Nintendo NX hype is strong in the midst of TGS, so why not offer some analysis on this buzzworthy console? While all of these mistakes probably won’t be made at once, here are five pitfalls that could hurt the release of this system from price to games.
1) A Price Point Above $400: This feature was roughly inspired by the recent comments of Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter. Speaking to GamingBolt, he said that the NX would be “dead in the water” if it’s priced at $400. As much as gamers love to point out the many times Pachter’s predictions have been wrong, he’s not totally off base here. High pricing could easily sink this, or any, console.
Where we disagree, however, is in the cost assessment. To us, it seems feasible that the NX could cost $400 as long as Nintendo is able to communicate the value of the hardware. Assuming we’re talking about a console-portable hybrid, there are lots of luxuries associated with that seamlessness that some consumers may be willing to pay for. It also doesn’t hurt that Sony’s new PlayStation 4 Pro costs $400. Given its horsepower, the Xbox One Scorpio could be even more expensive than that. Nintendo is conveniently launching the NX at a time when hardware prices are high.
That being said, anything north of $400 might spell trouble. Right now $400 seems to be the magic threshold that gamers are willing to accept.
2) A Lack Of Third-Party Games: Whether Nintendo fans want to admit it or not, the NX simply can’t survive solely on the back of first-party studios. In order to break up the lulls between major releases, companies like Activision, Ubisoft and EA need to produce a steady stream of viable software. Of those big three, Ubisoft is the only one to seem remotely committal. Activision has said nothing, and EA is content to evaluate opportunities that “make sense.”
Because the rumored specs and philosophy of the NX are markedly different from what’s happening on the PC-infused consoles like PS4 and Xbox One, it’s going to take some extra convincing to get third-parties on board. As was tragically proven by the Wii U, people apparently don’t buy Nintendo consoles just to play Nintendo games.
3) Cumbersome Features: Nintendo is famous for its wacky ideas, but not all of them are implemented in the best possible way. Despite the breakout success of the original Wii, that console was sort of a mess to use. There were a million different controller attachments and peripherals from Nunchuks, to Motion Plus attachments and Pro Controllers. That clutter didn’t necessarily go away with the Wii U either.
If the NX truly has a handheld component, that mistake can’t be made again. This console has to be easy to pick up and pack on a moment’s notice. Rumors cite the possibility of detachable NX controllers, and we hope that doesn’t mean Nintendo will go crazy with different button pads for multiple games. Just keep things simple and clean, or folks may be feel too overwhelmed to bother.
4) Bad Battery Life: Also related to the NX’s rumored handheld features is the system’s battery life. Given the device’s rumored Tegra specs, the power of this product is somewhat close to Microsoft’s Xbox One. That’s great for people that want spec improvements, but it could have a nasty impact on battery life. The more complex a device is, the more juice it drains.
Marketing the NX as a take-anywhere console is a strong message, but its effectiveness dramatically weakens if owners can only enjoy games for a couple of mobile hours at a time. If it has to be tethered frequently, the NX could quickly become yet another generically underpowered Nintendo machine in the minds of gamers. That mindset won’t sell units on release day.
5) A Delay: If there’s one thing that’s frustrating gamers this generation, it’s the increased number of delays. On the software end, postponed launches for anticipated titles like No Man’s Sky and Final Fantasy XV prompted concern and even death threats from prospective buyers.
As Nintendo continues to remain silent about the NX, speculation is growing that the system may not be able to reach its expected March 2017 release window. If that happens, there will be backlash. Any sort of backlash potentially puts the NX at a disadvantage before it even reaches market. All delays can be overcome if the finished product delivers, but a late launch still wouldn’t start this console off on the right foot in the short term.
What do you think of this list? Could a high price and lack of third-party games sink the NX? Tell us in the comments section!
