People here think the mascots of the a company worth $58 Billion is going to save it from a company worth $2.4 Trillion? According to a CNBC analysis, Apple's App Store had gross sales of around $64 billion last year.
Big bank take little bank. It's going to be a slaughter.
Mario has more brand recognition than Mickey Mouse. Those mascots have empire building power. Even if Apple could make something beloved in that vein, they would never be able to assail the power Mario wields in gaming because it’s beyond objective measurement. It’s nostalgia wrapped into a character that has had decades to gestate.
Another point, Apple TV+ (despite having some admittedly good content) is struggling to compete with most streaming services, and Apple is handing it out for free. I love the shows, think some of them are the best currently on air, but I wouldn’t pay for it. I’ve managed to chain 2 years worth of free trials through various means and even at the end, I won’t spend a nickel. There’s your $2.4 trillion company’s attempt at television. Good luck with gaming.
And to clarify, I hope Apple does get into AAA gaming. Their hardware and the ecosystem COULD combine the software polish of a console with the software customizability of a PC while offering a world class experience no matter which of their devices is currently in your pocket, on your desk, or on your TV. That’s an extreme value proposition if they just got out of their asses and put in the work on the software and developer relations side of things. BUT, they’d be competing with Steam, Sony, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Nintendo does their own thing and won’t be cannibalized by a corporation currently offering freemium titles turned “free” via a subscription.
I say all this as someone with an intense love for Apple products and ethos. As someone who sold my Switch and currently has no Nintendo products (beat the games I wanted to play). Apple can’t beat Nintendo in AAA gaming.