nintendo switch
nintendo switch

Gaming is an incredibly large industry. You have young people – like kids – hooked on games just as much as adults. Gaming has also moved away from being so platform based. By that I simply mean, there are a lot of games that you can play across platforms, and even on your mobile device. Making gaming more accessible to a wider audience. What’s interesting to me is that even though you can pick up your phone or your tablet and play a game, many people are still using their favorite platform. Why? Well, regardless of manufacturer, everyone wants to sell their own hardware. And you can’t blame them, but the question I want to pose is whether or not platforms are on the decline?

If you’re Nintendo, then the answer to that is no. In fact, they are rumored to be launching two new Switches as early as the summer. One would likely be a smaller and cheaper model, which would focus on portability. While the other Switch would be a higher-end model aimed at more serious gamers. This sounds a lot like what Apple does with their new iPhones, but it’s actually direct competition with Sony’s PS4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One. That said, the new switches wouldn’t have as much power as those consoles, but is that necessary?

Rumors are also reporting that Nintendo will also eliminate the HD Rumble controller vibration feature, as well as some others in order to cut costs. Both Sony and Microsoft have released multiple versions of the PS4 and Xbox One – including higher-end and cheaper versions. The reason is that this often keeps sales rolling, and for the most part, this as worked. What we do know is that the Switch has been a huge success, with 32 million units sold so far. Nintendo just released their 2018 fiscal sales, and we saw a decrease in the number of units purchased from 20 to 17 million. While this is not great news for Nintendo, it seems that they are trying to get their sales back up by releasing these two new consoles.

What we also know is that Microsoft and Sony are also going to be releasing new models in the near future, and both currently have a half-generation start over Nintendo. With the release of these new models and even some new games, Nintendo actually won’t be too far behind in terms of competition. The cheaper Switch version was originally rumored to be a strictly handheld device without the plastic docking station of the current Switch. 

It’s also incredibly interesting that Nintendo is a competitor for these other gaming platforms. In the past, Nintendo has always sort of had one operating goal, which largely revolved around Mario. Don’t get me wrong, Nintendo revolutionized the gaming industry in the late 80s and early 90s. But that also paved the way for others to bring their systems to life. All-in-all these new consoles should give Nintendo a push in the right direction. But we will have to wait until the summer to find out more about these devices, and whether or not they live up to their hype.

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