Miyamoto doesn't want Nintendo dragged into the hardware performance "console wars" debate
Same here, Miyamoto
There was a time when Nintendo was going head-to-head with the other game companies in terms of hardware tech specs. It was simply the name of the game back then. You put out a new piece of hardware, you had specs that were in line with the competition. Things went on like that for a couple of decades, and then Nintendo saw a different direction.
During the GameCube era, Nintendo became keenly aware that chasing tech would be an expensive endeavor, and it was paved with the law of diminishing returns. Rather than just focus on improved specs, Nintendo looked to create unique experiences through varied software and novel takes on hardware input methods and more.
Nintendo ushered in this way of thinking with the Wii, and while there have been a couple missteps, the new direction has been hugely successful for the Big N. It has led them to their greatest profits ever, and it’s no surprise to know Nintendo has no plans on chasing raw hardware horsepower again.
Speaking at the Nintendo Museum, Shigeru Miyamoto shared his hopes for the museum, and parlayed the conversation into the game industry’s slavish approach to upping tech for better graphics. You can see Miyamoto’s statement below, as translated by ChatGPT.
If the goal is to preserve all of Nintendo’s past assets so that people can understand what Nintendo is, then it’s not just about the employees; we now have people spanning three generations who know about Nintendo. It would be great if those people could see it and understand what Nintendo is. I hope that through this, people will understand and refrain from dragging Nintendo into competitions like the so-called ‘console wars,’ which focus on high specs and hardware performance (laughs). Nintendo will continue to use the various technologies available today to create things in a way that’s unique to Nintendo. We’re not just limited to games; we’ll also be involved in films and will continue to create a variety of entertainment content. I thought this would be a good opportunity for people to understand that, and that’s why we made this.
I believe the most important thing is for various people to visit this museum and come away thinking, ‘Nintendo is a company that’s not at all related to the game industry competition or cutting-edge technology that people usually talk about.’ Of course, we conduct technology research. In the past, analysts and others have said things like, ‘Why isn’t Nintendo focusing on networking?’ or ‘What about mobile?’ or ‘Why aren’t you using cutting-edge chips?’ However, if people calmly look at the exhibits, they’ll realize that we’ve actually been working on those things all along. But Nintendo has a history of waiting for the right moment to release products, only commercializing them when we believe the timing is perfect. I think that becomes clear through the museum, and it helps build trust in Nintendo. For our shareholders as well, this serves as a kind of mid- to long-term perspective, showing that they can trust us to manage the company properly.
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vinlauria
The Wii U's problems came mainly from its Western relations. It was rather successful in Japan. But between the abysmal Western marketing and friction with several major American publishers at the time (primarily EA), there wasn't much they could do to salvage its international presence.
Besides, the Switch is barely more powerful than the Wii U was, particularly in relation to the other systems. Power was never the issue; if there's demand to port to the system, they'll make it happen. There just wasn't much demand for Western games on Wii U outside of indie (and it did have a pretty respectable indie library).
ngamer01
12d agoThe problem now unlike in the past though is 3rd parties will bail if the next Nintendo system isn't beefed up enough to limit the need to downscale let alone build Nintendo-specific versions. The next Nintendo system doesn't need to exceed Xbox Series X, but it can't be two gens behind either. Third parties will pivot to support Steam Deck only along with PS5/Xbox Series.
The last time Nintendo didn't have any major backup and had weak console hardware was the Wii U. Please don't make Switch's sequel another Wii U, Nintendo.
I don't want to see a case of cross-gen having to be extended either if the new system isn't up to stuff because Nintendo doesn't have a small handheld system to fallback on other than the OG Switch.
The Wii U's problems came mainly from its Western relations. It was rather successful in Japan. But between the abysmal Western marketing and friction with several major American publishers at the time (primarily EA), there wasn't much they could do to salvage its international presence.
Besides, the Switch is barely more powerful than the Wii U was, particularly in relation to the other systems. Power was never the issue; if there's demand to port to the system, they'll make it happen. There just wasn't much demand for Western games on Wii U outside of indie (and it did have a pretty respectable indie library).
Exactly this. It's as Shigeru Miyamoto said they are just going to use what is available for them to put in the things they want to achieve.
There were demands to port AAA or at least major franchises to 3DS/Wii U, but many of them fizzled out because hardware sales and tech weren't there. Hell Activision even scoffed at the idea of the Crash Bandicoot trilogy appearing on Switch until the execs had to be shown Switch could handle it and Switch had showed Nintendo can capture lightning in a bottle twice.
The point I'm making is that it's real easy to lose the foundation you built. Nintendo didn't have anything suitable for the end of the OG Wii, so Nintendo lost many casuals back to mobile devices. It took the Switch to bring casuals back, but they're very fickle. If Steam Deck really becomes casual friendly in time, it will eat Nintendo's lunch unless they stay out ahead of whatever Steam Deck and other the hybrid system competitors do. Microsoft wants the Switch pie and they might finally join the handheld space. Sony may want to get back into the same battles with a successor to PS Vita.
But even when Nintendo was beating all comers in the handheld wars, they lost ground to mobile and even then many popular franchises skipped 3DS and went PS Vita only.
Absolutely. Hogwarts Legacy on Switch and some other titles like Doom, Doom Eternal or even Apex Legends are proof of this (And I mention these games cause they are actually good ports and I still play them and prefer to play them on switch). There could be a few games that are just a graphical wild party and can't be ported, but it's definitely a matter of demand rather than tech/power.
I hope the new system does great and I'm glad Nintendo doesn't want to join the graphical trend, some "power" is nice but do we really need more? I'm tired of "your stuff is getting old, get this new pc/console that can support up to 8k, like if you could ever tell the difference. Oh and get a new screen as well, your 1080p screen is also a thing of the past."
(sorry, needed to take that out of my chest haha)
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