While the highly portable switch continues to follow a path Royale Imperial, rumors of a hypothetical 4K recovery are rampant. And when Nintendo denies this as best it can, the company’s shareholders don’t seem to be saying much and are already demanding explanations about a very real cost increase.
see also: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sets a historic record in the USA
Japan, a land of tradition, is still keen to maintain a brand image that is firmly anchored in people’s minds. Hence, if there ever was, it is impossible for Nintendo, the historic maker, to break the rule: As every year, the CEO Shuntaro Furukawa had to face the more or less haunting questions of the company’s shareholders at the latest presentation of the financial results for the 2020-2021 financial year.
Please understand
And amid the flood of more or less harsh remarks the ex-supervisor had to face (the list is available Here) there is one that will arouse our curiosity: in recent years, Nintendo’s research and development budget increased to 100 billion yen, or around 755 million dollars, between April 2020 and March 2021, a sum that obviously requires explanation:
Our development costs, which includes outsourcing some of them, are increasing as we work to keep a steady flow of new games for the Switch once it hits the middle of its release cycle..
As development costs are higher today than on previous platforms, we expect R&D spending to keep increasing as we strive to maintain a wide range of titles.
In addition, the development of the next generation of consoles must begin years before its launch, and R&D spending will gradually increase to that end.. We have to do all kinds of research and development in different areas: consoles like games.
While the hint of a new generation of consoles won’t come as a surprise as the Switch recently celebrated its fourth anniversary, the promise to maintain a “sustained” release rate will no doubt reassure gamers since Nintendo seems – officially – to have learned the lessons of the past and shouldn’t slow down, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Animal Crossing New Horizons continue to be sold by freighters whole.
Stop it or else?
Although there is plenty of evidence to suggest that a new model will complete Nintendo’s hardware lineup, remember Ms. Furukawa recently said the Switch could be relevant until 2024, A bet that obviously requires a tech update, but also a solid release schedule.
Obviously, if it takes a specific Splatoon 3 in 2022, the most impatient of you haven’t forgotten about the two big cartridges (literally) Breath of the Wild 2 and Metroid Prime 4, which could quite drop without warning.
After all, the former CEO of Nintendo of America said a few years ago that the manufacturer fully assumed it its surprise announcement policy...
