NintendObs Thinks: On Nintendo and the next generation.
PlayStation and Xbox have extended the lifespan of Nintendo Switch.
I just noticed something a few days ago. Do you know how many brand-new games Nintendo’s central studio, the Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Division (Nintendo EPD), launched last year in 2020? You know, the department responsible for The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, among other things. One. Animal Crossing New Horizons. This game is literally all it took from Nintendo’s most influential studio (arguably the most influential studio in videogames, period) in order for Nintendo to succeed in making Nintendo Switch in the United States outsell PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on their launch month of November 2020 in its fourth year on the market.
One could argue the reason why Nintendo EPD weren’t that prolific in 2020 is the situation with the coronavirus. I disagree. Especially since if there is one field in entertainment that actually profited from the COVID-19 lockdowns around the world, it’s the videogame industry. Once adapted to the new measures, there’s no way what is going on right now would have dramatically impacted a more than a century old company that has cash to make in these circumstances, especially with last holiday season being the most profitable ever for Nintendo Switch. (Again, despite the launch, or the marketing, of its most direct competitors.)
Another argument could be that they simply didn’t or couldn’t have games at the ready for this fiscal year. Let’s summarize year by year the output of Nintendo EPD for Nintendo Switch to exemplify how this is not true. Year one 2017, that’s four brand-new games: 1-2-Switch, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Arms, Splatoon 2. Year two 2018, that’s five: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01 Variety Kit, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 02 Robot Kit, Sushi Striker The Way of Sushido, Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03 Vehicle Kit, Super Mario Party. And year three 2019, that’s three: Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04 VR Kit, Super Mario Maker 2 and Ring Fit Adventure.