IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Wii Successor Is Coming From Nintendo

Posted August 4, 2010 by M.H. Williams

During a recent investor’s Q&A, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata admitted that the company is developing the next Wii behind the scenes. He stated that Nintendo has an ongoing development cycle when it comes to hardware.

“Naturally, we are developing new products all the time. Whenever asked, our answer is yes, (we are making new products.) Our development departments are dedicated to developing new products. Once we release a product, we will soon move to the development of the next,” Iwata answered. “Since the launch of the original Nintendo DS, the company has introduced you to several new models, but we have to anticipate the life span of the Nintendo DS series will eventually come to an end someday. We have been studying and developing the next product for that day.”

“In this context, Nintendo 3DS has been under development for the six years (since the release of the original Nintendo DS.) Speaking of other products, we are of course studying and developing the next console to Wii,” he said. “However, there is a big difference between studying a product and announcing what it is and when we will release it.”

Iwata said that Nintendo is cautious when it comes to new technology and systems because copying is rampant in the industry, not unlike Microsoft and Sony jumping on the motion control bandwagon.

“A great idea will promptly be copied unless protected through patents. At the same time, it is really important for our business to positively surprise people. Will you be surprised by our completed product if we told you how it is surprising three years in advance? Therefore, we basically disclose information on our products as late as possible,” he added. “We believe this is the best approach for the entertainment products we are developing. Again, we are planning the next products for Nintendo's continuous growth, but we cannot tell you what, when and how we will release it here.”

M.H. Williams has been writing in some form or another for ten years and has been a hardcore gamer since the NES first graced American shores.  You can catch him on Twitter as @AutomaticZen, Google+ as himself, or on his personal Facebook page.