What developer acquisitions should Nintendo consider?

Nintendo probably won't get involved with acquisitions to compete with Microsoft or Sony. But, if it did, which companies would it buy?

[-Hermit-]

Hopefully none. I would hate any studio to be stuck making games for Nintendo hardware. Not just because their hardware is weak, but because I would hate games being exclusive to their consoles. I would never play a game made by these studios ever again.

[Neonridr]

the tears from this post are almost laughable.

[ABizzel1]

While his comment is fanboyish, I do understand one of his points and that's if Nintendo happens to obtain a developer or publisher that has worked across "higher end platforms" and are now forced to work on lower-end hardware. That would be an issue for a lot of talent, it's fun to do a single project within a limited scope, but when you're forced for every project to follow that limited scope the fun quickly become misery.

Seeing someone like a Capcom or Square for example being stuck on Nintendo with things like Resident Evil or Final Fantasy after seeing where they're at on SX and PS5 would be a downgrade technologically in every way outside of the gimmick / key feature Nintendo's next platform has.

If there's a publisher war in Japan, the only one that I think makes sense for Nintendo is Sega, as both companies fit within the same realm of content creation. Like Nintendo Sega has a mascot (Sonic), both typically focusing on artstyle over high-end graphics, Sega has several RPGs an area that Nintendo often partners with, and Sega can provide Nintendo with a franchise they can use as a graphics realism benchmark in Yakuza to push their hardware. PS fans would be upset losing Atlus and Persona, but would you rather have Atlus or Capcom / Namco Bandi / From Software / etc...

[Neonridr]

@ABizzel1 - the double standards are ridiculous though. I guarantee the same person wouldn't care if Sony or MS bought them. But it's unacceptable for Nintendo to do so.

That was my reason for laughing at the post. Sure, Nintendo hasn't pushed the envelope since the N64 in terms of raw specs. That doesn't mean we may never see that again.

I don't think Nintendo has any plans of purchasing a large company anyways. They are better off targeting smaller studios like Next Level Games (Luigi's Mansion), MercurySteam (Metroid Dread) or Shin'en (Fast Racing Series) and adding them to the team to ensure more high quality content is in the works.

[-Hermit-]

@Neonridr

What tears? I don't buy Nintendo consoles, or any console anymore, so from my own perspective, what benefit would I get from any of these studios being bought by Nintendo?

@ABizzel1

It's not fanboyish at all. If anything, it's the fanboys that would want Nintendo to buy out a studio like Sega, Capcom or Square Enix. How does it benefit any of us to see big multiplatform studios like this become exclusive to one companies hardware?

@Neonridr

"the double standards are ridiculous though. I guarantee the same person wouldn't care if Sony or MS bought them. But it's unacceptable for Nintendo to do so."

I would be against Sony or Microsoft buying any of these studios too. I would rather they stay as they were. If it were to happen though, Nintendo would be by far the worst because there would be no chance to play these games on anything but Nintendo's hardware.

[Neonridr]

@Hermit - I didn't realize you speak on behalf of all gamers as to who benefits from what. I have a gaming PC, a PS5 and a Switch. I don't limit my opportunities. I don't agree with anyone buying studios, gamers as a whole should be able to enjoy stuff wherever they play. Nintendo's strategy isn't the same as Sony and MS though, so I would never see them buying up anything minus some smaller developers who have a history of working closely with Nintendo.

[-Hermit-]

I didn't speak on behalf of anybody, I asked how it would benefit anybody to have any game made from the likes of Capcom or Sega be exclusive to Nintendo hardware. I'm asking, not speaking on behalf of.

"I have a gaming PC, a PS5 and a Switch. I don't limit my opportunities."

What you see as more opportunities isn't the same for everybody else. From my own perspective, this kind of deal would have the opposite effect on me. It wouldn't open up more opportunities for me, it would limit them. It would limit them because I would be locked into a system I personally don't get much enjoyment out of. It would take away from what I consider to be a much better gaming experience.

[Neonridr]

@Hermit - yeah I got it from your very first post that you don't play Nintendo hardware, specifically the Switch. upwards of 100 million people do however.

I understand your points and I agree with them. I just found it a little funny when it's like "Not Nintendo, anyone but them", like they don't deserve to buy anyone.

[Elda]

Hermit & ABizzel make good points. Why would a studio that has a history of developing games with high-end graphics & resolution be stuck on one platform that would basically have to develop games on low-end hardware. If Nintendo were to make acquisitions hopefully it's developers that Nintendo has had a good history with far as developers that have made exclusives for their platform.

[Godmars290]

So great they're begging MS to finish their dragon game if not buy them outright?

[Atom666]

Wouldn't be too concerned. Nintendo is very selective on acquisitions. If they do add anyone, chances are high that they only make Nintendo and/or mobile content as it is.

[S2Killinit]

@Hermit
Did you feel the same way when others did it?

[gold_drake]

yea exclusivity sucks. especially when 3rd party devs do it.

[porkChop]

Camelot. They basically only make games with Nintendo these days, so they clearly have a great relationship. Nintendo should buy them, and get them working on a new Golden Sun for their next gen system.

[H9]

The acquisition that makes sense the most in the world, yet I can't see it happen anytime soon

[Michiel1989]

I would go crazy if they announce either a remake of golden sun 1&2 or a sequel or at least something in the world of Golden Sun. Golden Sun is still in my top 5 games of all time, i have such good memories of it. The Djinn system really gave you a good way to play around with characters, change their builds or go for an all out summon strat (which kinda broke the game ngl, but it was fun regardless). The little puzzles in the world were also done pretty well, although some of them really required a lot of backtracking. Now give me Isaac in HD ;)

[gold_drake]

ahhh, shining force.
its soo good.

[_Decadent_Descent]

The pre-2k ones of course.

[RaidenBlack]

Madmind Studio

[Germaximus]

nm. just stupid

[Godmars290]

Not PlatinumGames. Not that I see MS as a better choice for them.

[Eonjay]

Honestly, I think MS is the worst choice. MS probably has the smallest PG fanbase. No one seems server by a PG purchase except for PG. PG is honestly one of the studios I don't think anyone should purchase. Also most of their Popular IP is owned by someone else.

[gold_drake]

quite honestly, your are absolutely right. the games PG makes are more japenese style influenced than western.

most the xbox fanbase are not fans of such a thing

[refocusedman]

lol nintendo has no plans on acquiring a developer, they don't even have a competent online multiplayer network. they have no intention of following the leader.

[iplay1up2]

Although true, online multiplayer isn't great, it is a blast playing local multiplayer. Having your friends all hanging out with their Switch consoles playing MK8 or Splatoon is a blast. It brings people together. No voice chat needed.

Don't get me wrong I mostly agree with you.

[Teflon02]

Haven't met a person who isn't using Xbox PS or Discord to chat while playing Switch online with friends. Chat is literally one of the best parts of playing with people you know. Mario Kart or Party without chat is just not the same

[KeyAppearance]

Nintendo is like the last company we should hope would acquire someone. They barely discount their games, and will lock it to Switch. Then quite a few years down the line make it super hard to play any of it.

[Automatic79]

Platinum Games would be a good fit. These games come to mind - Bayonetta, The Wonderful 101, Astral Chain. Nintendo is in much need of a development studio who would make more mature titles. I see this development studio as a perfect fit. Does anybody remember Anarchy Reigns. Vanquish, Mad World, Transformers Devastation and Nier Automata. All made for different publishing studios but I can see the potential along with, Nintendo DNA in game creation for a solid portfolio of games for Nintendo systems. Nintendo now is the time.

[Sirk7x]

Bayonetta is tricky because Sega owns the IP. Nintendo just has publishing rights because they've funded the last two games. Platinum have been (mostly) solid developers, but they're kinda like, the whores of the gaming industry. I don't think they own hardly, or any, of the IP of any of the games they've made. I can't see anyone really benefiting too much from purchasing them, unless Nintendo does it to basically bring in extra manpower to spread across their own projects, like they do with Monolith Soft. Honestly though, Monolith are far better programmers.

[DefaultComment]

- Platinum Games would be a nice fit for them
- Wayfoward is also a nice choice

......an aggresive aquisition that might not happen but still can be possible is Sega or Capcom.

[TheColbertinator]

Camelot or Level 5 for starters

[Teflon02]

Camelot, but hell no to level 5. Level 5's best games imo are all PS exclusives Dark Cloud 1&2, Rouge Galaxy, White Knight 1&2, Ni no Kuni 1&2. Not a fan of any of their Nintendo titles, though I respected Yokai watch, though I thought the games were mehh. I'm still praying for Dark Cloud 3 one day. That's literally not happening if Nintendo got them lol.

[RedDevils]

Nintendo should stay far away from Level 5. I don't want my favorite RPG maker to be exclusively to Nintendo, and I want my Dark Cloud 3 as well lol

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

The Fall Guys studio is solid…. And Nintendo hasn’t really succeeded at online multiplayer like that have.

[Teflon02]

Think Epic bought them, I would assume they'd want to go with Sony with how they've been avoiding bringing fall guys to other platforms still lol.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

True

[oldenjon]

Nintendo doesn’t really need to IMO. Their biggest sellers are already made in house or by studios that already mostly develop for Nintendo, or a Japanese demographic where Nintendo is basically unopposed.

[roadkillers]

Sega

[Lionsguard]

Out of all companies I don't ever want to see doing Microsoft style acquisitions, it's Nintendo.

[agnosticgamer]

I don’t think Nintendo cares to expand. They really don’t rely on any 3rd party support. They really push Mario, Pokémon, Zelda, Metroid, etc… and it works for them.

[hotnickles]

That’s difficult because anyone they acquire will ultimately be making Nintendo IP. I can be happy with the activision deal because it frees their IP. I can be happy with the bungie deal because they are remaining independent. Anyone Nintendo acquires will be making Mario spin-offs.

[ALMGNOON]

None, realistically speaking Nintendo is still stuck in the past and them acquiring a studio would old hinder the creativity of that studio.

[nickanasty206]

They don't need to acquire anybody, Nintendo just sells itself.

[FallenAngel1984]

Nintendo would sooner buy one of their longtime second party devs like Camelot, Cygames, DeNA, Good Feel, Genius Sonority, Grezzo, Hal Labs, Intelligent Systems, or Sora than any other out there predictions.

Nintendo especially wouldn’t be buying any other publishers.

[Sano24]

Sega!

[MissAubrey]

um how about none.. honestly Nintendo doesnt respect thier fans or IPs so why lock away more IPs just so they can stay dormant..

[gold_drake]

mh, quite honestly, if nintendo never buys out devs, they'd be fine regardless.
mario, smash, pokemon, zelda and mario kart are system sellers and have insane sales numbers.

so i think they'd be fine regardless.

[hiawa23]

None. Nintendo is Nintendo. They are not Sony or MS and doesn't need any studios as far as I am concerned, except the ones that churn out the Marios, Zelda, Donkey Kongs and others every generation. Nintendo, can we please get a Switch version of Punch-out from the Wii and or Wiiu version in the Switch store?

[Terry_B]

...some of the best Nintendo-Series games were not even made by Nintendo lol.