Former Nintendo Dev Explains Why Publisher Rarely Releases New IP
Over the years, many have criticized Nintendo for relying on the same franchises time and again without introducing many new IPs. Now, a former Nintendo employee Ken Watanabe, who worked on games such as Splatoon and Pikmin 3, has explained the reason behind this approach.
He explained that the Japanese company does not feel a strong need to create new intellectual properties very often. The reason is simple: Nintendo can rely on its huge catalog of established franchises that it has built over decades.
Nintendo Rarely Creates New IPs Because It Doesn’t Need To, Says Ex-Developer
In an interview with Bloomberg, Ken Watanabe explained that Nintendo acts differently from other companies because of its strong portfolio of successful franchises. Essentially, the company first thinks about fresh and new gameplay mechanics, and then chooses which of its franchises fits best with those ideas.
“New franchises haven’t come out simply because there’s no real need to make them,” said Watanabe. “When Nintendo wants to do something new, it’s basically about the gameplay mechanics first — about creating a new way to play. As for the skin or the wrapper, they don’t really fuss over it. They just pick whatever fits that new gameplay best.”
In short, because of this approach, the company rarely needs to create a brand-new IP, but at the same time it can still test and try new ideas. For example, Donkey Kong Bananza uses gameplay based on destruction, which fits perfectly with the nature of the famous gorilla.
On the other hand, when Nintendo worked on a competitive multiplayer concept with shooter mechanics, it seemed none of its older characters were suitable. This led to the creation of Splatoon, one of the few original IPs in recent years.
In other news, former President of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida believes that Nintendo is losing its identity with Switch 2.
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