Undoubtedly, certain areas such as the blockchain, NFTs and the metaverse will be part of the major topics that will revolve around video games, taking with them their share of supporters and detractors. As we approach the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal year, large company meetings are a unique opportunity to learn more about their upcoming projects.
Today, it is therefore Nintendo that interests us since the Japanese firm has confided in a whole host of subjects during the last few days: recent takeovers through their portable console, la Switch who is set to break many records. But, Big N had been rather discreet with regard to future technological contributions or even the metaverse.
A very different strategy from some other publishers, such as Ubisoft, which sends its loyal mascots directly there thanks to the game The Sandbox, or Microsoft, which does not hide its interest in this area, while reflecting on different types of project.. But the one who most embodies the metaverse and its development is undoubtedly Mark Zuckerberg and Meta hounded more and more by Epic Games which raised a billion for this purpose.
Nothing on the horizon, but…
For its part, Nintendo knows that it is expected at the turning points on the subjects mentioned in the preamble to our article and, as always, it is the president of the firm, Shuntaro Furukawa, who takes the floor to answer frankly and without leaving any ambiguities. Asked about these possible projects around NFTs – a subject hidden in the president’s response – and the metaverse, here is what was said :
The metaverse has attracted the attention of many companies around the world, and it has great potential (…). Currently, there is no obvious way to specifically define what kinds of surprises and amusement the metaverse can offer our consumers. As an entertainment company, we focus on ways to bring new surprises and fun to our consumers. — Shuntaro Furukawa, president of Nintendo
The answer is clear: while waiting to find a use that suits the values of the firm, Nintendo does not plan to launch into the field of the metaverse. Indeed, in the state, nothing seems to correspond to the image of the brand. Especially since the concept has yet to be defined more precisely, even if we understand that the idea is to offer a persistent virtual world with a single economy and where the barriers between online services are evaporate.
Let’s ask the Nintendo president a few years from now to see if the Japanese firm has reviewed its copy on the subject. ! However, its competitors will not wait for it: Krafton, which is behind PUBG has already partnered with several companies, while Bandai Namco has already invested tens of millions in this area.