[Grisham]

‘Nintendo is losing their identity’: Shuhei Yoshida says Switch 2’s focus on power is what other companies would do | VGC

The former SIE president feels Switch 2 is uncharacteristic of a company that thrives on innovation…

www.videogameschronicle.com

In an interview with Easy Allies, Yoshida was asked what he thought about Nintendo's Switch 2 Direct, and he replied that he thought it was a departure from the level of innovation typically expected of Nintendo when it comes to new hardware.

"To me it was a bit [of a] mixed message from Nintendo," Yoshida explained. "In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing their identity, in my opinion. For me they are always about creating some new experience, like designing hardware and games together to create something, [an] amazing new experience.

"But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It's the larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K 120fps. They even had a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right?

"And because it's a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is 'we made things better', and that's something other companies have been doing all the time."

Yoshida added that while the idea of a Switch with more powerful is undeniably a good thing because it enables certain third-party series to arrive on Nintendo hardware for the first time, he feels this is less of an enticing prospect for players who have multiple consoles and have already played those games.

"Of course it's a more powerful Switch, so it's great if your gaming was only on Nintendo hardware, [and] it's the first time for you to be able to play amazing games like Elden Ring for the first time," he explained.

"But for us, the 'core' gamers who own multiple hardware and play games on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, the games they showed off, especially from third parties – in theory, it's amazing to have all these all-stars of industry games on Nintendo hardware – however, what they showed was like… 'ooh'."

 

[cryptoadam]

Should have went with my idea.
Switch 2 Butt Plug edition.
The Switch 2 would be controlled by a phallic shaped controller you shove up your butt. You would use your gas to control the inputs. So you would also need to buy official Nintendo beans to enduce flatulence to enter in inputs. Imagine the sales of Nintendo beans for 19.99 a can!
It would also come in packed with Neil Druckmans newest exclusive game. Pretentious Douche Game Developer : Cuckman edition.

 

[HE1NZ]

Yoshida is talking too much

 

[WhatIsThis?]

I gotta be honest, all these interviews with Yoshida is making me lose respect for him, lol.

I'm no die hard of Nintendo but the idea that they are losing their identity is absurd. If anything, they regained it and Yamauchi-san is damn proud to see Nintendo corner the market again and play for keeps.

In my opinion, Sony have completely abandoned what made them great, and MS hasn't had an identity since the blades UI was updated out of existence. "Ever see the bottom of an avatar's shoe??? Well BAM, there it is..."

Nintendo did their gimmicks and the Switch works. The mouse aspect is neat too. Their games speak for themselves and contain Nintendo's charm in spades. Nintendo have always been huge assholes, so nothing changed there. I say they have reclaimed and doubled down on their identity.

 

[Chozofication]

It's not working for PlayStation because that's ALL they're focusing on.

All Nintendo has done is made the most respectable piece of hardware they've produced since gamecube. They could have gone much further, a gen newer nvdia chip, more ram etc.

Switch 2 is still conservative kit, but this time they didn't cheap out. Funny how people complain given all the bitching about underpowered Nintendo hardware for the past 20 years. Hell people are STILL bitching and misrepresenting i.e. digital foundry.

They don't want to repeat the Wii U mistake of not just making a sequel console, and the leadership is correct to be cautious in superseding such a successful platform.

It doesn't mean they'll never think outside the box again.

 

[Sean Mirrsen]

I think the reason it works this time, is that this time is what the original Switch should have been. They've redesigned the Switch with the lessons learned from the highly successful original, and unlike the Wii-to-WiiU transition they didn't mess things up with confusing naming and extra gimmicks.

Additionally, they have more or less hit the sweet spot with the hardware design. The core of the system never needs to drastically change now, it's just a housing for all the regular hardware the console always needs to have. If they want to have more gimmicks than they already do with the dual-mouse controls and mouse-gamepad controls, all they need to do is make new custom Joycon. The old Joycon are compatible with the Switch 2, even, so you can even use the ultimate in Nintendo weirdness, the Labo games, more or less fully with the new console, as long as you allow for its larger size and have the old controllers on hand.

 

[Rock And Roll]

I wouldn't say that they are losing their identity but I will say when Nintendo goes for power, they usually underperform. They also always try something new, for better or for worse. This time it's just the same thing but more powerful. It remains to be seen how innovative the dual mouse could be, but Nintendo definitely didn't showcase its potential with a cripple game.

I will say that the "core gamer" not buying a Nintendo console because games are on other platforms is laughable. If you are a core gamer, you'll play everything and you can't get Nintendo games on other platforms. Core gamers have been buying Nintendo consoles forever mostly for exclusives then having another console for third party games.

 

[Tapped]

The space for innovation in consoles is becoming increasingly limited, it's more expensive than ever in numerous ways to do weird/wonderful things plus you run significant risk that consumers won't be onboard. Nintendo found a winning formula that is unique to them in the Switch, both a home and handheld console. Xbox are trying to emulate it with their "this is an Xbox" campaign, Sony are trying to emulate it with the Portal/remote play and even the PC handhelds are trying to emulate it with docked modes but Nintendo have the edge with the simplest and easiest, most refined solution. They have their winning formula and improved it whilst maintaining backwards compatibility but also still keeping some scope for experimentation in smaller ways with the mouse mode for example.

It might not be daring but it's likely to be highly successful and a solid platform for them to expand franchises for years to come. Maybe we see more experimentation down the line via accessories or the console after Switch 2 does something more daring but for now it's a solid and safe play that will put Nintendo in a good place for the future.

 

[Franky Family]

He's not really saying anything. They increased the power of the system so their games can look and perform better, so that more games can be added to the library too. They're still going to have like 20X the amount of games to offer than their competitors and at least like 30X the amount of exclusives a d they'll probably almost all be better than what their competitors release. Industry has been getting rocked by Nintendo since 2017, I still can't think of a PS Studios or Xbox Studios game better than Nintendo's very first launch game for Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This bored, retired executive's words carry no weight here. This is just a comment or two that probably should have been looked past, not thread worthy at all tbh

 

[Spiders]

Nintendo did their gimmicks and the Switch works.

The fact that nobody thinks Switch 2's "C" button or mouse controls are gimmicks is pretty remarkable.
I like you conjuring Yamauchi's "fuck you were Nintendo" attitude. Maybe a little bit of "arrogant Nintendo" can right the industry ship a bit.

 

[cryptoadam]

What gimmick is there out there ?
Maybe some sort of VR or AR but even that hasn't crossed the mainstream even with great and affordable hardware like the Quest.
Gamers don't want wacky gimmicks. The biggest gimmick Nintendo could have done was a 200$ console with 40$ games but they would end up having a fisher price system and shovelware games.

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

i think nintendo are in a much better position to simply coast on by.......they at least have first party games coming out on their system instead of remakes/remasters

 

[teezzy]

Im so glad Switch 2 made a modern powerful Switch instead of some gimmicky bullshit

 

[WhatIsThis?]

What gimmick is there out there ?
Maybe some sort of VR or AR but even that hasn't crossed the mainstream even with great and affordable hardware like the Quest.
Gamers don't want wacky gimmicks. The biggest gimmick Nintendo could have done was a 200$ console with 40$ games but they would end up having a fisher price system vaporware Intellivision Amico and shovelware games vaporware Intellivision remasters.

DAMN YOU TOMMY!!

 

[WhatIsThis?]

i think nintendo are in a much better position to simply coast on by.......they at least have first party games coming out on their system instead of remakes/remasters

Nintendo really lucked out with the Wii U shitting the bed because Switch really did go hard on remasters/ports, but so few played them the first time around that they may as well have been brand new titles.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

If by, "Losing their identity," he means he's sad Nintendo isn't shoving in some stupid fucking gimmick that will make their games incredibly hard to play on a standard gaming pad, then good, fuck that identity.

 

[teezzy]

If by, "Losing their identity," he means he's sad Nintendo isn't shoving in some stupid fucking gimmick that will make their games incredibly hard to play on a standard gaming pad, then good, fuck that identity.

The mouse idea is stupid af

Yeah i said it

Imma scroll a mouse on my couch? Suck my ass, Miyamoto

 

[Hardensoul]

The mouse idea is stupid af

Yeah i said it

Imma scroll a mouse on my couch? Suck my ass, Miyamoto

Apparently it's very responsive that you can use it on your knee!

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

Nintendo really lucked out with the Wii U shitting the bed because Switch really did go hard on remasters/ports, but so few played them the first time around that they may as well have been brand new titles.

The WiiU was a good console but it was a confusing message to consumers .....i cant help but think if it was called something else like the Wii2 it may of fared better
but it was really the perfect storm as sony were going pretty hard with their first party stuff with new and exciting ip as they shit the bed with the ps3 and Microsoft despite having some of the worst manufactured hardware
were still way out in front.

i really do hope that the switch2 is a big success as sony jacking up their console prices shows what having zero competition will do

 

[Miyazaki Loves Kojima]

Everyone ITT thinks they understand the gaming industry better than an actual gaming industry legend with history

 

[macapala]

The mouse idea is stupid af

Yeah i said it

Imma scroll a mouse on my couch? Suck my ass, Miyamoto

Yep. It will be uncomfortable as fuck after 10 minutes. You'll probably have to buy an additional peripheral just to make it bearable.

 

[Hardensoul]

The mouse idea is stupid af

Yeah i said it

Imma scroll a mouse on my couch? Suck my ass, Miyamoto

Showing off the mouse mode!

 

[cryptoadam]

The WiiU was a good console but it was a confusing message to consumers .....i cant help but think if it was called something else like the Wii2 it may of fared better
but it was really the perfect storm as sony were going pretty hard with their first party stuff with new and exciting ip as they shit the bed with the ps3 and Microsoft despite having some of the worst manufactured hardware
were still way out in front.

i really do hope that the switch2 is a big success as sony jacking up their console prices shows what having zero competition will do

Nah the WiiU sucked.
It was essentially 360 level just as the generation was ending.
The controller was dumb. It was a big giant pad which is not something people want for console gaming.
It provided no advantage. Any good game was ported to another system without the dual screen nonsense showing it was a useless gimmick.
It was a shit portable device with a small crap screen with almost no range.
So your stuck with a home console with giant controller with no needed gameplay additions while the farthest you could use it as a portable device was your bathroom.
All the while next gen is starting and your HD console is getting left in the dust.
It had some good Nintendo games on it but it was a total whiff and I bet that gamepad controller added close to 100$ to the price of the machine.
Nintendo was trying to find the next big gimmick because of the Wii and someone thought this lame idea was it. I would put it up there with the virtual boy as REALLY THATS YOUR IDEA level of stupidity

 

[teezzy]

Showing off the mouse mode!

Useful at a desk or dining table.... i guess?

 

[Stilton Disco]

People whining about the OPTIONAL mouse functionality are retarded. Just like with gyro being included with every Switch and pushed by Nintendo themselves last gen, this will make a lot of developers add mouse functionality to their ports on Switch 2 that will probably be absent on other consoles, where it would require a separate purchase.

Switch 2 will become the default shooter console because of this 'gimmick', and we're going to see cross platform play dominated by switch 2 players, who are likely going to be up there with PC players now. It's kind of hilarious quite honestly.

But yeah, this is really a return to form for Nintendo, more than anything. This is there NES to SNES to N64 to GC transition, GB to GBC to GBA.

Now, do I think that's necessarily going to be a good thing for their sales? Probably not. But it's also not going to be the catastrophic collapse they saw from Wii to WiiU either.

 

[HeresJohnny]

Keep what works, improve what wasn't. The only thing anyone successfully dunked on about Switch 1 was about its inability to run demanding games. So Nintendo made a Switch 2 that does.

It's basically making it possible to have the same shelf life the original Switch did.