Nintendo excels in the creation of new and interesting experiences, as evidenced by the ridiculous popularity of the Switch, but that doesn’t mean it has to adhere to what’s popular or trendy to stand out. In fact, Nintendo makes something of a habit when it comes to bucking industry trends, looking to make its own way for unique experiences. In a recent interview with French publication Les Numériques, head of Nintendo France Phillippe Lavoué stated that the company just isn’t interested in either VR or 4K when it comes to implementing either strategy.
According to Lavoué, VR has yet to prove itself as a viable format for mainstream audiences, and consumers ultimately don’t want to adopt new tech that doesn’t come in a complete package. The same was also said of 4K—Nintendo doesn’t see consumers hop on that train as readily as they could be. Thus, since it’s not as widely-adopted as other tech, Nintendo doesn’t see a reason to go ahead and invest in that direction.
It’s not a particular loss for Nintendo to make these decisions, as the company has found success with its current business strategy that's focused on the Switch, handheld experiences on the Nintendo 3DS, 2DS and 2DS XL, and mobile gaming. Nintendo just isn’t interested in doing the same thing that everyone else is, and it shows.
"If we do the same thing as everyone else, we're sure to die, since we are smaller than they are," Lavoué elaborated. "With the Switch, we have the benefit of allowing for different uses adapted to the lives of our users." It seems to be working out well for them.
So while it would be cool indeed to see your favorite Nintendo franchises in virtual reality or presented in super high-definition 4K visuals, it’s not going to happen anytime soon.
