When Geoff Keighley interviewed Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, at this year’s E3, the pair spoke about an array of topics ranging from the current state of the video game industry to the French publisher’s recent collaborations with Nintendo.
In response to a question about the state of the industry, Guillemot noted the recent developments, including the release of Nintendo’s Switch, and said the future looked promising for Ubisoft because of such hardware:
It’s changing, it’s becoming more worldwide as well...the fact that Nintendo came with mobility with the Switch...it’s giving all the publishers in our capital cities the abilities, finances actually, to create better games...it’s a booming industry today.
When queried about free-to-play models, Guillemot explained the use of it was dependant on what was best for the experience:
Some of those games will use those roots, but the goal is to actually have a bit diversity in the portfolio, we can use the best approach for the experience.
On the subject of the “relationship” with Nintendo, including guidance from Shigeru Miyamoto, the CEO of Ubisoft said games such as Starlink: Battle for Atlas was a great example of the blossoming partnership with the Japanese company as well as the glowing relations with Mario's creator.
Yes, we are big fans of Mr Miyamoto, in the last 30 years we’ve been looking at what he was doing and learned a lot from him. Being able to approach him and his team, is really something that is a wonderful experience for all the teams at Ubisoft, they love to collaborate and learn from him.
Lastly was a question about what Ubisoft franchises could potentially be adapted to Nintendo’s latest device. Guillemot avoided naming any specific games and instead explained how various factors were taken into consideration during this process:
We need to make sure the brands are well adapted to the machine, and that they will fit with the public as well, when we decide to go on the machine we take into consideration those elements and also the capacity of the machine.
What do you think about Yves Guillemot's views on the industry? How do you feel about Ubisoft collaborating with Nintendo? Tell us in the comments section.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 71
Yeah, but where is Assassin's Creed and all those other games
I really like the new relationships and support that Nintendo have with Ubisoft and Bethesda. I honestly didn’t expect this so early on in the Switch’s lifecycle.
Hopefully this plus the continued success of the Switch will be enough for other developers to come aboard the Switch train 🚂
Was really hoping he'd add, "Oh and btw we are working on Assassin's Creed Compilation Edition for Switch."
@guamyankee
Now that would be awesome! AC in handheld mode would be so good.
At the end of the day Ubisoft can only use their past experience with Nintendo consoles to predict what will sell on the Switch. That’s why we get Just Dance, Rayman, Rabbids and the Toy tie in stuff because that’s what Nintendo audiences have traditionally bought. Is there really a large enough audience for AC, Splinter Cell, The Crew etc that aren’t already playing them elsewhere, and would the ones that are double dip a story lead game on the Switch?
Petz series, Imagine series, Localized Japanese Switch games to English version by Ubisoft please !
@MrGawain The fact that Nintendo owners also may have bought the triple a franchises on other consoles is precisely what I was thinking. Why spend the capital making a separate version when the traditional console editions still sell like gangbusters? People that say “oh, but they’d make so much money on switch”... would they? Anyone remember assassins creed on DS? I bought it, and have never met a single soul in my physical life that also bought it. That’s an odd example, but it’s still an example. All the fans of BG&E I’m sure snatched up the rerelease, but on Sony it Microsoft platforms. If it really means that much, maybe folks should hand write actual letters to these companies and let them know how much they appreciate their products and would like the chance to experience them on switch.
I think the best game Ubisoft could port to the Switch would be RS: Siege. With the lack of online focused first person shooters on the system, I think it would sell well and to be honest I think with the right team on the job, could be ported without losing too much in terms of graphics. Think the only issue would be party chat, but as Fortnite has shown this can be done through the game.
Mario + Rabbids. We want more.
For those who say that AC or other core series wouldn't sell to N Nintendo audiences I say, BS. Give the Switch audience a chance to prove whether they want the games or not. Dont assume. Port AC to the Switch and see what happens. Just my two cents.
I just want Child of Light 2. Make it happen Ubisoft!
@HobbitGamer "have never met a single soul in my physical life"
As opposed to...?
UbiSoft is a company with great IPs.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 seems to be awesome.
The next Splinter Cell will be great, I have no doubt about that.
But, let's be honest two seconds, those awesome games won't be ported to the Switch because of the low performances of the system.
The worst part is that Ubisoft and all the other big publishers are already developing for the PS5 and the new XBOX which are even more powerful than the PS4Pro and XBOX ONE X !
It's a disaster for the next years to come. The gap will be soooooo huge between Nintendo and its competitors that all the new games coming from 3rd party developers will stay just a dream for Switch owners...
Sad but true... :/
I think it's good that they were collabrating with Nintendo to make games for the Switch
Let me know when they port over Far Cry to the Switch
They should have asked him what happened with the Steep game that nobody talks about it.
@Knuckles-Fajita sorry, physical meaning in person as opposed to online forums and such.
It’s not some gaming version of cloud atlas
Yves' a shrewd business man, and I think we're seeing him from his best these days, after weathering that attempted take-over by Vivendi.
They finally have some wiggle room to experiment a bit and talk about what makes a good game instead of just what makes a successful game.
The portability of the system is a big selling factor and it's been proven with ports such as Doom and Skyrim that the audience will even double dip on games cause of that. Also, it may not be as powerful as the others but with certain sacrifices, ports of demanding games are possible. Software sales are very healthy on the system, it is owned from adult gamers as well as younger ones and those people spend money. Games like AC, Splinter Cell and Far Cry would sell, I am sure!
@HobbitGamer I was gonna say, what government programmes are you aware of?
Y'all should be asking for some Prince of Persia or Splinter Cell on Switch. Let's have something different rather than "[game], but now it's portable".
I'd like to see some of Ubi's ips make the leap, not just a Mario game and an updated version of Starfox. If that happens, I might actually buy something from them. I own 0 Ubisoft games on Switch atm.
@BRAINFOX - Hungry Shark World that requires docking?
"Portable game, but now it's not."
It'll sell like hot cakes!
give me my "new" rayman game.
a remake of the first 3 splintercell games, will also be welcome:)
@MongolRaider so you have no Ubisoft switch games, but might buy one if they make something you may like? That means you’re not their target audience, clearly.
@Cobalt
treu, exactly what i thought when the specs of the switch were revealed.
i think we rather gonna see more older ports from ubisoft from the ps3 and xbox360 era then games like farcry 5. the switch has the same issues as the ps vita, but nintendo can make games themselfs to make it popular.
least ubisoft can do for the switch is to make dedicated remakes such as splinter cell, acc black flag, maybe a new ip, and ofcourse a new rayman game, wich can be ported and is on any platform more then welcome.
Metroid + Splinter Cell Kingdom Battle. Grant Kirkhope does the music again. I just want to hear Ridley as an opera singer.
ubisoft is doing great with handling nintendo projects. a new far cry is out of the question i understand, but maybe they can do some nintendo titles. mario & rabbids is a masterpiece the two working together seems magic.
pikmin 4, mother 3, remaster old classics like luigi's mansion. all those titles nintendo don't have the time for.
ubisoft would be honoured, nintendo fans pleased.
personaly i would start with mother 3, alot of fans want that game.
@mauhlin12 “incoherent screeching”
@Cobalt I would bet that non casual gamers have another platform in addition to the switch. Like a PC or PS4/Xbox. So it's not "a dream" for them.
And I think these people are aware that PS5/new xbox games aren't meant to play on a handled. It's not even that they would be too weak (you don't need 4k for handheld, 720p is enough) but rather that the battery life would be ridiculously low. There's need for a revolution regarding batteries first.
From a financial standpoint I am sure the industry seems to be booming. But I still consider the free-to-play model to be a very bad thing for games from the consumer point of view. I would much rather buy and own a complete copy of a game on a console or PC. It's only okay on a phone because phone games are, by their very nature inferior and not worth paying full price for.
@Deihnyx
I think you don't get the point.
Basically, it's not stupid to think that the Switch might become a Wii U number 2 from a games perspective.
I mean that we have right now (even if it's not enough at all) Doom, Wolfsenstein, Skyrim, Dark Souls, Ys VIII etc... which are PS4/ONE ports...
I think with the new generation just in the corner, 3rd parties will skip the Switch by essence.
Another thing, Nintendo has ported so many Wii U games already on the Switch that they have no choice anymore than to bring new games... The problem is that Nintendo is not able to do that on regular basis (We saw that with the Wii U).
So, the future seems to be difficult and it's not dumb to be worried for the next years... :/
Honestly after playing AC: Origin,.. I really would not play a compromised Switch version anyway. I'll make the time to just play it at home like I did with AC:O. I even finished the DLC, I never get DLC.
I be happy with a new Rayman and Child of Light 2. I think that fits right in with Hollow Knight and Battle Chasers. And the Switch can handle them really well as a handheld.
That will keep the Switch relevant to me even after I buy a PS5
Nintendo and third parties: I think I see the cows coming home...oh wait never mind...lol
I really like Yves, he's a down to earth guy, and was around from the very beginning decades ago, just like Nintendo was. They're OG's at this point.
Unfortunately, I do think he has it right. Nintendo fans just don't seem to buy Ubisoft mature titles. They had a horrible run on Wii U, and commendably were the first 3rd party on board and the very last one to jump ship. Unfortunately every single one of their titles tanked... hard.
Then the survey when Switch launched asked fans if they wanted Assassins Creed on their platform. The complete lack of response since, that tells me all I need to know about what people told Ubisoft.
Then, even now, South Park did noticeably worse than most other 3rd party games. And as much as I hate to say this, Wolfenstein 2 is being completely ignored- indicative of the attitude of the fan base at large toward certain mature titles. DOOM skated by but Wolf 2 is just not getting any love at all. And I am convinced that any effort to put games like Assassins Creed on Switch would be ignored just the same.
And I don't know what it is, because certain other mature titles seem to do very well on Switch. Or at least reasonably decent. But there is no denying that the demand for these types of games is significantly lower than on other platforms. I do think there is an audience for mature titles but it seems to be hit and miss with which ones exactly. So publishers have to be careful with what they invest into Switch. You don't want to sink millions of dollars into a game that doesn't sell.
I do, however, believe they should branch out a little more. Trials Rising is a great fit, and South Park was a good choice to at lest test the waters- Rayman was great, Mario Rabbids was great... but maybe they should at least put one of everything on Switch and see how it does. I would personally be all over a Splinter Cell game, even a Blacklist port which would be incredible with co-op, but something tells me there's just not a very large appetite for these types of games no matter how loud the vocal minority screams on fan sites. And that kills me to say because I want these games myself.
@JaxonH
You forget THE ESSENTIAL :
Why the hell, Nintendo fans will buy games that were already out, in inferior version and full price ?
Is it difficult to understand that all the gamers interested to play some particular titles, already played'em... and for those who didn't yet, they can buy the same game with better graphics, better framerate, better support and better price...
Goshhh, that's so so so strange that 3rd party mature games don't sell on Nintendo platform... o_O
@Cobalt
Because inferior in one respect might not outweigh the superiority in another. Superiority specs-wise doesnt really trump superiority in accessibility 24/7 and money saved not buying a separate console and handheld version (assuming a handheld version even exists, which 99% of the time it doesn't) for everyone. Because everyone is different and values different things. Imo, the Switch version is superior- I always buy on Switch over other versions. Price isn't an issue cause you can always just wait for a price drop, just like every other version that became cheaper over time (although I pay full price day one if the experience is worth full price- saving a bit of money isn't enough to lull me away from the superior advantages offered by a hybrid version, because what good is saving $20 if I only enjoy it 25% as much).
The issue isn't because of what you say, the issue is preference and taste.
There's a large majority of people who are more than willing to buy a game again if it's a game they really like, just like PS4 gamers and Xbox gamers buy games 2-3 times over and over again. It's no different on any other platform, really. But on Switch, there's the added allure of getting your favorite titles on a portable system. And that's a huge appeal for a large number of people. I've been going crazy like a kid in a candy store scooping all the timeless classics for not just a handheld version, but hybrid version.
The fact many (most) other games sell just fine is a testament to the fact rebuying games is not an issue. It's not an issue on any platform. Gamers buy games they love many times. On PS4, on Xbox One, on Switch... platform doesnt matter. Everyone does it. Remasters sell like crazy on all platforms. Even when it's just a jump from 720p to 1080p, people still rebuy the games just for that. On Switch, there's actually legitimate appeal to dropping $40-60 again. You get a reasonably comparable console version as the people rebuying on PS4, but you also get a handheld version, often with added value like touch support and motion... People rebuy games on all platforms, but Switch offers the most compelling reason to actually buy a game again.
The fact only certain genres are being neglected while all others are selling like crazy on Switch is clear, definitive proof it has nothing to do with any of the above. Its simply a matter of audience taste. And that, I'm afraid, is something no one is to blame for, unfortunate as it may be. The saving grace is more and more PS4/X1 gamers are buying Switches, and those gamers want hybrid versions of their favorite game series. Which can help create a market around the core fanbase. Like my brother, for example, who's buying Dark Souls for the 4th time on Switch because he wants a handheld version of his beloved game series. Even after rebuying it again for PC, and again on PS4.
Definitly not agree even if I respect your point of view.
First thing first, price is probably not an issue for you but you can trust me on that, it's highly important for a lot gamers.
Second, you explain that Switch version is superior because of the portability. Hummm, for a simple 2D indie game OK I buy it but for a "BIG game" sorry but it's a huge NO for me.
Even games from Nintendo can have big issues in portable mode, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is just atrocious on the go.
Graphics, framerate, resolution, everything ruin the experience.
Third, the games that people rebuy again are in majority REMAKES or REMASTERS, meaning that there is a real work on those games.
Take what they shown during the Sony's E3 conference, the remake of Resdent Evil 2 for example, I'm convinced it's gonna sell like cupcakes... It was the same for the remake of Resident Evil on the gamecube.
Here we don't talk about that, we talk about "the same games" but in inferior version, that's not the same at all...
Fourth, what sells like crazy on Switch ? Nintendo games(the exclusives) and indies... If tomorrow Ubisoft find a miraculous way to port identical on the Switch a game like BGE 2 for example, you'll be forced to note that strangely it's not a matter of audience taste anymore. PERIOD !
The next Splinter Cell is what I want on my Nintendo Switch more than anything on this Earth. Would be a fantastic addition to my library.
Exclusive games are what will make 3rd parties money on switch. Ubisoft is sitting on PoP a franchise that could be rebooted on switch as an exclusive. It’s an action platformer so it should do well on the switch. Spin off AC games could thrive on the switch as well. Take those plots that are stuffed into comics that 5 people read and maybe change the art style (or use last gen assets, it isn’t like ac 3, 4 or rogue are suddenly ugly now) and give people a different AC game to play that also promotes interest in the mainline games. The key though is to make fleshed out games. Rogue is their best spin off because it is a full AC game with a smaller scope. They have plenty of material to work with since the story has gone off the rails.
@Cobalt
"Why the hell, Nintendo fans will buy games that were already out, in inferior version and full price ?"
Because it's up to them to Rebuy the Remastered version. It's not your Business to forbid them to buy the Full price. Remastered = Better graphics, better than old version.
Beside, taking out AAA or Indie games on the go is NOT something WRONG.
Does it really matter for you ?
@Anti-Matter
You just go on my point, dude.
People rebuy a game when, I quote " Remastered = Better graphics, better than old version. "
We talk about multiplat' which come on the Switch, later, full price, inferior in graphics, framerate etc... Stuffs like Ys VIII, Doom etc...
So, you don't realize that you confirm what I just explain above... lol
I think Ubi could make a great third person Metroid game. I’d be quite interested in their take, or even another franchise Nintendo has no immediate plans for
@Cobalt you make really great points and I agree with some of them.
Just want to add that (hypothetically) if Monster Hunter World had come to Switch, that would be the preferred version by many fans of the series, gimped graphics and lower framerates and all...even at full price.
Many longtime players have said that the local (outdoors/at work/at school/at conventions) multiplayer and portability beats the (admittedly) incredible graphics but lonely solo-headphone-chat experience.
And if you could use a joint account between the XBox and Switch versions, you would have seen many people double-dipping. Best of both worlds in that case for graphics-hungry people.
I can't speak for all gamers obviously, nor for other game series, but MonHun is a game that historically benefits from portability.
Yeah, I'm really digging this Ubisoft/Nintendo partnership. Mario+Rabbids was one of the best games last year, and Starlink is shaping up to be great as well. It's definitely nice to see Ubisoft borrow Nintendo IPs and make some games outside of their usual realm.
@SomeWriter13
I totally agree with you on that !
I just have a little thingy to add, not a big deal but it's really what I think.
Monster Hunter WAS made for handheld back then, so it was Ok to make a Wii or a Wii U version for example.
I mean when you have assets coming from a portable device, you can easily build a game for a home console even if it's an underpower one (the Wii and the Wii U were underpowered compare to a PS3/PS4 and X360/XBOX ONE).
Now the catch is that the New Monster Hunter is made first on the powerful home consoles. If Capcom will decide to port that game on Switch, it will be the same as making an entire new game in term of development.
They should rebuild the entire game, textures, 3D models, adapt the framerate etc... and even with all those things done, they should face an another problem... the game have to run when docked AND undocked...
Too Too Too Too Too much work... :/
@Cobalt agreed! I mentioned in a very old article here that I believe it isn't worth the effort to convert MHW to the Switch, in fact I think it's pretty impossible (given the UI designed for the big screen, the gameplay loop itself, and just the general resource hog that the game is.) I totally agree that it'd essentially be making a new game. (Which I hope they do down the road!)
To be fair though, MHW was developed during a time when the Switch was still a dream, so they didn't factor that into their design process.
Hopefully Capcom gives us a new MonHun game for the Switch in a couple of years. I'm OK with MHGU for now.
@SomeWriter13
I think the only way to have Monster Hunter on the Switch is to make a port of the Wii U version and why not, enhanced the visual and the experience.
With the incredible amount of ports on the Switch, it's not impossible for a company like Capcom to do it... espacially when you know how Capcom is a master when it's about "making easy money"...
I supported Ubisoft pretty heavily on Wii U. I’d gladly do it on Switch if they’ll actually take the plunge. Don’t get me wrong, what they’ve brought to the table so far has been great but I want more good stuff. Gimme AC3 and 4 and Zombie on Switch, and ffs, name the platforms for Beyond Good and Evil 2 already, for my sanity. The suspense is killing me even though I can foresee the outcome.
Trials Rising is coming to Switch. That’s what matters.
But what games are coming to Switch from Ubisoft...? Only Trials, right? Not a big support. I hope it gets better in the future, for what he's said...
@the_beaver
There is a rumour about STEEP (from UbiSoft Annecy)...
@Cobalt I've been hearing this rumour for a year, and I haven't seen anything yet... Anyway, it's another kind of support what I expect from them. Maybe not Assassins Creed or Beyond Good & Evil, but something like ZombiU 2 or Red Steel 3 would be great. Let's see.
@the_beaver
Zombi U 2 ? Do I have to remember you that only the holy Wii U have the ability to use the dual screen ?
A Zombi U 2 without that glorious feature, it's like driving your car without the wheels... nonsense
@Cobalt Well, I don't know if you know it, but they released a version of that game in the other systems as well lol. So you can actually play the game already without that feature.
Tell us about this Ubisoft/Nintendo relationship?
"We realized that if we suck up to Miyamoto enough, they'll just let us piggyback off all their IPs."
I’m gonna be ambitious and ask for AC Odyssey on Switch. Give me that single-player open world dating sim please!
@the_beaver
I know, I know... but I had "the chance" to try it... Guess what ? it's like driving a car without wheels !
Back to serious, what makes Zombi U (and not Zombi) so great, it's the asymmetric gameplay. The dudes from Ubi Montpellier did an awesome job.
God, the Wii U was, is and will stay a fantastic machine... For now I can't talk the same way about the Switch... really hope it's gonna change.
I would murder a hobo for an enhanced Prince of Piersia collection with the sands of time trilogy on the go.
Cya
Raziel-chan
Like what Ubisoft been doing together with Nintendo, hopefully this will also lead to some ports of their library to the Switch like Assassins creed or prince of Persia.
@Cobalt
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is out in August, which is much more advanced than MH3 and has 3x the content of World.
Ubisoft supported the Wii U very well and didn't get much from it, so they've clearly held back with the Switch.
I think part of the problem for multiplatform titles going forward is that there's a good number of people who own a Switch and another console, so when buying a game they have to choose between portability and graphics. For Ubisoft it probably won't increase overall sales much if its just splitting them between 2 platforms. So they'll look at games that make the most sense for the handheld.
If they made an exclusive Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia, Assassins Creed etc I think that it would probably sell fairly well, but instead here comes another Just Dance.
I have massive amounts of respect for Ubisoft. I think they're the best third party out there because of their diversity of experiences and they understand the importance of GAMEPLAY. Take note, other developers. Games are supposed to be fun, not treated like interactive blockbuster movies. Ubisoft, like Nintendo, get it. They're not perfect, and their reliance on churning out annual sequels to their big franchises isn't the best path to quality but they know how to make a fun game. Assassins Creed Black Flag is a massively underappreciated game. I spent months upon months just pirating my way around the Caribbean.
@HobbitGamer Riding on the coattails of Nintendo characters is not going to win me over... so no, I guess I'm not part of their target audience. If it does you, fine by me. Out of the lot of titles that Ubisoft have, only a few interest me; Prince of Persia, For Honor, and BGAE 2. If one of those make it to the Switch, I will definitely buy... I don't know why you would have a problem with that?
@MongolRaider No, I don't have an issue with it. I've not gotten the Rabbids game, and probably won't unless it's something ridiculous like $15. I grabbed Rayman because I've not played one since Origins. I'm obviously not the target, either. Maybe they need to really examine what they think a target audience is for them.
But i'm interested in Starlink simply because it looks like a mashup of StarLancer and Mass Effect in some ways.
@The_Mysteron I do find that, while I complain about Ubi's poor quality (they're kind of the other Bethesda) I do tend to have a library stacked to the gills with Ubisoft titles across all platforms. Though I'm not sure the other companies are doing "interactive blockbuster movies" anymore....that's 10 years behind the times (except for Sony proper), the other companies are instead doing games-as-sports (EA), or "make your own game, we give up, here's a world map to play in" (most other publishers....including Fallout these days, and GTA Cowboy.)
@Deku-Scrub On XBox, Playstation, and PC where they were designed to be. Meanwhile for Nintendo they made the Star Fox game people wanted for 20 years. Hush, it's all working out fine.
I absolutely love Assassin's Creed. I absolutely love Switch. But I'm not sure Switch is the box I would play AC on. The other consoles bring out that games's strengths more. OTOH, now that they're saying AC has gone full RPG, I might change my mind...I like my RPGs on Switch. It works so well to whittle at it periodicaly.
@NEStalgia Yeah, you might be right about the interactive blockbuster movies only being on PS4. I got a loan of a PS4 Pro for a month and I really wasn't digging anything on it. Too much waiting around watching Uncanny Valley faces talk nonsense to each other. I just want to switch on my console and be able to play for 5 minutes. Games should be fun, but also convenient. If I have to watch for 5 minutes before I can even do anything I get bored very quickly.
@The_Mysteron Yeah there's the exceptions like Assassin's Creed that I guess you could call cinematic, but the cutscenes even their are short, and it mostly gets you into the running/hiding/looting/climbing loop quickly. Sony does love their movies. Of course they're a movie company so it makes sense They're cool in their own way though. I watch no TV, so that's my version of television which is a fun diversion from, say, Xenoblade grinding My bigger pet peeve with the industry is the lack of either story or gameplay to whittle on but the open-empty-connected-shared everything wait for other people kind of thing happening these days. I just want to play, not wait for people!
@NEStalgia Absolutely. Ain't nobody got time fo dat!
@HobbitGamer Yeah, I have to admit Starlink does look pretty good, and I think that's how it should be done when dealing with Nintendo mascots, instead of some random collaboration. I never could get in to any of the Starfox games, but this is something that has piqued my interest. Regarding some of Ubisofts well known titles, certain ones like For Honor or Prince of Persia have a good amount of demand, although, For Honor was far in development before the Switch so I don't know about that. AC and WD2 probably wouldn't do well, especially WD since it didn't sell that good on other systems.
@HobbitGamer @MrGawain @Cobalt @IPrino Hmmm...some great points there but mind you I think why Nintendo won't get those AAA third party is because cartridges are, to this day and age....expensive. That why the experiences they put on the Switch are not AAA titles but smaller bit sizes ones that sell like AA titles. At least no one is pulling a leg here with the console isn't powerful enough crap.
Think about it, even if it only cost $1 more then it does for a 64GB cartridge compared to a 50GB Blu-Ray to produce, and lets say that I know it will sell ten million copies, that's ten million dollars upfront I'll have to pay to get enough copies out in the wild and as a company I'm unwilling to fork out this much money for an investment that might not get the returns it deserves. That's why we are not likely going to see AAA titles on the Switch until much later in the consoles life cycle. The ones that come early on will sell in limited quantities which doesn't help the franchise brand in the long run because developers are looking to sell millions upon millions of copies but without having to pay any upfront cost associated with it.
Keeping stock limited is actually the only way to make sure you get a return on investment but it slows down momentum and doesn't look good for the franchise in the long run. (EG: Say you know you have 500 customers but you only produce 5-50 copies, it'll keep the demand going, sell and you'll make your profit but will limit your potential compared to if you actually had produce 500+ copies. However, I can't "afford" to produce 500+ copies. This is problem and a cycle with Nintendo consoles.) You can't buy what isn't in stock so it doesn't help that the other platforms continues to get the game out earlier and for next to no upfront cost. And by the time that it can sell ten million copies without hiccups, the next generation of consoles are just around the corner. That's why Nintendo will continue to get the AA titles and not the AAA ones.
That said, most AAA titles are impulsive buys from people who either trust the brands that these companies produce or purchased on discounts and never get around to playing it. I suspect that's where the majority of AAA get their sales from. Nintendo also miss out on that because SD Cards can't keep up with HDDs and people are more selective with what they purchase. Nintendo consumers are probably more aware of what they are buying (for themselves or they kids) then those of Sony and Microsoft's.
That's actually why I actually like Resident Evil 7 idea and was surprise this E3 there wasn't a heavy Nintendo focus on Cloud-based games coming to the Switch...but a lot of people are hating on the idea because of what it brings to the industry.
Great, good to know they are invested in trying out Switch more.
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