I’ve seen an article about Nintendo looking at smartphone integration for a possible console.
Here’s something I wrote back on June 14th 2018:
Back when Animal Crossing Pocket Camp came out I joked that perhaps one of Nintendo’s next endeavors would be a phone. Is it really that far fetched?
Nintendo, especially with the Pokémon series has always wanted to have a device that you would take with you on the go. Usually these devices would count steps and have little Pokémon mini games. Recently they announced Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee which works in tandem with the Pokémon go app.
The farthest back I can think of that’s a good example of Nintendo wanting you to have a product to take with you places is the DS. Certain stores would receive demo carts that you could download upcoming game demos and special content from. Then with the 3DS you have street pass, where even just passing someone else with a 3DS their mii would show up in your mii plaza and depending on which games you own, also receive content for those games as well.
Now with the Switch being a hybrid on-the-go and home console I really do believe it’s the next logical step. Everyone has a cellphone. With them venturing out into mobile app games and with this constant pushing for on-the-go gaming it just feels like it’s the direction they’re heading.
Nintendo also wants “every single person” to own a switch making it more logical that they would look into the phone market.
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What do you guys think? Is it possible that Nintendo would look into making a Smartphone? Or am I pulling this out of thin air?
Hmm… let’s think about it…
Without the app ecosystem, no phone can survive. Nintendo can’t just release a new smartphone, with it’s own OS. So, it’ll have to be iOS or Android, and since only Apple make iOS devices, it will have to be Android. And if they are going to use Android, they’ll basically have a “Nintendo” software installed on it, which they can just release without the hardware too.
Most probably what they will do is have a tighter integration with smartphone. Basically an upgraded version of the Swich app we already have.
At least that’s how I imagine it, without thinking on it for long.
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As a Linux user myself, I understand where you are coming from. I don’t have a compatible device, but have been meaning to try these linux mobile OS that are around, specially want to try out Plasma mobile (which is basically a UI, but you get my point).
That being said, consumer level smartphones need tons of apps. Have you checked the amount of apps available on Play Store? You need those. For instance, there is no proper Linux client for WhatsApp or Signal. You need the android / iOS version to set them up. Same for tons of other applications. Many workplaces require some of these apps. Without these, no phone can succeed. Some of these are big name companies that might be ported, but there are many niche apps as well.
Just to clarify, I am talking from the point of view that it will be the primary smart phone we have. Not another smartphone, in addition to the android / iOS one we are already carrying.
Just an FYI, the Switch OS has some parts based on Android. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch_system_software
Interesting.
Thanks for the link.
The problem with a phone is that, especially in the Android space, people notice specs and performance a lot. You’re not going to get people to give up their substantially better hardware so you can sell a 5 year old chip at a hefty markup.
It would take a massive philosophy switch away from “withered technology” to have a chance at being successful outside of Japan. You could absolutely price the phone aggressively with your own App Store, and as Nintendo, that would build out the ecosystem in terms of gaming significantly. But if you’re expecting to make the same profit on the hardware you do now, you’re gonna have a bad time.
I wrote that years ago, but now, I think it probably isn’t the direction they would head.
The switch is probably the closest they’re going to come to a device like that. The switch is already a tablet with controller attachments. Nintendo mist know about people hacking the switch, and they can’t be happy about that. A smartphone form factor would probably appeal to that crowd, and that’s definitely something Nintendo wouldn’t want. So, I’m not sure if they’d go that route anymore.
Why would they make an Android phone? That seems like a huge burden without a reward. Also phones are not a place people buy premium games.
What was the last $90 iPhone game you bought?
It makes more sense to make cheap/free android and ios apps that drive people back to a dedicated gaming device that traditionally sells high cost games.
The switch is basically just a smartphone without a SIM card.
I’m 99.99% sure that Nintendo isn’t working on a smartphone, because doing so would make no sense. They’re a toy company, not a tech company.
I don’t see it happening as there are a bunch of issues.
*1. The smartphone market is pretty saturated, although Nintendo has the brand power to make a splash, it would need a differentiator. Biggest one would be game software, obviously.
*2. In order to make phone calls, it would need a cellular modem. They would have two options: add a modem and get it working with their favored chipset (like the Nvidia Tegra they’re using now) or switch to an all-in-one solution like the Snapdragon series used in existing Android phones. The first option is expensive, development intensive, and potentially more power consuming. The second would require switching to another chip which could break backwards compatibility and cause other issues (not necessarily anything impossible to overcome, though).
*3. They would need (or rather feel the need) to have it locked down so that only Nintendo-approved apps were available. People like having apps for all kinds of things and I think they aren’t wanting to police something the size of the App Store or Play Store. Piracy and emulation would be be concerns for them as well.
*4. Controls- touchscreen controls aren’t great, so they’d need to have physical buttons and sticks which add bulk. If the stick wasn’t compact enough (even a flat stick like the DS), it could get caught on pockets, clothing, bags, etc. and could wear out more often.
There are other details I hadn’t considered, I’m sure, but overall, I think it’s not a road Nintendo wants to go down.
Yeah, it probably isn’t the direction they’re headed anymore. I think the switch is the closest we will see to this sort of thing from Nintendo.
Their walled garden is sacrosanct to them, so any ‘apps’ would have to be through them. I know Nintendo isn’t thrilled by the idea of their systems or games ever getting out of their sphere. They’d have a tough time controlling that sort of thing with a device like I have theorized.
I think a Switch 2 would probably be like the OLED switch that they eventually released this generation. I believe fans made it pretty clear that they wouldn’t mind something more powerful and with higher resolution, at a bigger price from Nintendo.
If they focus some attention on upgrading their servers for online content, I’m sure they’d have a nice leg to stand on going forward.
I started playing Mario Kart Tour and I’m surprised by how good it is… mind you I’ve never played the console ones, but it made me think, what if Nintendo focused on making games for phones.
Not as in shit phone games, but keeping their quality and redefining what it means to play on mobile.
Just software(maybe their own launcher for games on mobile?), no need to have their own device, but I guess that’d make it a bit hard to develop games.
It could work if they put in a stylus and make new DS style games. Stylus only games have felt like native experiences on phones with DS emulators. Games like Kirby Mass Attack felt great on touch screen. I’ve tried lot of mobile games, and ports of games that had been well receive on PC and consoles. But, with onscreen keys trying to mimic the functions of tactile buttons and joysticks it was DS emulation I ended up preferring.
I can envision a world where Nintendo has a certification program for smart phones. They could have minimum specs, a special security chip, and probably some tactile controls. This would allow them to more aggressively make cellphone games that feel like console games, without relying on third party controllers or using simplified controls.
I don’t see them making a whole cell phone platform. OS development is not there strong suit, console makers have been fairly bad at this in the past (there focus is speed and minimal overhead).
My guess is they will continue on with a switch style tablet for several more generations. Unless something new like AR or VR really takes off, I don’t see a lot of incentive to innovate anymore.
I could see a universe where Nintendo did do a full cell phone platform, but only as on aimed at children. So a highly restricted looked down system, with only Nintendo approved apps and lot of parental control. So basically a cheaper more restrictive iPhone in Pokemon and Mario colours, with matching ui.
