Nintendo president talks about key requirements for Switch successor and says it should ‘create a new experience’

We’ve been told on numerous occasions that the Switch has just reached the middle of its life cycle thanks to an outstanding sales pace, so what will it take for the next generation Nintendo system to get the nod? Read more…

Speaking with Nikkei, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa once again explained how the successor to the Switch will have to offer “new forms of entertainment.” This is not surprising given Nintendo’s history and commitment to innovation.

Furukawa reiterated that Nintendo is “constantly researching” new technologies, and the decision to commercialize new hardware depends on whether the product can create a “new” experience.

“Hardware and software development teams are in the same building, communicating closely and thinking about how we can offer new forms of entertainment.

“In order to create a unified equipment, we have to prepare a lot for several years ahead, so we work non-stop. In the end, the deciding factor in commercializing a product is whether it can create a new experience.”

As of December 31, 2021, 103.54 million Switch units have been sold worldwide since launch in 2017, setting the record for the fastest-selling console by surpassing the 100 million mark.

During a Q&A session at Nintendo’s Corporate Governance Policy Briefing last November, Furukawa emphasized that the Switch should stay, explaining how a hybrid device could outperform the “life cycle of conventional hardware”:

What new experiences would you like to see in Nintendo’s next generation of hardware? Tell us below.