The Nintendo Switch 2 followed the same strategy as Apple with the iPhone 16. And that gives us a clue to its success

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The Nintendo Switch 2 followed the same strategy as Apple with the iPhone 16. And that gives us a clue to its success

Apple, clue, iPhone, Nintendo, Strategy, success, Switch

When Nintendo presented its Switch 2, many were quick to compare it to Apple's strategy. And yes, the iPhone 16 wasn't really the most revolutionary. But what few people know is that these two companies They've shared more than just a design philosophy for decades. They have had similar visions for years, although their paths have crossed on rare occasions. It’s a story of collaboration, mutual respect and shared visions that deserves to be told.

And, although today we can play video game consoles as powerful as the PlayStation 5 from our iPhones, The ones that end up succeeding are “Nintendo” style games: light, entertaining and with a good story. In fact, the Apple Arcade catalog would be suitable for titles as famous as Zelda. Dreams aside, and knowing that since Steve Jobs was alive, interest in the Japanese world has been present in Cupertino… Let's take the opportunity to look at the new Nintendo Switch 2 through the prism of Apple.

The Pippin experiment: when Apple wanted to play Nintendo

It is March 1991 and Michael Spindler (CEO of Apple) makes a statement that seems surprising to us today: “Nintendo was the company they feared most in the 90s”. And it was no wonder: while Apple struggled to find its place in the market, Nintendo dominated digital entertainment with an iron fist.

Consola Apple Pippine
Consola Apple Pippine

You have to remember that Apple had already fired Steve Jobs and it was one of the times when we saw the craziest launches. This situation led to one of them because Apple did not sit idly by. It's now 1996, and few people remember it. Apple had its own video game console. It was in collaboration with Bandai and they called it Pippin. A console that costs a whopping $599 (around $1,000 today).

Pippin apple
Pippin apple

The project was a resounding failure, selling only 42,000 units compared to the millions of PlayStation and Nintendo 64. The reason? They tried to create a console that would also be a computersomething the market was not ready to understand. Oddly enough, this failure taught Apple a valuable lesson that it would apply years later with the iPhone: you need to create devices with a clear, well-defined purpose. Pippin tried to do everything and ultimately didn't do anything particularly well. Interestingly, there was a time when the two companies shared technology. Such Apple and Nintendo used PowerPC processors on your devices, thanks to the AIM alliance (Apple-IBM-Motorola). It was a sign of destiny for what was to come.

The gift of Apple and Nintendo

Today, relations between the two companies are closer than ever, and there were uA key date that many of us remember with particular enthusiasm: September 7, 2016. It was during the iPhone 7 presentation keynote that suddenly something unimaginable happened on stage.

Presentation of Super Mario Run in the Apple Keynote of iPhone 7
Presentation of Super Mario Run in the Apple Keynote of iPhone 7

Presentation of Super Mario Run in the Apple Keynote of iPhone 7

Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of Super Mario, appears alongside Tim Cook at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. The room applaudedand it's no wonder: Mario, the most famous plumber in the world, has arrived on iOS for the first time. “We're bringing Mario to iOS!” Miyamoto announced with a smile, while wearing a t-shirt with the game's logo. Super Mario Run wasn't just Nintendo's first mobile game featuring Mariobut it was also temporarily exclusive to iOS. The decision was no coincidence: Nintendo chose Apple's platform for its quality control and premium users, which perfectly matches their vision. The game reached 40 million downloads in just 4 days, breaking records.

The case of the Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo's new console is almost a tribute to Apple's philosophy: refinement rather than revolution. And while there are times when this could be seen as criticism, When something has been done so well, there is no need to change it, just perfect it.. Just as every new iPhone retains the essence of its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch 2 is a careful evolution of an already perfect design. And this philosophy works: the original Switch sold more than 130 million units.

The new Nintendo Switch 2 confirms that the Japanese giant has learned Apple's most valuable lesson. The console is an exercise in precision design:

  • Slightly larger screen
  • More rounded and ergonomic edges
  • Major internal improvements
  • Same hybrid concept that revolutionized the market

It's like when Apple introduced the iPhone 16 Pro: at first glance it seems identical to its predecessor, but the changes are there, carefully implemented. YesOnly the most expert eyes would notice the differences compared to the original Switch without the new colors and finishes. But it is aimed precisely at this type of people.

Nintendo Switch2
Nintendo Switch2

What some might consider “boring” is actually a sign of business maturity. Nintendo, like Apple, has reached a point where drastic changes are simply no longer necessary. Brand value, ecosystem and, if applicable, games are enough. The design is instantly recognizable, the brand is established, and users know exactly what to expect.

As Steve Jobs once said: “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”and Nintendo seems to be following this lesson: every change on the Switch 2 is carefully thought out, nothing is random. Nintendo and Apple. Two different companies. Two different continents, but which have the same philosophy: user experience comes first.

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