Uh huh. Not concerned at all. That's why Nintendo is making mobile games and trying to cater to an older market with the Switch after their handheld market shrank by half last gen and their console business fell off a cliff.
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[Japan] As Switch comes after PS4, Sony should be worried
- Thread starter Tadaima
- Start date
Uh huh. Not concerned at all. That's why Nintendo is making mobile games and trying to cater to an older market with the Switch after their handheld market shrank by half last gen and their console business fell off a cliff.
Not very. 3rd party support is something they can use to differentiate from Xbox, but even there Switch is threatening to share (perhaps strengthen too), not steal.
CrispyBoar
Banned
I have to agree, but if anything, it's not Nintendo that Sony needs to worry about...it's their current financial status as well as the PS5 in the future (especially if it bombs).
LifeBrandRobot
Member
I don't think Sony can do anything against this God Console that everyone thinks it is.
Battery life.
nephilimdj
Member
Only challenge I see for Sony will be SE, since they have traditionally supported both Sony and Nintendo with there own exclusive games, Switch is going to make Nintendo exclusive games way more risk in profit. I assume Switch will get a ton more mobile rpg ports then PS4 will.
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
2 different markets.
For me i see the switch as the next generation in portable gaming.
For me i see the switch as the next generation in portable gaming.
semiconscious
Member
as switch topics such as this one become more frequent, gaf should be worried
...thestopsign
Member
I would guess that the Switch will end up somewhere in between 10-20 million sales in Japan, which will actually be a shrinkage in generational sales for Nintendo compared to Wii U + 3DS if they don't have another pillar show up at some point.
The thing the Switch does have going for it is that it can collect a lot of the home and portable titles in one place. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that it could play the 3DS version of Dragon Quest XI, which I thought was odd, because it probably can play the PS4 version of Dragon Quest XI. In reality, it could potentially get both versions if they are different enough to warrant it. The other inherent benefit is that if it does close in on the typical Nintendo portable generational sales level, it could provide a user base in Japan that 3rd parties haven't seen on a competitively powerful home console systems since the PS2.
The thing the Switch does have going for it is that it can collect a lot of the home and portable titles in one place. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that it could play the 3DS version of Dragon Quest XI, which I thought was odd, because it probably can play the PS4 version of Dragon Quest XI. In reality, it could potentially get both versions if they are different enough to warrant it. The other inherent benefit is that if it does close in on the typical Nintendo portable generational sales level, it could provide a user base in Japan that 3rd parties haven't seen on a competitively powerful home console systems since the PS2.
encephalon
Member
I'm actually wondering if the switch might struggle to be perceived as a handheld, being that it's quite a bit larger than a 3DS, isn't it?
Randomizer
Member
Sony already switched(
) to mainly worldwide/western based markets last generation. It seems like 90% of their first party output is by western developers. Western developers usually cater to and have western markets in mind. I mean they have their niche with their Otaku crap with the Vita and of course the ever excellent Japan Studio gives them some legitimacy. Their loss of Monster Hunter to Nintendo really impacted their handheld market share.
If the Switch becomes the defacto Japanese console, I really don't want all those weeby Vita games flooding the Switch. It's already given the poor Vita a reputation, no need for anyone else to suffer. Can't they go back to making this shit on PC? No offence to the PC, I just meant they should go back to irrelevancy and out of the mass market.
hoho
If the Switch becomes the defacto Japanese console, I really don't want all those weeby Vita games flooding the Switch. It's already given the poor Vita a reputation, no need for anyone else to suffer. Can't they go back to making this shit on PC? No offence to the PC, I just meant they should go back to irrelevancy and out of the mass market.
All I have to say is that I sincerely hope Nintendo w/Nvidia plan to make a powerful Dock/SCD if not a separate console for Holiday 2018-2019 using a semi-custom ARM-Volta SoC (perhaps like Nvidia Xavier but stripped of its self-driving car functionality), which could also support any future Nintendo AR/VR platform. Would meet or exceed Scorpio-level performance but at a reasonable price ($299). Nvidia CEO said the partnership with Nintendo would likely last two decades -- I'm only thinking 2 or 3 years out here.
i don't think it matters, re: "whether people see it as handheld/home console"
anybody with brain knows they can use it however they want. that's the main pitch of the console and it's not hard to understand, just like wii using motion controls or whatever
granted, it's obvs not a dedicated handheld but mobile shaved off too much of that market to matter, when you whittle it all down
Grim Patron
Member
as switch topics such as this one become more frequent, gaf should be worried
Topics like this are at least better (and funnier) than the shit we saw early this gen with "game x on y runs at 900p hurr durr"
I swear these Switch threads bring the worst from both sides.
We barely know shit about the console. It's hard to speculate with such vague information, we're relying again merely on rumors that seem to pop up on a daily basis. I'll just take a wait and see approach with this.
We barely know shit about the console. It's hard to speculate with such vague information, we're relying again merely on rumors that seem to pop up on a daily basis. I'll just take a wait and see approach with this.
Switch will outsell the PS4 in Japan unless something goes drastically wrong. The platform that will have Pokemon, Mario, Zelda, Yokai Watch, Monster Hunter, Dragon Quest, etc. should have little problem outselling Sony's lowest selling home console. Again in Japan not worldwide.
And if 3rd parties in Japan can do well that benefits all of us. Because I don't like most JPN games made to cater to the West.
And if 3rd parties in Japan can do well that benefits all of us. Because I don't like most JPN games made to cater to the West.
Unless Sony does another handheld I dont think they are concerned about Switch.
Thats not gonna be the struggle. The struggle is going to be for it to be perceived as a home console.
Thats not gonna be the struggle. The struggle is going to be for it to be perceived as a home console.
I'm sorry that I disappeared not long after creating the thread, but it was pretty late by the time I posted it and I have only just been able to take a break from work.
It is interesting to read so many different perspectives. I'll try to catch up this evening.
It is interesting to read so many different perspectives. I'll try to catch up this evening.
This speculation combines pre-existing factors, such as market decline and underperformance of the PS4, as well as Nintendo's consistent successes in the handheld space, with what we know about Switch so far.
PdotMichael
Banned
The market proved to be quite price sensitive in Japan.
So an expensive Switch could make everything quite ugly for Nintendo.
So an expensive Switch could make everything quite ugly for Nintendo.
Potential of the device is huge as to Japan. But there's a huge question if there's space to move it in Japan. If there is, it is exactly the console Japanese consoles le gaming/development could use. If there's not, well...Japanese gaming is in a very dark place going forward. Either could be the case. I really hope it's the former.
Either way, it doesn't do anything much to Sony really, who has already abandoned salvaging Japan. Nintendo boxed themselves into needing Japan this past decade. Sony has been withdrawing.
Shadowhelper
Banned
One big difference is all those earlier Nintendo portables could be fit into your pocket. I don't think that is the case with the Switch. Will the Japanese embrace a portable that isn't all that portable? A tablet that will require a bag to be carried around?
I could see the switch not being the best of the both worlds, as is being claimed. I could see the switch not empowering their tradition of success with portable devices, but doing the opposite.
I could see the switch not being the best of the both worlds, as is being claimed. I could see the switch not empowering their tradition of success with portable devices, but doing the opposite.
JoshuaJSlone
Member
I think its face area might be less than the XL systems, but it definitely is bulkier than they are folded.
I don't think it's a coincidence that all marketing presentations so far have portayed Switch as a home console first and a portable handheld second. Likely because Wii U is already dead and buried while Nintendo wants to ride out 3DS a couple more years. In 2018 we'll probably get a smaller formfactor Switch to coincide with 3DS being put to rest.
Japan is actually the least price sensitive market.
JB2448
Member
That's the thing. In Japan, it's not really marketed as a home console so far (anyone who knows better, please correct me if I'm wrong):
Edit: Does the official Japanese announcement press release for the Switch mention anything about it being a home console? If so, that makes the points I'm making moot.One thing that interests me in how Nintendo is marketing the Switch internationally is the difference in it being referred to as a "home gaming system" or just a "gaming console" in the initial screen everyone sees when they first go to the official Switch site in each region. To test this out, try it in a private browsing session using your preferred browser.
In North America, Europe, and Australia:
In Japan:http://www.nintendo.com/switch said:
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/switch/ said:
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
Console gaming is pretty much done in Japan anyway.
Combichristoffersen
Combovers don't work when there is no hair
Potential role reversals. Sony are dominating the west but doing meh in Japan. Nintendo will likely dominate Japan but might do eh in the west. Neither should worry too much about the other.
Weirdly Japan so far has gotten the same exact marketing as the west. It's console first there too seemingly although all that could change once more regionally targeted marketing starts rolling out.
KillerMan91
Member
?. $249 3DS was not exactly flying from the shelves in Japan. It was after the massive price drop when 3DS started so sell like normal Nintendo handheld in Japan.
You know someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I'm fairly sure pre-price cut 3DS was still selling better than any non-3DS system has sold this gen.
1.3m in 5 months isn't bad. Way better than Vita (700k), PS4 (650k) or Wii U (900k) did.
KillerMan91
Member
That is not exactly a huge achievement considering the rocky starts each of those systems in Japan had. Nintendo needed it to sell way more considering how huge part Japan still plays in their business. Fact is that only after massive price cut it started to sell more like DS and GBA than PS4 or Vita.
Yeah, fuck physics, Nintendo holds all the important patents on pixie dust.
DS did have a better start (2.3m) but PSP was basically identical (1.3m). 3DS was a decline yes but far from terrible.
All this is beside the point though. Japan is still the least price sensitive marketplace.
MDSLKTR
Member
Nintendo fans are a scary bunch aren't they
visiblemode
Member
Afraid of losing a market which you appear to be asserting they've already lost?
JoshuaJSlone
Member
It has struck me that while we sometimes think about this point for Nintendo's merging of the lines, Sony's basically in the same boat with phasing out what was once the PSP market.
Bear Force One
Banned
I still see nothing here that will stop the downward user base decline.
Yeah but that doesn't matter because no one cares about handhelds.
Yes. Despite PS4's incredible success Sony is still going to move less total hardware (and likely software) this gen than last. Everyone is actually although Nintendo was hit hardest.
Kazuma Kiryu
Member
Damn you people and your logic!
gundamkyoukai
Member
Yes but they make up for it with PS+ and much more 3rd party sales on PS4 .
The PSP did not sell that much software at least compare to there home system .
By the end of this gen PS4 might sell more software than PSP and PS3 combine .
On topic don't think Sony to worry about switch in Japan .
Japan is not a big deal for them comapre to the past .
Following XBL's lead with PSN has definitely made it a goldmine. I'm kinda worried Nintendo will follow suit.
PSP still sold a ton of software, particularly in Japan. 330 million UMDs was the last worldwide figure we got before they started adding Vita totals and that's not counting digital.
This is pretty much what I have been saying as well. It's going to be too underpowered to really compete with the ps4 or Xbox one and we'll just end up seeing weaker ports and then eventually the system will just be dominated by first party. I'll still end up getting one but I sincerely doubt it will ever leave third place.
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