Nintendo Doesn’t Need to Make New Franchises for New Games, Says Former Developer

by

Essentially, Nintendo is often recognized for refining its long-standing series, while producing new intellectual properties isn’t commonplace. In an interview with Bloomberg, programmer Ken Watanabe suggested that Nintendo doesn’t feel the need to introduce fresh IPs. Instead, they have a rich collection of franchises at their disposal which they can develop based on their preferences.

In discussing Nintendo’s strategy for developing new games, Watanabe highlighted that the company often begins by prioritizing gameplay mechanics and subsequently identifies the suitable franchise where the game can fit. Essentially, Watanabe stated that they don’t create new franchises out of necessity but rather because they are driven to innovate in terms of gaming experiences – focusing on devising fresh ways for players to engage with their games before deciding on a franchise.

Watanabe added, ‘When it comes to wrapping or the outer layer, we’re not too concerned about it.’ We simply choose what suits the new gameplay most effectively.

It’s important to mention that Nintendo boasts a wide range of unique franchises, many of which have been showcased across multiple console generations. One of the most recent significant new franchises that Nintendo has consistently developed is Splatoon, first launched in 2015 on the Wii U and later released as sequels on the Nintendo Switch. Now, the Splatoon series is branching out with its first major spin-off titled Splatoon Raiders.

Apart from leading the development team at Nintendo, Watanabe has also contributed to several of their popular franchises. For instance, he’s been involved in creating games like Splatoon, Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Pikmin 3.

When it comes to Nintendo’s approach with new games, they often stick to their usual practices but also like to experiment occasionally, particularly during the early stages of a new console’s life. For example, the Nintendo Switch introduced one of Nintendo’s major new IPs, ARMS. In a similar vein, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 has featured another experimental title that emphasizes unique control methods, such as Drag X Drive.

The main new games exclusively developed for the Switch 2 are continuations of established series: Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. Alongside these high-profile releases, the company has also provided updated versions of some of its previous Switch titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and others, for the Switch 2 Edition.

Ever since I got my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 back in July, it’s safe to say that this console has taken the gaming world by storm! Looking at the hardware sales charts from August, it’s clear that the Switch 2 is a massive hit with over 2 million units sold just within the US. This popularity even earned it the top spot on the monthly sales charts.

On a global scale, Nintendo shared some impressive numbers in their financial reports last month – a whopping 5.82 million Switch 2 consoles have been sold worldwide! To put that into perspective, they’ve also managed to sell 153.10 million units of the original Switch since its release.

As for the software, the Switch 2 has already moved 8.67 million units, which is a great start compared to the massive 1.4 billion units of software that the original Switch has sold so far! It’s been an incredible ride with this new console, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for it.

Read More

2025-09-08 19:13