Nintendo is known for making family-friendly games, but the Japanese firm is now focusing on more mature games, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Doom and Wolfenstein II are already scheduled to arrive on the console, but Nintendo reportedly wants the console to have some adult-oriented games.
According to The Wall Street journal, “Nintendo Co. is encouraging some producers of violent or risqué videogames to provide content for its Switch console in an attempt to shed its image as a maker of devices just for families, software developers say.”
Takuya Aizu, chief executive of Inti Creates, stated that they were initially not sure if Nintendo might be interested in the adult-oriented games like shooter Gal*Gun. “I thought it wouldn’t be possible to release such a game for the Switch, but surprisingly, Nintendo gave me positive feedback,” Aizu told The WSJ.
Another unnamed executive said that Nintendo was not very keen on mature games earlier, but that seems to be a thing of the past now with the console maker being confident about mature titles and venturing into new territory such as titles with sexual themes.
Earlier this year, Nintendo executive Shinya Takahashi told The Wall Street Journal that the company is inclined towards more mature content. Basically, Nintendo wants Switch to be a console that caters to the demand of every age group. It would be too early to say that the strategy would play well for the company, but if it does, Switch might outnumber PlayStation 4.
Atsushi Osanai, a professor at Waseda Business School, feels that Nintendo should be more careful about how it rolls out more mature games for the console, notes Digital Trends. “Making a pitch to mature consumers with a wider range of games is basically good for the business, but Nintendo should do it carefully so that it doesn’t break the image among parents that Nintendo products are safe.”
Nintendo knows that Switch sales have been swelling for months now, but the company wants to increase the user base. However, it’s all about striking a perfect balance with the content offered, and Nintendo seems to be doing the same as it rolls out Super Mario Odyssey this holiday season.
Separately, during the E3, Microsoft stated that Minecraft would add cross-play between all the versions of the games. The company also stated that cross-play will be available on almost all the platforms including Switch. In addition, developer Black Riddles stated that its cel-shaded third-person shooter Crazy Justice will be available for cross-play between Xbox One, PC and Switch.
Last month, Credit Suisse raised its sales forecast for the Nintendo Switch. The brokerage firm now expects the Switch to sell 130 million units by 2022, compared to 70 million units previously. The analyst believes that despite being both a home console and a handheld, the Switch will sell more like a traditional portable games system. “Although the Switch is currently categorized as more of a console, we expect it to sell like a handheld,” Credit Suisse analyst Keiichi Yoneshima said (via barrons.com).
