Last month saw the release of Splatoon, Nintendo's first new internally developed property since Pikmin came out in 2001. So far, it's shaped up to be a fun game, impressing kids and critics alike with clever ink-splatter shooting. But while players are busy sliding across maps as shapeshifting squids, Nintendo has its own work cut out avoiding ink of the red variety.
Once virtually synonymous with video games and childhood wonder, Nintendo's image has been battered worse than a Mario Kart buggy in recent years. Look no further than its present home console. The Wii U continues to limp along, with infrequent first-party releases, underpowered hardware and AWOL third-party support. A disappointment to Nintendo's core audience at best, at worst it has conjured parallels to the Sega Dreamcast's ill-fated demise.
While the Dreamcast spelled the end of Sega's console ambitions, the Wii U's poor sales haven't hit Nintendo nearly as hard. The company can even boast ample fresh successes. Over multiple iterations, the 3DS has built a strong base, arguably keeping the House of Mario afloat and relevant in these uncertain times. Meanwhile, games like Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U have drummed up plenty of buzz, proving that even on a fading system, Nintendo games can still wow. And though they're far from original - or all that useful in-game - Amiibo figures are in big demand.
So far, these incremental achievements have paid off. Thanks in part to a favorable exchange rate, Nintendo finally turned in its first profitable year since 2012 last month. With a slate of enticing games on the horizon and even a new system, codenamed Nintendo NX, in the works, can Nintendo finally get out of its rut?
Current signs inspire at least moderate optimism. This year's E3 will likely bear witness to Nintendo's last major push to squeeze life out of the Wii U. Release dates for its backlog of announced titles, including Mario Maker and Star Fox, could give the beleaguered system real momentum. Nintendo will need these to shine, however, if it wants to offset Zelda Wii U's confirmed absence from the show. A long overdue Wii U price drop would no doubt help as well.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently said the company's 2015 E3 presentation would focus on "dedicated" video games. For the time being, that means no mobile announcements. So what could Nintendo's reps have in store for us? Without a console Zelda to woo the media like last year, the gaming giant's presentation looks suspiciously sparse. Could there be unannounced titles in the works, ready to be revealed? Announcing a new Metroid game - especially one that follows a classic 2D formula - would make many people happy, and show keen foresight on Nintendo's part. Retro Studios hasn't worked on a title since February 2014's Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, so the possibility is there - and highly enticing.
Even with a bombshell announcement, Nintendo will have plenty of time to push its lucrative Amiibo figures. Right now, errant collectors are demanding a solution to the collectible's scarcity problems, which have caused no end of frustrations. Others simply want games that actually make meaningful use of these hyped hunks of plastic. Meanwhile, the New Nintendo 3DS could use more exclusive software to justify upgrading. Last week, Nintendo shoveled out news in an online video concerningDr. Mario: Miracle Cure, the 3DS RPG Bravely SecondEnd Layer, a new Chibi-Robo game, among other minor announcements. It might be too much to hope that Nintendo was making room on its E3 schedule for big handheld news, but it's possible. At the very least, we should expect the company to grow its burgeoning DLC library. Expect more characters to join the Super Smash Bros roster, likely picked based on fan feedback from the Smash Bros Fighter Ballot.
Nintendo has guaranteed it won't be talking new hardware until 2016. That doesn't mean the Nintendo NX isn't currently at the forefront of its planning. Whatever form it takes, the system will need to gain ground in a crowded market. Enraptured by tablets and smartphones, mainstream society has more outlets than ever before to play games. After mishandling its last console transition, Nintendo's top talent face a tough challenge finding the right niche for its next system. Catering to a casual crowd paid off back in the mid-2000s with the Wii, but times have changed. The company will need a core audience of diehard gamers on its side to guarantee a healthy install base for the Nintendo NX. It can't afford to alienate them a second (arguably third) time in a row.
Balancing power with affordability will likewise pose a particularly tricky question. Nintendo usually likes to price its systems at family friendly levels, with the tradeoff being significantly weaker specs. In doing so, the company undervalues raw power at its own risk. While the Wii U is at least HD-capable and well-suited for cartoony fare like Mario, many gamers still consider its underpowered tech a sticking point. These concerns are mirrored with the 3DS and its feeble screen resolution. On the other hand, the steep price cut that saved the 3DS demonstrated the importance of competitive pricing. Time will tell if Nintendo decides to take a loss on each unit sold in order to have the best of both worlds here.
Other than debunking a rumor that its new hardware would run on Android, Nintendo has been tightlipped on the topic. At a corporate briefing last year, Iwata mentioned plans to more closely integrate home console and handheld devices. If that ends up panning it out, it could give the system a meaningful identity. Motion controls sold the Wii, and the Wii U's pricey GamePad controller at least gave it a recognizable gimmick. Unfortunately, if Nintendo wants to maintain any kind of backwards compatibility moving forward, it will need to re-incorporate these features. That could prove costly, and provide an unneeded distraction from improving on the company's historic weak points - online infrastructure and third-party support.
Having big titles at launch will be key when the Nintendo NX rolls out. In fact, don't be surprised if the recently delayed Zelda Wii U turns into a cross-generation release, much like the best-seller Twilight Princess. If the popularity of Amiibos prove anything, it's that Nintendo's iconic characters can still drive sales. There's serious passion attached to properties like Mario, Metroid and Zelda. At the same time, one company alone can only do so much to support a console. Winning third party developers over again after they jumped ship early in the Wii U's lifespan could prove a tall task for Nintendo. That being said, reconciliation is still worth pursuing.
With its independent streak and knack for surprising people, it's rarely advisable to bet against Nintendo. The company has built up enough cultural clout over the years to keep it going through hard times. It's a little slow on adopting industry standards, however, for good and ill. At the very least, the company is finally entering the mobile market on its own terms with its DeNA partnership. Iwata has come out saying he and the rest of Nintendo's top talent want to surprise us with the Nintendo NX. We can only hope it will be a pleasant one.