smartphone.
Daniel Ahmad, analyst at Niko Partners, also expressed his thoughts:
They've certainly found their place in the market, a more logical choice for Nintendo. To be able to play multiplayer on mobile you need to have two separate smartphones, while Switch seems to offer a more inclusive experience: a good move by the Japanese company.
As you can guess from these statements not everyone was thrilled by Nintendo Switch and, perhaps, they have not even understood the true nature of the console, but if we think about the possibility of carrying your favorite games comfortably around with you, we immediately understand the potential of everything. If the company is able to maintain ongoing third-party gaming support, snatch some new exclusives and IPs, it could easily take back the competition or even surpass it, because, as much as you want to tell, Nintendo never closes the door permanently and, underneath, we all hope for the return of the house that first and most of all made the history of video games.
