I don’t really think this comment deserves a response, but here I am trying to help the VGC forum have activity:

I literally haven’t used my Switch 2 as a handheld since I bought it. It is 100% a Nintendo home console for me. I have never liked Nintendo’s handhelds and if they released another handheld I would not buy that. I am a console gamer and have been once since the Atari 2600 and I always will be one. Gaming on a TV is how I play. Not on a PC monitor, not on my phone, not on an 8 inch handheld display, but on my television. 

So yeah, the Switch is a handheld. Ok. 

Anyway, with that little tired statement out of the way (Pemalite, you’re one of the smartest users here and you always bring up this idea and it always makes you just look bitter and foolish, which is 99% of the time here not your look), Nintendo treats their IPs like their children. Like they’re getting their children ready for a friend’s wedding or retirement party, or their baby shower. They always dress to impress, even on whatever meager budget they have at the time. They have a lot of children, so maybe all of the kids don’t get to come to every event. And yes, sometimes they dress them up in the silliest getups because they have this weird fashion impulse, but 7 out of 10 times the other parents start dressing their kids up like that, too. 

Nintendo takes pride in their long history and you can see how they beam when they bring back an IP that hasn’t been seen in a while. Is it marketing, sure, but on the backend, with the designers and programmers and engineers, that’s just wanting to make sure that kid looks their best and makes their parents proud. 

Two main reasons

First, it's the only company that cultivated a dedicated audience of handheld gamers

Sony tried but their studios are simply better doing cinematic stuff that plays better on TVs. Third parties who wanted to cater portable gaming all went to mobile which essentially left Sony alone


Second reason is their appeal to older audiences. Yes older, not kids. Kids play anything you show them. What Nintendo caters is their parents who think Nintendo is a safe choice. Humans are product of habit, and no company exploit habits better than Nintendo

They have a solid business model and set identity, in fact it's been the since their move into console it may not always be favoured depending on the era but it's robust enough to ensure continuation, to use an analogy Bruce Lee said he fears the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times far more than the man who has practiced a thousand kicks once as the former has honed his ability well and can adapt it to the situation, it's pretty similar to companies like Coca Cola, McDonalds etc... The maybe some adaption to what ever era they're in but they're uncompromising to their core behind their philosophy and approach.

Videogames.

Pokemon/Ps1...
Pokemon/Ps2/DS...
Mainly because of Pokemon.

No Nintendo system received a mainline nor mainline spinoff Pokémon game prior to having sold at least 30mil units, at which point hardware trajectory was already set in stone (with exception of GameBoy, which went into overdrive with the localization of Pokémon in the west).

To answer OP: I believe a lot of it has to do with their strong first-party catalogue and always having the comfort of a profitable handheld to lean on. Their handhelds had always been successful due to be the affordable option AND having a steady stream of very high quality releases (not to mention, there has been no competition to figure this strategy out, hence Nintendo is the only option for handhelds gaming). Also, strong first party means (i) strong exclusives and (ii) solid stream of revenue from software. Nintendo is objectively the strongest software publisher in terms of quality and quantity. So, even if a system flops, they’ll always have a ton of revenue coming from their software releases in assuming the current systems aren’t all a colossal failure (e.g. 3DO, Sega Saturn, Game Gear, etc.).

That’s how Nintendo has avoided seeing themselves pinned in a Sega or Microsoft situation, where profits aren’t coming in and changes need to be made: Nintendo is a software developer first, and has always been able to lean on the profits of a successful (affordable) handheld device.

Two reasons.

One, they make great games.

Two, they are extremely lucky.

The first one is easy to understand. They're just talented. The second is more complex. But basically, society has to agree with what you're doing, and at times, society almost put Nintendo out of business because they didn't want what Nintendo was creating. In that sense, Nintendo got lucky because without everyone suddenly wanting a Switch and their IPs again, there might not be a Nintendo anymore.

Yep, the handheld dedicated audience saved the Wii U debacle. Switch is primarily focused on that handheld audience, while giving the much smaller dedicated Nintendo console audience a way to keep playing on TV.

And indeed, Nintendo is seen as safe and reliable. No need to provide your kids with a TV either to play, keep em 'pacified' in the car etc.

Also Nintendo refuses to lower game prices and sticks to physical, keeping the perceived value of games high while other platform holders race to the bargain bin. That way Nintendo has been able to keep profits up and not get that much backlash for 'expensive' remasters.

Part of it is also long running series, Mario Zelda in particular with all the off shoots. Young and old enjoy the same ever green franchises together.

I think the community has had this discusion a thousand times already and I won't derail the thread any further, My argument is that the Switch is either a handheld or a console depending on how you use it. If you leave it in the dock and never take it out (like I do, and like another user in this thread also does), what is it then? Looking at the Switch Lite, yes, that's a handheld. But every other model is both, no matter how many times you disagree.

Nintendo ip is the sole answer. Strongest first party portfolio that's fully exclusive.

As for the same nonsense over Switch being a handheld first and foremost falls flat on its face due to the detachable controllers, dock, and it automatically cranking up in power once docked. All of this plays a role in Switch being a proper hybrid platform.

The detachable controllers have no reason to exist if Switch was meant to be an handheld first lol. It literally doesn't even make financial sense because it raises the overall price by needing all the tech in the controllers on top of the joycon straps and grip. I haven't even mentioned how Nintendo could even encourage more pro controller sales by not including detachable controllers along with the straps and grip. The detachable controllers literally are motion controllers, which doesn't align with mobile gaming at all. Ask yourselves why Nintendo DS/3DS Sports doesn't exist? 

So seriously everyone, let's stop taking the bait and accept the individuals that continue to push the agenda of its a handheld are just doing the usual PS defense to explain why PS got smoked lmao. Switch lives rent free in these individuals' heads.