230°

Nintendo shake up could mean the end of Nintendo hardware as we know it

Nintendo has announced that it is merging the R&D departments for its handheld and home console hardware divisions. A dry news story on the surface has dramatic between-the-lines ramifications for the company.

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Godchild10204111d ago (Edited 4111d ago )

They are doing this to speed up hardware development. From the alternative article.

"The hope is that by merging these two divisions, the company will also be able to speed up its hardware development cycle to better compete with tablets and smartphones."

It looks like we will be seeing Next Gen Hardware from Nintendo more often. They don't plan on leaving the console race and I'm happy they don't plan to leave either.

EddieNX 4111d ago

Are people litteraly interpreting this as Negative ? It's merely a bit of restructuring in order to speed up development of Hardware like you say....

There will be a Nintendo Home console and a Nintendo Handheld once more in the 9th gen...

Every single penny needs to be saved in order to Run a company that big , good on them.

Persistantthug4111d ago

for the 9th generation.
Also, I don't view that as a negative.

I'm envisioning a future handheld sometime in 2015 - 2018 with a video output.

Handhelds is what Nintendo does best, and powerwise, it better fits what they do (cartoony/art driven graphics).

Since some analysts are predicting the eventual demise of home consoles, if you believe this, then this would be putting Nintendo ahead of the eventual curve and trend and would save tons of money, considering console launches cost billions of dollars.

WiigotU4111d ago

@Persistntthug if anything it mens it's the opposite. I think there next handheld and home console will be completely compatible. That means a HD portable that doubles as a tablet come home and it streams a signal effortlesly to the wiiu type of home console.

MikeMyers4110d ago

I don't like the words used in the topic outline. It makes it seem like Nintendo won't be making any hardware. They are just merging divisions.

darthv724110d ago

sony might be the first but it could be nintendo that beats them to it.

meaning a system that serves to be both a console when hooked to a tv but also a portable when you take it with you.

sony had the right idea back with the psp go with being able to plug it into a tv and use regular controller or play it on the...go.

We are seeing more and more mobile devices (phones/tablets) that are merging the two ideas so for a dedicated game company like nintendo to 'possibly' be doing the same does not surprise me.

I just thought sony would do it first but then again....they could just do it better.

i know "better" is a subjective term.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4110d ago
mcstorm4111d ago

I agree and well said. I really like what Nintendo are doing at the moment. I was not a big fan of the DS or the Wii. I had them but I just felt compared to the SNES, N64, GameCube (With the Wii) and Gameboy, GBA (for the DS) they were just not as good as what Nintendo offered in the past. I now have a 3ds and WiiU and I am loving them. The WiiU shocked me at how good he console is and its well build and a joy to use to.

Its good to see the Big N making changes as this means we should get a better Big N from now on.

dedicatedtogamers4111d ago

Nintendo launched the 3DS, and then they launched the WiiU with the tablet controller. Nintendo has also been on the forefront of glasses-free 3D.

What does this mean?

I imagine that Nintendo will launch an "all in one" console in the future: a set-top console that plugs into your TV, a tablet controller with a 3D screen that works with the TV (which the WiiU already does) but ALSO can be taken on the go, perhaps even being able to temporarily download full console games into a cache of RAM.

user39158004111d ago

I doubt it, the main reason you combined divisions are for cutting cost and merging to develop a more directive supervision of outsources. I believe they are trying to get the handheld division to give positive inputs to the home console, cause the Wii-u its a disaster. Let me be clear before ppl start bashing me, the gamepad design sucks. it was created with a grown up in mind. I know cause a 5 year old cant hold that thing for 15 minutes before he drops it and the batteries drain in about 2 hours, depending on the game. To make matters worst, the consoles are just sitting in stores everywhere. With that said, I still enjoy it cause Im a gamer who dont care for design, all I want is to play games that are appealing and big N has plenty.

miyamoto4110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

my PSP 3000 is a handheld portable/home console thanks to component cables

but NVidia Project Shield not the PS Vita takes the concept to a whole new level

if ever Nintendo does make a proper handheld portable/home then that will be great for the gamer's & Nintendo's wallets

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4110d ago
camel_toad4111d ago

Ancient console enemies from a long time ago (Nintendo and Sega) should join forces and create a new console. The Dreamcube...

MiyagiSPG4110d ago

Or the Nintendo Drive :P

Needs to have Nintendo in the name to be a Nintendo console!

bozebo4111d ago (Edited 4111d ago )

Nintendo are like, the only game company who make their profit in hardware (they use their software IP's exclusivity to make people want to buy the hardware). So... no, they are increasing production not reducing it like the article suggests.

G20WLY4110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

In fact, every Wii U sold is a loss for Nintendo.

It's the impressive attach rate that generates profit for Nintendo, which - when combined with their ability to garner massive sales numbers from a few great games - is what makes it so viable.

With that said - and with my experience in multi-national corporate restructure - make no mistake that their goal, first and foremost, will be cost cutting as a result of job cuts (if they're smart, they'll do this through natural attrition, as it won't make the headlines that way), process-realignment and the like.

Meanwhile, we have to sit by and hope that a happy by-product is more joined up hardware output.

Cross your fingers, wait and see! :)

bozebo4110d ago

Job cuts doesn't really make sense for them, I think they make pretty much the highest profit per employee of any widely known company, they don't have a big workforce.

Wii-U production costs will drop enough for them to be making a profit well before the generation is over.

They aren't really running out of money, if they can ride out the losses till big titles start selling it should work out fine, but they'll probably be worse off than they were when the generation began.

G20WLY4110d ago

^I agree that production costs should drop and move the console into profit, but it's very difficult to predict how long that will take. I also agree that they're not in a great financial trouble and have every faith in them to come good.

However, I can't let your first paragraph go unanswered, simply as I'm close to this type of thing and your claim came across more hopeful (aren't we all?!) than factual.

Employees very often make up the largest cost factor for a company and so is usually the first targeted when cost reduction/restructure comes around.

Nintendo is not of particular note with regards to profit per employee; it doesn't even make the top 25 list. Interestingly, some companies (of note to our community) that perform very well (all top 5) are Google, Apple and Microsoft, all of which generates more than $250k per employee! Nintendo's equivalent statistic was better than it is now 4-5 years ago, in fairness.

*Source: MANDASOFT data.

jacksheen00004111d ago (Edited 4111d ago )

Guys,

Preparation is key in the gaming industry.

So, I think Nintendo want a contingency plans in place just in case the wii U doesn't work out.

If the wii U fails, I believe Nintendo will stop making the home TV console and make a handheld system one can use at home as well as on the go.

Though, merging the R&D departments together is just a temporary move in case things don't work out. And if it doesn't work out for Nintendo, they will at least be prepared and know what to do for next Gen.

Neonridr4111d ago

I love how everyone thinks that if one console that Nintendo produces fails, their company will go bankrupt. The handheld market is an area that Nintendo seems to know best, no doubt about that. But honestly, if the Wii U fails, we may just see a successor come earlier than expected. Nintendo has been around nearly twice as long as Microsoft and Sony, but people seem to think that Nintendo will be the first to exit the market. Sony has only produced 3 generations of home consoles, and Microsoft has produced 2. The Wii U marked the 6th home video game console for Nintendo, give these guys a little credit.

jacksheen00004110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

Hears the thing, I speak for everyone when I say, I m getting tried of Nintendo making underpowered game console. The gimmick thing is starting to get old. Nintendo is falling behind and it shows. So if they don't get their act together this Gen they will suffer the consequence. I love Nintendo and have long supported them in everything they do. But it annoys the hell of me when they use secrecy, tricks, gimmicks, and everything imaginable toward getting us all to invest our hard money in to a game console that does nothing more than play the same old 1st party game over and over again. Truth be told, I want Nintendo to succeed and don't want them to fail. The the stunt Nintendo pulled this year alone by hiding the specs of the wii U was uncalled for. It took a hacker's ambition to reveal to all the true power of the wii U.

Nuff said.

Neonridr4110d ago

All the hacker did was show the clock speed of the chips inside the system. And that means jack crap, because if we were so focused on clock speeds, then how come something that has apparently 1/3 the clock speed of the 360 still manage to put out games that are either on par or better (Trine 2, Rayman Origins) than what the 360 can do? Clock speeds mean jack crap, it's all about the architecture of the chips and how they are used. Are you saying a 3.0Ghz Pentium 4 is faster and better than a 2.0Ghz i5?

There was no secrecy with the Wii U, they showed you the main selling point of the system right from the get go. The controller is what makes up the Wii U system. It is what makes it great, and what gives it its potential. Sure, maybe we were hoping for a little bit more juice under the hood, but Sony has learned twice in the handheld market that having more power doesn't mean jack crap (PSP and Vita).

Show all comments (53)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1015d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref4d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde4d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19724d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville4d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21834d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos4d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref4d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan4d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19725d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref4d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde4d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19724d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier4d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto4d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto4d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Hofstaderman4d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic4d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel11d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8811d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing10d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS10d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder10d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218310d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.