They can. But they won't. That's all there is to say really. To make a successful home console you need two things: A shitload of money and good exclusives. Nintendo has both of these things. But they aren't willing to throw money at third parties and they don't see the point in making a console without a unique selling point.

But if they really wanted, sure, they could slap together some middle-class PC parts in a small housing, pay the big publishers for releasing their most important games and maybe get some exclusive marketing rights and whatnot. I mean, seriously, in theory what should stop them?

To me a traditional console is a box that can play games so therefore the Wii has already proved this theory. "It's motion controls though" I hear you cry. A different control scheme doesn't make it any less of a traditional console. Was the PlayStation not a traditional console when it introduced a new controller.

That new controller was basically a SNES controller with two extra shoulder buttons though...

Didn't they introduce dual analogue? 

Nah, that came some years later, after the N64 was released I believe. The original one looked a little something like this:

I think if Nintendo released a home console along side the PS5 and X2 with the same power, meaning finally having full on third party support with nothing hindering it, it would definately out sell the next Xbox. About 60-70 million at least. Probably would do better in Japan than the PS4 as well.

They could, of course, but they would have to actually build a system that can handle current gen games.
They would also need to learn to play nice with third party studios, and spend more on game development.

I don't think any of those will happen though, they made their choice clear with the switch. They're happy doing handheld gaming and underpowered home consoles, keeping churning out uninspired Yoshi, Kirby or Pokemon games.

And you have to take also the mobile market into account, where they are just doing what everybody else is doing: copying successful concepts and slapping a skin of their own IPs on it.

Nintendo is still able to make some great games, but they really are starting to be the exception in a library full of mediocrity and easy cash grabs. And even if those games are great they still are held back by underpowered hardware and useless gimmicks.

I use to love Nintendo, but at this point, if they stopped making games, I would only miss Zelda and Mario. All the other things I miss about Nintendo has been already gone for a very long time.

nope. that time has went the way of the dodo

handhelds are their strength and will be for a long time.

along with slap-assed together android/ios money grabber apps (aka games). according to the new shitastic president.

That’s not true at all.

Each one of Nintendo’s consoles, except the Gamecube, GBA, 3DS, and Wii U, advanced or expanded the way we interface with games. They were not simple hardware updates like the playstations.

The NES introduced a simplified controller with a d-pad, and while consoles existed before the NES was a unique type of console. The SNES gave us the diamond face buttons and shoulder buttons (which Sony and Microsoft have copied every generation since), the N64 gave us four controller ports and analog sticks (again, copied by the competition), the Wii gave us motion controls, the Gameboy gave us portability, the DS gave us touch screens, and Switch hybridized and expanded local multiplayer capabilities through sheer logistics ease.

The Gamecube is the only console Nintendo ever made that resembles the traditional Playstation console.

1) If we're going to level copying as some kind of slur then none of the big three will escape that criticism - I could list endless examples of MS & Sony doing similarly but I think anyone with a bit of knowledge in the gaming industry will know this. If anything, Nintendo is known as the biggest innovator of the 3...

2) Really...? Since Switch launched we've had BOTW, Mario Oddysey, Mario + Rabbids (collaboration), Splatoon 2, XC2, & Snipperclips - all of those are games are in the 8s or higher on MetaCritic. You also have games like Arms & Kirby in the 7s. Unless you class anything under 8 mediocre or a cash grab?

That's of course not counting the numerous high-quality ports that the Switch has received...

If this output, in terms of quality, in just over a year isn't adequate, then can I ask what developer's is? Honest question.