I think the exclusive model could still work, but it requires a VERY compelling group buy-in. Remember back when there was a very wide set of games for which you had to have a PlayStation to play them. Even Nintendo still succeeds at this, albeit with a current dip due to a low number of Switch 2 exclusives. No matter how much anyone here would fuss about it being anti-consumer, eventually there’d be enough compelling reasons, and some people may just bite the bullet even if they’re regularly PC gamers. From there, that’s where the real money is; getting people to keep burning money on live-service games on that given platform, since people are locked in.
No way can one or two occasional console exclusives manage that wall of compulsion on their own.
Nintendo will be fine so long as they maintain control over their intellectual property and stay focused on the handheld market. Nintendo Switch (1 and 2) has sold nearly 200 million units. Steam deck, their closest competition, is closer to 10 million. Obviously the Switch has been around for nearly a decade. But handheld consoles are here to stay. Plus Nintendo is vicious when it comes to maintaining control of their properties… Which are beloved. Pokemon, Mario, Zelda… As long as it keeps those locked down and stays ahead of the handheld competition, they will be fine.
deleted by creator
I think the exclusive model could still work, but it requires a VERY compelling group buy-in. Remember back when there was a very wide set of games for which you had to have a PlayStation to play them. Even Nintendo still succeeds at this, albeit with a current dip due to a low number of Switch 2 exclusives. No matter how much anyone here would fuss about it being anti-consumer, eventually there’d be enough compelling reasons, and some people may just bite the bullet even if they’re regularly PC gamers. From there, that’s where the real money is; getting people to keep burning money on live-service games on that given platform, since people are locked in.
No way can one or two occasional console exclusives manage that wall of compulsion on their own.
Noone wants to make exclusive games these days since it cuts ~66% of the profit.
There is no more cheap-ass hardware, so they don’t even have that going for them.
deleted by creator
Nintendo will be fine so long as they maintain control over their intellectual property and stay focused on the handheld market. Nintendo Switch (1 and 2) has sold nearly 200 million units. Steam deck, their closest competition, is closer to 10 million. Obviously the Switch has been around for nearly a decade. But handheld consoles are here to stay. Plus Nintendo is vicious when it comes to maintaining control of their properties… Which are beloved. Pokemon, Mario, Zelda… As long as it keeps those locked down and stays ahead of the handheld competition, they will be fine.
deleted by creator