While major sectors of the industry continue to increase their focus on cloud gaming and its potential – with the likes of Microsoft, Google, and Sony taking huge strides, and others like EA, Ubisoft, and Square Enix also expressing interest – some, like Nintendo, remain firmly rooted in proper, dedicated hardware for games.
During their recent investors call, while answering a question about the potential of 5G and cloud streaming in games, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa expressed interest in said technologies. But though he sees only growth for the technology and sees potential for the future, he says Nintendo will remain focused on dedicated hardware and its integration with software, so that they can continue to deliver the kind of experiences “that only Nintendo can create”.
“I don’t think all games will move to the cloud right now, but the technology is steadily advancing,” said Furukawa. “In the future, I expect that technologies such as the cloud and streaming will evolve further as a way to deliver games to consumers. We must keep up with such changes in the environment. On the other hand, I believe that our core value, the unique entertainment experiences that can only be achieved through the development of integrated hardware and software, will further increase in value. Delivering unique entertainment that only Nintendo can create will continue to be our top priority.”
Looking at the success Nintendo has been enjoying with its dedicated hardware and software of late, it’s not hard to see why the company wants to continue moving in this direction.
But hey, maybe we’ll eventually get xCloud on the Switch, right?