Nintendo not looking to battle for exclusivity, could partner with third-parties
It’s true that some companies have partnered with third-parties for exclusive content. For instance, Microsoft was able to nab the exclusive rights to BioWare’s first Mass Effect. As another example, the Dawnguard DLC for The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 for the first few weeks.
“Exclusivity” was something brought up by an investor at Nintendo’s E3 2012 analyst Q&A session. President Satoru Iwata stated that “it would be an appropriate course of action for Nintendo to get into a battle with a company like Microsoft over the cost or the expense of trying to go head to head in a situation to try to obtain exclusive rights.” However, if a third-party creates a very unique idea for the Wii U and/or its GamePad, “there is a high possibility that Nintendo will be a partner with that third party in an unprecedented manner”.
Iwata said:
First of all, I do see that there are a variety of possibilities in which we could use our financial resources. Having said that, please understand that due to fair disclosure rules I can’t go into detail on any of those possibilities today.
Then the question becomes some of the specific examples that you raised such as the question of obtaining exclusive rights. While Nintendo is not entirely opposed to exploring that option, I don’t think it would be an appropriate course of action for Nintendo to get into a battle with a company like Microsoft over the cost or the expense of trying to go head to head in a situation to try to obtain exclusive rights. However, now we have a totally new device, the Wii U GamePad. If a third-party developer or publisher has come up with an idea of a potentially very unique use of the Wii U functionality with such a device, there is a high possibility that Nintendo will be a partner with that third party in an unprecedented manner (thereby reducing their development risk significantly). I do intend to work hard so that next year you will not criticize Nintendo’s use of its resources.
