Is Nintendo Switch really a success?

[Teno]

Exhibit A - Switch is the successor to both the Wii U and 3DS, and it's selling slower than its predecessors / It isn't

Nintendo Switch is Nintendos new core system and unifying console and mobile business in a way, while they invest in mobile gaming on iOS and Android. This will be the real 3DS successor. The Switch had no price cuts like the 3DS and is selling fine. The Switch is Nintendos console, while mobile gaming has changed effectively and transitioned to phones finally. Sony and every other gaming company is investing in mobile gaming on smartphones as well. Pure handhelds are dead.

Exhibit B - Nintendo continues to make smartphone games and their new CEO Furukawa wants to grow that business / like everyone else in the industry

Regardless how successful the Switch would have been, you can't ignore mobile gaming. EA, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Square Enix, Nintendo and even Sony (https://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/09/05/sony-wants-aggressively-push-mobile-gaming-market-following-success-pokemon-go) are investing in mobile gaming. Nintendo has seen this transition between DS and 3DS and finally took good steps to fix their issues in this field.

Exhibit C - Nintendo's stock price has dropped by approximately 25% since March 2018 / who cares?

But you know that stocks are as high as during the DS/Wii era right now? Nintendos best time in it's history. Stocks are still three times higher than during Nintendos complete 3DS/Wii U era. Investors aren't gamers and Nintendo doesn't focus on investors anymore. They don't tell them everything about upcoming hardware, games and projects while other companys with yearly releases (Fifa, Call of Duty, Just Dance, World of Warcraft etc.) built their lineup with their ips around investors needs. Investors buy shares, when gamers buy tons of games and hardware. Focus on gamers, not on these financial jerks  is a good new philosophy from Nintendo => (Metroid, Animal Crossing, Smash, Lugigis Mansion, Fan Favorites and more coming to Switch)

Exhibit D - The 3DS was a better portable than Switch is / are you serious?

Switch is a better hybrid than 3DS was and actually runs full grown games in HD.

Exhibit E - The Wii U had better third party support than Switch / No!

Wii U had Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Darksiders, Need for Speed, Madden, Tekken, Mass Effect, just to name a few. Switch has none of those and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon, if ever. And most of them run like shit, while they released 6 month later with no additional features. Are you serious? Switch has ports third parties put effort into and which can be played on the go.
Diablo 3, Doom, Wolfenstein 2, Skyrim, Rocket League, Fortnite, Dark Souls, South Park, Star Link, Dragonball FighterZ and even Final Fantasy returns with many games to Nintendos platform. The Wii U had the worst third party support, because every bad port damaged the systems reputation and offered nothing worth buying.

Exhibit G - The best Switch games are Nintendo games / huh?

This irrefutable fact doesn't point towards a healthy software ecosystem. Quite the opposite, actually. It highlights that third parties aren't willing to invest in the platform. Yeah and that is actually the reason indies make tons of money on Switch, Third Parties that never supported Nintendo products for decades like Blizzard or bethesda start to make games and Squre Enix, Capcom, Bandai Namco and many more port their libraries and even offer (timed) exclusives for the system.

Exhibit H - Online multiplayer has been put behind a paywall on Switch

The history of paid online multiplayer on consoles is a history of console manufacturers who struggled to make profit via honest business. Whether you take Sega, Microsoft or Sony, it's always the same story. While only Nintendos own titles need to be behind the paywall. All other publishers can choose to stay free, like Fortnite did it. And it's cheap as fuck.

Conclusion

Nintendo Switch is a success in almost every way. You didn't even notice how they increased revenue on all accessories and each game by raising prizes, higher attach rates for games and accessories and cheap ports that sell more units than their initial releases (Mario Kart 8DX, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Toad Treasure Tracker). Still no game bundled for free dispite Fortnite. 3DS attracted younger audiences with less cash, while the Switch audience is finally older and able to spend more money. Switch is almost a complete transition in Nintendos core market and audience. If this is not a success, I'm missing out on something.

Last edited by Teno - on 06 October 2018