Posted in: Games, Video Games | Tagged: entertainment, games, Michael Pachter, nintendo, nintendo nx, video games

Michael Pachter Doesn't Think The Nintendo NX Will Get Much Western Third Party Support

Published Tue, 03 May 2016 08:45:36 -0500

I like Michael Pachter. He is easily the most recognizable analyst in the video game space, and even though he can often be off the mark, I still always find something interesting in his views.

Nintendo has been a big target of his over the last few years, mostly due to their more 'out there' efforts that have failed, which obviously hasn't made him super popular in that community. Speaking on the Pachter Factor over at Siftd (via MyNintendoNews) Pachter explained why he has taken an interest in criticizing the company of late. He said:

Every time I have ever criticised that company and its management, including its late president, it wasn't because they were running the company into the ground and about to go bankrupt. It was because I didn't think they were generating enough profit on the phenomenal assets that they have. I'm not critical of these guys in the way that you should be worried.

As long as they keep producing great content – and they have never wavered – they'll be fine. I just don't think they are going to maximise their profits without having a good hardware strategy and a good software strategy.

He then went on to say he has fears that the Nintendo NX will have any support from the West, saying:

And, I frankly think that handhelds are challenged because mobile has become the way that most people play games, and console is challenged because they have been underpowered the last couple of generations and they are trying to be cute with these different kind of hybrid devices. Like, a GamePad instead of a controller, and nobody really liked it so the Wii U didn't work. Their failure in hardware has cost them third-party support, because third-parties can't afford to make a game for a 10 million install base Wii U that could be discontinued at any time.

[With] the NX, I think you are going to see very low third-party support outside of Japan unless the thing is a hit. And so, I mean my criticism of them is just that they have squandered a big lead that they had in hardware and gone from first-to-worst, quickly, on the console side.

Honestly, on that last point, I find it hard to disagree with him. My initial impression is that third party companies are probably a little hesitant about going forward with NX titles, thanks to the Wii U. I'm sure they are watching it closely though, and it will only take a strong start to get them jumping on the console in no time.

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