Nintendo President Teases Smoother Transition To Change 2

One of many largest questions on Nintendo’s subsequent console is the way it will deal with everybody who’s constructed up an enormous library of video games on the Change. Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser isn’t able to spill the beans in regards to the Change 2 but, however he’s teasing a smoother transition to the corporate’s subsequent console in a brand new interview with Inverse.

Following stories that Nintendo lately confirmed off its successor to the Change behind closed doorways at Gamescom, questions have been swirling in regards to the new console’s specs and potential backwards compatibility with the prevailing {hardware}. Will a Change 2 help bodily cartridges and digital downloads? Or will gamers have to purchase a number of the greatest video games Nintendo’s ever made yet again?

Bowser wouldn’t touch upon the Change 2 stories however he did say that Nintendo Accounts, which observe consumer knowledge throughout consoles, might be a key a part of bringing gamers over to the following console. “Prior to now, each system we transitioned to had a complete new account system,” he instructed Inverse. Creating the Nintendo Account will permit us to speak with our gamers if and once we make a transition to a brand new platform, to assist ease that course of or transition.”

He continued:

Our purpose is to attenuate the dip you usually see within the final 12 months of 1 cycle and the start of one other. I can’t converse to the attainable options of a brand new platform, however the Nintendo Account is a powerful foundation for having that communication as we make the transition.

Whereas that’s not a assure that every part will carry over between the Change and Change 2, or no matter Nintendo’s subsequent gaming machine is, it’s no less than an try and probably assuage some followers’ issues in regards to the transfer. That’s not nothing, particularly coming from an organization that has traditionally been blissful to attempt fully new issues from one console cycle to the following and get gamers to purchase video games they already personal yet again on new platforms. Plus any dramatic departures this time round would imply abandoning the Change’s 130 million set up base, a dangerous transfer as competitors between platforms will get extra fierce.

Rivals like Microsoft and Sony have already been doing this with the Xbox Sequence X/S and PlayStation 5, each of which register customers’ buy from the prior console era. Whereas Nintendo hasn’t at all times been on the slicing fringe of on-line performance, it does have a reasonably good observe file with backwards compatibility. The Wii supported GameCube discs, and the Wii U supported Wii discs. On the hand held aspect, the DS supported Sport Boy Advance cartridges and the 3DS supported DS cartridges. Hopefully the Change 2 follows the same sample. Nintendo has beforehand acknowledged that it received’t announce new {hardware} till April 2024 on the earliest.