When buying a desktop gaming console, people tend to focus on the game library and consider whether it’ll get exclusive titles or the best single-player games. They also look at its performance capabilities, including resolution, ray-tracing, and frame rate. In other words, the discussion usually revolves around which console is better or worse based on its power and exclusive game offerings.
This is what’s known as the console war. A war that Nintendo doesn’t care about.
Open world games. Overall, games have grown in size and complexity. They demand better graphics, larger maps, more options, and so much more. This requires powerful hardware. As such, consoles have been moving in this direction by providing more raw power to allow players to experience the developers’ creations fully. Ultra-realistic graphics, stunning reflections, a high and stable frame rate, and expansive open worlds filled with activities: All these things require power.
Ultimately, it all comes down to that one word: power.
Video games aren’t all about brute force. After all, games are about experiences. While having a powerful console can enhance certain titles, it’s not always necessary. What’s more, better graphics don’t always mean better games. Nintendo is a great example of this.
“Ray-tracing? Never mind, I play Mario.” For example, while other consoles boast about power, Nintendo focuses on providing unique experiences. The Nintendo Switch has older hardware compared to its competitors, including the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. However, Nintendo’s console is still a huge success, selling 143.42 million units and 1,266.46 million games since its release in 2017.
A frame from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. | Image: Xataka
The console war is for those who want to engage in it. Japanese video game magazine Famitsu recently interviewed Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Super Mario, about the opening of the new Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan. “As a result of various discussions, we decided to leave behind all of Nintendo’s past assets and use them to let people know what Nintendo is, so that not only our employees, but three generations of parents and children can understand what Nintendo is,” he said.
Miyamoto also addressed the so-called console war: “So I don’t want Nintendo to get involved in the ‘game console war’–the competition of ‘what to do with this high-spec hardware.’ Nintendo will continue to create things that are unique to Nintendo, and we will continue to do not only games but also videos, and we want people to know that we are a company that creates various entertainment content.”
A frame from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. | Image: Xataka
“No need for so much power. Look at my Zelda.” Nintendo knows what its strengths and weaknesses are. The company isn’t going to compete against Sony and Microsoft in raw power because it simply doesn’t need to. It knows it’s good at making experiences, meaning games that are fun, simple, charismatic, timeless, and enjoyable today and tomorrow.
Nintendo doesn’t need 4K resolutions for gamers to be able to see Link’s pores when playing Zelda. The game gives the player as much freedom as possible, and that’s enough. Controlling what Mario does is fun. The new Pokémon game always has something different. You can take two other controllers and play with the whole family in Smash Bros or Mario Kart. And again, that’s enough.
Nintendo makes toys that are fun to play with, and you don’t need a console with a lot of teraflops for that.
A Nintendo Switch. | Image: Nintendo
The Switch 2 will follow suit. Nintendo is developing a new gaming console, which is expected to be released before March 31, 2025. According to leaks, the new console will purportedly have processing power equivalent to that of the eighth-generation consoles, such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Rumors also suggest it’ll be equipped with an Nvidia Tegra T239 chip.
If these leaks are confirmed, the Switch 2 would be less powerful than its Sony and Microsoft equivalents. Additionally, considering that current consoles are likely halfway through their life cycle and the next generation may arrive in 2028, the Switch 2 would coexist alongside both the current and next-generation consoles.
This would mean that Nintendo’s console would once again be less powerful than its rivals. The Japanese company couldn’t care less about that.
Image | Xataka
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