Nintendo’s New Era: Embracing Innovation While…

Nintendo is evolving. While the brand is predominantly known for its video games, in recent years, it has been broadening its horizons significantly.

“People often see Nintendo as a gaming company, but we’ve always considered ourselves an entertainment company,” said Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo’s senior managing executive officer, in 2023. This sentiment was echoed by design icon Shigeru Miyamoto during the inauguration of Nintendo’s first museum last year. “I wanted to convey that we are, above all, an entertainment company,” he stated.

In pursuit of this vision, Nintendo has ventured into areas like theme parks and Hollywood films, simultaneously launching the Switch 2, a successor to its most successful home console to date. Each of these initiatives represents a strategic bet intended to broaden Nintendo’s reach — executed in a cautious manner.

As Nintendo embraces new endeavors, it also opts for a more measured approach.

The Switch 2 exemplifies this strategy. Its name signifies continuity; instead of pursuing an unpredictable concept like the Wii’s motion controls, Nintendo is refining a formula that has proven successful. The Switch 2 maintains the same design as the original but upgrades to a larger screen, enhanced performance, and redesigned controllers. Given that the Switch has sold over 150 million units in eight years, it is sensible for Nintendo to play it safe and improve upon a known winner. The new console is even compatible with many of the same titles.

The first major first-party exclusives for the console, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, align with this philosophy, featuring new mechanics primarily leveraging the Switch 2’s improved capabilities. In Mario Kart, an expansive open world connects its race tracks, while Donkey Kong allows players to interact with the environment to unlock new areas.

This cautiousness reflects a broader perspective within Nintendo as it navigates its expansion. The company’s recent major ventures have similarly prioritized risk mitigation. For example, when it decided to move past the poorly received live-action Super Mario Bros. film from the ’90s, it opted for