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New Nintendo president Furukawa: “considering various possibilities” for 3DS successor
- Thread starter Phil32
- Start date
Nah, you just need to Switch phone for Switch voice chat.
Gamefreak is probably pushing for a cheaper version of the Switch. Kids can't afford $300+ to play Pokemon.
I don't think they can dictate that but the way they describe the new one as being designed for TVs, and the one after that being more of a traditional handheld game makes me suspect something is up.
The handheld successor is already here: It's called the Switch.
Because if the only thing preventing the Switch from being viewed as the 3DS successor is the inclusion of the dock and it's $300 price point, that means its already "handheld enough".
Semantics on pocketability really don't matter in this current age where children and adults alike have no problem lugging around larger-screened devices. We've seen this already with the 3DS, as the XL model was by far the leading SKU, and we've seen it in mobile phones, where the increase in screen real estate is pivoted as a selling point rather than a negative.
In a way, we've come full circle to 90s era mobile tech where consumers back then regularly carried hulking devices.
Because if the only thing preventing the Switch from being viewed as the 3DS successor is the inclusion of the dock and it's $300 price point, that means its already "handheld enough".
Semantics on pocketability really don't matter in this current age where children and adults alike have no problem lugging around larger-screened devices. We've seen this already with the 3DS, as the XL model was by far the leading SKU, and we've seen it in mobile phones, where the increase in screen real estate is pivoted as a selling point rather than a negative.
In a way, we've come full circle to 90s era mobile tech where consumers back then regularly carried hulking devices.
No worries! Their output on their handhelds has always been fantastic most years, especially with 3rd party Japanese support. Their home consoles have always suffered though post GameCube imo. Just not enough dev teams to spread the love between two systems, especially since 3rd parties are not nearly as kind to the home consoles.
New 2DS XL is the current main SKU, and that thing is incredibly slim and light. It weighs the same as the OG 2DS, but it has XL sized screens. The whole form factor has been slimmed down from New 3DS XL, and it feels fantastic in the hands.
There is no way at all to call New 2DS XL hulking or bulky. It's handheld design perfection, and it's very pocketable. It's a big reason why the 3DS line is still around and getting games. When it comes to handheld comfort and portability, Switch just can't beat New 2DS XL in its current form factor.
There won't be a 3DS successor. What actually happend after the catastrophical Wii U failure was the following:
Actually, Nintendo gave up on home consoles. They always used to have 2 markets. A dedicated home console market (NES, SNES, N64... Wii... Wii U) and a dedicated portable console market (Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, 3DS).
After the Wii U failure they realized, the problems their traditional Home console market had, was something they couldn't overcome. Especially after amost every 3rd party publisher had abandoned them. Nintendo also realized, there is no need for a stand-alone Nintendo home console, because most of the big selling franchises these days are already selling very well on Playstation and Xbox - the so called "high-end" consoles.
So ultimately Nintendo had no choice. They had to do something to solve their bad situation in the home console market. At the same time however, their portable system, the 3DS, was also in it's final years. Luckily, Nintendo was always increadibly strong and successfull in the handheld market - the NR. 1 for decades.
So they faced the following situation:
- Nintendo's home console market was done.
- Their handheld console was in need of a successor
- Smartphone competition has increased and became a thread to their handheld bussiness.
So what did they do? Basically this:
Nintendo solved their problem by fusing all their strenghts together. Everything that made tehir home consoles great (extra power, motion gaming, off tv play (from The Wii U)) and everything that made their portable consoles great (protablility, pokemon, healthy 3rd party support) fused together in one product:
The Nintendo Switch
Instead of producing another home console that couldn't compete with Sony and Microsoft, they decided to produce the most powerfull handheld to date. This had a couple of advantages:
- By doing so, they could maintain their lead/monopoly in the handheld market.
- By adding motion, joycon and all those stuff, they provided extra functionality no smartphone has (dedicated advanced control mechanismns).
- With the extra power they could provide a new feature: TV play. Hocking the console up to a TV. This could be used to justify the higher entry price of the Switch (their most expansive handheld to date).
Because that's what it is. The Switch IS (actually) the 3DS Successor. It's a powerful handheld you can hook up to your TV.
So all in all, Nintendo fused their handheld and console market together and gained a lot of new strenght.
The only thing they had to do now, is to spin the marketing by saying "the switch is a home console you can play anywhere", rather than "the switch is handheld you can hook up to your TV", which they succeeded.
That's why there won't be switch successor. The switch is the 3DS successor already.
Actually, Nintendo gave up on home consoles. They always used to have 2 markets. A dedicated home console market (NES, SNES, N64... Wii... Wii U) and a dedicated portable console market (Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, 3DS).
After the Wii U failure they realized, the problems their traditional Home console market had, was something they couldn't overcome. Especially after amost every 3rd party publisher had abandoned them. Nintendo also realized, there is no need for a stand-alone Nintendo home console, because most of the big selling franchises these days are already selling very well on Playstation and Xbox - the so called "high-end" consoles.
So ultimately Nintendo had no choice. They had to do something to solve their bad situation in the home console market. At the same time however, their portable system, the 3DS, was also in it's final years. Luckily, Nintendo was always increadibly strong and successfull in the handheld market - the NR. 1 for decades.
So they faced the following situation:
- Nintendo's home console market was done.
- Their handheld console was in need of a successor
- Smartphone competition has increased and became a thread to their handheld bussiness.
So what did they do? Basically this:
Nintendo solved their problem by fusing all their strenghts together. Everything that made tehir home consoles great (extra power, motion gaming, off tv play (from The Wii U)) and everything that made their portable consoles great (protablility, pokemon, healthy 3rd party support) fused together in one product:
The Nintendo Switch
Instead of producing another home console that couldn't compete with Sony and Microsoft, they decided to produce the most powerfull handheld to date. This had a couple of advantages:
- By doing so, they could maintain their lead/monopoly in the handheld market.
- By adding motion, joycon and all those stuff, they provided extra functionality no smartphone has (dedicated advanced control mechanismns).
- With the extra power they could provide a new feature: TV play. Hocking the console up to a TV. This could be used to justify the higher entry price of the Switch (their most expansive handheld to date).
Because that's what it is. The Switch IS (actually) the 3DS Successor. It's a powerful handheld you can hook up to your TV.
So all in all, Nintendo fused their handheld and console market together and gained a lot of new strenght.
The only thing they had to do now, is to spin the marketing by saying "the switch is a home console you can play anywhere", rather than "the switch is handheld you can hook up to your TV", which they succeeded.
That's why there won't be switch successor. The switch is the 3DS successor already.
Pretty much. I'm totally reminding people of this insecure fanboy freak out if a Switch Lite is announced.
"No, don't do it, I'll leave you guys if you do, everything you make needs to be for the system I bought."
If they make a "Switch" that doesn't switch between two modes then it undermines the system's identity.
I think if Nintendo were going to release a stripped down Switch, they could go for something like "Nintendo Lite" as expressed earlier in the thread. Making the system less prohibitively pricey would certainly help expand the audience even further.
In any case, I'd say I'm fine with a budget model of Switch, but I'm absolutely NOT fine with a completely separate platform. Unified development is one of Nintendo's biggest strengths right now and if anything, they need to lean into it more than ever in order to keep a consistent flow of continent.
I think if Nintendo were going to release a stripped down Switch, they could go for something like "Nintendo Lite" as expressed earlier in the thread. Making the system less prohibitively pricey would certainly help expand the audience even further.
In any case, I'd say I'm fine with a budget model of Switch, but I'm absolutely NOT fine with a completely separate platform. Unified development is one of Nintendo's biggest strengths right now and if anything, they need to lean into it more than ever in order to keep a consistent flow of continent.
Maybe in some markets, but it's worth considering the Japanese market specifically, where any portable console that's had a smaller revision has always been super popular.
I also think you're not giving appropriate consideration to kids. The Switch is obviously not designed for young children in the same way that gameboys and DSs have been.
There is a sizable chunk of Nintendo's audience that would prefer a smaller more portable unit.
So just a couple of years after Wii selling 100 million systems, Nintendo gives up on home consoles. Right.
Tell that to Nintendo's new president.
(And even Kimishima was talking about this actually.)
Maybe if that revision came with other benefits like the DS Lite/i, but haven't things like the (new or not) 3DS XL far more popular than the smaller units since their introduction?
Mario party seems to require detached joycons so I don't think they can deviate from detachable controllers.
He said they're considering something to succeed the ease of purchase position of 3DS. That doesn't have to be interpreted as a brand new handheld, which frankly doesn't make sense given developers who typically make handheld games, such as Game Freak, have migrated to Switch.
I don't know the split, but I know that the smaller ones are a significant portion of customers. That's why since the DS XL they've offered both larger and smaller units. Because both are popular.
I think the margins are higher on the XL models, but there were market factors that led to stuff like the 2DS and New 3DS being smaller units, and those factors haven't disappeared now that the Switch is out.
What does "ease of purchase" mean? I'm guessing the price being cheap? Maybe they'd do a portable only Switch.
To me, the biggest reason why the 3DS/2DS line is still around because it is cheap. Not only in price point, but in developing as well. Possibly only mobile is cheaper to develop for than the 3DS/2DS currently.
Yes, the 2DS is ergonomically better suited for pocketability than the Switch - that isn't up for debate. My contention is that pocketability, especially when expressed in 2000s-era clamshell design philosophy, is not factored in the buying process when people are looking for portable devices now.
As in, the Switch's current large single-screen form, IMO, is not that much of a deterrent to portable-oriented consumers, because it is perfectly in-line with the form and shape of other portable devices.
Perhaps Nintendo will release a clamshell Switch variant in the future - I don't know. They especially have a track record of releasing multiple handhelds to address specific population needs, so I wouldn't at all rule it out. But the insinuation that the lack of a foldable, pocketable device is what's preventing handheld consumers to jump aboard with the Switch is something I just cannot agree with.
Exactly, the Switch is something of an investment whereas the 3DS is closer to impulse purchase territory and it's the only system on the market that currently occupies that space.
If you don't know the split why make such statements as "most" (then retract and say "significant") etc? Plus the smaller was at times the only option so clearly that would sell more until there was any other option by default. And I wouldn't say 2DS is universally smaller since it doesn't fold. 2DS LL has sold more in Japan already even though it was introduced later too (but again that has other benefits than the size, since it's "new" hardware rather than the oldie 3DS guts). Really you can't talk about these things without actually researching them carefully and clearly neither one of us has done enough of that to be so absolute about it (hence why I started with a question rather than statement myself, just going by how it was even hard for me to find a regular old 3DS when the XL units were released and became so popular they all but phased out the initial size, that was before having the "new" line too).
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This. I still have a lot of long personal droughts on Switch. If they put out another handheld with a separate library of games it would be way worse for me. I'm not willing to buy a dedicated handheld as I just don't game portably much anymore and my DS and 3DS gathered a lot of dust as I just couldn't be bothered to play portably when I could be gaming on the TV.
If they need a portable option other than the current Switch I hope they just go with a smaller, more portbable version that they can sell cheaper to go after that kid/family market etc. If they split development again I'd keep my Switch but probably not buy it's successor if that's their path going forward as I was very underwhelmed by the Wii and Wii U libraries for my tastes. When combined with the DS/3DS libraries that's pretty solid and what I was hoping for with Switch and going forward with all their games on one platform.
This is it, I think. A sub-$200 Switch with hardware compromises is inevitable. A console limited by portability to make it cheaper while using an existing library is a good idea.
A $150-200 Switch in a couple years is a certainty I think.
You're not wrong, but there's clearly still a small market for people who want smaller devices. That's why phone manufacturers often have a "mini/compact" alternative along with "plus" phones. Which is why in 2018 I never see Switch systems in the wild, yet I still see some 3DS systems here and there (granted, I live in Japan, but with Switch performing so well we do know people aren't using it as an "on the go" system).
The Switch is the best gaming system I've ever used.
The 3DS has a successor and its the Switch.
The 3DS has a successor and its the Switch.
I can only speak for my region, but I've seen at least 10 Switches in the wild around Baltimore, 3 of then being played by kids.
Then again, my state as far as I can remember has always had a penchant for portables so seeing that doesn't surprise me.
Gotta say, it's refreshing to see someone else who *gets* it.There won't be a 3DS successor. What actually happend after the catastrophical Wii U failure was the following:
Actually, Nintendo gave up on home consoles. They always used to have 2 markets. A dedicated home console market (NES, SNES, N64... Wii... Wii U) and a dedicated portable console market (Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS, 3DS).
After the Wii U failure they realized, the problems their traditional Home console market had, was something they couldn't overcome. Especially after amost every 3rd party publisher had abandoned them. Nintendo also realized, there is no need for a stand-alone Nintendo home console, because most of the big selling franchises these days are already selling very well on Playstation and Xbox - the so called "high-end" consoles.
So ultimately Nintendo had no choice. They had to do something to solve their bad situation in the home console market. At the same time however, their portable system, the 3DS, was also in it's final years. Luckily, Nintendo was always increadibly strong and successfull in the handheld market - the NR. 1 for decades.
So they faced the following situation:
- Nintendo's home console market was done.
- Their handheld console was in need of a successor
- Smartphone competition has increased and became a thread to their handheld bussiness.
So what did they do? Basically this:
Nintendo solved their problem by fusing all their strenghts together. Everything that made tehir home consoles great (extra power, motion gaming, off tv play (from The Wii U)) and everything that made their portable consoles great (protablility, pokemon, healthy 3rd party support) fused together in one product:
The Nintendo Switch
Instead of producing another home console that couldn't compete with Sony and Microsoft, they decided to produce the most powerfull handheld to date. This had a couple of advantages:
- By doing so, they could maintain their lead/monopoly in the handheld market.
- By adding motion, joycon and all those stuff, they provided extra functionality no smartphone has (dedicated advanced control mechanismns).
- With the extra power they could provide a new feature: TV play. Hocking the console up to a TV. This could be used to justify the higher entry price of the Switch (their most expansive handheld to date).
Because that's what it is. The Switch IS (actually) the 3DS Successor. It's a powerful handheld you can hook up to your TV.
So all in all, Nintendo fused their handheld and console market together and gained a lot of new strenght.
The only thing they had to do now, is to spin the marketing by saying "the switch is a home console you can play anywhere", rather than "the switch is handheld you can hook up to your TV", which they succeeded.
That's why there won't be switch successor. The switch is the 3DS successor already.
I don't like the idea of a one system Nintendo. Since the launch of the Game Boy in 1989 Nintendo has had both home console and handheld games. I'm afraid we'll lose that with having just the Switch. I could be totally wrong of course but I look at stuff like The Legend of Zelda franchise and see this:
- A Link to the Past - 1991 - console
- Link's Awakening - 1993 - handheld
- Ocarina of Time - 1998 - console
- Majora's Mask - 2000 - console
- Oracle of Ages/Seasons - 2001 - handheld
- Wind Waker - 2002 - console
- Minish Cap - 2004 - handheld
- Twilight Princess - 2006 - console
- Phantom Hourglass - 2007 - handheld
- Spirit Tracks - 2009 - handheld
- Skyward Sword - 2011 - console
- Link Between Worlds - 2013 - handheld
- Breath of the Wild - 2017 - console/handheld
Well if anything phones are larger than before these days, the "regular" versions are XL sized already (you can barely find any 4.5 inch screen models these days, 5 is getting rarer also, 5.5 being the most common and inching towards 6 now with the smaller bezels) and there's the more limited "even larger size" market with the "Plus" ranges. Lite models also often aren't actually that much smaller in dimensions, just slightly different/cheaper, like the last few P Lite models.
No, Nintendo didn't give up on home consoles if they're calling the Switch a home console. Jesus Christ.
This won't be a device separate from a Switch. It will just be a budget Switch. One that is actually easily portable.
Yeah, this is happening, but a) even big phones are something you can put in your pocket unless it's a straight phablet (which are not popular!), and b) Apple, Sony, Sharp, Nokia, and many phone manufacturers still make "mini" versions of their phones because, well, there's still a market for them even if it's smaller.
Then, Nintendo in particular is always happy to have a more affordable version of their handhelds. Switch is still quite pricey compared to previous handheld consoles and it's still a "one-per-household" system, as Nintendo put it.
TPCi is well-known for being slow adopters of systems and a transition would likely not be immediate. If a potential "4DS", or whatever it would be called, manages to categorically bomb then perhaps they'll think twice about moving on. Otherwise, they'll still sign on. The 3DS had a pretty bad start-up but they still signed on for Pokemon X and Y.
Do you people really expect Nintendo to provide you the convenience of having just platform by gambling on such high stakes?
People really overestimate the success of Switch. Sure it's currently selling good but this doesn't mean it'll continue to do so. Third parties still isn't on Switch full time and western third parties love to ignore it. Things can change for Switch anytime. Nintendo can't afford to risk everything again for just one platform. They're not Sony or Microsoft, gaming is all they have. That's why Nintendo need multiple Pillars.
But I agree the idea that the other pillars should be drastically different than the Switch. VR? AR? Micro handheld? When it comes to new ideas, Nintendo never disappoint.
