When Sega got out of the hardware business due to the failure of the Dreamcast, it was a sign that even the most old-school companies could fall. That sentiment is echoed with Nintendo’s Wii U, which has seen slow sales, a lack of first party games and concerns about third party development since being released.
As Eidos Life President Ian Livingstone points out, it’s high time to just focus on software for Nintendo. They could easily make it happen, and the response would be terrific.
Speaking to Pocket Gamer, Livingstone stated that, “Nintendo should have their IP on every platform. Otherwise a whole generation of young people will miss out on their games.
“They could easily put Mario on the iPad tomorrow if they so wished. They’ve got lots of options, lots of IP, and a tremendous amount of cash.”
This isn’t to say that Nintendo will go and do just that (all indications and public statements in fact say otherwise). As such, Nintendo has managed to shake off slow starts, like with the 3DS, to deliver compelling games. We’ll just have to wait and see how the Wii U performs in the long run for the company.