Is Nintendo Screwed?

I'm a little pessimistic about things, considering Nintendo's history of bleh decisions. The lack of information on the NX makes me more concerned than excited, which isn't good - I highly doubt it will live up to my own expectations.

I'm hopeful, but not as much as I maybe was when I first heard news of the console/handheld hybrid possibility. Since Nintendo partnered with DeNA and got into smartphone apps, I feel like it's either a move to survive, or else just pure craziness. Nintendo will either improve the standard quality of apps, or stoop to the level of what is already available, and first impressions are that the latter is occurring.

I don't think Nintendo is doomed. Most of their games, quite honestly, are still of a better caliber than what these other devs are putting out. A game can look realistic, but that has no bearing on wheather the game is actually fun to play or boring as shit. I really don't think Nintendo is doing much worse than Sony or Microsoft - who, to be honest, really aren't doing a very good job of impressing me.

At this point nothing is really certain for me anymore - whether I think this or that thing will be a success or a failure. Before this gen began, a lot of people were saying this would be the last wave of consoles that probably has physical media. Who can say whether or not that's the case yet? Can't predict the future, goes double for Nintendo. I find myself going in circles again and again with the company. I'm getting older though, I think a lot of us longtime fans are getting tired of Nintendo changing so much and catering to the modern world.

They've carved out a strong market share in the handheld industry, and just because smartphones have flooded that market with f2p garbage doesn't mean there's not room for more than that.

Despite lower console sales, they manage to stay profitable and still put out quality games. That's not going to change any time soon.

The 3DS sales will keep Nintendo afloat for at least three more bad decisions, so don't be so dramatic.

I don't think they're in trouble.

They own the dedicated handheld market. With Sony starting to fall apart, they now have no competitors in that field. Whether it's weakening or not, that's still a huge cash cow for them.

Is mobile gaming a threat? Kind of...but unlike Microsoft or Sony, Nintendo are pushing into the mobile gaming market too. That'll be a huge moneymaker in the future.

As for the consoles...well sure, they lost the market share there. I wonder how much of a financial train wreck it was though. Their larger games still sell a few million copies each, everything they make tends to be a big-ish seller (because what else is there to buy?), and Amiibo were a colossal success. So...yes, it's bad, but they aren't exactly filing for bankruptcy just yet.

The NX will be...interesting, to say the least. Early reports suggest that they are finally catching up with modern gaming ideas (unified account systems, cloud gaming, etc ) - so who knows. I think there's a huge market of potential Nintendo fans if they get it right, and Sony and Microsoft are doing absolutely nothing to shut Nintendo out of a comeback, so the next few years could lead to some surprisng changes of fortune (one way or another).

If they keep it up. They're a mess.

@SOedipus: So far, your comment is the only one in which I agree to.

3DS obsolete?

lolwat

TC's doing drugs.

No I wouldn't say that they are screwed. They own the handheld market and have a strong stable of IPs. The Wii U is basically just running on fumes until the NX is revealed for next year but we have no idea what the NX will be to make any kind of call right now.

I'm guessing you are not a fan of their games?