Microsoft and Sony have successively set off huge waves in the quiet game industry with blockbuster acquisitions this year. At the same time, Nintendo is sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai. During a recent Q&A session with investors, the president of Nintendo.
Furukawa Shuntaro mentioned this issue, saying that Nintendo’s investment is focused on developers already affiliated with it, and the need to maintain “Nintendo DNA” in these studios.
Tanigawa Shuntaro said of the current acquisition war: I can’t imagine how big a company they can buy. Nintendo is still the same Nintendo. Nintendo still relies on first-party games, and I don’t feel it. There is no reason to reform. Our brand is based on the meticulous work of our own employees, and without Nintendo DNA, no matter how large it is, it will not benefit the company.
Although Nintendo has collaborated with external studios, such as Metroid: Survival Fear, which was developed by Spanish studio Mercury Steam, their investment focus is still on internal development studios. Nintendo announced last year that it would spend $870 million to support the studio. Only when the cost of replicating a certain technology internally is too high, will it consider going directly to external acquisitions.