Topic: Why can't Nintendo just focus on the Switch?

I don't want to have to buy another Nintendo console to make sure I get all of the games, but now they are considering another hand-held console, even though that is what the Switch is. Yes, the DS line is strong and sells a lot, but wouldn't it be better to put all the efforts into one console?

Furukawa talking about possible successors to the 3DS makes sense from a business perspective. As a gamer with a family and budget concerns, what's more attractive, three 3DS systems at $80 each or three Switch systems at $300 each? But personally, I think Furukawa's comments have more to do with Nintendo making a new SKU for the Switch, rather than a 3DS successor. Nintendo would benefit from having a Switch that's smaller, is portable-only, doesn't have detachable joy-cons, and is priced closer to the 3DS.

@lighteningbolt79
What if Nintendo want Fuse 3DS & Switch become 1 ?
I have a feeling if Nintendo will Redesign Switch with NDS / 3DS Cartridge Slot and Support Play Vertical to Recreate NDS / 3DS on Switch.

They didn't say that. They said they were looking at the options, the Switch is one of the options.

As someone who got a 2ds xl 6 months after getting a Switch, the 2ds/3ds do a lot of things right that the Switch doesn't. It's almost now to the point that I prefer the 2ds xl portable to the Switch. If the Switch had a clam shell design and dual screens, I'd say thats a perfect console.

That’s shareholder talk, you always say you’re looking at the next product for a line, that’s what shareholder want to here

This isn't the experience of what I've seen and heard. Usually shareholders wants whatever is currently profitable to be the only thing pushed. It could be different depending on how long someone plans to have shares, but when I was a shareholder in Microsoft, everyone wanted them to shut down everything from Xbox to smartphones and just focus on enterprise products like MS Office, because it's what brings in the most profit currently. No long term evaluation was happening.

While the Switch can work perfectly handheld in certain circumstances, there is surely still a market for a full handheld like 3DS. Understand that the Switch is a large handheld and doesn't have the clamp design like a 3DS to protect it. That makes it a lot less convenient to carry around. You can't fit a Switch in your pocket, and you have to have a decent size purse to do so, as well. Plus, the Switch's battery is not so great.

It'd be a bit awkward to see a split in the market again, though. I mean Nintendo's largest handheld franchise, Pokemon, is moving to the Switch next year.

@Harmonie Right. Their biggest handheld franchise is fully transitioning to the Switch over these next few years, and will likely bring a ton of handheld-only gamers with it. I don't believe for a second that they'd launch a handheld with a different library at this point.

Launching a smaller version of the Switch alongside the next-gen Pokemon games would be an absolutely brilliant move, though. Especially if it's a good deal cheaper.

Different SKUs for the Switch that appeal to different people like a clamshell Switch, a Switch Mini shaped like a 2DS (sorta), and a Switch XL (god forbid, that makes me barf) should be the way to go imo. A completely different handheld is a no-no for me unless it's literally just another Switch variant.

I'd like to point back to the old NX interviews that said that NX was a platform and an ecosystem. There's no reason to not assume the 3DS successor will be part of the Switch ecosystem, and share it's games.

Another console would be a nightmare imo. They clearly just can't handle that workload in the modern market. They should ultimately just have 1 console and then make some cellphone games on the side.

Another Switch version would be incredibly desirable though.
I'd like to see just a handheld version with no detachable controllers. Hopefully that could knock the price down significantly. I'd want it so that it could still work with the dock->TV though. You'd have to buy that as an optional extra with a pro controller or whatever if necessary. Plenty of people would just buy it purely as a handheld. Other people would buy the handheld version at first and then maybe upgrade with the dock when a game like Xenoblade comes along that really needs the TV.

I'd be fine with this if it's smaller and cheaper to buy than the Switch. I'd definitely buy it, but the 3DS is still going, I bought a New 2DS XL in September of last year even though I already had a Switch a month after release. I still play it and ultimately use it as my portable when I play my Switch just around the house. I'm looking forward to Warioware Gold coming out next month too.

A main point people are making against this is "Nintendo can't handle having two systems at once" and I see the point with the Wii U but the Wii U had lots of problems I don't think I need to list. But the point that Nintendo can't manage more than one console is wrong when you take a look at Nintendo's best selling handheld and their best selling console. That's right, the Wii and DS. They both were in the same lifetime of each other and were a massive success with both having games to play.

@BezBot Well there's a big difference between the Wii U/Switch and Nintendo's previous consoles, namely the Wii U/Switch has HD graphics.

@lighteningbolt79 it must be profitable for them to keep both systems going. Even if the new games for 3DS stop coming, there is still a market for the hardware and past games.

In all honesty, the 3DS died in 2015 when Nintendo consolidated their handheld development divisions together with their console divisions. Don't be fooled by Furukawa's corporate-speak. The Switch is Nintendo's primary focus for the next several years. Just like the 3DS, I expect Nintendo to offer multiple Switch SKUs (different shells, different architecture, different specs) over the next several years.

Nintendo isn't going to compete with Sony or MS in the 4k-gaming space.

I really don't think Nintendo will be making a Switch-mini any time soon. So much of their first party line up depends on the uniqueness of the Switch and wouldn't work as intended:

1-2 Switch
ARMS
Mario Odyssey
Snipperclips
Super Mario Party
LABO

All designed (to greater and lesser extent) to be used with separated joy cons and/or the Switch tablet. I'm sure there are others I haven't thought of.

And aside from that, Nintendo's line is that this is a home console. A mini version that's clearly a portable wouldn't fit in with their sales pitch.

Sure, I can see how people would want a cut-down portable-only version, but I just don't see how it fits with Nintendo's strategy.

Alot of wishful thinking that is why your not working for Nintendo. Until Nintendo says 3DS line is dead then we can all say it has come to a end. But Since one isn't in the management of Nintendo it is funny how they think they know when they know nothing.

And sales have so far been lackluster right for those consoles. Anyone believing 4K should be examied. There isn't any real 4K or truly 4K game they just talk about it but true 4K only happens on a PC Gaming rig example with SLI 1080ti or 1080 reference GPU to get to 4K so you never really get 4K on consoles. This myth needs busting and soon.

You're both saying the same thing....

I think the way Nintendo have handled the save data situation is awful. They Launch the console without anyway to backup save data(not even SD card backup)and they act like it is not important. Thsn they announce cloud save(which is fantaatic)and then that is it, no mention of SD card backup.And keep in mind that during the wait for the online service, our save data is stil at risk, which should not be the case.If they announce SD card backup now, before the online service launches,the problem will be solved and people will stop complaining.Other consoles have the option of backup, yet Nintendo don't.Even though cloud save is coming,we should not have to still fear losing our save data in the buildup to the online service. Nintendo, this needs sorting. Anyone who agrees with what I have said comment or like,and if you don't agree, please comment so I can see what you have to say.