Nintendo has been dominating software and hardware sales around the globe recently, but the real test is expected to be when Sony and Microsoft launch their own next generation of hardware. Both of these new systems are scheduled to arrive later this year, at some point during the holiday season.
So, what kind of an impact will this next generation hardware have on the Switch and its current appeal? During an interview with Nintendo Everything recently, Engine Software Vice President Ruud van de Moosdijk offered some insight, saying how he didn't think it would be a much of a concern, as the Switch "exists in its own dimension" of the video game arena:
In my opinion the Nintendo Switch, like the Wii before, exists in its own dimension of the market and will continue to do well even when the PS5 and the Xbox Series X are released. As so many times before Nintendo’s consoles have just their own uniqueness that doesn’t depend on having the fastest processor or the largest memory.
As the Vice President explains, there's really no need for Nintendo – or fans – to worry, as it's busy doing its own thing while Sony and Microsoft focus on cutting edge graphics and other fancy things like memory upgrades.
The Vice President even went onto say how he "always" smiled when he heard someone say Nintendo's days are numbered:
That’s why I always have to smile when I hear someone say Nintendo is done.
Engine Software has worked on a number of Switch ports in the past, including Ni no Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch in 2019.
Moosdijk's comments about the Switch doing its own thing are reinforced by the fact Nintendo is all about creating something unique (rather than more of the same), as the former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé explained to IGN last October:
This focus on innovation runs throughout Nintendo and into the disciplines of Sales, Marketing, Operations, even Finance. Everyone challenged themselves to Create Something Unique.
Nintendo's President Shuntaro Furukawa has also previously said the aim is to keep the Switch business running for as long as possible, by releasing a continuous stream of exciting titles and enhancing its digital content and network services. The aim is to extend its lifecycle and maintain sales over a prolonged period:
By continuing to challenge the boundaries of what can be done with Nintendo Switch in different ways than the Wii, we hope to maintain sales over a long lifecycle.
Last year, the Japanese company released the Switch Lite and for some time there's been a rumour about an enhanced 'Pro' model floating around – which could perhaps help remind consumers there are other options when the next-generation systems from Microsoft and Sony arrive.
What do you think, though? Should Nintendo be keeping an eye these next-gen systems, or do you agree with the Engine Software VP and think it can continue to do well by doing its own thing. Tell us in the comments below.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 59
Are you so sure PS5 is going to sell so well that Nintendo needs to do something about it?
I know several PS fans and PS4 owners who aren't going to upgrade.
@Gamesurfer Yeah I own a PS4 and I am not planning an immediate next gen upgrade like I use to. Since Switch released I barely buy games on PS4. However if the rumors are correct and both Xbox and PS5 are fully ALL-gen backwards compatible then I might get one eventually.
Nintendo' strategy regarding the timing of their hardware releases has been perfect this time around. Sure, it was kind of forced upon them because of the hard time the Wii U had, but they've had an amazing start with the Switch, and now it's into its third year, they can probably afford to implement a huge slash in price on the current model around the time the PS5 and new Xbox is released to stimulate sales, as well as inevitably releasing the Switch Pro to take the current models place in terms of pricing structure.
Imagine if they release the Switch Pro at £299-£329, drop the current Switch to £199 and the Switch Lite to £149, all at RRP, while the Xbox and PS5 go for around £399, I think sales will rocket once again, especially with a stellar software lineup including Metroid 4 (hopefully), BOTW 2, Bayonetta 3 etc etc.
There is always a desire for us to place things into competition with each other. But we don’t compare Ferrari with Toyota. We understand they appeal to different markets.
Likewise we don’t compare mobile phones to consoles. They have different audiences and functions within the gaming space.
I feel this is how the Switch is. Yes, there is a clear overlap with the Xboxes and PlayStations, but at the same time Switch is branching out on its own. Whilst the other two consoles are edging more towards competing with the PC audience.
I can’t wait for people to “get” that Nintendo can and will exist in its own space and that it is fine to do that and still be relevant.
@Gamesurfer That's a good question and in the end I guess that it will depend on what it really offers for the "not hardcore gamer audience" PS3 and 4 largeley sold because of their ability to play (3D)-BluRay as a kind of cheap alternative at their time.
If the only real new thing is better graphics than sure you will have the "hardcores" who will buy it for Fifa and CoD, but on the other hand I have, like you, heard from a lot of PS-fans that are not in any hurry to upgrade, many also ditched Sony because of their horrible way this generation to deal with their customers.
I for myself won't upgrade anymore, if I really get a next gen, it will be X because Sony were really for me awful this gen (admitted it was my first non-used Sony conole I bought). Nontheless it will be interresting to see how this will all unfold at the end of the year but with PS-Now, GamePass, Ea Access etc. I can see a very significant drop in hardware sales compared to this generation and I guess that sales from both will only really start to pick up after 1-2 years in their lifecycles. But again, I guess the biggest factor for sales will be, what "bonus" the console offers except that they can run todays games wiothout the hassle the standard PS4 has.
Switch and ps5 for me in the future. Best of both worlds
Oh! I like today's comments. Smart and to the point. Let all comments be like these.
I think the developer is spot on, the Switch offers something the others don't. And I also think the switch will be sitting at 60million + by the time the PS5 and new Xbox launch so that's a massive install base for companies to keep developing for. I love my Switch but I've also loved some of the best games I've ever played on my PS4 so I'll be buying a PS5 day one. There is room for everyone, I hope all 3 manufacturers do really well, competition breeds better games and experiences so everyone wins.
@Kienda I completely agree, Nintendo has a different market to the others, there are some who dabble in both like myself, yet for the most part they are largely separate. Even today very few third party AAA games release on Switch and those that do sell in such small numbers in comparison to Nintendo's own titles, so I don't see why anyone thinks this will change when the next consoles release.
I myself will be buying a PS5 at launch but whenever the next Zelda, Mario or Metroid Prime 4 release I'll be glued to my Switch
@hakjie11 im the same for next gen have an x and ps4 slim andunlike before will be in no rush jump over to next gen till they come down in price. or get a trade in deal
Unless Sony or MS make a hybrid console there is absolutely no competition for the Switch. Sure XBOX Project X and PS5 will get the Call of Duties of the world, but those games aren't on the Switch to begin with.
As long as Nintendo keep releasing games like Pokemon, Super Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing or Smash Bros, it will sell well.
Besides, it's the only "handheld" device this gen, there's no competition. All that pretty big market is for them.
It will do alright, there's nothing to worry about.
Aside of that, the other companies will apparently be releasing all their games on PC, which is I think good for Nintendo. Unlike the others, you need to get their hardware to play their games. And I don't expect that to change anytime soon.
Ass long as the games ar good and keep giving it will have a long life.
Depending on how much effect these next gen consoles hurt Nintendo I’d see the yr3/4 price cut landing on track. Tho I can’t see it ever getting to as low as £199 but maybe £50 off to a RRP £229
If they also get their act together and put a rocket up Retro they might get one of the three Retro products out this year!
The faster consumers realize the dev and software is lightyears behind hardware. Sales for new outrageous hardware (latest iphone pc hardware and etc.) will drop. We need to demand better devs.
The reason Nintendo is great and is doing great is they have ‘lateral thinking with withered technology' nailed.
hardware is ALWAYS CENTURIES AHEAD of software. People just need to be better developers.
You can have the best hardware that is up-to-date but without good games or software it means nothing.
Its about having fun. Not having 4k ultra HD with 240 hz and a PC with the GRANDEST SPECS (I own both a gaming PC and switch)
I mean what about all them people who built a 2 grand gaming pc (high I know) and then spends their time playing Minecraft or browsing the web?
Don't get me wrong. High specs and high graphics have their place. But honestly was there a ground breaking AAA game you couldn't have missed? I mean they're all pretty piss poor these days. And the graphics certainly haven't bettered the game play in said game.
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Agree, the Switch may not be able to run the same games that release for the PS5/Xbox Series X but that doesn't mean the third party support will stop. There are still plenty of PS3/Xbox 360 and PS4/Xbox One games that can be ported to the system and I doubt Sony and Microsoft new consoles will stop that. You have that plus Nintendo's amazing first party support and the portability gimmick and you are set. The Switch won't go anywhere.
The current Switch model proved that the versatility and portability fits the every day life of modern gamers, thus the success. A new model needs to do the same, but warrant a trouble free porting of key next gen titles. Power in absolute terms is somewhat irrelevant.
I’d need a seriously good reason to drop the kind of bank (and time) needed for the next gen ps and Xbox. No need to buy them Year one for me in any case.
Nope. I’ll be happy with switch this year and very likely into 2021.
If the pro is lite sized, I’ll upgrade.
Now - I’d imagine a current non switcher could be tempted to buying a new ps or Xbox AND a lite to cover all their gaming Bases.
Switch is in a great position strategically either way I’d say.
Switch is still the most powerful handheld Next-Gen.
Switch will obviously continue as usual as it does not have any competition.
Also. Millions of Xbox and PS owners also owns a Switch because of exclusives and proper portability.
I would, at most, be more concerned about what games are coming out in winter than what console launches. XB games will run in both machines, future proofing purchases. And similar is rumored about games like Last of Us2.
If Nintendo manages to toss either BOTW2 or Metroid Prime 4 (a game that has more overlap with the PlayStation/XBox crowd than most Nintendo games) they will have the news field covered the next gen launch window.
That said: Nintendo just announced smash DLC that will slowly be released theory [September?] 2021, so they seem to have plans to keep at least Smash audiences engaged until fall 2021.
Personally this whole thing where game consoles ‘compete’ and have to come out with new iterations around the same time is stupid.
Owned an Xbox one at launch and went through about 5 within a year because they were rushed to compete with PlayStation so I just gave up and had my money back, that’s why I stick with Nintendo.
As long as great software keeps coming to Switch, it will keep selling. Switch has something that PS5 and Xbox series X will never have. Portability.
Modern AAA games generally aren't coming to Switch anyway, so it doesn't really matter if the power gap becomes greater than it is now.
Nintendo is going to be just fine, like this developer says. “Next gen” with the other consoles will feel just the same
PS5 and XBSX won’t affect Switch much. It isn’t swimming in simultaneous releases with/ports from PS4 anyway. It’s success is built on the hardware, Nintendo games and the depth of the library. There are still endless games that could feasibly be ported to Switch, that well is nowhere near dry.
Only a fool would believe that the Switch hype-train will derail once the PS5 and Xbox Series X launch.
In my opinion: while the target audiences may be the same (gamers), the markets are completely different. I just got a Switch recently, my last Nintendo console owned was a Wii 10 years ago. I am beyond impressed, the portability is a huge benefit to me as i travel lots and lugging my xbox around was always a huge problem.
But to answer the question of if next gens will threaten Nintendo?
Nintendo has been around before videogames even existed (They sold trading cards i believe), and have been at the forefront of intuitive design even when it back fired on them (powerglove came out in '89) and they just moved on to the next project. I don't think they even consider themselves to be in competition with Sony and Microsoft.
I am sure it will because I plan on sitting out this next gen for a while. I learned my lesson with the PS4 on how I shouldn't buy into hype when it comes to these things, for the first few years I had it I barely had anything worth playing, it took a long time for that console to get any games that I considered real system sellers.
So yeah, until I see some amazing games that really grab my interest and appeal to my personal taste, I am sticking to my PC and Switch.
Nail on the head. I never understood the claims that the Switch would take a hit just because new hardware is coming out. It's assuming people will, for some reason just stop buying Nintendo's top software like Mario, Zelda and Pokemon. Also assuming that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X will sell like crazy.
Of course it will. From a hardware standpoint it is in the same boat as the wiiu. Less powerful with a unique feature (I still say the gamepad was killed off too soon) when compared to pc, ms and sony (no comment on google).
The difference is marketing has placed the Switch into the mainstream’s thoughts. Aside from a few new devs many of the same supporters and detractors on the dev side exist as with the wiiu. The difference is public perception (and pokemon on deck). So long as Nintendo marketing keeps mainstream gamers and kids buying into the ecosystem it will be fine. Kids are guaranteed now that the Switch is a pokemon system. And since we are past early adopters we are in the kids, broke people, families (derivative of broke people but usually because they have to buy more systems per household) stage. Nintendo at this stage needs to keep the marketing up and look at how they will try to create brand loyalty for the successor.
I've been saying this for years, and I'm glad an actual developer sees thing the same way.
@DigBick I get your point on intuitive ideas, but for clarity, Nintendo didn’t make the powerglove.
I have a ps4 hardly play it anymore, most stuff I buy on switch. Next gen will be much the same more open world, micro transactions tripe anyway. All I play now is retro and switch.
I'm interested to see what company tries to make an ambitious PS5/Series X game run on Switch first. I'm predicting it'll either be DQ XII or the next 3d Sonic.
@HobbitGamer i actually didn't know that lol, way before my time. I was actually thinking of the Virtual Boy. Because while the powerglove was pretty rudimentary by today's standards, it wasn't entirely a flop.
The Virtual Boy on the hand? Experts still say it was Nintendo's biggest failure, but i think out was just too ambitious for the technology available at the time.
Thanks for educating me though, i never knew that was a 3rd party accessory!
@Toy_Link Scaling ofcourse, most XBOX Series X games are supposed to run on the XBOX ONE as well (at least in the first few years)
Reading all of the ignorant comments about ps5/ps4 on here is so annoying 🙄
Only fanboys think they're competing. GB color existed with the N64.
I'll pick up a PS5 eventually. Idk if it'll be right away though.
Yeah switch won’t have to do anything 2020 to compete with the hardware, they got too many good games coming yet. Once you see a lot of new next gen only games that are wanted then Nintendo will ramp it up, as I honestly believe they do believe that they have their own niche in the market. It’s already been said that most who own a switch own a second console anyway so it’s something that you can own besides a ps5 and Xbox sapphire
My PS4 Pro sits in a box in the closet because I didn't even crack 90 hours on it in 2019, despite having given Sony money for about 6-7 "AAA" titles. Meanwhile I'm playing the heck out of several indies, Pokemon Shield, and just about done with Star Ocean 1 on my Switch. I'd argue that gaming has changed, the "hardcore gamers" (including myself until recently) just haven't changed much with it. There's a reason Fortnite, Minecraft, etc. are massive moneymakers and companies like EA and Activision are relentlessly pursuing that business model. Hardware is kind of boring these days. MOAR PIXELS! 5 extra FPS! Yawn.
They always say that about Nintendo. "oh no they are their own thing" "oh no they march at their own rythm" "oh no ze kazualz r diffrrnt".
Like if their success is an anomaly or they don't deserve it or it doesn't matter unlike the "real consoles".
Yeah, No. They are competing for the same time and space than the competition. And the fact that they are doing it with a "weaker" hardware is amazing and I bet the rest of the oligarchs cannot stand.
It amazes me how after all this years they cannot and will never accept Nintendo being a hit.
The problem here is you can have the most PowerFul console but lack of Games will kill it. That's the story xbox, psx are failing to see. Switch is lining up games from Kids to Adult Single to Multi-Players for anyone to enjoy and have that is why it is doing better then the nintenDoomed naysayers keep repeating. If and only if sony kept support and making games for the Vita and drop the sony memory to become microSD memory they could've be in the run but sadly sony has only they themselves to blame for killing the vita.
Of course it will do well, Switch is a portable console you can connect to your tv. It is not a home console in the same regard as an Xbox or PlayStation.
@SwitchForce PS has plenty of great exclusives. Hopefully Xbox gets some.
Can you imagine if BotW 2 was announced next November for release in early 2021? And maybe a couple other titles? That would make people think twice before dropping big money on a new console.
But nevertheless I agree with many here: switch will continue to do well because of what it is.
From what I've heard, PS5 will be roughly $600, and the Series X will be $1,200. Not sure how reliable a GameStop employee is, but if it's true, then Switch will be a good system for those that don't feel like paying a stupid amount for a new console.
Nintendo IP alone, isn’t enough for me to own their system anymore. Nintendo needs 3rd party support in my eyes.
Will Nintendo go the way of the Dodo? Hardly. However, I can no longer justify buying a console for a handful of games. I used to buy all 3 consoles, but my XB1 has been a paperweight for years, and most of the games I’m playing on Switch are not developed by Nintendo.
If the Switch loses the ability to have games from the other consoles, albeit at a lesser quality, I won’t need to buy a Switch successor, because there will not be enough for me to play on it.
I’ll be getting the PS5, at launch if it’s fully backwards compatible, and I’ll continue using my Switch because I love it.
@Gamesurfer With more and more previously console exclusives coming to the PC (RDR2, Death Stranding, Quantic Dream games, rumored Horizon Zero Dawn, etc.), the subset of people who have a decent PC and a PS4 or Xbox One might not be as keen to jump to the new consoles. I'm one of those people, and though I'll probably get one of the next-gen consoles down the line, they'd have to have some great console exclusives to make me buy.
yeah nintendo has been holding its own for years and even with the joycon drift issue with both the switch and switch light im still glad nintendo is making good consoles and games
I own a PS4 and barely touch it. Never bought the Xbox One. I have zero plans to buy either PS5 or Xbox Series X.
I play mostly PC and my Switch and was always a PC and Nintendo game at heart but always owned all consoles but now it's PC and Nintendo for me since my pc does everything the other consoles do anyways.
For true gaming and interesting story I play on the Switch. For the best graphics and effects the PC will always be the dominant platform. I understand why people want this on the console but chasing the next great game on consoles is expensive and eventually exhausting. The PC has the same problem but a properly configured dektop/server PC can be upgraded many times before you need to start over.
If the next gen Nintendo console is simply a ~€100 docking station that provides extra ram and processing power to the current model (obviously it would only for playing on TV) then I can see a lot of gamers getting behind that
I've tried stadia and have to say that with cloud gaming coming in I think the idea of a new console for ~€300-400 is not going to survive... Nintendo should stand back and let Sony and Microsoft find that out for them I think
The PS5 and Xbox2020 are going to be commercial failures, and the Switch is going to continue dominating the videogame market. Firstly, the most powerful console is almost never the best-selling. See the Colecovision, Sega Master System, Nintendo 64, Xbox, and PS3. The best-selling console is the one with the best games for both casual and hard-core gamers. But Sony's consoles have had deceptive sales figures. The PS1 was a CD player, the PS2 was a DVD player, the PS3 and PS4 are Bluray players. I know lots of people who bought those consoles mainly because of those features. I go into their houses and see their PS console with one game (a sports title) and a bunch of movies on the shelf. Without those conspicuous features, I doubt Sony would have outsold Nintendo so many times. Case in point: Sony made the PSP a movie player, but no one wanted to watch movies on a handheld, and in that key instance, the Nintendo outsold Sony with the DS. With the PS Vita, Sony didn't add the movie feature, and the console was obliterated by the Nintendo 3DS. That's what happens when Sony can't rely on movies.
Unfortunately for Sony, almost everyone now has a Bluray player, so people no longer need Sony's "consoles". The actual gamers who buy Sony and Microsoft consoles specifically for gaming are the really sick addicted types who sit in their rooms 8 hours a day playing hard-core ultra-violent games. Take away the people who bought a PS4 for the Bluray feature, and you're left mainly with those nerdy sickos.
But the main point is that we have reached complete saturation of functional hardware capability. There is no need to go forward with console generations, because the Wii/PS3/Xbox360 era was gaming's functional peak. There is no PS4 game that could not also have been made on the PS3, albeit with less-than-perfect graphics. That's why so many games are on both the PS3 and PS4.
The PS1 era gave us 3D games. The PS2 era brought us 3D games that were much larger in scope. The PS3 era made these games so big that you could hardly imagine anything bigger. The PS4 era added nothing to gaming. That's why the Switch is the perfect console: it's capable of handling huge games and it gives you the choice to play them either on a TV or portably. That's a huge addition to gaming. Once you have a Switch, you realize you don't need another console. And tons of people have a Switch.
Power isn't just fancy things alone, it's all about make-believe. It's about making your ideas possible. It's about making ideas like Hellblade 2 or Godfall possible. It's about making your ideal Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel POSSIBLE.
Have they forgotten about its portable aspect? That's its biggest difference point compared to the other consoles and the main reason why ports are always worth the work! They should've mentioned how Legend of Heroes III will look impressive when you see it on the Switches' screen.
If the Switch exists in its own dimension, then why has its been increasing in sales compared to how PS4/Xbox One sales dropped last year? People are seeing how Switch can run most current-gen games with added portability (or visceversa). If the current-gen Switch continues to sell well, it will be in main part thanks to the Switch Lite.
Seriously, this generation is about to end and developers should focus on bringing the biggest games to Switch.
If they're listening, I hope they consider porting Ni No Kuni II. That game is an artistic majesty.
It'll do great no matter what. My entire life I've always had a top of the line gaming desktop and laptop, VR capable of course. But Switch brought me back to console gaming. Read that BotW was one of the best games of the decade and I HAD to play it. Reviews were not wrong. Then Persona 5 came out and of course I had to get a PS4.
I buy a game for PS4 if I have to. I buy a game for PC if using a mouse is clearly superior (fps or rts). I buy a game on Switch if I can because I CAN PLAY IT ANYWHERE. So I went from pcmasterrace, to PC at times, now usually Switch. That is why Switch will succeed. It won over the pcmasterrace. I am one amongst many.
IL probably wait for a ps5 slim before I go next gen.
As for this year IL be getting the switch pro if it releases and hopefully a ton of new games we don't know about yet. Really hoping for kingdom hearts on switch 2020
Switch is already a hardware to have indie games on it... look @ how man indie games there are on Switch. yes they are 3rd party. LMAO. Nintendo is wayyyy behind. Once upon a time they were doing great and had even stronger hardware.. but after the gamecube... God... releasing WII which matched the old Xbox which was already some years old. I really laughed hard and hated Nintendo from that day on. Sure I got WII and WII U.. but both these hardwares are sold.. while my ps3 and xbox 360 are still standing here including gamecube hardware with some games. Switch doesn't get my attention.. the Lite hardware seems cute, but even smaller screen with no other docking option as it was supposed to.. now it became the next 3DS... and from stories Switch hardware is harder to find... so I do hope its because Nintendo is working on better next Switch 2 hardware. if they want some better gaming on their hardware they need to move on and give some more quality... they earned already enough money.. I bet they still have some success with better specs. Just release a better Switch that is 4x the current CPU power and GPU power. Ps5 and Xbox will move to 4K already... at least try to be a bit stronger nintendo
@Gamesurfer I know several PS fans and PS4 owners who aren't going to upgrade.
Well of course you do and if we were talking about Ferrari's you would have several friends with those as well and those friends would all agree with whatever point you are trying to push.
I can do it too. I have several friends who own PS4 Pro's and they all intend to buy the PS5 on launch day.
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