Microsoft argues that “Nintendo offers a broader range of mature content than Xbox”
According to Microsoft, Nintendo “offers a broader range of mature content than Xbox”.
Microsoft’s statements came about as part of its response to the UK CMA about wanting to buy Activision. Despite some claiming that Nintendo is more family-friendly, Switch in particular has proved otherwise. Microsoft highlighted the Nintendo-published Bayonetta 3, the console-exclusive Shin Megami Tensei V, and other third-party titles such as The Witcher 3 and NieR: Automata. Ultimately Microsoft is looking to prove that Nintendo is as much a competitor as Sony is with PlayStation, and was looking to provide “evidence that Nintendo Switch is not just a console aimed at the family friendly customer segment but more broadly at a diverse group of gamers across all demographics.”
The full statement reads:
The Issues Statement suggests that Sony is Microsoft’s closest competitor in gaming consoles. By contrast, the Issues Statement contends that Nintendo offers differentiated hardware and content aimed primarily at a different (e.g., more ‘family-friendly’) customer segment. The suggestion that Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo are not close competitors is incorrect.
Nintendo offers a broader range of mature content than Xbox: The CMA has mischaracterised the Nintendo Switch as being predominantly for families. Such a characterisation neglects the fact that more mature/adult games are available on the Switch and are actively marketed, including on Switch’s YouTube channel. These games include Apex Legends, The Witcher 3, Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Cult of the Lamb, NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition, Alan Wake Remastered, Crysis Remastered, Outlast, Little Nightmares, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Life is Strange.
Recent Switch exclusives have received mature ratings: Several of Nintendo Switch’s latest exclusives have been distinctly non “family-friendly” games. Bayonetta 3, a third-party action game by Platinum Games, was rated as Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (“ESRB”) for violence, blood and gore, partial nudity and strong language. Likewise, third-party exclusive Shin Megami Tensei V, released in November last year, was rated Mature by the ESRB for blood, partial nudity, sexual themes and violence, noting that “[t]he game depicts several female monsters with partially exposed breasts and buttocks; one creature appears with a phallic-shaped head and torso. A handful of demons (e.g., Succubus, Incubus) are described with sexual characteristics ….. The words “f*k” and “sht” appear in the game.” Despite this content clearly not being “family-friendly”, both games have been actively marketed by Nintendo including at Nintendo Direct presentations where the company markets and presents its latest content. This is evidence that Nintendo Switch is not just a console aimed at the family friendly customer segment but more broadly at a diverse group of gamers across all demographics.
