Nintendo is known in the gaming industry for marching to their own beat and not copying the latest trends. While 'Sony' and 'Microsoft' have been busy competing in terms of power and graphics, Nintendo has opted to take their own route and release the 'Switch', which thrives on its ability to become a handheld device when not docked to the TV. That does not mean to say that their games lack power, as having access to titles like 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' on the go, is still considered an impressive feat by today’s standards.
Incidentally, one topic in modern gaming is the ability to play games in 4K resolution.
Sony and Microsoft have been doing their best in terms of hardware to push games and reach this limit. Evidently, with the 'Xbox One X', it seems like Microsoft is trying to create a console that can somehow substitute a PC in terms of hardware. While there are advantages to realistic graphics, Nintendo reveals the reason to why they do not intend on competing in the 4k resolution market.
Nintendo reveals why they haven’t gone 4K
According to a recent interview with The Verge, Nintendo of America’s President, Reggie Fils-Aimé explained that the company’s mission was to reach out to as many consumers as possible. Nintendo” wants them to engage and enjoy their products, hence why they target a more mainstream audience.
Similarly, they also want their products to be affordable, hence the $300 price tag on the Switch.
He then claimed that going 4K would mean having a limited consumer pool as they would need to raise their price point while consumers would also need to invest in other items like 4K TVs. “Going against a more limited consumer pool, a higher price point, requiring investments in other ways — 4K TVs, what have you — that is a strategy that for us, candidly, is a bit too limited,” he concluded.
Nintendo’s stance on gaming
In truth, most people have been buying 4K TVs only because the technology is available right now. Most consumers do not really care about the difference between 1080p and 4K as the price tag weighs heavier than the resolution. Furthermore, 1080p resolution in gaming is still thriving so for Nintendo to make that big a jump in terms of technology would be a major gamble.
For now, the company seems to value innovation over graphics and power. Most of their games lean towards a more artistic style instead of the typical realism found in modern gaming. Nevertheless, they still manage to deliver quality games filled with minimal bugs which are a rare treat in today’s gaming generation.
