After the motion-control of the Wii and the dual-screen setup of the Wii U, Nintendo has arguably gone back to basics with the Switch, apparently discarding interface gimmicks to give a more traditional control experience.
One person who seems very pleased with that is President of Sony's Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida, who sat down with Digital Spy at the recent PlayStation Experience to talk about a wide range of topics - the Switch being just one.
Yoshida - who has previously stated that he's something of a Nintendo fan - praised Nintendo for adopting a more "conventional" approach, and also stated that he thinks the company will carve out its own niche rather than compete with Sony and Microsoft:
DS: 2017 will see the launch of another new console, Nintendo's Switch. What do you think of it, and where do you see it sitting in the console ecosystem?
SY: I think it's a very unique system. It's very interesting that they've designed the system to work well with more conventional games in terms of inputs and buttons. So I think it's good for core gamers and their marketing message focused on that.DS: Do you still see Nintendo as competition in terms of hardware sales, or do they now exist in a completely different market?
SY: I think they're going to cover a new market for themselves.
Yoshida also commented on Nintendo's mobile strategy, and stated that Sony is looking into smartphone gaming - something that is backed up by today's news that the likes of Everybody's Golf, Wild Arms and Arc the Lad are coming to mobile:
DS: Nintendo are also making big moves into mobile gaming. Super Mario Run comes out soon and Pokemon Go was the success story of the year on mobile. Is this an area Sony will be looking to move into?
SY: Not like Nintendo is. But the mobile is a great tool to connect with our fans and might be a good place to allow new gamers – or non-gamers – to become familiar with our IP. So we will look at opportunities to make use of the device.
What do you make of Yoshida's comments? As ever, let us and the world know by posting one of your own below.
[source digitalspy.com]
Comments 55
Sony's making smartphone games now as well? Obviously, that means Sony is Sonydoomed just like Nintendo is Nintendoomed. Oh wait, neither of them are going to become mobile-only developers.
I think they're going to cover a new market for themselves.
Interesting that they don't see Nintendo as a threat. I suppose since Nintendo is playing relatively safe, they don't have a reason to worry about another Wii to take the market.
@Mega_Yarn_Poochy Sony should stop making consoles and just make games for other systems.
We've never had a hybrid before. Who knows what the market for that is like.
It would be more interesting to see what Microsoft thinks. PS4 is in a leadership position and for most "core gamers" the Switch won't replace that... it may very well compliment it and what Yoshida is suggesting but not admitting is that it could very well take away software sales from Sony. Hardware I don't think there is anything to worry about, yet.
If Switch is a runaway success, it has more of a chance of harming the #2 spot directly.
Tunes may shift a bit after the January reveal, too. The power may be more or less than expected. The reception may go to an unexpected audience. Plenty more to learn before real analysis can take place.
I would have been surprised if he declared: "We're doomed!!! It's over, Nintendo won ;o;"
Not that anyway he has any reason for say that, the Switch is playing a bit safer, but it's still a bet, as much as we can tell now it could swipe the market like the Wii or barely scrap it like the Wii U.
Hmph...
If third party support ends up being really amazing, that would be funny if Nintendo turned into a big competitor for Sony and MS.
@invictus4000 If Switch ends up being a big success for the Big N, expect to see a Playstation Hybrid next gen. It would be the logical termination point of PS4 --> Vita remote play anyhow.
@Ralizah
It will be another jealousy of Sony. Remember PS3 Moves ? Copycat of Wiimote. Even the games that using Moves can be counted by my fingers.
Sony smoany!
Yep, Sony and Nintendo are working on a new console for next generation. This is the ground work! 😉
"After the motion-control of the Wii and the dual-screen setup of the Wii U, Nintendo has arguably gone back to basics with the Switch, apparently discarding interface gimmicks to give a more traditional control experience."
Hmm, I don't know about that. I'd say the Switch still continues to embrace the best features of Nintendo's last few generation consoles while appearing to look like more "traditional" in the process. More like a best of both worlds approach.
"they've designed the system to work well with more conventional games in terms of inputs and buttons" - me looking at the Wii U's controler and looking at the detachable controlers of the Switch...
What are they talking about? the Wii U had convencional buttons!
Nintendo has always covered the only part of the market that really matters to me.
I have fun with Sony's consoles, but all of the games that really matter to me have always been Nintendo games.
The tone I which he speaks is more like he's belittling Nintendo and he definitely doesn't see Nintendo as a threat but the way Nintendo's been i wouldn't blame him. And realistically Sony is covering every possible mainstream gamers So until the Switch takes off on a very high note no reason for the PlayStation to be concerned with switch as a competition.
@Savino
Um... OMG Ultra HD graphics for standard ? Nah... I don't think so.
Graphics is not everything. Fun gameplay for EVERYONE is everything. Let me be honest, Miitopia >>> FF XV. Ultra realistic HD for me just make Yawn or Bored but CRAZY RPG like Miitopia instantly made me LOL and ROFL. I would rather stick on Cartoonish HD graphic with whimsical, quirky, cute, colorful, fun gameplay inside. That I really want from Nintendo.
Well this site handled this news in a far better way then PS did. No fanwar stoking for one.
I mean...his job depends on winning and sales. Yet he isnt slamming em like fanboys are. Work that out.
Anyway I anticipate a failure just so I dont get my hopes up around a house a PC Master Race and a course of Sony fans. I get laughed at for saying Nvidis is investing in Switch as well as VR PC tech.
@PtM not really! a lot of games just mirror the tv on the gamepad! And the buttons are the same...
@PtM You have no idea what click-bait means.
@Savino The Switch sucessor should be announced in 2021 and launched in 2022. 5 years is the standard cycle. Don't know why you're so worked up about that.
@Damo you beat me to it
How is this a return to convention when the NS is a setup no one has done before?
@Ryu_Niiyama
It's a return to one screen, and developers always having access to a traditional button/stick layout.
When Yoshida calls it "convention" it's because it's close to what Sony are doing, and they do consider themselves the defacto standard in console gaming.
When companies are praised for returning to convention, you know we're in an economic slog. We need risk takers.
@PtM click bait is something along the lines of 'You won't BELIEVE what Sony just said about Nintendo, try not to cry at the end of the story....'. That's a click bait headline.
Nintendo obviously didn't give sony more details and a dev kit to sony so you can't really go by what he said. He knows as much as we do!
@PtM Please elaborate.
'Return to convention'. 'New markets'. No one else think that's a bit of a contradiction?
Sony has already tried & failed in the mobile/cell phone market with Playstation phones in the not too distant past. So when they say they are "looking into the mobile", what they actually mean is "we're licking our wounds".
Sony is notorious for stealing the ideas of others, in the case of the Nintendo Playstation, I didn't really blame them as Nintendo screwed them over. However, the Playstation Move? PS3 Vita connectivity? Crammed in motion controls in the Sixaxis controller? Having to pay money for every PS2 controller as they stole another companies patent? I'd be suprised if Sony didn't announce a PS4 Portable shortly after the Switch is released.
I don't think that Sony and its president consider the Switch a threat now - after all PS4 is the market leader and the Wii U was a giant failure.
But if the Switch manages to position itself, with good sales and flaunting its portability while playing current gen games, you can bet Sony's opinion is going to change from seeing them as "carving their own niche" to "crap, they're competing and making headway", like we saw in the Wii era.
@PtM how is the title of this untruthful. I just want to know
Sony just reached 50 million PS4s and 369.3 million software units sold as of yesterday. PlayStation isn't concerned about competition.
@3MonthBeef @DanteSolablood I'd be very surprised if Sony tried to copy this concept. They will have a massively tough time ahead of them on the R&D front, especially since it seems Ninty have nailed it with Nvidia and AMD would have to try and emulate Tegra and it's capabilities. A revised Vita/PSP is always possible I suppose, but why bother when they already have such a large (not to mention lucrative) share of the home console market? It doesn't make much sense to me.
@Sonic200012 Oh dear. Of course they are concerned, but then again Nintendo are aiming at different markets. If Wii was anything to go by (and if Switch is anywhere near as popular), history would indicate that they will try and emulate/improve on it (see PS Move). They are a business after all, and if they see an opportunity then they will try an pursue it.
@Iggy-Koopa I never said Sony would do it well.
The Sixaxis controller was half-arsed Wii rip-off that failed, the Playstation Move was a half-arsed Wii rip-off (rushed out quickly following the Wii being unvailed at E3) that failed... but I think Sony know they make enough money from game sales to make up for it.
Sony could make a Vita with more powerful graphics & a TV out easilly... just expect it to be poorly thought through & to fail.
Wild arms, Arc the lad?!!!!!
WHY?! D=
@Joeynator3000 And then SEGA can start making consoles again and sony can make games for them
@DanteSolablood Indeed. Either way, I think another handheld device is simply off the cards for them. The humble 3DS gave Vita a pounding in the end, and if anything I reckon they will just try an plough funds into PS Now to try and improve that "Playstation anywhere" experience.
Let's never mention SixAxis again though....... vomits
@PtM but that's not a click bait title
@PtM Quit while you are ahead dude
@Anti-Matter "LOL. ROFL"?
What are you, 8?
@G_M
I'm 32 years old young man and I caught the quirkiness of Miitopia made me LOL and ROFL by Naturally. I like Funny and Silly games like Tomodachi Lifes and Miitopia, is that wrong ?
@3MonthBeef
PS all stars ? Ew.... No thanks.
I'm most excited about Wild Arms and Arc the Lad!
@Joeynator3000 Sony doesn't have enough exclusive IPs to go third party.
"It's very interesting that they've designed the system to work well with more conventional games in terms of inputs and buttons."
Is he implying that the Wii U didn't have the exact same button inputs?
@Joeynator3000
You my friend have won the internet.
Well done.
Made me laugh, have an upvote.
@Ralizah I hope it sells great and then Sony will copy and I'll have a PlayStation tablet console too!
I wouldn't consider a Sandwitch threatening, either. It's your friend. Partake of it, and b J e O h I a N p U p S y!
@Uncensored Agreed. A Sony console with built-in, flawless Remote Play would be amazing.
Uh-oh... Ninntenndo-'s uniqueness was one of its strongest points...
@Savino
I DON'T CARE also with that Ultra Realistic FF XV. Who cares FFXV sold fast ?!
I DON'T CARE at all !!
I found Miitopia Way 100 times better, Hillarious madness, made me curious, Instant ROFL and LOL. Sorry, Miitopia already sold for me despite still Japanese version (Fortunately, I can understand some Japanese letters).
Quirky and funny gameplay Win my heart rather than serious and typical gameplay.
Mark my words also. Switch will be BOOM, Will be a Savior of Nintendo. Got it ?!
@Savino
Used to be I played Sony and Nintendo, but now I move on to Nintendo completely. I felt extremely disappointed with Sony so I don't want to come back to Sony anymore (Except ps1 and ps2, still have some sweet memories but I have to move on, try to forget the past).
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