Iwata not worried about next-gen race and naysayers, profitability talk, Wii U pricing important
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has offered his opinion on a few important topics. He recently discussed on Nintendo’s lack of interest surrounding the next-gen console race, its plans to return to profitability, and the need to make Wii U’s pricing right. Iwata even took a few moments to comment on those who tend to have doubts about Nintendo’s products.
Read on below to check out his remarks.
Iwata on being first to market…
“Being first in the next generation race is not important at all. One of the reasons we believe this is the time for Nintendo to launch the Wii U is it’s going to be important for the world.”
Iwata on returning to profitability…
“Our intention is to return to profitability after just one year of losing money. I just cannot say that it’s a good thing for Nintendo at all to record an annual loss for two or more years in a row. … The [loss of the] past year is due to the 3DS hardware sales. We were selling hardware below the cost, so this year we are already recovering and improving the profitability of the 3DS. …(Nintendo is losing money on 3DS hardware, but this will change) in the very near future … based up on where we are today in terms of our schedule to return to profitability.”
Iwata on how lessons learned with the 3DS will be used when it comes to Wii U…
“The pricing of Wii U is going to be one of the most important elements when it is going to be launched. The environment is different. Wii U is going to be launching in a different environment than when the Wii was launched. Also, the involvement surrounding [mobile and social] businesses is different than several years ago.”
Iwata on those who say that Nintendo is doomed and should leave the industry…
“Even when we were going to launch the Wii system, there were a lot of voice saying ‘Nintendo should stop making hardware. The reasoning behind that was Nintendo would not have any chance against Microsoft and Sony. The fact of the matter was: I did not think Nintendo should compete against these companies with the same message and same entertainment options for people.
“We have not changed our strategy. In other words, we just do not care what kind of ‘more beef’ console Microsoft and Sony might produce in 2013. Our focus is on how we can make our new console different than [others].”
