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260°

Nintendo is half-wrong on why it failed to hit Switch sales target

Switch sales will not reach the target that Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa had originally hoped for fiscal 2018, and the reason why is important.

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nintendoenthusiast.com
Moonman2637d ago

Looking at the Nintendo Switch numbers before for the holiday season means that Nintendo Switch sold around 10.5 million consoles worldwide in a few weeks less than THREE MONTHS. I mean really. That's phenomenal....almost outsold Wii U's lifetime in 3 months. Almost half the GameCube's entire lifetime in three months. It's nothing to scoff at. The Japanese can be very critical of their performance even if it's still excellent. If anything, this man is going to take steps to remedy this. So watch out...lol.

Nyxus2637d ago

The Gamecube really deserved better. Still my favorite Nintendo console.

Moonman2637d ago (Edited 2637d ago )

I agree, I love GameCube.

mcstorm2637d ago

I'm with you on this I loved the game cube it had some amazing games it just did not get the credit it deserved.

_SilverHawk_2637d ago

The GameCube is the last proper console Nintendo made that could stand up to the competitions. Now Nintendo makes home console that can barely play or run games from the previous generation. The switch hasn't shown anything close to the uncharted series from the ps3 or the last of us. the ps3 was released in 2006 and the switch was released in 2017 . I can't imagine how Nintendo will be competing with the ps5 with the switch and their next gen switch 2 because the switch 2 might still be too weak to play games from this generation without much compromise. Nintendo can never again release a home console without it being portable like the switch.

I believe the switch didn't reach sales goal because it lacked games. The switch had two interesting games at the end of 2018 as if the previous 10 months didn't matter.

LOGICWINS2637d ago

Nintendo is too hard on themselves. They have the fastest selling console of all-time on their hands. Once cloud support drops here in the States, think of all those 3rd party titles that Switch owners will have access to.

Nintendo has nothing to be ashamed about and nothing left to prove to anyone.

pcz2637d ago

switch is too expensive. its basically the same price as a ps4. how does a switch represent good value when it IS last gen tech?

the ps4 is the market leader because it has leading tech and ALL the AAA third party games, along with very strong first party games.

switch only has first party games. and most of those are glorified ports. only die hard Nintendo fans are buying deluxe editions of wii u games they bought merely 2 years ago. Nintendo should be embarrassed.

where are the actual switch games built from scratch for switch? where is the price drop?

dotwithshoes2637d ago

You must have missed that one that sold 12 million copies since December?

EddieNX 2637d ago (Edited 2637d ago )

Last gen tech didn't fit in the palm of your hands . Switch supports modern engines like UE4, last generation did not.
There's a reason the Switch cost 280.

Please at least try and use common sense.

'Da Swish Iz LaSt jEn TeK!!!'

Si-Fly2637d ago

I can’t play my PS4 on the car, in the bath, in bed, in the garden.

Sirk7x2637d ago (Edited 2637d ago )

Screens and internal batteries definitely drive up production costs. The Switch isn't built anything like other current consoles. It's a six inch tablet lol. Disconnect the controllers and hold it next to a PS4 or Xbox. It is a miniscule piece of hardware for what it's capable of.

Livingthedream2637d ago

The value is in its portable form. It's pretty cool, I haven't purchased a Nintendo console since the N64, but I can see how some people find an interest in it. Honestly their systems dont improve much on the graphical side, they try to find a gimmick that will appeal to the masses. The games are cool but most were available on the Wii U, so it's not the exclusives.

Dragonscale2637d ago

@si-fly, yes you can with cross play on the vita and anyhow who the hell plays games in the bath lol.

DEKUX122636d ago

ps4 needs a price drop to about 100 and 200 for pro shit data management always having to uninstall games when u buy a new one its annoying. remotes battery life is trash. you get spam in your message box. online is always down.....

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2636d ago
DillyDilly2637d ago

Its simple NOT ENOUGH year round big games to grab peoples attentions

Majin-vegeta2637d ago

Yea most of the switches library is just Wii u ports.

DillyDilly2637d ago

I love my Switch but Im again likely gonna go half a year or more before buying my next game on it

tontontam02637d ago

Yup I'm glad they are releasing wii u ports I really wanted to play the games on wiiu but considering the obvious path to failure of the wiiu I could'nt convince myself to purchase one. I was about to purchase a refurbished unit for half the price of brand new but nintendo switch was announced and the first thought that came to my mind was "I wish they port these wiiu games to the switch." I'm so glad I waited for the switch.

FinalFantasyFanatic2637d ago

WiiU ports are great, because almost no one bought a WiiU...

Fist4achin2637d ago

Switch will continue to sell well. The games are coming, but it does seem like it is taking them a long time for development.

Games are what sold the 3ds.

Sirk7x2637d ago

It's definitely going to take some more time for first party games, but I do believe that the Switch will be looked back fondly upon as a very successful console, and as a turning point for Nintendo.

60°

Take-Two CEO Once Again Side Steps Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point

Strauss Zelnick says price of GTA 6 is being carefully considered and that Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Kuma1d 19h ago

If GTA 6 abandons everything that made GTA 5 great, it will crash and burn right out of the gate. GTA 5 was funny and not at all PC. My worry is that they will cave to the PC crowd and ruin the vibes.

Eonjay1d 15h ago

They got freaking BBLs twerking on the top of trucks for the gram, the freaking Flordia joker, and dude running down the stree in their undies and you are worried about it being 'too PC'? The internet has runied gamers. It doesn't matter how non-PC they make the game, you will all listen to the grifters telling you not to believe your lying eyes lol.

gigoran81d 12h ago

"Rockstar Games’ co-founder and former VP of Development Jamie King said he envisions GTA 6 as a game that’s “maybe not quite as edgy or quite as funny” as its satirical predecessors."

oh yeah, totally internet grifters spreading rumors...

blacktiger1d 12h ago

That's part of the plan, they destroyed you but they need to destroy the shareholders? Only 1 shre holder is the true elite that don't care

1nsomniac1d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

Meh.., if it’s above £55 I ain’t buying it.

Rockstar are genuinely not half the company they used to be. I was a die hard GTA fan I’ve purchased every game and expansion and spin off day 1.

My opinion of GTA6 is that I can take it or leave it. Not bothered. They burnt too many bridges.

DaReapa1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

So they're actually leaving the door open for an L.A. Noire sequel? Nice!

VaNdAl1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

He should just come out and say it already it's getting stupid it's going to be a 100 bucks $200 for the special edition🤡🤡; 29315;🤣♿

Storm231d 12h ago

I won't be getting this game until I can get it for $70. SHoot, I could wait for it to be even lower. I don't need the game that badly as my backlog is still huge and I am enjoying playing other things.

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40°

Talking Aliens: The Video Games With Author Mike Diver

Skewed and Reviewed have posted an interview with Author Mike Diver about his pending book on Aliens video games.

70°

Xbox boss: Memory crisis could impact next-gen hardware pricing

Xbox boss Asha Sharma has discussed how component shortages will impact the company's plans for Project Helix.

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gamedeveloper.com
Eonjay3d ago

When does this end? Its killing everyone. Consoles and PC. And for what? AI? The benefits of AI are completely outweighed by the negatives. And the government should have never allowed one company to buy up all the RAM.

Lexreborn23d ago

This kind of proves this is an after thought product, most products like this are in r&d 5 years before they start mass producing. So they typically have the cost of components and things worked out long before assembly starts.

This is an assumption still, but I wouldn’t be surprised if project helix is similar to Scalebound,perfect dark and sod3. They had an idea but no actual execution other than concept stage. Being impacted by the ram shortage likely would also put this device 3-4 years out.

I’m not even sure MS has that endurance with Xbox yet

Fishy Fingers3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I mean.... what?

We're at a point that Samsung wont even provide their own phone department ram because they can sell it at higher prices to 3rd parties (AI). Its more profitable to sell the ram than make their own devices with it.

You think because R&D starts 5 years ago the 3rd party component manufacturers will honour that price? They'll sell it to whomever is paying the most today, not some gentlemens agreement they made years ago. AI farms will buy more volume at higher prices than any console manufacturer will. It'll be the same for Playstation.

Lexreborn22d ago

Contractual agreements are not the same as “gentlemen” agreements. If you think that they work with their distributors a month before production then their entire business model is trash. They work with companies like nvidia constantly for building the graphics cards they need. They work with companies that build motherboards years in advance. This is what proper business planning does.

They are not buying components on a whim like a consumer. So again, considering the ram isn’t a singular module and is integrated into the motherboard I highly doubt they wouldn’t have a final schematic that they are supposed to be building around.

If they are delaying production another 3 years then it’s obvious again this is an after though project and is just trying to be responsive to their bad execution they had the last 14 years.

It also isn’t far fetched to use their failure to produce first party titles the last 7 years including the highly anticipated games I mentioned all being cancelled. That they would continue to you know… lie

Sitdown3d ago

You don't really know how this works huh?

Profchaos3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Helix is going to be stupidly expensive

Instead of leaning into smarter upscaling techniques they're brute forcing hardware that will cost them dearly and it remains to be seen if it's genuinely going to provide a meaningful differential

I know in the oc.doace people like to brag about not using frame gen or dlss to get to high on a game but for the majority of players they happily use those technologies without a second thought

That's going to be ps6 vs Helix

Eonjay3d ago

Yeah with FSR 5 they should be able to offer a much cheaper version of Helix.

Eonjay3d ago

While this does seem to be the case, I am encouraged by the statement from Microsoft about wanting to provide affordable options. If this means a Series S style Helix, at least there will be something affordable being offered.

XBManiac2d ago

Series S is what has killed Xbox Series so... Will they dare?

blacktiger3d ago

It's called systematic inflationary. Yes we get it Microsoft, keep raising in the name ofall kinds of stuffs

pwnmaster30003d ago

Honestly if there was thing I learned from this generation is that new consoles arnt day one anymore.
I can wait 1-3 years.

DarXyde3d ago

Another important lesson from this generation: while Nintendo showed us that prices don't necessarily need to ever drop, we've now learned that waiting 1-3 years does carry some risk that prices increase. This generation is just bizarre in all the wrong ways.

LucasRuinedChildhood3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

The factors are largely external. Covid and Russia-Ukraine war causing inflation led to the first price increase in 2022.

Then we get Trump's tariffs increasing hardware prices, AI boom causing a RAM crisis, war on Iran causing a worldwide fuel crisis which impacts the cost of everything.

Gaming doesn't exist in a vacuum. The last few years have been a shitshow and lot of it was definitely avoidable.

DarXyde2d ago

LucasRuinedChildhood,

For sure. No disagreement on the external factors doing a lot of this. Where I have to gently push back however is on two fronts:

1. The pandemic definitely caused some issues: asynchronous development was a big issue and really complicated timelines and affected game quality. At the same time, when it comes to price hikes, it's really difficult to know what was genuine necessity and what was taking consumers for a ride. The pandemic brought about "stag-flation" which was increasing prices and stagnant wages, which was a problem caused by supply chain constraints. There was also "Greed-flation", where companies that were slightly affected or had no issues took advantage of the situation and squeezed everyone citing supply chain issues when there were none.

2. It's definitely true that the tariffs, AI boom, and RAM crisis were all things enabled by tech broligarchs throwing money at this caricature of a world leader, one of them being Satya Nadella. I don't think Sony and Nintendo have contributed much to this problem if at all, but Microsoft's Nadella I feel was instrumental in causing every one of those issues. Microsoft as a company contributed to both candidates (though they gave Harris 4x as much if I recall), but Nadella was all in on letting AI run wild. He paid for unregulated AI, and got a war that's not a war (even though Trump called it that at least five times on television) that screwed up helium access. So for me, I feel that one of the players in the gaming industry is a key architect of these issues, and for that reason I struggle a bit to think of it as "external".

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