Nintendo’s next console: Shareholders ask about backwards compatibility and more
Nintendo was faced with fresh questions about its next generation console plans during its 83rd annual general meeting of shareholders last week.
In May, Nintendo reported a slowdown in Switch console sales but suggested no new hardware would launch before April 2024.
Following its sales update, Nikkei Asia claimed to have been informed by a source close to Nintendo that work on the company’s next console appears to be going smoothly.
Unsurprisingly, several questions during this month’s shareholder meeting were about its plans for future hardware, including backwards compatibility support.
Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games purchased through Nintendo eShop can’t be transferred to Switch, and one shareholder suggested it would be disheartening if this was also the case with Nintendo’s next console.
Asked for his thoughts on this, company president Shuntaro Furukawa responded (translated by VGC contributor Robert Sephazon): “We are always considering various things about the specifications of future hardware, but at this stage, I would like to refrain from making any specific comments about future hardware.
“As for the sales style of Nintendo Switch software, there are different types like physical package software bought in stores, download versions of package software, and download-only software.
“Many of our customers have been playing on the Nintendo Switch with download software or download-only software, and compared to previous game consoles, the ratio of digital sales has been increasing.
“As a company, we would like to continue proposing unique gameplay through dedicated game consoles that integrate hardware and software in the future, so please look forward to it.”
Asked if the company could share any specific strategies for
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