Nintendo’s President, Shuntaro Furukawa, states it’s difficult to develop new games for every franchise fan’s demand.
If there’s one thing Nintendo has, it’s a stable of fan-favorite franchises. To this day, my grandma still asks if I’m playing “the Nintendo.” And can rattle off names like Mario and Zelda.
Unfortunately, during an annual meeting on Tuesday (June 28, 2022), Shuntaro Furukawa was asked if the company considered making new installments for their slumbering series.
Nintendo’s Statements
Furokawa replied by saying, “It is realistically difficult to develop new titles and remakes, including sequels, for every Nintendo game that people request.” Shout out to VGC for the translation.
The President followed up that statement with, “But we are very grateful and appreciate the expectations our fans have for our games.”
Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo’s Senior Managing Executive Officer, elaborated with an example. “We are always considering how to develop new titles and remakes that can be enjoyed by many players.”
Takahashi continued by saying, “During the 79th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in 2019, we were asked if there were any plans to remake the Famicom Detective Club series. At that time, we happened to be planning a remake.”
He went on to say, “We cannot tell you if there are any plans for future remakes… But, during development, we are always thinking about various possibilities that players can enjoy.”
Recent Developments
In a management meeting last November, Nintendo mentioned that the Switch’s success has allowed them to expand their first-party development. Additionally, rumors have surfaced that a Metroid Prime remaster is in the works.
Back in February 2022, Nintendo finally acquired SRD Co. Ltd. SRD has worked with Nintendo since 1982. The studio is responsible for everything from Donkey Kong to Super Mario Bros. to The Legend of Zelda and so much more. It’s kind of amazing that it took 40 years to bring the studio in house.
Our Thoughts
Personally, I totally understand Nintendo’s stance here. While I think it’s easy to say something like, “a company should satiate the demand of their customers,” I think it’s unfair to say that they’re not. Just this year, Nintendo released Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Kirby and The Forgotten Land, and Triangle Strategy. Not to mention, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is right around the corner.
Nintendo surely has a lot in the works. I can’t think of another company that’s more button-lipped about their projects. Sure, they have a lot of franchises that have laid dormant for some time. But maybe that’s for the best. Remember what happened with Star Fox Zero?
What do you think? Do you trust Nintendo’s judgment? Let us know in the comments below!
