Nintendo president talks mobile gaming, Nintendo Switch, virtual reality
Tatsumi Kimishima, who took the reins of Japanese entertainment company a year ago, discusses its new console, expresses caution about VR and says smartphone game releases help its core business
Switch, a new console that the Kyoto-based company will start selling in March, will be at the centre of an entertainment web that will include mobile gaming, theme parks and merchandising. The device has a tablet-like display unit that connects with a TV, but can also be taken out and about.
In a recent interview, Kimishima talks about the upcoming release of Switch and more.
What can you say about your first year in charge?
Three years ago, all of us together – the previous president, Genyo Takeda (technology head) and Shigeru Miyamoto (creative head) – created a plan to revitalise our business, which included smart devices, our new hardware and maximising our intellectual property. Quite simply, the biggest issue was not about whether I change this, but how do I execute these projects? Now the critical period is finally here. From the end of this fiscal period and into the next one is when we actually show the product and deliver it to our customers.
Why did Nintendo decide to combine household and portable gaming?