Hideo Kojima Shares His Thoughts on Nintendo Switch

The creator of Metal Gear and the upcoming Death Stranding compares Nintendo's new console to "Transfarring."

[Thunder_G0d_Bane]

Kojima dropping the real talk. The Switch is a gamer's dream. And its so true thats why I'm getting it day one.

People like to b1tch bout nonsense stuff. Underpowered... But the Ps4/Xbox One are also Underpowered they cant run most games at 60fps. This is 2017 and those consoles are still struggling. My PC plays all third party games 1080p 60fps+ and has done for many many years now.

[Wotbot]

I couldn't agree more and have stated it many times in this site.

The Switch for me is the very essence of what console gaming is all about.

[Wallstreet37]

The ""essence" of console gaming lol. My god some of you i tell you lol

All these devs are just playing good politics. No matter what system its about dont read too much into it.

[MVGeneral]

Lmao "essence of console gaming" oh man...that was a good one.
The Nintendo defence force at it again.

It's underpowered compared to the ps4 and Xboxone that's been out for a while now. And way more underpowered than the Scorpio and pro. And it costs more.

The switch is nothing but a gimmick. It's a fad like the wii and wiiu were. People jumped on wii because it was weak motion controls with games that made an illusion to make it seem like it was far more responsive than it was (you can literally play any game with a flick of a wrist no need to get up for and actually do tennis motions or etc.)
This is nothing like introducing motion controls or 3d (for 3ds [also price point helped wii and 3ds sell well]) it's gonna fail worse than the wiiu. Only the guys that bought wiiu will buy this. Then it will slowly die. No serious gamers are looking to buy this. It's not a justifiable purchase when xbone and ps4 have better value for better price packed in with games on its launch. It's competition are far more superior and cheaper. It's gonna die a slow and painful death.

[Mikerob2007]

Ha yeah you enjoy your street fighter 2 and other crap. I'll enjoy you crying in 6 month when you realise that you just wasted money on a stupid gimmick

[NecoTehSergal]

It's a shame people like you didn't buy the PS Vita then.

Cause Sony thought it'd be the very essence of Portable Gaming, and found out they were wrong.

But apparently when Nintendo does it, they're fucking Gods and complete utter fucking geniuses who must have their balls stroked for ever having thought of such an ORIGINAL IDEA.

Nintendo fanboys are mentally ill.

[Wotbot]

So many people on this site have such hate and they really miss the point, very sad.

Consoles are not all about power, the Switch is so much more, it looks to bring back local multiplayer gaming which for me is the best part of social gaming.

[objdadon]

Let's see if this man puts his games on this underpowered console lol. People always say the right things but do and cater to the other.

[Stapleface]

If he has a contract with Playstation to make exclusives for them he won't make games for anyone else. He isn't going to break his contract.

[jmc8888]

The question then is... why didn't he sign a contract with Nintendo instead?

The 'dream' for some (and not most) is that you have a device that can play all the games home or on the go, at the same/near fidelity as a console, at the same cost.

Well Switch is nowhere near that.

You see it's important to realize most couldn't care less about portability. They don't want to sacrifice for things they don't want. Nor do they want to pay MORE for things they don't want.

They want to play the games they are accustomed to, and on a new console, at a higher fidelity/framerate/resolution. Switch doesn't do that. It's still stuck in between a generation that started in 2005 and one that started in 2013. People don't want 2007-2008 power being launched in 2017 for $299 and won't get most games.

Kojima is looking at the future, and appreciates a step in the next direction. But that doesn't mean the Switch appeals to anything more then a niche in the West. It should appeal more in Japan, so there's that to realize as well.

[RosweeSon]

Well no he probably won't put his games on it because his games push the hardware as much as they possibly can, guess that's why he hangs around Playstation maybe Scorpio can get him on board, He's a smart man tho that's for Sure.

[corroios]

Dude, The PS4 and Xbox were launched almost 4 years ago!!! What is sad are gamers that buy stuff because of the name. Nintendo is ripping off gamers on everything.

From the price of the console, to games, acessories, online and so on.

The Switch is a 720p portable on 2017 that maybe can be played two hours without being docked, except on games like tetris.

Finally, gamers dream. Lol. The switch wont push games forward on any level, something with maybe one teraflop cant go where other have gone. All 3rd party games will have huge downgrades and lets see in year if 3rd party studios just switch off...

By the way, Zelda should be out on Wii U in 2016, but they delay the game for the switch. Without that game, launch would be total crap.

[The 10th Rider]

Battery life is comparable to gaming laptops or tablets under heavy load, find a reasonable similar priced device that gets similar battery life while playing a game like Breath of the Wild (Hint: you can't).

The console is very fairly priced for what it offers. Just compare the size to the ps4 or Xbox one and it's very clear you're not going to get the same power for the same price. The launch lineup is a bit thin, and that's why I won't buy it at launch, but the first year is looking good.

[Nintentional]

You moron... games are not measure by the hardware they're released on. Just take Kojima who made MGS Peace walker for the PSP, a sytem far weaker than the PS3, yet Peace Walker innovatived and had far more content than MGS4 on the PS3.

[gedden7]

In what way xb1 and ps4 pushed gaming forward??? They can't even do 1080/60 BUY A PC IF YOU WANT GAMING TO BE PUSHED FORWARD... Lol hypocrites.

[Zikax]

finalfantasy 15 should be on ps3
last guardian should be on ps3....

so just shut up and enjoy the games ond ps4

[joab777]

I wonder if he's gonna bring Death Stranding to it! Oh wait, even if he could it wouldn't be possible!

The key to this article apart from his glowing rhetoric, is that soon streaming and cloud based gaming will make it possible to play anything anywhere. We already can stream PC games to handhelds. I play all my PS4 games on my phone.

I think Nintendo NEEDS to focus more on tech if they are gonna be part of the future. Either that or make software.

[The_Hooligan]

How do you play ps4 games on your phone? I want to know. Sometimes I get so bored at work. Wouldn't mind playing some horizon when it releases.

[Liqu1d]

@The_Hooligan Remote play.

[DarXyde]

I won't be buying one at launch, but I hope to do so when Mario Odyssey releases.

I do agree that everything is underpowered, but I expect it from Nintendo. Something we often forget is that the Switch's power is more or less a compromise for the other technology it features. I don't mind their approach and actually love that it's a very different device from Playstation and Xbox. The way I see it, it's underpowered for a console but admirably powered for a handheld. Yeah, I'm sure people will talk about how smartphones are already as powerful, but purchasing a Nintendo console isn't about the power for me. I buy them because I enjoy their software offering which is usually so different from the other guys'. It's why I'm pretty much a Sony/Nintendo guy.

I don't think Kojima is wrong, but I'll hope we're at least 2 generations away from a cloud gaming Era.

[Realms]

Wouldn't they have been better served making a bad ass portable instead of this half baked console and half baked portable. I want Nintendo to be competitive but they always disappoint, If I could play every third party on the go I would be on board but that's not what the switch is.

[DarXyde]

Realms,

I disagree. Nintendo has two things going for them with Switch that I would consider huge advantages: exclusives and portability. Gone are the days of waiting for an exclusive to hit a handheld years after the fact. How many generations did we wait to play Metal Gear or Ocarina of Time on the go? We had to wait until the handheld devices were powerful enough to handle console games. No more. I think the fact that it has exclusives on the go makes it a very appealing offer.

[King_Lothric]

Talking is very easy. Let's return to this talk after 1 year and check on reality. If you were wrong, I assume you are going to eat your words and accept it right? Be ready for it.

[LexHazard79]

Funny I haven't had any good dreams about the Switch. Just nightmares of how expensive its going to be with add ons/paid sub/sd card/games...oh and don't forget to pay your phone bill for match making, Lol...

[Kornholic]

A gamer's dream is an under powered console with no games? Sign me up!

[jznrpg]

I want the switch, but its more handheld than console to me which is fine, but PS will be my main console and Switch will be played in bed just like my Vita , after the kids are asleep.

[objdadon]

That's the exact way i will use it.

[subtenko]

its a dream for its 'gimmick/conccept' doesnt mean its the best, infact this is what the wii should have been but since nintendo is lagging behind ya know.....

Now imagine the switch with allt he great ps4 attributes and at least ps vita battery life.... DAY 1!!!!!!!

[XStation4pio_Pro]

any console in the last 10 years can run something at 1080p/60 (even the ps3, x360). its how much resolution the assets, geometry, textures, render effects, particles, lighting, number of objects, complexity of animation, antialiasing and everything else you throw at it is what makes it difficult. even the apple tv can play 1080p games - but look at the graphics/complexity/amount of stuff/effects and you'll see a difference. You'll never see super realistic physics, hair simulation or big particle effects on the Switch. Also shadow maps will always be super low rez, no HDR lighting (or output) etc. You'll barely have realtime reflections. open world games will have less draw distance, more pop in textures and slower world quadrant switchover thanks to less gpu power and less/slower ram/cpu

also - what are the ps4/xb1 underpowered compared to? pc? sure. a pc can be more powerful than any console, but a pc is not a console and the ps4/xb1 are the most powerful consoles on the market so your point doesn't make any sense. furthermore, with the ps4 pro out and scorpio coming, the power disparity will be so great that the switch will simply not be able to compete - both from developer support to graphics support. No dev will want to spend a year porting a game down to a substantially less version with a questionable install base. its just too risky and not cost effective.

We're pushing to the 4k world now and the switch is just trying to get to a stripped down 1080p. the switch is actually closer in power to a ps3 than a gen 8 console (fun fact the wii was an overclocked gamecube). sorry. I'm sure its neat nintendo is great at repurposing their IP into new things but your argument seems to be missing the point. ms/sony are working to bring bigger, more realistic, games with more capability and immersion. nintendo is just trying to make party games at this point.

[gedden7]

A lot of blind hate here... 98 dislikes of fanboys who THINK hey want power but can't afford it on PC... Thunder just quoted Kojima and stated a FACT. Get over it. The Switch brings something REAL not a gimmick this time and fanboys are mad. Lol Stop being a fanboy and enjoy ALL games.

[objdadon]

Yup "it brings something real" i can't wait to milk a cow......smdh

[gedden7]

@Wallstreet37 oh is that right??? So these 3rd party devs are just play nice so that fake? But when they say something negative they state the truth? Lol sure. Nintendo stated that ANY game base on PC can be ported over to the Switch in about ONE year... Lol Switch sucks so much.

[pgerv12]

I liked his comments about cloud computing as well. The infrastructure is just not there currently so having the Switch be a hybrid of a console and a mobile device is a great idea I think--minus some high end specs but if you're mobile gaming then you're OK with making that trade off.

[freshslicepizza]

you just have to access the cloud through your smartphone

[WhoCaresWhatMyNameIs]

It's the evolution of gaming. Microsoft and Sony will follow suit in some form or fashion. A lot of conservative gamers on here bashed this console because it's underpowered. The tradeoff is portability. I'll take that over power anyday. If enough support follows it, developers will support it. They'll go where the money is.

[superchiller]

Developers aren't going to spend a lot of time and money watering down their games (which are being designed for much more powerful consoles) to make them compatible with the Switch. I'm a big fan of handhelds, but let's be honest, this one will be completely unable to compete with the PS4 and XB1, both of which are twice as powerful (or more) than the Switch. And when you factor in the PS4 Pro and Scorpio, the power difference becomes even more pronounced.

[jmc8888]

If Digital foundry is right, it's at less then 400 GFlops of raw, easily accessible power when docked, and near 150 when undocked.

When you look at PS4 Pro at 4200 GFlops for $399, it's near Switch's price in some countries all alone. When you think that many people will want some pretty much essential accessories like a pro controller and memory card, you have Switch costing as much as PS4 Pro in the USA.

So people can have portability, no game, microSD card, and pro controller.... or buy a PS4 Pro.

That's what portability costs. From PS4 Pro all the way down to Switch.

People also forget there are 'tricks' to ALL platforms to squeeze a bit more if developers WANT to use it. They generally don't much, because it takes more time and $$$. They want easy access to power. Sometimes they are forced to a bit late in the cycle as they wait for the next machine.

If they barely go the extra mile for PS4/XB1, then what makes anyone think they are going to for Switch? Also that inherently means that Switch doesn't 'catch up' a bit because of these tricks. Because Sony and Microsoft's console have their own.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

western developers only sees power and dollar sign after releasing games

japanese developers want fans to have fun before seeing the dollar sign

[WeAreLegion]

Sony already followed that years ago.

[pcz]

where are you going to take it? the park? the train? to the pub?

i dont see how portability would be of any use beside playing it in bed or while somebody else is using the tv. so the portability is just a novelty.

as for the social aspect, if you have a partner, why would you be playing switch in bed? thats going to annoy them. why would you take the switch in public if you are with other people, its like meeting somebody just to use your phone the whole time- rude. and no, i just dont see people meeting up to play switch socially, not outside of a fictional world created in a nintendo advert.

the portability is just a gimmick.

[Psytrix]

I like where you're going with portability - being seen with one while out in public would be like proclaiming to the world that you're a virgin.

[jmc8888]

See this is the point. YOU'LL take portability.

80-90 percent of gamers will take power, lower cost, and access to AAA 3rd party games and the overall much larger library. Not to mention a packed in controller and a 500 GB hard drive. Even a packed in game (like $249 for PS4 with CoD this month at Target).

I get it. YOU'LL like Switch. Great.

Most others are saying... they won't, because of its compromises.

Nintendo should set expectations accordingly, as should people buying it. You are in the vast minority, because of the design decisions. Your favorite thing about Switch, is the biggest problem about it for almost everyone else.

[_-EDMIX-_]

100% agreed but Nintendo should have never even been marketing this towards Home console gamers in the first place.

[Wallstreet37]

Microsoft and Nintendo are already talking, analyzing and following suit in regards to true vr that Sony has competently managed to do for the first time on consoles. And please save the "virtual boy" nonsense as palmer and everyone agrees that was not vr in any capacity but only in name.

By the way im sure youve heard this before but just choose to ignore it. Console to portable and vice versa isnt a new concept anyone needs to follow suit on. Psp go had tv out and dock for portable games to be played on big screen. Vita itself does remote play and even without that already offered console gaming on the go with console like games such as killzone mercenary, battle star all stars, which was same game on vita and ps3 and others.

Lets stop giving credit where it isnt due. This isnt a new innovation or concept just a refinement of others using Nintendos vision :) No one will follow suit as they have already done this in the past and present.

"Conservative gamers" are bashing it lol No "smart gamers" who have had a history with Nintendo and already got burnt by Wiiu with all this same talk happening with Wiiu. Alot of promises and big talk and of course skepticism and guess what? Those skeptics were right. The conservative ones here arent the gamers but Nintendo. Close minded, traditional bs, trying to pass of underpowered hardware for premium price like they did with Wiiu with the catch that its doing something special when its not. Hiding gpu/cpu specs so masses dont know its just a wiiu 2.0

[_-EDMIX-_]

@flee- except the Gameboy player was an adapter to a console it did not actually let you play the handheld on the television it actually let you play the software on the television using the actual ports of the console.

The PSP literally let you use your handheld and connect a cord to the television....

The previous game boy players who had to own a Super Nintendo and a GameCube along with the adapter.

In fact that is much more similar to the PlayStation TV that lets you play Playstation Vita games on the TV...

That is not actually the same thing as the PSP cradle or its cords that allow to run on the television.

Because the thing you're talking about you don't actually need a Gameboy to actually use.

Soooo yea.

The PSP cradle literally is exactly 100% the same function as the dock you're seeing from the switch.

The concept is 1.1 it's exactly the same.

[Wallstreet37]

Fleece....

Nice revisionist history lol foh the original gameboy did not attach to a tv nor could you play games on the big screen until further revisions and accessories later on :) Nintendo neither created handhelds, nor were they the first to connect handhelds to tv's turboexpress was first handheld to connect to tv :)

If your talking about gameboy player in regards to playing game boy games or gameboy advance lol those came out years after turboexpress and game boy itself. Sorry bud Nintendo didnt think of that concept. Alot of you fanatics change history and think Nintendo created all these things they just copued off others ;)

Not only that but turboexpress was literally a handheld turbografx 16 :) it did everything your claiming first.

Hi my name is kenny.

[Wallstreet37]

seanmalstrom.wordpress.com

I love schooling some of you with this blind fanboy faith lol

[_-EDMIX-_]

"A lot of conservative gamers on here bashed this console because it's underpowered. The tradeoff is portability"

???

So basically you're saying the same Gamers that don't play handhelds because their underpowered are the same Gamers but don't want to play handhelds because they're underpowered?

Did you seriously think Nintendo calling it a Home console was going to appeal to console Gamers despite all the same limitations existing as a damn handheld?

Just because the platform is playing last generation games as a handheld doesn't actually mean you're going to get attention by current generation gamers.

Did the PSP not play previous generation games when it released in 2004? When the PSP released it's games we're in the ballpark of PlayStation 2 and Playstation 1 in fact the PlayStation Portable off of PlayStation Network could play every major PlayStation 1 game.

Sooooo your argument about the switch is 100% identical to that of all handhelds versus dedicated consoles

So you might as well copy and paste 3DS and Playstation Vita into your argument...

If you're saying you're going to take portability over power You're simply saying you're going to continue to play handhelds and dedicated console Gamers will continue to play dedicated consoles.......

And?

This isn't really new bud.

All you did was let us know indeed that regardless of Nintendo's asinine marketing that this is still actually a portable and still has all the limitations of a portable there's no more reason to purchase the Nintendo switch based on "portability" then really any other handheld.

Otaku- marked your racist statements as inappropriate and I have no clue what you're talking about because I'm pretty positive I didn't see Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy XIV, Resident Evil 7 or Kingdom Hearts 3 being announced for the switch..

The same reason why Western Publishers are not bringing their Triple A current generation games over to the switch is actually the same reason why Japanese developers are not bringing their Triple A current generation titles over to the switch.

So when did you see a major Resident Evil release for a Nintendo handheld? When was there a major Metal Gear Solid that has ever released for a intendo handheld? When is you ever seen a major Final Fantasy ever released for a Nintendo handheld?

Those companies have never actually released their current generation Triple A titles on a handheld ever before!!!!

So I'm not entirely sure why you're as naive as to believe that this time will be different despite them making it pretty damn clear.

Capcom even went as far as the sternly and very clearly say they don't even have plans to bring a Resident Evil game until the switch lol

Sure bud

But I bet you're the one that's still waiting in front of GameStop for the release of Resident Evil 2002 - remaster for the Wii U right? Lol

[Featuring_Dante]

Interesting talk regarding cloud computing, but personally, i think we'll never get where gaming can be played on cloud computation, because as the cloud computation technology improves, so does gaming. Both technologies are moving in parallel lines.

[Einhander1971]

Totally agree Wotbot that's exactly how I feel about switch and Nintendo in general. I've said it
Before but the wii u has the same effect when I play 3D Mario world , Donkey Kong tropical freeze.
But it's such an underrated system hope Switch is a real success day one for me.

[SonyWarrior]

whats up with his glasses right side looks broken and looks like it has the wrong size lens in it...

[aaronaton]

If they would of made a Gamecube 2, then i think there would be a lot more excitement.

[sullynathan]

Kojima is a hack

[Moonman]

What?? Kojima is extremely talented.

[sullynathan]

You serious?

[Automatic79]

Switch is and will be a fun console. All three consoles are fantastic, go with the console that caters to you. If you believe in your console and love the games that's what truly matters.

[PizzaSteve]

A gamers dream? Not once have I dreamed of a console like Switch. To each their own but I still prefer the traditional way of console gaming.

[CrimsonPheonix]

So you've never been at work or school or on a train and thought it would be awesome to have your system with you.

[Amongunz]

The Sony people are still down voting anything positive about the switch even when their god speaks.. 😂😂😂 the fan boy ism on this site is incredible.

[Thunder_G0d_Bane]

Loool it's hilarious I swear. This site should be renamed to PSN4G

[X-23]

Yep, totally agree. People who don't see value in what Nintendo is doing and what doors they are opening for the industry, but still call themselves "Gamers" are just diluted. Not wanting a Switch is just fine, but not being able to see how innovative it is and what it could mean for console gaming is something else entirely.

[Mungamingzone]

We need another boktai 😍

[nevin1]

HD Rumble would of been perfect with the MGS games.

[Featuring_Dante]

with Johnny's bowel noises.

[feraldrgn]

I don't know if he understands that the tablet is the console, it doesn't read that way as he talks about the Switch being a predecessor to the Cloud, where "you'll be able to play everything, on every device, anywhere.".

[Enigma_2099]

It's more powerful than an NES. Graphics wise, that's all I ask for. Now let's talk about what maters... the games.

[NextGenCeo]

Video Game means not a 60-120FPS or 1080P-4K!
Video game means fun, scenario, gameplay, music's. I don't look the graphics why people playing retro games still? Why? Because most retro games has more fun than 2016-17 AAA games!

Why you guys not opening your minds and understand the simple logic in here. If it is not funny or not good gameplay there i don't give my money to that game. I don't pay! Even the game have most beautiful graphics on the world doesn't matter i don't buy it.

Stop saying 'My old PC running games 4K' Yes your PC doesn't have Zelda, doesn't have Mario, doesn't have Pikmin, doesn't have God Of War, doesn't have Last Of Us 2, doesn't have Uncharted............. List is too big but some brains for understanding that too small!
(ESL guy here)

[bamillington]

shame your narrow mindedness is gonna miss out on something special. stay with you hypestations and snoreboxes...(wind the bobbin up.) ive been gaming for along time. i have both by the way. there ok but miss that nintendo sause....

[Ausbo]

I wish Nintendo would give me a console with a normal controller and normal 3rd party support. It's really not much to ask. They have the best first party studios. What is wrong with you Nintendo

[Kosic]

He didn't really say much about the console, he seemed to be more impressed with the concept. Stating it's the founding steps to what could be great.

[rjason12]

Man, the same people in these comments bashing the Switch, just like every other article. Do you guys not have jobs or anything?

[KuroKiko]

Nintendo will sell a shit with their logo and their fans will tell you its the best thing so far even though its underpowered, especially when its a special edition.